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and he blessed Abram and said: “Blessed be Abram by God Most High, Creator of heaven and earth,
Genesis 14:19 · Berean Standard Bible
Parallel translations
  • WEB He blessed him, and said, “Blessed be Abram of God Most High, possessor of heaven and earth:
  • KJV And he blessed him, and said, Blessed be Abram of the most high God, possessor of heaven and earth:
  • NKJV And he blessed him and said: “Blessed be Abram of God Most High, Possessor of heaven and earth;
  • NASB And he blessed him and said, “Blessed be Abram of God Most High, Possessor of heaven and earth;
  • NLT Melchizedek blessed Abram with this blessing: “Blessed be Abram by God Most High, Creator of heaven and earth.

Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org

Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

Quick answer

Melchizedek blessed Abram in the name of God Most High, Maker of heaven and earth. The blessing affirms that Abram's victory came from the one true God.

Overview

As priest, Melchizedek pronounces a blessing rooted in God's sovereignty over all creation. By naming God as possessor of heaven and earth, he confesses the Creator who rules over the gods of the nations. This priestly blessing flowing to Abram foreshadows the greater blessing believers receive through Christ, the true priest-king, who mediates God's favor.

Cross-references & the web

Cross-references · 21

  • Gen 14:22But Abram replied to the king of Sodom, “I have raised my hand to the LORD God Most High, Creator of heaven and earth,
  • Heb 7:6–7But Melchizedek, who did not trace his descent from Levi, collected a tenth from Abraham and blessed him who had the promises.
  • Ruth 3:10Then Boaz said, “May the LORD bless you, my daughter. You have shown more kindness now than before, because you have not run after the younger men, whether rich or poor.
  • Ps 24:1A Psalm of David. The earth is the LORD’s, and the fullness thereof, the world and all who dwell therein.
  • Num 6:23–27“Tell Aaron and his sons: This is how you are to bless the Israelites. Say to them:
  • Acts 16:17This girl followed Paul and the rest of us, shouting, “These men are servants of the Most High God, who are proclaiming to you the way of salvation!”
  • Eph 1:3Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly realms.
  • Matt 11:25At that time Jesus declared, “I praise You, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because You have hidden these things from the wise and learned, and revealed them to little children.
  • Luke 10:21At that time Jesus rejoiced in the Holy Spirit and declared, “I praise You, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because You have hidden these things from the wise and learned, and revealed them to little children. Yes, Father, for this was well-pleasing in Your sight.
  • 2 Sam 2:5So David sent messengers to the men of Jabesh-gilead to tell them, “The LORD bless you, because you showed this kindness to Saul your lord when you buried him.
  • Ps 115:16The highest heavens belong to the LORD, but the earth He has given to mankind.
  • Eph 1:6to the praise of His glorious grace, which He has freely given us in the Beloved One.
  • Mic 6:6With what shall I come before the LORD when I bow before the God on high? Should I come to Him with burnt offerings, with year-old calves?
  • Gen 48:9–16Joseph said to his father, “They are the sons God has given me in this place.” So Jacob said, “Please bring them to me, that I may bless them.”
  • Gen 27:25–29“Serve me,” said Isaac, “and let me eat some of my son’s game, so that I may bless you.” Jacob brought it to him, and he ate; then he brought him wine, and he drank.
  • Gen 47:10Then Jacob blessed Pharaoh and departed from his presence.
  • Gen 49:28These are the tribes of Israel, twelve in all, and this was what their father said to them. He blessed them, and he blessed each one with a suitable blessing.
  • Gen 27:4Then prepare a tasty dish that I love and bring it to me to eat, so that I may bless you before I die.”
  • Gen 47:7Then Joseph brought in his father Jacob and presented him before Pharaoh, and Jacob blessed Pharaoh.
  • Ps 50:10for every beast of the forest is Mine—the cattle on a thousand hills.
  • Mark 10:16And He took the children in His arms, placed His hands on them, and blessed them.

Themes, concepts, people & topics

Topics (5)

Resources, by level

Commentaries & study tools

  • VideoBibleProject — Genesis videosBibleProject · Lay · Free · evangelical

    Free animated overview and word-study videos for this book.

  • VideoWatch teaching on Genesis 14:19YouTube · Lay · Free

    Sermons and teaching on this passage from across YouTube.

  • CommentaryEnduring Word — verse-by-verseDavid Guzik · Lay · Free · evangelical

    Clear, readable, conservative exposition — the best free place to start on any passage.

  • CommentaryClassic commentaries for this verseBibleHub (20+ works) · Pastoral · Free

    Matthew Henry, Barnes, Gill, the Pulpit Commentary, Ellicott, Cambridge, and more — stacked on one page for this exact verse.

  • CommentaryMatthew Henry on GenesisMatthew Henry · Pastoral · Free · evangelical

    The beloved Puritan exposition of this whole book — warm, devotional, and verse by verse (free, CCEL).

  • ReferenceInterlinear, lexicon & Strong'sBlue Letter Bible · Seminary · Free

    Hebrew/Greek interlinear, word definitions, and cross-references for this verse.

Christ at the center

From the first promise that the seed of the woman would crush the serpent (3:15), through Abraham's blessing to all nations and Judah's coming ruler, Genesis sows every seed that flowers in Christ — the true offspring, the better Adam, the ram caught for Isaac.

How Genesis 14:19 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.

Original language

Each word below is tagged with its Strong’s number — tap one to see the underlying Hebrew word, its meaning, and every verse that uses it.