Salem

Biblical References

Salem first appears in Genesis 14. When Abraham (then called Abram) returned from defeating the coalition led by Chedorlaomer, "Melchizedek king of Salem" came out to meet him with bread and wine. Melchizedek is introduced as "the priest of the most high God" (Hebrew El Elyon); he blessed Abraham and received a tenth from him (Genesis 14:18–20).

Psalm 76:2 declares, "In Salem also is his tabernacle, and his dwelling place in Zion." In the New Testament, Hebrews 7:1–2 cites the Genesis passage and calls Melchizedek "king of Salem."

John 3:23 records that John the Baptist was baptizing "in Aenon near to Salim." This Salim is generally considered a different place near the Jordan River, and its exact location is unknown.

Meaning and Location

The Hebrew name Salem (Shalem) derives from the same root as shalom and is associated with "peace" and "wholeness." Hebrews 7:2 interprets the name as "King of peace."

The most widely accepted view identifies Salem with Jerusalem. The principal basis for this identification is Psalm 76:2, which pairs Salem with Zion. Jewish tradition, including the Jewish historian Josephus, is also known to have identified Melchizedek's city with Jerusalem. Other views, however, place it elsewhere, such as near Shechem, and scholars have reached no definitive conclusion.

Genesis 33:18 is also worth noting. The New Korean Revised Version renders the relevant word in this verse adverbially as "safely" or "in peace," but some translations, including the King James Version ("Shalem"), read it as a place name.

Significance in Scripture as a Whole

Hebrews connects Genesis 14 with Psalm 110:4: "Thou art a priest for ever after the order of Melchizedek." Through this connection it explains that Jesus Christ is a priest of a higher order who does not belong to the Levitical line (Hebrews 7). In this argument, the title "king of Salem" is interpreted as "King of peace" and becomes an expression pointing to Christ's kingship and the peace he brings.

Interpretation and Debated Questions

• Identification with Jerusalem: Many commentators and denominations accept this identification, but the biblical text does not explicitly state that the two are the same place. The interpretation rests on the parallelism in Psalm 76:2.
• The "city of peace" interpretation: Sermons often explain Jerusalem as the "city of peace." Scholars differ, however, on the etymology of the name Jerusalem; some, for example, connect it with the name of an ancient Canaanite deity.
• Melchizedek and Salem: Questions such as who Melchizedek was and whether his bread and wine may be regarded as a type of the Lord's Supper belong to the interpretation of Melchizedek rather than to the study of Salem itself.

In the Korean Church

In the Korean church, Salem is generally not treated as a topic in its own right. It is mentioned mainly in sermons on the Melchizedek passage in Genesis 14 or on Hebrews 7, usually together with its meaning, "King of peace."