What Does Hebrews 7:2 Mean in the King James?
To whom also Abraham gave a tenth part of all; first being by interpretation King of righteousness, and after that also King of Salem, which is, King of peace;
The analysis reads the King James wording.
King James Version The King James Version, first published in 1611. Selah Verse shows the standard text.
THE KEY
The verse joins alignment and wholeness in one kingly nature: the king of righteousness is also the king of peace.
THE MEANING
You meet a king whose name is read as righteousness and whose realm is named through Salem as peace. The verse holds alignment and wholeness together as two facets of one nature. Abraham’s tenth from all marks his acknowledgment of that order as comprehensive.
WHAT THIS UNDOES
This undoes the idea that peace is detached from right relation: here, peace names the wholeness paired with the king’s righteousness.
THE ROOT
δικαιοσύνης
dikaiosynēs
GROWS FROM
δίκη
dikē
Right, justice; the Greek word carries the sense of alignment.
English righteousness can sound like a moral score, while this Greek word belongs to a family of rightness and justice. The verse names alignment as the king’s nature, then pairs it with Salem’s wholeness.
ALSO GROWS
dikaios: just, right
δίκαιος
It shares the family’s sense of what is rightly aligned.
dikaiōma: a right act or ordinance
δικαίωμα
It shows the family extending from rightness into what is set in order.
שָׁלֵם
Shalem
GROWS FROM
שלם
sh-l-m
To be whole, complete, or sound.
“Salem / peace” in this verse is Shalem. The verse interprets Salem as peace, while its Hebrew root carries the sense of wholeness. Peace here opens into an undivided state, paired with the king’s alignment.
ALSO GROWS
shalom: wholeness, peace
שָׁלוֹם
It is the word the verse uses to interpret Salem’s name.
shalem: whole, complete
שָׁלֵם
It makes visible the root sense beneath Salem’s link to peace.
THE PATTERN
Alignment flowers into wholeness, joining right relation with peace.
Mercy and truth are met together; righteousness and peace have kissed each other.And the work of righteousness shall be peace; and the effect of righteousness quietness and assurance for ever.And the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace of them that make peace.THE THREAD
Mercy and truth are met together; righteousness and peace have kissed each other.The Hebrew name element tsedeq, righteousness, and the Salem/shalom family meet again in this verse as righteousness and peace. The image of their kiss makes explicit the joining that Hebrews holds inside one king’s two titles.
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