Salem

Say´luhm; Heb., “peace”

The locality over which Melchizedek was king (Gen 14:18) and that was frequently identified with Jerusalem. This identification is specifically made in (Ps 76:2), where Salem is used in parallel with Zion as the dwelling place of God. In the Letter to the Hebrews, the author recalls that the root meaning of Salem is “peace” (Heb 7:2); thus, Melchizedek is identified as “king of peace.”