The quality of being similar or resembling something else. The author of Hebrews uses this term twice in discussing Christ's priesthood. First, Christ's temptation 'in every respect... yet without sin' shows likeness to human experience (Hebrews 4:15—though the word itself appears in a longer phrase). Second, the Melchizedekian priesthood arises 'according to the likeness of Melchizedek' (7:15)—not genealogical succession but typological resemblance. The term emphasizes similarity while preserving distinction—Christ is like us (truly human) yet unlike us (sinless); His priesthood resembles Melchizedek's (eternal) yet surpasses it (superior sacrifice).