מַלְאֲכוּת
𐤌𐤋𐤀𐤊𐤅𐤕
malʼăkûwth
H4400 noun
SILEX Entry
Definition
The function, office, or state of being a messenger or envoy; the act or commission of conveying a message, duty, or mission on behalf of another. In some contexts, 'mal'ăkûth' denotes the role or assignment of serving as an official representative, not merely the message itself, but rather the office or function connected with it.
Semantic Range
office of messenger, embassy, commission of an envoy, diplomatic mission, official duty as a messenger
Root / Etymology
Derived from the root מלאך (mlʼk, to send with a message, to be an envoy or messenger), specifically from the noun מַלְאָךְ (mal'akh), meaning messenger or envoy. The formation 'מַלְאֲכוּת' utilizes the nominal –ut suffix to denote abstract state, quality, or office, thus 'mal'ăkûth' refers specifically to the office, role, or commission of being a messenger. The root מלאך is not directly attested apart from this nominal and related forms.
Historical & Contextual Notes
The term 'mal'ăkûth' is extremely rare in the Hebrew Bible, appearing in later books (2 Chronicles 35:21, possibly in Nehemiah 2:7, 2:9 in variant readings). Its primary sense is abstracted from 'mal'akh' (messenger), focusing not on the individual but on the office or commission itself (i.e., the 'messengership' or 'embassy'). In historical usage, it often refers to official diplomatic missions between states, such as envoys or ambassadors sent by rulers. Standard English translations like 'message' or 'ambassage' can obscure this abstracted, institutional sense; the term is better understood as 'embassy' (the office or commission of an envoy) rather than a message per se. Unlike מַלְאָךְ (mal'akh), which can denote a human or divine messenger, or the concrete message, מַלְאֲכוּת (mal'ăkûth) is used for the formal role or mission. The semantic range thus reflects usage in contexts of state correspondence or formal missions rather than everyday communication. Over time, related nouns with the –ut ending in Hebrew came to denote abstract states or offices; this term fits within that morphological pattern.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
from the same as מֲלְאָךְ; a message; message.
Bantu Hebrew
No Bantu Hebrew comparisons have been submitted for this word yet.
+ Add Bantu Hebrew WordRoot Family
מלאך (m-l-ʾ-k) — to send as a deputy, to be a messenger, to be sent with a message
Word Forms
1 distinct form
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H4400-01 |
בְּ/מַלְאֲכ֥וּת | bemaleakhut | HR/Ncfsc |
in-the-messengership | in messengership | 1 |
Occurrences in Scripture
1 total occurrence
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H4400-01 |
Haggai 1:13 | בְּ/מַלְאֲכ֥וּת | bemaleakhut | HR/Ncfsc |
in-the-messengership | in messengership |