מָלָח
𐤌𐤋𐤇
mâlâch
H4418 noun
SILEX Entry
Definition
A piece of worn-out cloth or rag, especially one that is torn, frayed, or considered refuse due to age or deterioration. In biblical usage, it refers to a fragment or strip of old garment, often utilized for humble or menial purposes, and evokes a sense of worthlessness or neglect.
Semantic Range
rag, scrap of cloth, scrap, worn-out garment fragment, refuse cloth
Root / Etymology
The noun מָלָח is derived from the verb מָלַח (malach), meaning 'to be worn, rubbed, or scraped.' As such, מָלָח designates something that has become worn through friction or use, specifically a piece of cloth that has lost its original integrity.
Historical & Contextual Notes
מָלָח is an exceedingly rare term in the Hebrew Bible, occurring only in Isaiah 30:22, where it denotes a worn-out or rotten rag, in the context of discarding idols and their adornments. Its imagery emphasizes disposability and degradation. The word stands in contrast to terms like שִׂמְלָה (simlah, 'garment,' usually intact or of some value) or בֶּגֶד (beged, 'clothing'), highlighting a state beyond usefulness. English translations often use 'rag,' 'rotten rag,' or 'polluted rag,' but these may not fully capture the nuance of fraying through repeated handling and the shift from object of value to refuse. The association of מָלָח with disuse and replacement reflects a material culture where garments were valuable and their discard signified total rejection, especially in prophetic imagery. No known evidence suggests the meaning broadened or shifted in later periods; post-biblical usage is not attested.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
from מָלַח in its original sense; a rag or old garment; rotten rag.
Bantu Hebrew
No Bantu Hebrew comparisons have been submitted for this word yet.
+ Add Bantu Hebrew WordRoot Family
מלח (m-l-ḥ) — wear away, rub, scrape
| Strong's | Lemma | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|
| H4408 | מַלּוּחַ | saltwort |
| H4414 | מָלַח | you were salted |
| H4415 | מְלַח | we have eaten salt |
| H4416 | מְלַח | salt |
| H4417 | מֶלַח | in the salt |
Word Forms
2 distinct forms
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H4418-02 |
וְ/הַ/מְּלָחִים֙ | vehamelachim | HC/Td/Ncmpa |
and the torn cloths | the worn-out rags | 1 |
H4418-01 |
מְלָחִ֑ים | melachim | HNcmpa |
rags | worn-out rags | 1 |
Occurrences in Scripture
2 total occurrences
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H4418-01 |
Jeremiah 38:11 | מְלָחִ֑ים | melachim | HNcmpa |
rags | worn-out rags |
H4418-02 |
Jeremiah 38:12 | וְ/הַ/מְּלָחִים֙ | vehamelachim | HC/Td/Ncmpa |
and the torn cloths | the worn-out rags |