מֶלֶךְ
𐤌𐤋𐤊
Melekhe
H4429 noun
SILEX Entry
Definition
A male ruler, king, or sovereign who holds authority over a people or territory, typically over an Israelite or neighboring polity; also used as a personal name (Melek). In general, designates the holder of highest political and military power, but in various contexts can denote rulers of non-Israelite nations, Yahweh as the supreme divine king, or metaphorical uses referencing divine or symbolic rule.
Semantic Range
king, sovereign, monarch, ruler of a territory, ruler of a people, ruler in metaphorical or divine sense, personal name (Melek), the title 'the king' (Hammelech)
Root / Etymology
The term derives from the Hebrew root מ־ל־ך (מלך), which conveys the idea 'to reign' or 'to rule as king.' מֶלֶךְ is the primary nominal form from this root. The word is Semitic-wide, with cognates in Akkadian (šarru for 'king,' but see also Amurru maliku 'counselor, ruler'), Ugaritic (mlk), and Phoenician (mlk), all meaning 'king.'
Historical & Contextual Notes
In the Hebrew Bible, מֶלֶךְ primarily describes political rulers, both of Israelite tribes or kingdoms (Saul, David, Solomon, etc.) and foreign powers (e.g., the Pharaoh of Egypt, kings of Moab). Its usage shifts between the pre-monarchic period (when its most direct sense is rare except for foreign leaders), through the United and Divided Monarchy (Israelite sovereigns), and into exilic/post-exilic literature, which includes both historical references and, increasingly, theological use (e.g., referring to Yahweh as king, especially in Psalms and Prophets). The title distinguishes the legitimate office of ruler from other leaders like שׁוֹפֵט (shofet, 'judge') or נָשִׂיא (nasi, 'chieftain' or 'prince'). מֶלֶךְ is also found as a personal name in genealogies and place names, and sometimes in the theophoric form with the definite article—הַמֶּלֶךְ ('the king')—which may be rendered 'Hammelech' in translations. Some English versions use 'Jewish king' or similar phrases for clarity, but the original term is broader ethnically and geographically. Over time, especially in Persian and Hellenistic periods, the term could refer to local rulers under larger imperial administration. Later religious and liturgical traditions often spiritualized the title, applying it exclusively to God as divine king, which is a secondary development.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
the same as מֶלֶךְ; king; Melek, the name of two Israelites; Melech, Hammelech (by including the article).
Bantu Hebrew
No Bantu Hebrew comparisons have been submitted for this word yet.
+ Add Bantu Hebrew WordRoot Family
מלך (m-l-k) — to rule, to reign, to exercise authority
| Strong's | Lemma | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|
| H3230 | יַמְלֵךְ | He-Will-Reign |
| H4409 | מַלּוּךְ | to Reigning-One |
| H4427 | מָלַךְ | in his reigning |
| H4428 | מֶלֶךְ | among the kings |
| H4430 | מֶלֶךְ | to the king |
Word Forms
2 distinct forms
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H4429-02 |
וָ/מֶ֖לֶךְ | vamelekhe | HC/Np |
and Melech | king | 2 |
H4429-01 |
הַ/מֶּ֜לֶךְ | hamelekhe | HTd/Ncmsa |
the king | the sovereign | 2 |
Occurrences in Scripture
4 total occurrences
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H4429-01 |
Jeremiah 36:26 | הַ/מֶּ֜לֶךְ | hamelekhe-2 | HTd/Ncmsa |
the king | the sovereign |
H4429-01 |
Jeremiah 38:6 | הַ/מֶּ֗לֶךְ | hamelekhe | HTd/Ncmsa |
the king | the sovereign |
H4429-02 |
1 Chronicles 8:35 | וָ/מֶ֖לֶךְ | vamelekhe | HC/Np |
and Melech | king |
H4429-02 |
1 Chronicles 9:41 | וָ/מֶ֖לֶךְ | vamelekhe | HC/Np |
and Melech | king |