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מֶלֶךְ

𐤌𐤋𐤊

melek

H4430 noun

SILEX Entry

Root מלך to reign, to rule, to be king, to exercise authority

Definition

A ruler who exercises authority, generally over a defined territory or people; especially one who occupies the recognized office of 'king.' In Aramaic texts, used for both native and foreign monarchs. Semantic range extends to refer to royal status, authority, or domain in various contexts.

Semantic Range

king, monarch, royal ruler, sovereign, one invested with supreme political authority; by extension, royal power or domain; in specific contexts, referring to kings of Israel, Judah, or foreign empires

Root / Etymology

From the root מלך (M-L-K), meaning 'to rule' or 'to reign.' The noun מֶלֶךְ (melek) is a substantive form indicating one who holds the role of king or sovereign. The Aramaic form (also spelled מַלְכָּא, malka) maintains this meaning and is used primarily in biblical Aramaic passages.

Historical & Contextual Notes

In the Hebrew Bible, the term מֶלֶךְ (melek) is standard for a king but, in the Aramaic sections (such as Daniel and Ezra), the same spelling represents the Aramaic cognate. In these Aramaic texts, the term is used for both leaders of Israelite/Judahite descent and foreign rulers (such as Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon or Darius of Persia). Unlike the Hebrew portions where the concept of 'king' is sometimes restricted by covenantal or theological considerations, the Aramaic מֶלֶךְ is a general political title. English translations typically render as 'king,' but the nuances of sovereignty and regal authority may vary by context. In later periods, the title also carried ceremonial and administrative significance. The use of the Aramaic form highlights periods of foreign rule or diasporic settings, distinguishing these narratives from those written in Hebrew.

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

(Aramaic) corresponding to מֶלֶךְ; a king; king, royal.

Bantu Hebrew

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Root Family

מלך (m-l-k) — to reign, to rule, 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
H4429 מֶלֶךְ the sovereign

Word Forms

11 distinct forms

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 Occurrences
H4430-03 מַלְכָּ/א֙ maleka ANcmsd/Td the king the king 134
H4430-01 לְ/מַלְכָּֽ/א lemaleka AR/Ncmsd/Td to the king to the king 17
H4430-07 מַלְכִ֖ין malekhin ANcmpa kings kings 9
H4430-08 מֶ֨לֶךְ֙ melekhe ANcmsa king king of 8
H4430-09 וּ/מַלְכָּ֣/א umaleka AC/Ncmsd/Td and the king and the king 4
H4430-05 מַלְכַיָּ֑/א malekhaya ANcmpd/Td kings the kings 3
H4430-10 וּ/מַלְכִ֣ין umalekhin AC/Ncmpa and kings and kings 1
H4430-04 מַלְכָּ֤/ה malekah ANcmsd/Td the-king her king 1
H4430-06 מַלְכִ֖ים malekhim ANcmpa of the kings kings 1
H4430-11 וּ/מֶ֤לֶךְ umelekhe AC/Ncmsa and king and king of 1

Occurrences in Scripture

180 total occurrences

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1
H4430-03 Daniel 2:4 מַלְכָּ/א֙ maleka ANcmsd/Td O king the king
H4430-03 Daniel 2:5 מַלְכָּ/א֙ maleka ANcmsd/Td the king the king
H4430-03 Daniel 2:7 מַלְכָּ֕/א maleka ANcmsd/Td O king the king
H4430-03 Daniel 2:8 מַלְכָּ/א֙ maleka ANcmsd/Td the king the king
H4430-03 Daniel 2:10 מַלְכָּ/א֙ maleka ANcmsd/Td the king the king
H4430-03 Daniel 2:10 מַלְכָּ֔/א maleka-2 ANcmsd/Td the king's the king
H4430-08 Daniel 2:10 מֶ֨לֶךְ֙ melekhe ANcmsa king king of
H4430-04 Daniel 2:11 מַלְכָּ֤/ה malekah ANcmsd/Td the-king her king
H4430-03 Daniel 2:11 מַלְכָּ֑/א maleka ANcmsd/Td the-king the king
H4430-03 Daniel 2:12 מַלְכָּ֕/א maleka ANcmsd/Td the king the king
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