מַמְלָכָה
𐤌𐤌𐤋𐤊𐤄
mamlâkâh
H4467 noun
SILEX Entry
Definition
A realm, domain, or territory governed by a king; specifically, a kingdom or monarchy. Also denotes the institution or system of rule by a king, i.e., kingship or royal authority. Used both for the physical territory governed and the abstract concept of royal rule. In some contexts, refers to a specific kingdom (e.g., Israelite, Judahite, or foreign), and in others to general sovereignty exercised by a monarch.
Semantic Range
kingdom, monarchy, royal dominion, realm, royal institution, territorial kingdom, nation under a king, kingship, royal authority
Root / Etymology
From the root מ-ל-ך (מלך), meaning 'to reign,' 'to be king,' or 'to rule as monarch.' The noun מַמְלָכָה is a feminine noun derived with the abstract/formative "ma-...-âh" pattern, yielding the sense of 'kingship' or 'kingdom.' While the root denotes the act or power of ruling as a king, the derived noun points to the structure, domain, or manifestation of such rule.
Historical & Contextual Notes
מַמְלָכָה is widely used throughout the Hebrew Bible to denote both Israelite and non-Israelite kingdoms; it can refer to political entities (e.g., the kingdom of Aram, Egypt, or Babylon), as well as to the Israelite or Judahite monarchies. In narrative and prophetic literature, the word can indicate a concrete geopolitical entity, or more abstractly, the concept of national sovereignty, royal power, or the existence of a monarchy. During the monarchic period, the term typically specifies the political and territorial structure led by a king; after the exile, it is used when describing recollections or ideals of national restoration, often with theological significance but always rooted in the historical-political meaning. Standard English translations generally render the term as 'kingdom,' though this does not always capture its range, especially where it may refer more abstractly to royal power or kingship. מַמְלָכָה is distinguished from מלוכה (melukhah, 'kingship, reign'), which more narrowly refers to the act or condition of ruling, or the office itself, not to the territory or body politic.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
from מָלַךְ; dominion, i.e. (abstractly) the estate (rule) or (concretely) the country (realm); kingdom, king's, reign, royal.
Bantu Hebrew
No Bantu Hebrew comparisons have been submitted for this word yet.
+ Add Bantu Hebrew WordRoot Family
מלך (m-l-k) — to reign, to rule as king, to become king
| 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
23 distinct forms
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H4467-15 |
מַמְלְכ֥וֹת | mamelekhot | HNcfpc |
kingdoms | kingly realms of | 24 |
H4467-03 |
הַ/מַּמְלָכָ֑ה | hamamelakhah | HTd/Ncfsa |
the kingdom | the royal dominion | 23 |
H4467-12 |
מַמְלָכֽוֹת | mamelakhot | HNcfpa |
kingdoms | kingdoms | 13 |
H4467-14 |
מַמְלֶ֥כֶת | mamelekhet | HNcfsc |
kingdom | kingdom of | 11 |
H4467-08 |
מַמְלָכָ֖ה | mamelakhah | HNcfsa |
kingdom | royal realm | 9 |
H4467-11 |
מַמְלַכְתּ/וֹ֙ | mamelakheto | HNcfsc/Sp3ms |
his kingdom | his kingdom | 7 |
H4467-04 |
הַ/מַּמְלָכ֔וֹת | hamamelakhot | HTd/Ncfpa |
the kingdoms | the kingdoms | 7 |
H4467-23 |
וְ/הַ/מַּמְלָכָ֥ה | vehamamelakhah | HC/Td/Ncfsa |
and the kingdom | and the kingdom | 3 |
H4467-09 |
מַֽמְלַכְתְּ/ךָ֛ | mamelakhetekha | HNcfsc/Sp2ms |
your kingdom | your royal dominion | 3 |
H4467-18 |
וּ/מַמְלָכָה֙ | umamelakhah | HC/Ncfsa |
and kingdom | and kingdom | 3 |
Occurrences in Scripture
117 total occurrences
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H4467-11 |
Genesis 10:10 | מַמְלַכְתּ/וֹ֙ | mamelakheto | HNcfsc/Sp3ms |
was | his kingdom |
H4467-10 |
Genesis 20:9 | מַמְלַכְתִּ֖/י | mamelakheti | HNcfsc/Sp1cs |
my kingdom | my kingdom |
H4467-14 |
Exodus 19:6 | מַמְלֶ֥כֶת | mamelekhet | HNcfsc |
kingdom | kingdom of |
H4467-14 |
Numbers 32:33 | מַמְלֶ֨כֶת֙ | mamelekhet | HNcfsc |
kingdom of | kingdom of |
H4467-14 |
Numbers 32:33 | מַמְלֶ֔כֶת | mamelekhet-2 | HNcfsc |
kingdom of | kingdom of |
H4467-14 |
Deuteronomy 3:4 | מַמְלֶ֥כֶת | mamelekhet | HNcfsc |
kingdom | kingdom of |
H4467-14 |
Deuteronomy 3:10 | מַמְלֶ֥כֶת | mamelekhet | HNcfsc |
of the kingdom | kingdom of |
H4467-14 |
Deuteronomy 3:13 | מַמְלֶ֣כֶת | mamelekhet | HNcfsc |
kingdom | kingdom of |
H4467-04 |
Deuteronomy 3:21 | הַ/מַּמְלָכ֔וֹת | hamamelakhot | HTd/Ncfpa |
the-kingdoms | the kingdoms |
H4467-11 |
Deuteronomy 17:18 | מַמְלַכְתּ֑/וֹ | mamelakheto | HNcfsc/Sp3ms |
of his kingdom | his kingdom |