מׇרְדְּכַי
𐤌𐤓𐤃𐤊𐤉
Mredekhay
H4782 noun
SILEX Entry
Definition
Mordecai, a personal name referring to a prominent Israelite figure in the Persian period. The name designates an individual, specifically the cousin and guardian of Esther in the Book of Esther, who served at the court of King Ahasuerus. While primarily used as a proper name, it carries associations with honor and high administrative status within the Persian royal context.
Semantic Range
personal name, specifically of Esther's guardian and cousin during the Persian period; possible connection to servant or devotee of the deity Marduk, but not semantically active in biblical Hebrew
Root / Etymology
The etymology is uncertain. The form מׇרְדְּכַי (Mordᵉkay) does not correspond to a native Hebrew root. It is likely a loanword from Akkadian or Old Persian, possibly related to the Akkadian Marduk (the chief Babylonian deity), with the name meaning 'servant of Marduk' or 'devotee of Marduk.' However, it's adapted in Hebrew as a personal Israelite name without clear theophoric function in its Israelite context.
Historical & Contextual Notes
In the Hebrew Bible, Mordecai is exclusively attested as the name of Esther's cousin and guardian in the Book of Esther, set during the Persian period (post-exilic era). Although the name may have foreign origins, its bearer is explicitly described as an Israelite of the tribe of Benjamin residing in Susa. The adoption of names of foreign derivation was not uncommon among Israelites living under Persian rule. In the context of Esther, the name carries no overt Babylonian religious connotation. English translations routinely render the personal name as 'Mordecai.' Later Jewish tradition associates Mordecai with wisdom, political acumen, and piety, but these are not inherent to the lexical item itself. The use of the name reflects cultural and linguistic interaction in the exilic and post-exilic periods.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
of foreign derivation; Mordecai, an Israelite; Mordecai.
Bantu Hebrew
No Bantu Hebrew comparisons have been submitted for this word yet.
+ Add Bantu Hebrew WordRoot Family
מרדכי (m-r-d-k-y) — personal name; possibly devotee of Marduk
Word Forms
5 distinct forms
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H4782-03 |
מָרְדֳּכַ֗י | maredokhay | HNp |
Mordecai | Mordecai | 43 |
H4782-02 |
לְ/מָרְדֳּכַ֔י | lemaredokhay | HR/Np |
to Mordecai | to Mordecai | 8 |
H4782-05 |
וּ/מָרְדֳּכַ֖י | umaredokhay | HC/Np |
and Mordecai | and Mordecai | 7 |
H4782-04 |
וּֽ/לְ/מָרְדֳּכַ֖י | ulemaredokhay | HC/R/Np |
and to Mordecai | and to Mordecai | 1 |
H4782-01 |
בְּ/מָרְדֳּכַ֣י | bemaredokhay | HR/Np |
on Mordecai | in Mordecai | 1 |
Occurrences in Scripture
60 total occurrences
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H4782-03 |
Esther 2:5 | מָרְדֳּכַ֗י | maredokhay | HNp |
Mordecai | Mordecai |
H4782-03 |
Esther 2:7 | מָרְדֳּכַ֛י | maredokhay | HNp |
Mordecai | Mordecai |
H4782-03 |
Esther 2:10 | מָרְדֳּכַ֛י | maredokhay | HNp |
Mordecai | Mordecai |
H4782-03 |
Esther 2:11 | מָרְדֳּכַי֙ | maredokhay | HNp |
Mordecai | Mordecai |
H4782-03 |
Esther 2:15 | מָרְדֳּכַ֡י | maredokhay | HNp |
of Mordecai | Mordecai |
H4782-05 |
Esther 2:19 | וּ/מָרְדֳּכַ֖י | umaredokhay | HC/Np |
and Mordecai | and Mordecai |
H4782-03 |
Esther 2:20 | מָרְדֳּכָ֑י | maredokhay | HNp |
Mordecai | Mordecai |
H4782-03 |
Esther 2:20 | מָרְדֳּכַי֙ | maredokhay-2 | HNp |
of Mordecai | Mordecai |
H4782-05 |
Esther 2:21 | וּ/מָרְדֳּכַ֖י | umaredokhay | HC/Np |
and Mordecai | and Mordecai |
H4782-02 |
Esther 2:22 | לְ/מָרְדֳּכַ֔י | lemaredokhay | HR/Np |
to Mordecai | to Mordecai |