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עֲמָלֵקִי

𐤏𐤌𐤋𐤒𐤉

Amaleqi

H6003 noun

SILEX Entry

Root עמלק to descend from, to be associated by lineage

Definition

A member or descendant of the people known as Amalek, i.e., an individual belonging to the ethnic group traditionally identified as Amalekites, understood as a group dwelling primarily in the Negev and southern regions adjacent to ancient Israelite territories. In a broader sense, the term may refer collectively to the people of Amalek as a social or ethnic entity. The term explicitly identifies lineage (patronymic) rather than territorial or religious affiliation.

Semantic Range

individual descendant of Amalek, member of the Amalekite people, the Amalekite collective group

Root / Etymology

From the proper name עֲמָלֵק (Amalek), with the nisbe (gentilic) suffix -י (-i), commonly used in Biblical Hebrew to denote a person associated through lineage, origin, or allegiance (e.g., by descent from a progenitor or inhabitant of a region). The root of עֲמָלֵק is uncertain, but the form עֲמָלֵקִי follows the standard formation for patronymic or ethnicon adjectives.

Historical & Contextual Notes

In the Hebrew Bible, עֲמָלֵקִי refers specifically to individuals or groups identified as descendants of Amalek, typically portrayed as a distinct people and frequent adversaries of the Israelites during the period of the wilderness wanderings and the early monarchy. Usage is mostly concentrated in historical and narrative texts (e.g., Exodus, Numbers, 1 Samuel), where the term denotes both individual members and collective groups. There is little evidence of evolution in meaning across biblical periods; the term remains an ethnic or genealogical identifier. English translations usually render עֲמָלֵקִי as 'Amalekite.' However, this translation may not fully convey the term's function as a patronymic, and should not be confused with later terminology for different groups or individuals. Unlike terms such as 'Canaanite' or 'Philistine,' which at times broadened beyond ethnicity to socioeconomic status, עֲמָלֵקִי remains narrowly defined by genealogy. No reliable evidence exists for usage of the term during Second Temple or later periods, making its scope largely limited to the Hebrew Bible's historical framework.

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

patronymically from עֲמָלֵק; an Amalekite (or collectively the Amalekites) or descendants of Amalek; Amalekite(-s).

Bantu Hebrew

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Root Family

עמלק (ʿ-m-l-q) — to descend from, to be associated by lineage

Strong's Lemma SIBI-P1
H6002 עֲמָלֵק and from Amalek

Word Forms

5 distinct forms

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 Occurrences
H6003-01 עֲמָלֵקִ֗י amaleqi HNgmsa an Amalekite Amalek descendant 4
H6003-02 הָ/עֲמָלֵקִ֑י haamaleqi HTd/Ngmsa the Amalekites the Amalekite descendant 4
H6003-05 וְ/הָֽ/עֲמָלֵקִ֥י vehaamaleqi HC/Td/Ngmsa and-the-Amalekite and the Amalekite descendant 2
H6003-03 מֵ/עֲמָלֵקִ֣י meamaleqi HR/Ngmsa from the Amalekite from an Amalek-descendant 1
H6003-04 וַ/עֲמָלֵקִ֣י vaamaleqi HC/Ngmsa the Amalekites Amalek-descendant 1

Occurrences in Scripture

12 total occurrences

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1
H6003-02 Genesis 14:7 הָ/עֲמָלֵקִ֑י haamaleqi HTd/Ngmsa of the Amalekites the Amalekite descendant
H6003-05 Numbers 14:25 וְ/הָֽ/עֲמָלֵקִ֥י vehaamaleqi HC/Td/Ngmsa and-the-Amalekite and the Amalekite descendant
H6003-02 Numbers 14:43 הָ/עֲמָלֵקִ֨י haamaleqi HTd/Ngmsa the Amalekites the Amalekite descendant
H6003-02 Numbers 14:45 הָ/עֲמָלֵקִי֙ haamaleqi HTd/Ngmsa the-Amalekites the Amalekite descendant
H6003-02 Judges 12:15 הָ/עֲמָלֵקִֽי haamaleqi HTd/Ngmsa the Amalekites the Amalekite descendant
H6003-01 1 Samuel 15:6 עֲמָלֵקִ֗י amaleqi HNgmsa Amalekite Amalek descendant
H6003-03 1 Samuel 15:15 מֵ/עֲמָלֵקִ֣י meamaleqi HR/Ngmsa from the Amalekite from an Amalek-descendant
H6003-05 1 Samuel 27:8 וְ/הָ/עֲמָלֵקִ֑י vehaamaleqi HC/Td/Ngmsa and the Amalekites and the Amalekite descendant
H6003-04 1 Samuel 30:1 וַ/עֲמָלֵקִ֣י vaamaleqi HC/Ngmsa the Amalekites Amalek-descendant
H6003-01 1 Samuel 30:13 עֲמָֽלֵקִ֔י amaleqi HNgmsa Amalekite Amalek descendant
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