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מַחֲלַת

𐤌𐤇𐤋𐤕

Machalat

H4258 noun

SILEX Entry

Root חלה to be weak, to be sick, to become ill

Definition

A proper noun used as a personal name for two women in the Hebrew Bible, and as a possible musical or liturgical term in the psalms. The primary lexical meaning is a personal name, 'Machalath,' most likely derived from a root meaning 'sickness' or 'to be weak,' though as a personal name the link to the root is often secondary or non-literal. In later contexts, the term may function as a musical or liturgical instruction in Psalm superscriptions, but the precise meaning in those heading contexts is debated.

Semantic Range

personal name (Machalath), possible liturgical or musical term in Psalms, literal meaning 'sickness' or 'disease' (rarely used as such in the Hebrew Bible), possibly name of a melody or style in worship

Root / Etymology

From the root חלה (ḥ-l-h), meaning 'to be weak, to be sick.' The noun מחלת likely originally meant 'sickness,' but functions as a proper noun. The link between the root meaning and the personal name may be non-literal or traditional, reflecting ancient naming customs rather than semantic import.

Historical & Contextual Notes

Machalath appears as a personal name for two women: (1) a daughter of Ishma'el, married to Esau (Genesis 28:9), and (2) a daughter of Jerimoth, son of David, married to Rehoboam (2 Chronicles 11:18). As a name, it may reflect a wish, circumstance at birth, or simply naming convention, as is common in ancient Semitic cultures. In Psalms 53 and 88, 'Machalath' appears in superscriptions, possibly as a musical term or tune, but the exact meaning is uncertain; some traditions treat it as a tune name, others as a liturgical or genre designation. English Bibles often simply transliterate the term or render it as 'to the tune of Mahalath.' Later translation traditions sometimes render it as a reference to 'disease' or interpretively link it to 'suffering,' but such interpretations are speculative. The term's presence in Psalm headings does not connect it unambiguously to the women named elsewhere; this may represent a separate use, drawing on the root sense, or could be referencing a well-known melody. In summary, the personal name usage in the narratives refers specifically to women with genealogical significance, whereas the psalmic occurrence remains etymologically related, but functionally distinct as a possible liturgical marker.

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

the same as מַחֲלַת; sickness; Machalath, the name of an Ishmaelitess and of an Israelitess; Mahalath.

Bantu Hebrew

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Root Family

חלה (ḥ-l-h) — to be weak, to be sick, to become ill

Strong's Lemma SIBI-P1
H2342 חוּל sickness
H2470 חָלָה in their becoming weak
H2481 חֲלִי delicate ornaments
H2482 חֲלִי and Hali
H2483 חֳלִי in sicknesses

Word Forms

1 distinct form

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 Occurrences
H4258-01 מָחֲלַ֣ת machalat HNp Mahalath Machalath 2

Occurrences in Scripture

2 total occurrences

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1
H4258-01 Genesis 28:9 מָחֲלַ֣ת machalat HNp Mahalath Machalath
H4258-01 2 Chronicles 11:18 מָ֣חֲלַ֔ת machalat HNp Mahalath Machalath
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