מְחֹלָתִי
𐤌𐤇𐤋𐤕𐤉
Mecholati
H4259 noun
SILEX Entry
Definition
Demonym indicating a person originating from Abel-meholah, an Israelite settlement mentioned in the Hebrew Bible. Used specifically to describe lineage or geographic association with that locality. The term appears as a descriptor of an individual's place of origin or family roots, not as a name for a people group or administrative region.
Semantic Range
a person from Abel-meholah, Meholathite, demonymic identifier for origin from the place called Abel-meholah
Root / Etymology
Formed from the place name אָבֵל מְחוֹלָה ('Abel-meholah'), with the suffixed adjective/demonym ending -ִי (yod), indicating 'of' or 'from' a place—thus, 'of Abel-meholah'. The root of Meholah is מָחוֹל (likely from חוֹל, 'to dance', though this meaning is debated in the toponymic context), while אָבֵל means 'meadow' or 'watercourse.' Thus, 'Abel-meholah' may mean 'meadow of dancing' or 'meadow of the (circle) dance,' with מְחֹלָתִי signifying 'a person from Abel-meholah.'
Historical & Contextual Notes
The term מְחֹלָתִי is used in genealogical or descriptive passages to distinguish individuals by their community of origin, such as Elisha the prophet (1 Kings 19:16), who is called an 'Abel-meholahite.' Its usage follows the biblical pattern of forming gentilics—adjectives or demonyms—by adding the -ִי ending to place names. Abel-meholah was situated in the Jordan Valley, likely within the territory allocated to the tribe of Manasseh, and held some note in narratives involving the prophet Elisha. In English Bibles, 'Meholathite' or 'Abel-meholathite' is used, but the Hebrew distinguishes this as a demonym rather than an ethnic or tribal identity. The root meaning 'dance' is not part of the demonym's lexical sense, but is embedded in the toponym. The term disappears from post-exilic literature, remaining specific to Iron Age narrative contexts.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
patrial from אָבֵל מְחוֹלָה; a Mecholathite or inhabitant of Abel-Mecholah; Mecholathite.
Bantu Hebrew
No Bantu Hebrew comparisons have been submitted for this word yet.
+ Add Bantu Hebrew WordRoot Family
מחול (m-ḥ-w-l) — to dance, to whirl; circular movement
Word Forms
1 distinct form
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H4259-01 |
הַ/מְּחֹלָתִ֖י | hamecholati | HTd/Ngmsa |
the Meholathite | the man from Meadow-of-Dancing | 2 |
Occurrences in Scripture
2 total occurrences
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H4259-01 |
1 Samuel 18:19 | הַ/מְּחֹלָתִ֖י | hamecholati | HTd/Ngmsa |
the Meholathite | the man from Meadow-of-Dancing |
H4259-01 |
2 Samuel 21:8 | הַ/מְּחֹלָתִֽי | hamecholati | HTd/Ngmsa |
the Meholathite | the man from Meadow-of-Dancing |