מָלֵא
𐤌𐤋𐤀
mâlêʼ
H4390 verb
SILEX Entry
Definition
To fill, to become full, or to be filled; to supply or make complete by putting something into a space or lack, whether literal (as of vessels, houses, spaces) or figurative (as of time, roles, promises, or conditions). It can also indicate the state of fullness, completion, or fulfillment, including the completion of a time period, the fulfillment of a word or promise, or the ordination or consecration of someone or something by filling (as with oil, hands, or ceremonial roles).
Semantic Range
to fill, to be filled, to become full, to cause to be full, to supply or furnish, to fulfill (a word, promise, or obligation), to complete (a period of time), to consecrate by filling the hand, to ordain, to satisfy, to overflow
Root / Etymology
From the Hebrew root מ-ל-א (מָלֵא), which carries the core sense 'to fill, be full, complete.' The form מָלֵא functions as a verb (qal/yitpael, etc.), with derived forms as adjective and nouns. The root concept is the transition from emptiness or incompleteness to fullness or completion.
Historical & Contextual Notes
In the Hebrew Bible, מָלֵא is used throughout all periods (from early narrative to late prophetic and post-exilic writings). It most commonly appears in narratives concerning literal filling (jars, granaries, earth), but is frequently employed in legal and ritual texts for figurative usages: the 'fulfillment' of a task, a promise, or a specified time ('the days were fulfilled'). Especially noteworthy is its role in priestly literature: to 'fill the hand' (מִלּ֣וּ יָדָם) is an idiom for ordination or investiture, reflecting the placing of offerings or symbols of office into one's hand. Distinction should be made from related roots: שׂבע (to be satisfied/sated) describes inner contentment, not just spatial fullness; כְּלִי ('vessel') as a cognate noun is frequently 'filled.' While the English 'fulfill' often narrows to completion of prophecy or promise, the Hebrew covers a range from tangible filling to abstract completion. In Esther 7:5, the alternative spelling מָלָא appears, a feature of later Hebrew orthography; meaning and usage remain consistent.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
or מָלָא; (Esther 7:5), a primitive root; to fill or (intransitively) be full of, in a wide application (literally and figuratively); accomplish, confirm, [phrase] consecrate, be at an end, be expired, be fenced, fill, fulfil, (be, become, [idiom] draw, give in, go) full(-ly, -ly set, tale), (over-) flow, fulness, furnish, gather (selves, together), presume, replenish, satisfy, set, space, take a (hand-) full, [phrase] have wholly.
Bantu Hebrew
No Bantu Hebrew comparisons have been submitted for this word yet.
+ Add Bantu Hebrew WordRoot Family
מלא (m-l-ʾ) — to fill, be full, complete
| Strong's | Lemma | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|
| H3229 | יִמְלָא | He-will-be-full |
| H4391 | מְלָא | he filled himself |
| H4392 | מָלֵא | the fullness |
| H4393 | מְלֹא | fullness of |
| H4394 | מִלֻּא | the installation-fillings |
Word Forms
76 distinct forms
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H4390-11 |
מַלֵּ֖א | male | HVpv2ms |
filled | full | 26 |
H4390-15 |
מָלְא֖וּ | maleu | HVqp3cp |
are full | they became full | 21 |
H4390-12 |
מָלְאָ֥ה | maleah | HVqp3fs |
is full | she was full | 18 |
H4390-24 |
מִלֵּ֨א | mile | HVpp3ms |
he filled | he fully filled | 17 |
H4390-46 |
וּ/מָ֨לְא֜וּ | umaleu | HC/Vqq3cp |
and fill | and they filled | 10 |
H4390-60 |
וַ/יְמַלֵּ֖א | vayemale | HC/Vpw3ms |
and he filled | and he filled fully | 9 |
H4390-72 |
יִמָּלֵ֥א | yimale | HVNi3ms |
shall be filled | he will be filled | 8 |
H4390-20 |
מְלֹ֔את | melot | HVqc |
are completed | to fill | 7 |
H4390-58 |
וַ/תִּמָּלֵ֥א | vatimale | HC/VNw3fs |
and-was-filled | and she was filled | 7 |
H4390-32 |
מִלְא֨וּ | mileu | HVqv2mp |
Fill | Fill up! | 6 |
Occurrences in Scripture
250 total occurrences
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H4390-51 |
Genesis 1:22 | וּ/מִלְא֤וּ | umileu | HC/Vqv2mp |
and fill | and fill |
H4390-51 |
Genesis 1:28 | וּ/מִלְא֥וּ | umileu | HC/Vqv2mp |
and fill | and fill |
H4390-58 |
Genesis 6:11 | וַ/תִּמָּלֵ֥א | vatimale | HC/VNw3fs |
was filled | and she was filled |
H4390-12 |
Genesis 6:13 | מָלְאָ֥ה | maleah | HVqp3fs |
is filled | she was full |
H4390-51 |
Genesis 9:1 | וּ/מִלְא֥וּ | umileu | HC/Vqv2mp |
and fill | and fill |
H4390-56 |
Genesis 21:19 | וַ/תְּמַלֵּ֤א | vatemale | HC/Vpw3fs |
and filled | and she made full |
H4390-56 |
Genesis 24:16 | וַ/תְּמַלֵּ֥א | vatemale | HC/Vpw3fs |
and filled | and she made full |
H4390-64 |
Genesis 25:24 | וַ/יִּמְלְא֥וּ | vayimeleu | HC/Vqw3mp |
were fulfilled | and they filled |
H4390-62 |
Genesis 26:15 | וַ/יְמַלְא֖וּ/ם | vayemaleum | HC/Vpw3mp/Sp3mp |
and filled them | and they filled them |
H4390-15 |
Genesis 29:21 | מָלְא֖וּ | maleu | HVqp3cp |
are completed | they became full |