מִלֻּא
𐤌𐤋𐤀
milluʼ
H4394 noun
SILEX Entry
Definition
The act or state of being filled, fullness, or completion, specifically used in the Hebrew Bible in the context of ritual installation or consecration ceremonies—particularly those involving the initiation or ordination of priests. In its technical usage, it refers to both the ceremonial process of filling (hands) and the offerings or sacrifices associated with installation rites.
Semantic Range
filling, fullness, completion, ritual consecration (esp. of priests), installation, dedicatory sacrifice, process of setting stones (as in gem setting); technical term for rites of ordination or installation
Root / Etymology
Derived from the root מָלֵא (male’), meaning 'to fill, be full, fulfill.' The form מִלֻּא (millu’) derives from the Pi‘el passive participle (with an abstract noun ending), meaning 'a filling' or in context, 'a state of having been filled/completed.'
Historical & Contextual Notes
In the Hebrew Bible, מִלֻּא (millu’) occurs almost exclusively in the context of the priestly ordination rituals detailed in Exodus, Leviticus, and Numbers, signifying the 'consecration' or 'installation' of priests—i.e., the ritual 'filling of hands' that designates being equipped or qualified for a specific sacred function. This process entails prescribed rites (including offerings)—distinct from secular uses of 'filling' in Hebrew. The term is attested almost entirely in the plural (מִלּוּאִים, millu’im), emphasizing the collective set of activities or offerings associated with the consecration process. English translations commonly render this as 'consecration' or 'filling,' but this can obscure the technical and ritual associations. In the priestly Torah literature, these rites mark the transfer of sacred office and are sometimes contrasted with other ritual or sacrificial terms. In later writings, the term is not commonly used outside ritual contexts.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
from מָלֵא; a fulfilling (only in plural), i.e. (literally) a setting (of gems), or (technically) consecration (also concretely, a dedicatory sacrifice); consecration, be set.
Bantu Hebrew
No Bantu Hebrew comparisons have been submitted for this word yet.
+ Add Bantu Hebrew WordRoot Family
מלא (m-l-ʾ) — to fill, make full, complete, fulfill
| Strong's | Lemma | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|
| H3229 | יִמְלָא | He-will-be-full |
| H4390 | מָלֵא | I will fill up |
| H4391 | מְלָא | he filled himself |
| H4392 | מָלֵא | the fullness |
| H4393 | מְלֹא | fullness of |
Word Forms
5 distinct forms
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H4394-01 |
הַ/מִּלֻּאִים֙ | hamiluim | HTd/Ncmpa |
of the ordination | the installation-fillings | 8 |
H4394-03 |
מִלֻּאִ֑ים | miluim | HNcmpa |
for setting | ordination-fillings | 4 |
H4394-02 |
מִלֻּאֵי/כֶ֑ם | milueykhem | HNcmpc/Sp2mp |
of your consecration | your filling-rites | 1 |
H4394-05 |
וְ/לַ֨/מִּלּוּאִ֔ים | velamiluim | HC/Rd/Ncmpa |
and for the ordination offerings | installation-fillings | 1 |
H4394-04 |
וּ/מִלּוּאִ֜ים | umiluim | HC/Ncmpa |
and-filling-stones | and installation-fillings | 1 |
Occurrences in Scripture
15 total occurrences
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H4394-03 |
Exodus 25:7 | מִלֻּאִ֑ים | miluim | HNcmpa |
for setting | ordination-fillings |
H4394-03 |
Exodus 29:22 | מִלֻּאִ֖ים | miluim | HNcmpa |
of ordination | ordination-fillings |
H4394-01 |
Exodus 29:26 | הַ/מִּלֻּאִים֙ | hamiluim | HTd/Ncmpa |
of the consecrations | the installation-fillings |
H4394-01 |
Exodus 29:27 | הַ/מִּלֻּאִ֔ים | hamiluim | HTd/Ncmpa |
of the ordination | the installation-fillings |
H4394-01 |
Exodus 29:31 | הַ/מִּלֻּאִ֖ים | hamiluim | HTd/Ncmpa |
of the ordination | the installation-fillings |
H4394-01 |
Exodus 29:34 | הַ/מִּלֻּאִ֛ים | hamiluim | HTd/Ncmpa |
of the ordination offerings | the installation-fillings |
H4394-03 |
Exodus 35:9 | מִלֻּאִ֑ים | miluim | HNcmpa |
for setting | ordination-fillings |
H4394-01 |
Exodus 35:27 | הַ/מִּלֻּאִ֑ים | hamiluim | HTd/Ncmpa |
for setting | the installation-fillings |
H4394-05 |
Leviticus 7:37 | וְ/לַ֨/מִּלּוּאִ֔ים | velamiluim | HC/Rd/Ncmpa |
and for the ordination offerings | installation-fillings |
H4394-01 |
Leviticus 8:22 | הַ/מִּלֻּאִ֑ים | hamiluim | HTd/Ncmpa |
of ordination | the installation-fillings |