מֶלֶךְ
𐤌𐤋𐤊
melek
H4430 noun
SILEX Entry
Definition
A ruler who exercises authority, generally over a defined territory or people; especially one who occupies the recognized office of 'king.' In Aramaic texts, used for both native and foreign monarchs. Semantic range extends to refer to royal status, authority, or domain in various contexts.
Semantic Range
king, monarch, royal ruler, sovereign, one invested with supreme political authority; by extension, royal power or domain; in specific contexts, referring to kings of Israel, Judah, or foreign empires
Root / Etymology
From the root מלך (M-L-K), meaning 'to rule' or 'to reign.' The noun מֶלֶךְ (melek) is a substantive form indicating one who holds the role of king or sovereign. The Aramaic form (also spelled מַלְכָּא, malka) maintains this meaning and is used primarily in biblical Aramaic passages.
Historical & Contextual Notes
In the Hebrew Bible, the term מֶלֶךְ (melek) is standard for a king but, in the Aramaic sections (such as Daniel and Ezra), the same spelling represents the Aramaic cognate. In these Aramaic texts, the term is used for both leaders of Israelite/Judahite descent and foreign rulers (such as Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon or Darius of Persia). Unlike the Hebrew portions where the concept of 'king' is sometimes restricted by covenantal or theological considerations, the Aramaic מֶלֶךְ is a general political title. English translations typically render as 'king,' but the nuances of sovereignty and regal authority may vary by context. In later periods, the title also carried ceremonial and administrative significance. The use of the Aramaic form highlights periods of foreign rule or diasporic settings, distinguishing these narratives from those written in Hebrew.
Translation Consistency
"Melek" overwhelmingly and typically denotes a royal ruler—what English speakers call a "king." "King" is the most natural, common, and widely used equivalent (matches the 144/180 occurrences labeled "king") and easily covers singular/plural and contextual uses of royal authority, realm, or title; rarer senses (monarch, sovereign, ruler) are encompassed by this choice.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
(Aramaic) corresponding to מֶלֶךְ; a king; king, royal.
Bantu Hebrew
No Bantu Hebrew comparisons have been submitted for this word yet.
+ Add Bantu Hebrew WordRoot Family
מלך (m-l-k) — to reign, to rule, to exercise authority
| Strong's | Lemma | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|
| H3230 | יַמְלֵךְ | He-Will-Reign |
| H4409 | מַלּוּךְ | to Reigning-One |
| H4427 | מָלַךְ | in his reigning |
| H4428 | מֶלֶךְ | among the kings |
| H4429 | מֶלֶךְ | the sovereign |
Word Forms
11 distinct forms
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | SIBI-P2 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H4430-03 |
מַלְכָּ/א֙ | maleka | ANcmsd/Td |
the king | the king | the king | 134 |
H4430-01 |
לְ/מַלְכָּֽ/א | lemaleka | AR/Ncmsd/Td |
to the king | to the king | to the king | 17 |
H4430-07 |
מַלְכִ֖ין | malekhin | ANcmpa |
kings | kings | kings | 9 |
H4430-08 |
מֶ֨לֶךְ֙ | melekhe | ANcmsa |
king | king of | king of | 8 |
H4430-09 |
וּ/מַלְכָּ֣/א | umaleka | AC/Ncmsd/Td |
and the king | and the king | and the king | 4 |
H4430-05 |
מַלְכַיָּ֑/א | malekhaya | ANcmpd/Td |
kings | the kings | the kings | 3 |
H4430-10 |
וּ/מַלְכִ֣ין | umalekhin | AC/Ncmpa |
and kings | and kings | and kings | 1 |
H4430-04 |
מַלְכָּ֤/ה | malekah | ANcmsd/Td |
the-king | her king | the king | 1 |
H4430-06 |
מַלְכִ֖ים | malekhim | ANcmpa |
of the kings | kings | of the kings | 1 |
H4430-11 |
וּ/מֶ֤לֶךְ | umelekhe | AC/Ncmsa |
and king | and king of | and a king | 1 |
Occurrences in Scripture
180 occurrences
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | SIBI-P2 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H4430-03 |
Daniel 2:4 | מַלְכָּ/א֙ | maleka | ANcmsd/Td |
O king | the king | O king |
H4430-03 |
Daniel 2:5 | מַלְכָּ/א֙ | maleka | ANcmsd/Td |
the king | the king | the king |
H4430-03 |
Daniel 2:7 | מַלְכָּ֕/א | maleka | ANcmsd/Td |
O king | the king | O king |
H4430-03 |
Daniel 2:8 | מַלְכָּ/א֙ | maleka | ANcmsd/Td |
the king | the king | the king |
H4430-03 |
Daniel 2:10 | מַלְכָּ/א֙ | maleka | ANcmsd/Td |
the king | the king | the king |
H4430-03 |
Daniel 2:10 | מַלְכָּ֔/א | maleka-2 | ANcmsd/Td |
the king's | the king | the king |
H4430-08 |
Daniel 2:10 | מֶ֨לֶךְ֙ | melekhe | ANcmsa |
king | king of | king |
H4430-04 |
Daniel 2:11 | מַלְכָּ֤/ה | malekah | ANcmsd/Td |
the-king | her king | the king |
H4430-03 |
Daniel 2:11 | מַלְכָּ֑/א | maleka | ANcmsd/Td |
the-king | the king | the king |
H4430-03 |
Daniel 2:12 | מַלְכָּ֕/א | maleka | ANcmsd/Td |
the king | the king | the king |