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מַלְכוּת

𐤌𐤋𐤊𐤅𐤕

malkûwth

H4438 noun

SILEX Entry

Definition

The state or authority of reigning as king or queen; the domain or sphere ruled by a monarch; a kingdom or realm. In extended usage, it can refer to the abstract concept of kingship, royal dominion, or sovereignty. Depending on the context, it may refer to a specific territorial domain, the act or duration of rule (i.e., reign), or the institution of monarchy itself.

Semantic Range

royal rule, reign, kingdom (territory or realm), sovereignty, monarchy, royal authority, royal dignity, period of reigning, institution of kingship

Root / Etymology

From the root מ-ל-ך (מלך), meaning 'to reign' or 'to be king.' מַלְכוּת is a feminine noun formation expressing the state, quality, or institution pertaining to kingship or royal governance. The formation typically denotes the domain or concept related to the underlying verb.

Historical & Contextual Notes

מַלְכוּת is prominently used throughout the Hebrew Bible to denote both the concrete kingdom or realm governed by a king and the abstract idea of kingship itself. In the united monarchy period, it frequently refers to the kingdoms of Israel and Judah as political entities. In prophetic and later writings, it can signify the idealized or future reign of the Israelite deity, especially in apocalyptic or eschatological contexts. It also appears in references to foreign kingdoms, showing its broad applicability as a political term. The term is distinct from מֶלֶךְ (melek, 'king'), emphasizing not the person of the ruler but the reign, authority, or territory over which royal power is exercised. Another related term, מַמְלָכָה (mamlekha), also means 'kingdom' or 'dominion,' but often has a more territorial or administrative nuance, whereas מַלְכוּת can more strongly connote the function or dignity of ruling. In later literature and liturgy, particularly in Second Temple and rabbinic periods, מַלְכוּת develops further abstract senses, such as 'the kingship (of God),' a concept not always explicitly described in pre-exilic texts. Modern English translations commonly use 'kingdom' or 'reign' but may obscure these nuances, especially the distinction between the abstract idea of kingship and the concrete realm or rule. Caution is needed to avoid retrojecting theological meanings from later eras into earlier biblical usage.

Translation Consistency

primary "kingdom" 83 occurrences

Most natural and widely used English equivalent in biblical contexts; it covers both the territorial realm and the abstract idea of royal authority or reign. It is the most frequent P2 rendering (42/91) and will read naturally across phrases (e.g., "kingdom of God," "his kingdom"). Alternate senses like "kingship" or "reign" are narrower or more context-specific.

Alternatives (8 occurrences):
"reign of" (5x) "royal rule" (1x) "royal" (1x) "kingship" (1x)

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

or מַלְכֻת; or (in plural) מַלְכֻיָּה; from מָלַךְ; a rule; concretely, a dominion; empire, kingdom, realm, reign, royal.

Bantu Hebrew

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Root Family

מלך (m-l-k) — to reign, to be king, to rule

Root מלך to reign, to be king, to rule
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

19 distinct forms

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 SIBI-P2 Occurrences
H4438-09 מַלְכ֛וּת malekhut HNcfsc kingdom kingship of kingdom of 27
H4438-12 מַלְכֻתֽ/וֹ malekhuto HNcfsc/Sp3ms his kingdom his kingship his kingdom 23
H4438-07 לְ/מַלְכ֖וּת lemalekhut HR/Ncfsc of the reign to royal rule of to kingdom of 8
H4438-08 לְ/מַלְכוּתֽ/וֹ lemalekhuto HR/Ncfsc/Sp3ms of his reign to his kingship to his kingdom 6
H4438-11 מַלְכוּתֶֽ/ךָ malekhutekha HNcfsc/Sp2ms of your kingdom your kingship your kingdom 5
H4438-05 הַ/מַּלְכ֔וּת hamalekhut HTd/Ncfsa of the kingdom the kingship the kingdom 5
H4438-02 בְּ/מַלְכוּת֙ bemalekhut HR/Ncfsa in-reign in kingship in kingdom 3
H4438-04 בְּ/מַלְכוּת֖/וֹ bemalekhuto HR/Ncfsc/Sp3ms in his reign in his royal rule in his kingdom 2
H4438-10 מַלְכוּתָ֖/ם malekhutam HNcfsc/Sp3mp of their kingdom their kingship their kingdoms 2
H4438-17 וּ/בְ/מַלְכוּת֙ uvemalekhut HC/R/Ncfsc And in the kingdom and in reign of and in the reign of 1

Occurrences in Scripture

91 occurrences

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 SIBI-P2
H4438-12 Numbers 24:7 מַלְכֻתֽ/וֹ malekhuto HNcfsc/Sp3ms his kingdom his kingship his kingdom
H4438-15 1 Samuel 20:31 וּ/מַלְכוּתֶ֑/ךָ umalekhutekha HC/Ncfsc/Sp2ms nor your kingdom your royal rule your royal rule
H4438-12 1 Kings 2:12 מַלְכֻת֖/וֹ malekhuto HNcfsc/Sp3ms his kingdom his kingship his kingdom
H4438-10 Jeremiah 10:7 מַלְכוּתָ֖/ם malekhutam HNcfsc/Sp3mp their kingdoms their kingship their kingdoms
H4438-09 Jeremiah 49:34 מַלְכ֛וּת malekhut HNcfsc reign kingship of kingdom of
H4438-12 Jeremiah 52:31 מַלְכֻת֗/וֹ malekhuto HNcfsc/Sp3ms of-his-reign his kingship his kingdom
H4438-11 Psalms 45:7 מַלְכוּתֶֽ/ךָ malekhutekha HNcfsc/Sp2ms of thy kingdom your kingship your kingdom
H4438-16 Psalms 103:19 וּ֝/מַלְכוּת֗/וֹ umalekhuto HC/Ncfsc/Sp3ms and his kingdom and his kingship and his kingdom
H4438-11 Psalms 145:11 מַלְכוּתְ/ךָ֣ malekhutekha HNcfsc/Sp2ms of your kingdom your kingship your kingdom
H4438-12 Psalms 145:12 מַלְכוּתֽ/וֹ malekhuto HNcfsc/Sp3ms of His kingdom his kingship his kingdom
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