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עֲמָלֵק

𐤏𐤌𐤋𐤒

Amaleq

H6002 noun

SILEX Entry

Root uncertain uncertain (name of people or person, possibly 'dweller in the valley', but not definitively established)

Definition

Amalek – the personal name of a figure identified as a descendant of Esau; also designates the people (the Amalekites), who were traditionally considered his descendants, and the territory associated with them. Most frequently used to refer to the people group noted as adversaries of the Israelites during the wilderness period and in later historical narratives.

Semantic Range

personal name (Amalek, grandson of Esau), collective name for a people (Amalekites), designation of a territory inhabited or controlled by this people

Root / Etymology

Possibly of non-Hebrew (foreign) origin; root uncertain. The name עֲמָלֵק is not readily explained by known Hebrew roots and is likely a loan from a non-Semitic language in the region.

Historical & Contextual Notes

In the Hebrew Bible, עֲמָלֵק first appears as a personal name for a descendant of Esau (Genesis 36:12, 16) and becomes the eponymous ancestor of a people group, the Amalekites, a recurring adversary of the Israelites during the exodus, wilderness wanderings, and early monarchic period (e.g., Exodus 17; 1 Samuel 15). The term may also refer to their territory (e.g., 'land of Amalek'). Ancient Near Eastern evidence for the Amalekites outside the biblical text is sparse, leading some modern scholars to suggest the people may have had a complex or shifting ethnic and political identity. English translations sometimes use 'Amalekite' for the people, but the term 'Amalek' itself is used both for the progenitor and collectively for the group. The identification of Amalek in post-biblical tradition with later peoples or as a literary/theological symbol developed after the biblical period. 'Jew' and related terms in these contexts are anachronistic; in all biblical texts, Amalek represents a group existing in relationship (often conflict) with the Israelites, not modern religious or ethnic categories. Usage declines after the Persian period, and the group does not appear in post-biblical history with the same identity.

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

probably of foreign origin; Amalek, a descendant of Esau; also his posterity and their country; Amalek.

Bantu Hebrew

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Root Family

עמלק (uncertain) (ʿ-m-l-q (uncertain)) — uncertain; personal or tribal name of foreign origin

Word Forms

6 distinct forms

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 Occurrences
H6002-01 עֲמָלֵ֑ק amaleq HNp Amalek Amalek 23
H6002-06 וַ/עֲמָלֵ֑ק vaamaleq HC/Np and Amalek and Amalek 7
H6002-02 בַּ/עֲמָלֵ֑ק baamaleq HR/Np with Amalek in Amalek 5
H6002-05 וּ/מֵֽ/עֲמָלֵ֑ק umeamaleq HC/R/Np and from Amalek and from Amalek 2
H6002-03 הָ/עֲמָלֵ֑ק haamaleq HTd/Np the Amalekites the Amalek 1
H6002-04 לַ/עֲמָלֵ֑ק laamaleq HR/Np of Amalek to Amalek 1

Occurrences in Scripture

39 total occurrences

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1
H6002-01 Genesis 36:12 עֲמָלֵ֑ק amaleq HNp Amalek Amalek
H6002-01 Genesis 36:16 עֲמָלֵ֑ק amaleq HNp Amalek Amalek
H6002-01 Exodus 17:8 עֲמָלֵ֑ק amaleq HNp Amalek Amalek
H6002-02 Exodus 17:9 בַּ/עֲמָלֵ֑ק baamaleq HR/Np with Amalek in Amalek
H6002-02 Exodus 17:10 בַּ/עֲמָלֵ֑ק baamaleq HR/Np against Amalek in Amalek
H6002-01 Exodus 17:11 עֲמָלֵֽק amaleq HNp Amalek Amalek
H6002-01 Exodus 17:13 עֲמָלֵ֥ק amaleq HNp Amalek Amalek
H6002-01 Exodus 17:14 עֲמָלֵ֔ק amaleq HNp Amalek Amalek
H6002-02 Exodus 17:16 בַּֽ/עֲמָלֵ֑ק baamaleq HR/Np with Amalek in Amalek
H6002-01 Numbers 13:29 עֲמָלֵ֥ק amaleq HNp Amalek Amalek
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