ESTUDIO DE LA PALABRA HEBREA
Melek — Meaning & Usage in the Bible
Melek (מֶלֶךְ) is the standard Hebrew noun for a king, used over 2,500 times to designate monarchs of cities, nations, and Israel.
Significado de la palabra
Melek is the basic Hebrew noun for a king or monarch. The lexicon entry defines it simply as 'a king' and notes its KJV usage of 'king' and 'royal.' It functions as a common noun describing the sovereign ruler of a polity.
The term is used for kings of foreign nations (Shinar, Elam, Sodom), kings of Israel and Judah, and as a title for God as the supreme King. Its plural, melakim, appears in parallel constructions such as 'kings that were with him.'
Uso en las Escrituras
In Genesis 14, melek appears repeatedly to identify the rulers who formed coalitions and waged war: Amraphel king of Shinar, Arioch king of Ellasar, Chedorlaomer king of Elam, and Tidal king of Goiim (Gen 14:1). The same chapter lists kings on the opposing side, such as the king of Sodom and the king of Gomorrah (Gen 14:2, 8).
These early passages establish the political vocabulary of the Old Testament. The repeated formula 'X king of Y' demonstrates that kingship was tied to specific cities and territories, and that alliances among kings shaped major military campaigns.
La palabra en detalle
- H4428 H4428 מֶלֶךְ (melek) — the standard Hebrew noun 'king,' used both for human monarchs of cities and nations and, in theological usage, for God as King. The plural melakim refers to multiple kings, as seen in 'the kings that were with him.'
Versículos de ejemplo
- Genesis 14:1 The chapter opens by listing four kings with their respective territories — Shinar, Ellasar, Elam, and Goiim — establishing melek as a title tied to a specific domain.
- Genesis 14:2 Here melek is used for rulers of the cities of the plain — Sodom, Gomorrah, Admah, Zeboiim, and Bela — showing that kingship in the OT extended even to small city-states.
- Genesis 14:5 The plural form melakim describes a coalition of kings fighting alongside Chedorlaomer, illustrating joint military action by allied rulers.
- Genesis 14:8 The five kings of the cities of the plain are each called melek as they array for battle, marking them as the counterparts to Chedorlaomer's coalition.
Preguntas frecuentes
What does melek (H4428) mean?
Melek is the standard Hebrew noun meaning 'king.' It refers to the monarch or sovereign ruler of a city, nation, or people, and is one of the most common political terms in the Old Testament.
Is melek used for God as well as human kings?
While the provided entry focuses on human monarchs, the same Hebrew noun is widely used in the Old Testament to describe God as King, the supreme ruler over Israel and all the earth.
How often does melek appear in the Bible?
The lexicon records 946 total occurrences across 744 distinct verses, making melek one of the most frequently used nouns in the Hebrew Bible.