מֶ֫לֶךְ
king
Full lexicon entry — Brown-Driver-Briggs (BDB)
From Brown-Driver-Briggs (BDB)
Where this word appears
See every Absolute-state word in the Hebrew Bible →
Grammar key — what these labels mean
Part of speech
- Noun
- A naming word — a person, place, thing, or idea.
Noun type
- Common
- A common noun — a general class of person, place, or thing (“king,” “city,” “water”), not a specific name.
State
- Absolute
- The independent form of a noun, not bound to a following word.
- Construct
- A noun bound to a following noun in a possessive / “of” relationship (the construct chain).
Gender
- Masculine
- Grammatically masculine.
Number
- Singular
- One.
- Plural
- More than one (in Hebrew, generally three or more).
Page 5 of 6 — showing verses 801–1,000 of 1,140 distinct verses where H4428 appears in the Absolute state, across 34 books. Filtered view — show all forms. Click any verse to open its interlinear word-by-word view. Verse text shown in the World English Bible for context — . Each verse’s Hebrew form is shown with its reference; the English is not keyword-highlighted, since the data carries no word-level English alignment. Use “Compare translations” on any verse to read it across multiple English versions. This concordance covers the Hebrew Bible; Septuagint (Greek Old Testament) occurrences are not indexed here.
Esther 118 verses
- Esther 1:19 הַ/מֶּ֣לֶךְ הַ/מֶּ֣לֶךְ הַ/מֶּ֔לֶךְ ptcl def.art + n c ms ptcl def.art + n c ms ptcl def.art + n c ms If it please the king, let there go forth a royal commandment from him, and let it be written among the laws of the Persians and the Medes, that it not be altered, that Vashti come no more before king Ahasuerus; and let the king give her royal estate to another who is better than she.
- Esther 1:20 הַ/מֶּ֤לֶךְ ptcl def.art + n c ms When the king's decree which he shall make shall be published throughout all his kingdom (for it is great), all the wives will give to their husbands honor, both to great and small.
- Esther 1:21 הַ/מֶּ֖לֶךְ הַ/מֶּ֖לֶךְ ptcl def.art + n c ms ptcl def.art + n c ms The saying pleased the king and the princes; and the king did according to the word of Memucan:
- Esther 1:22 הַ/מֶּ֔לֶךְ ptcl def.art + n c ms for he sent letters into all the king's provinces, into every province according to the writing of it, and to every people after their language, that every man should bear rule in his own house, and should speak according to the language of his people.
- Esther 2:1 הַ/מֶּ֣לֶךְ ptcl def.art + n c ms After these things, when the wrath of king Ahasuerus was pacified, he remembered Vashti, and what she had done, and what was decreed against her.
- Esther 2:2 הַ/מֶּ֖לֶךְ לַ/מֶּ֛לֶךְ ptcl def.art + n c ms prep det + n c ms Then said the king's servants who ministered to him, Let there be beautiful young virgins sought for the king:
- Esther 2:3 הַ/מֶּ֣לֶךְ הַ/מֶּ֖לֶךְ ptcl def.art + n c ms ptcl def.art + n c ms and let the king appoint officers in all the provinces of his kingdom, that they may gather together all the beautiful young virgins to Shushan the palace, to the house of the women, to the custody of Hegai the king's chamberlain, keeper of the women; and let their things for purification be given them;
- Esther 2:4 הַ/מֶּ֔לֶךְ הַ/מֶּ֖לֶךְ ptcl def.art + n c ms ptcl def.art + n c ms and let the maiden who pleases the king be queen instead of Vashti. The thing pleased the king; and he did so.
- Esther 2:8 הַ/מֶּ֨לֶךְ֙ הַ/מֶּ֔לֶךְ ptcl def.art + n c ms ptcl def.art + n c ms So it happened, when the king's commandment and his decree was heard, and when many maidens were gathered together to Shushan the palace, to the custody of Hegai, that Esther was taken into the king's house, to the custody of Hegai, keeper of the women.
- Esther 2:9 הַ/מֶּ֑לֶךְ ptcl def.art + n c ms The maiden pleased him, and she obtained kindness of him; and he speedily gave her things for her purification, with her portions, and the seven maidens who were meet to be given her out of the king's house: and he removed her and her maidens to the best place of the house of the women.
- Esther 2:12 הַ/מֶּ֣לֶךְ ptcl def.art + n c ms Now when the turn of every maiden was come to go in to king Ahasuerus, after it had been done to her as prescribed for the women twelve months (for so were the days of their purification accomplished, [to wit], six months with oil of myrrh, and six months with sweet odors and with the things for the purifying of the women),
- Esther 2:13 הַ/מֶּ֑לֶךְ הַ/מֶּֽלֶךְ ptcl def.art + n c ms ptcl def.art + n c ms then in this wise came the maiden to the king: whatever she desired was given her to go with her out of the house of the women to the king's house.
- Esther 2:14 הַ/מֶּ֖לֶךְ הַ/מֶּ֔לֶךְ הַ/מֶּ֖לֶךְ ptcl def.art + n c ms ptcl def.art + n c ms ptcl def.art + n c ms In the evening she went, and on the next day she returned into the second house of the women, to the custody of Shaashgaz, the king's chamberlain, who kept the concubines: she came in to the king no more, except the king delighted in her, and she were called by name.
- Esther 2:15 הַ/מֶּ֗לֶךְ הַ/מֶּ֖לֶךְ ptcl def.art + n c ms ptcl def.art + n c ms Now when the turn of Esther, the daughter of Abihail the uncle of Mordecai, who had taken her for his daughter, was come to go in to the king, she required nothing but what Hegai the king's chamberlain, the keeper of the women, appointed. Esther obtained favor in the sight of all those who looked at her.
- Esther 2:16 הַ/מֶּ֤לֶךְ ptcl def.art + n c ms So Esther was taken to king Ahasuerus into his house royal in the tenth month, which is the month Tebeth, in the seventh year of his reign.
- Esther 2:17 הַ/מֶּ֤לֶךְ ptcl def.art + n c ms The king loved Esther above all the women, and she obtained favor and kindness in his sight more than all the virgins; so that he set the royal crown on her head, and made her queen instead of Vashti.
- Esther 2:18 הַ/מֶּ֜לֶךְ הַ/מֶּֽלֶךְ ptcl def.art + n c ms ptcl def.art + n c ms Then the king made a great feast to all his princes and his servants, even Esther's feast; and he made a release to the provinces, and gave gifts, according to the bounty of the king.
- Esther 2:19 הַ/מֶּֽלֶךְ ptcl def.art + n c ms When the virgins were gathered together the second time, then Mordecai was sitting in the king's gate.
- Esther 2:21 הַ/מֶּ֑לֶךְ הַ/מֶּ֨לֶךְ֙ בַּ/מֶּ֖לֶךְ ptcl def.art + n c ms ptcl def.art + n c ms prep det + n c ms In those days, while Mordecai was sitting in the king's gate, two of the king's chamberlains, Bigthan and Teresh, of those who kept the threshold, were angry, and sought to lay hands on the king Ahasuerus.
- Esther 2:22 לַ/מֶּ֖לֶךְ prep det + n c ms The thing became known to Mordecai, who shown it to Esther the queen; and Esther told the king [of it] in Mordecai's name.
- Esther 2:23 הַ/מֶּֽלֶךְ ptcl def.art + n c ms When inquisition was made of the matter, and it was found to be so, they were both hanged on a tree: and it was written in the book of the chronicles before the king.
- Esther 3:1 הַ/מֶּ֨לֶךְ ptcl def.art + n c ms After these things did king Ahasuerus promote Haman the son of Hammedatha the Agagite, and advanced him, and set his seat above all the princes who were with him.
- Esther 3:2 הַ/מֶּ֜לֶךְ הַ/מֶּ֗לֶךְ הַ/מֶּ֑לֶךְ ptcl def.art + n c ms ptcl def.art + n c ms ptcl def.art + n c ms All the king's servants, who were in the king's gate, bowed down, and did reverence to Haman; for the king had so commanded concerning him. But Mordecai didn't bow down, nor did him reverence.
- Esther 3:3 הַ/מֶּ֛לֶךְ הַ/מֶּ֖לֶךְ הַ/מֶּֽלֶךְ ptcl def.art + n c ms ptcl def.art + n c ms ptcl def.art + n c ms Then the king's servants, who were in the king's gate, said to Mordecai, Why disobey you the king's commandment?
- Esther 3:7 לַ/מֶּ֖לֶךְ prep det + n c ms In the first month, which is the month Nisan, in the twelfth year of king Ahasuerus, they cast Pur, that is, the lot, before Haman from day to day, and from month to month, [to] the twelfth [month], which is the month Adar.
- Esther 3:8 לַ/מֶּ֣לֶךְ הַ/מֶּ֨לֶךְ֙ וְ/לַ/מֶּ֥לֶךְ prep det + n c ms ptcl def.art + n c ms conj + prep det + n c ms Haman said to king Ahasuerus, There is a certain people scattered abroad and dispersed among the peoples in all the provinces of your kingdom; and their laws are diverse from [those of] every people; neither keep they the king's laws: therefore it is not for the king's profit to allow them.
- Esther 3:9 הַ/מֶּ֣לֶךְ הַ/מֶּֽלֶךְ ptcl def.art + n c ms ptcl def.art + n c ms If it please the king, let it be written that they be destroyed: and I will pay ten thousand talents of silver into the hands of those who have the charge of the [king's] business, to bring it into the king's treasuries.
- Esther 3:10 הַ/מֶּ֛לֶךְ ptcl def.art + n c ms The king took his ring from his hand, and gave it to Haman the son of Hammedatha the Agagite, the Jews' enemy.
- Esther 3:11 הַ/מֶּ֨לֶךְ֙ ptcl def.art + n c ms The king said to Haman, The silver is given to you, the people also, to do with them as it seems good to you.
- Esther 3:12 הַ/מֶּ֜לֶךְ הַ֠/מֶּלֶךְ הַ/מֶּ֤לֶךְ הַ/מֶּֽלֶךְ ptcl def.art + n c ms ptcl def.art + n c ms ptcl def.art + n c ms ptcl def.art + n c ms Then were the king's scribes called in the first month, on the thirteenth day of it; and there was written according to all that Haman commanded to the king's satraps, and to the governors who were over every province, and to the princes of every people, to every province according to the writing of it, and to every people after their language; in the name of king Ahasuerus was it written, and it was sealed with the king's ring.
- Esther 3:13 הַ/מֶּלֶךְ֒ ptcl def.art + n c ms Letters were sent by posts into all the king's provinces, to destroy, to kill, and to cause to perish, all Jews, both young and old, little children and women, in one day, even on the thirteenth [day] of the twelfth month, which is the month Adar, and to take the spoil of them for a prey.
- Esther 3:15 הַ/מֶּ֔לֶךְ וְ/הַ/מֶּ֤לֶךְ ptcl def.art + n c ms conj + ptcl def.art + n c ms The posts went forth in haste by the king's commandment, and the decree was given out in Shushan the palace. The king and Haman sat down to drink; but the city of Shushan was perplexed.
- Esther 4:2 הַ/מֶּ֑לֶךְ הַ/מֶּ֖לֶךְ ptcl def.art + n c ms ptcl def.art + n c ms and he came even before the king's gate: for none might enter within the king's gate clothed with sackcloth.
- Esther 4:3 הַ/מֶּ֤לֶךְ ptcl def.art + n c ms In every province, wherever the king's commandment and his decree came, there was great mourning among the Jews, and fasting, and weeping, and wailing; and many lay in sackcloth and ashes.
- Esther 4:5 הַ/מֶּ֨לֶךְ֙ ptcl def.art + n c ms Then called Esther for Hathach, one of the king's chamberlains, whom he had appointed to attend on her, and charged him to go to Mordecai, to know what this was, and why it was.
- Esther 4:6 הַ/מֶּֽלֶךְ ptcl def.art + n c ms So Hathach went forth to Mordecai to the broad place of the city, which was before the king's gate.
- Esther 4:7 הַ/מֶּ֛לֶךְ ptcl def.art + n c ms Mordecai told him of all that had happened to him, and the exact sum of the money that Haman had promised to pay to the king's treasuries for the Jews, to destroy them.
- Esther 4:8 הַ/מֶּ֧לֶךְ ptcl def.art + n c ms Also he gave him the copy of the writing of the decree that was given out in Shushan to destroy them, to show it to Esther, and to declare it to her, and to charge her that she should go in to the king, to make supplication to him, and to make request before him, for her people.
- Esther 4:11 הַ/מֶּ֡לֶךְ הַ/מֶּ֜לֶךְ הַ/מֶּלֶךְ֩ הַ/מֶּ֛לֶךְ הַ/מֶּ֔לֶךְ ptcl def.art + n c ms ptcl def.art + n c ms ptcl def.art + n c ms ptcl def.art + n c ms ptcl def.art + n c ms All the king's servants, and the people of the king's provinces, do know, that whoever, whether man or woman, shall come to the king into the inner court, who is not called, there is one law for him, that he be put to death, except those to whom the king shall hold out the golden scepter, that he may live: but I have not been called to come in to the king these thirty days.
- Esther 4:13 הַ/מֶּ֖לֶךְ ptcl def.art + n c ms Then Mordecai bade them return answer to Esther, Don't think to yourself that you shall escape in the king's house, more than all the Jews.
- Esther 4:16 הַ/מֶּ֨לֶךְ֙ ptcl def.art + n c ms Go, gather together all the Jews who are present in Shushan, and fast you for me, and neither eat nor drink three days, night or day: I also and my maidens will fast in like manner; and so will I go in to the king, which is not according to the law: and if I perish, I perish.
- Esther 5:1 הַ/מֶּ֨לֶךְ֙ הַ/מֶּ֑לֶךְ וְ֠/הַ/מֶּלֶךְ ptcl def.art + n c ms ptcl def.art + n c ms conj + ptcl def.art + n c ms Now it happened on the third day, that Esther put on her royal clothing, and stood in the inner court of the king's house, over against the king's house: and the king sat on his royal throne in the royal house, over against the entrance of the house.
- Esther 5:2 הַ/מֶּ֜לֶךְ הַ/מֶּ֜לֶךְ ptcl def.art + n c ms ptcl def.art + n c ms It was so, when the king saw Esther the queen standing in the court, that she obtained favor in his sight; and the king held out to Esther the golden scepter that was in his hand. So Esther drew near, and touched the top of the scepter.
- Esther 5:3 הַ/מֶּ֔לֶךְ ptcl def.art + n c ms Then said the king to her, What will you, queen Esther? and what is your request? it shall be given you even to the half of the kingdom.
- Esther 5:4 הַ/מֶּ֖לֶךְ הַ/מֶּ֤לֶךְ ptcl def.art + n c ms ptcl def.art + n c ms Esther said, If it seem good to the king, let the king and Haman come this day to the banquet that I have prepared for him.
- Esther 5:5 הַ/מֶּ֔לֶךְ הַ/מֶּ֨לֶךְ֙ ptcl def.art + n c ms ptcl def.art + n c ms Then the king said, Cause Haman to make haste, that it may be done as Esther has said. So the king and Haman came to the banquet that Esther had prepared.
- Esther 5:6 הַ/מֶּ֤לֶךְ ptcl def.art + n c ms The king said to Esther at the banquet of wine, What is your petition? and it shall be granted you: and what is your request? even to the half of the kingdom it shall be performed.
- Esther 5:8 הַ/מֶּ֗לֶךְ הַ/מֶּ֨לֶךְ֙ הַ/מֶּ֣לֶךְ הַ/מֶּֽלֶךְ ptcl def.art + n c ms ptcl def.art + n c ms ptcl def.art + n c ms ptcl def.art + n c ms if I have found favor in the sight of the king, and if it please the king to grant my petition, and to perform my request, let the king and Haman come to the banquet that I shall prepare for them, and I will do tomorrow as the king has said.
- Esther 5:9 הַ/מֶּ֗לֶךְ ptcl def.art + n c ms Then went Haman forth that day joyful and glad of heart: but when Haman saw Mordecai in the king's gate, that he didn't stand up nor move for him, he was filled with wrath against Mordecai.
- Esther 5:11 הַ/מֶּ֨לֶךְ֙ הַ/מֶּֽלֶךְ ptcl def.art + n c ms ptcl def.art + n c ms Haman recounted to them the glory of his riches, and the multitude of his children, and all the things in which the king had promoted him, and how he had advanced him above the princes and servants of the king.
- Esther 5:12 הַ/מֶּ֛לֶךְ הַ/מֶּֽלֶךְ ptcl def.art + n c ms ptcl def.art + n c ms Haman said moreover, Yes, Esther the queen did let no man come in with the king to the banquet that she had prepared but myself; and tomorrow also am I invited by her together with the king.
- Esther 5:13 הַ/מֶּֽלֶךְ ptcl def.art + n c ms Yet all this avails me nothing, so long as I see Mordecai the Jew sitting at the king's gate.
- Esther 5:14 לַ/מֶּ֗לֶךְ הַ/מֶּ֥לֶךְ prep det + n c ms ptcl def.art + n c ms Then said Zeresh his wife and all his friends to him, Let a gallows be made fifty cubits high, and in the morning speak you to the king that Mordecai may be hanged thereon: then go you in merrily with the king to the banquet. The thing pleased Haman; and he caused the gallows to be made.
- Esther 6:1 הַ/מֶּ֑לֶךְ הַ/מֶּֽלֶךְ ptcl def.art + n c ms ptcl def.art + n c ms On that night the king couldn't sleep; and he commanded to bring the book of records of the chronicles, and they were read before the king.
- Esther 6:2 הַ/מֶּ֔לֶךְ בַּ/מֶּ֖לֶךְ ptcl def.art + n c ms prep det + n c ms It was found written that Mordecai had told of Bigthana and Teresh, two of the king's chamberlains, of those who kept the threshold, who had sought to lay hands on the king Ahasuerus.
- Esther 6:3 הַ/מֶּ֔לֶךְ הַ/מֶּ֨לֶךְ֙ ptcl def.art + n c ms ptcl def.art + n c ms The king said, What honor and dignity has been bestowed on Mordecai for this? Then the king's servants who ministered to him said, "Nothing has been done for him."
- Esther 6:4 הַ/מֶּ֖לֶךְ הַ/מֶּ֨לֶךְ֙ לַ/מֶּ֔לֶךְ ptcl def.art + n c ms ptcl def.art + n c ms prep det + n c ms The king said, "Who is in the court?" Now Haman was come into the outward court of the king's house, to speak to the king to hang Mordecai on the gallows that he had prepared for him.
- Esther 6:5 הַ/מֶּ֨לֶךְ֙ הַ/מֶּ֖לֶךְ ptcl def.art + n c ms ptcl def.art + n c ms The king's servants said to him, Behold, Haman stands in the court. The king said, Let him come in.
- Esther 6:6 הַ/מֶּ֔לֶךְ הַ/מֶּ֖לֶךְ הַ/מֶּ֛לֶךְ ptcl def.art + n c ms ptcl def.art + n c ms ptcl def.art + n c ms So Haman came in. The king said to him, What shall be done to the man whom the king delights to honor? Now Haman said in his heart, To whom would the king delight to do honor more than to myself?
- Esther 6:7 הַ/מֶּ֑לֶךְ הַ/מֶּ֖לֶךְ ptcl def.art + n c ms ptcl def.art + n c ms Haman said to the king, For the man whom the king delights to honor,
- Esther 6:8 הַ/מֶּ֑לֶךְ הַ/מֶּ֔לֶךְ ptcl def.art + n c ms ptcl def.art + n c ms let royal clothing be brought which the king uses to wear, and the horse that the king rides on, and on the head of which a crown royal is set:
- Esther 6:9 הַ/מֶּ֨לֶךְ֙ הַ/מֶּ֖לֶךְ הַ/מֶּ֖לֶךְ ptcl def.art + n c ms ptcl def.art + n c ms ptcl def.art + n c ms and let the clothing and the horse be delivered to the hand of one of the king's most noble princes, that they may array the man therewith whom the king delights to honor, and cause him to ride on horseback through the street of the city, and proclaim before him, Thus shall it be done to the man whom the king delights to honor.
- Esther 6:10 הַ/מֶּ֜לֶךְ הַ/מֶּ֑לֶךְ ptcl def.art + n c ms ptcl def.art + n c ms Then the king said to Haman, Make haste, and take the clothing and the horse, as you have said, and do even so to Mordecai the Jew, who sits at the king's gate: let nothing fail of all that you have spoken.
- Esther 6:11 הַ/מֶּ֖לֶךְ ptcl def.art + n c ms Then took Haman the clothing and the horse, and arrayed Mordecai, and caused him to ride through the street of the city, and proclaimed before him, Thus shall it be done to the man whom the king delights to honor.
- Esther 6:12 הַ/מֶּ֑לֶךְ ptcl def.art + n c ms Mordecai came again to the king's gate. But Haman hurried to his house, mourning and having his head covered.
- Esther 6:14 הַ/מֶּ֖לֶךְ ptcl def.art + n c ms While they were yet talking with him, came the king's chamberlains, and hurried to bring Haman to the banquet that Esther had prepared.
- Esther 7:1 הַ/מֶּ֨לֶךְ֙ ptcl def.art + n c ms So the king and Haman came to banquet with Esther the queen.
- Esther 7:2 הַ/מֶּ֨לֶךְ ptcl def.art + n c ms The king said again to Esther on the second day at the banquet of wine, What is your petition, queen Esther? and it shall be granted you: and what is your request? even to the half of the kingdom it shall be performed.
- Esther 7:3 הַ/מֶּ֔לֶךְ הַ/מֶּ֖לֶךְ ptcl def.art + n c ms ptcl def.art + n c ms Then Esther the queen answered, If I have found favor in your sight, O king, and if it please the king, let my life be given me at my petition, and my people at my request:
- Esther 7:4 הַ/מֶּֽלֶךְ ptcl def.art + n c ms for we are sold, I and my people, to be destroyed, to be slain, and to perish. But if we had been sold for bondservants and bondmaids, I had held my peace, although the adversary could not have compensated for the king's damage.
- Esther 7:5 הַ/מֶּ֣לֶךְ ptcl def.art + n c ms Then spoke the king Ahasuerus and said to Esther the queen, Who is he, and where is he, that dared presume in his heart to do so?
- Esther 7:6 הַ/מֶּ֖לֶךְ ptcl def.art + n c ms Esther said, An adversary and an enemy, even this wicked Haman. Then Haman was afraid before the king and the queen.
- Esther 7:7 וְ/הַ/מֶּ֜לֶךְ הַ/מֶּֽלֶךְ conj + ptcl def.art + n c ms ptcl def.art + n c ms The king arose in his wrath from the banquet of wine [and went] into the palace garden: and Haman stood up to make request for his life to Esther the queen; for he saw that there was evil determined against him by the king.
- Esther 7:8 וְ/הַ/מֶּ֡לֶךְ הַ/מֶּ֔לֶךְ הַ/מֶּ֔לֶךְ conj + ptcl def.art + n c ms ptcl def.art + n c ms ptcl def.art + n c ms Then the king returned out of the palace garden into the place of the banquet of wine; and Haman was fallen on the couch whereon Esther was. Then said the king, Will he even force the queen before me in the house? As the word went out of the king's mouth, they covered Haman's face.
- Esther 7:9 הַ/מֶּ֗לֶךְ הַ/מֶּ֗לֶךְ הַ/מֶּ֖לֶךְ ptcl def.art + n c ms ptcl def.art + n c ms ptcl def.art + n c ms Then said Harbonah, one of the chamberlains who were before the king, Behold also, the gallows fifty cubits high, which Haman has made for Mordecai, who spoke good for the king, stands in the house of Haman. The king said, Hang him thereon.
- Esther 7:10 הַ/מֶּ֖לֶךְ ptcl def.art + n c ms So they hanged Haman on the gallows that he had prepared for Mordecai. Then was the king's wrath pacified.
- Esther 8:1 הַ/מֶּ֤לֶךְ הַ/מֶּ֔לֶךְ ptcl def.art + n c ms ptcl def.art + n c ms On that day did the king Ahasuerus give the house of Haman the Jews' enemy to Esther the queen. Mordecai came before the king; for Esther had told what he was to her.
- Esther 8:2 הַ/מֶּ֜לֶךְ ptcl def.art + n c ms The king took off his ring, which he had taken from Haman, and gave it to Mordecai. Esther set Mordecai over the house of Haman.
- Esther 8:3 הַ/מֶּ֔לֶךְ ptcl def.art + n c ms Esther spoke yet again before the king, and fell down at his feet, and begged him with tears to put away the mischief of Haman the Agagite, and his device that he had devised against the Jews.
- Esther 8:4 הַ/מֶּ֨לֶךְ֙ הַ/מֶּֽלֶךְ ptcl def.art + n c ms ptcl def.art + n c ms Then the king held out to Esther the golden scepter. So Esther arose, and stood before the king.
- Esther 8:5 הַ/מֶּ֨לֶךְ הַ/מֶּ֔לֶךְ הַ/מֶּֽלֶךְ ptcl def.art + n c ms ptcl def.art + n c ms ptcl def.art + n c ms She said, If it please the king, and if I have found favor in his sight, and the thing seem right before the king, and I be pleasing in his eyes, let it be written to reverse the letters devised by Haman, the son of Hammedatha the Agagite, which he wrote to destroy the Jews who are in all the king's provinces:
- Esther 8:7 הַ/מֶּ֤לֶךְ ptcl def.art + n c ms Then the king Ahasuerus said to Esther the queen and to Mordecai the Jew, See, I have given Esther the house of Haman, and him they have hanged on the gallows, because he laid his hand on the Jews.
- Esther 8:8 הַ/מֶּ֔לֶךְ הַ/מֶּ֑לֶךְ הַ/מֶּ֗לֶךְ הַ/מֶּ֖לֶךְ ptcl def.art + n c ms ptcl def.art + n c ms ptcl def.art + n c ms ptcl def.art + n c ms Write you also to the Jews, as it pleases you, in the king's name, and seal it with the king's ring; for the writing which is written in the king's name, and sealed with the king's ring, may no man reverse.
- Esther 8:9 הַ/מֶּ֣לֶךְ ptcl def.art + n c ms Then were the king's scribes called at that time, in the third month Sivan, on the three and twentieth [day] of it; and it was written according to all that Mordecai commanded to the Jews, and to the satraps, and the governors and princes of the provinces which are from India to Ethiopia, one hundred twenty-seven provinces, to every province according to the writing of it, and to every people after their language, and to the Jews according to their writing, and according to their language.
- Esther 8:10 הַ/מֶּ֣לֶךְ הַ/מֶּ֑לֶךְ ptcl def.art + n c ms ptcl def.art + n c ms He wrote the name of king Ahasuerus, and sealed it with the king's ring, and sent letters by post on horseback, riding on swift steeds that were used in the king's service, bred of the stud:
- Esther 8:11 הַ/מֶּ֜לֶךְ ptcl def.art + n c ms in which the king granted the Jews who were in every city to gather themselves together, and to stand for their life, to destroy, to kill, and to cause to perish, all the power of the people and province that would assault them, [their] little ones and women, and to take the spoil of them for a prey,
- Esther 8:12 הַ/מֶּ֣לֶךְ ptcl def.art + n c ms on one day in all the provinces of king Ahasuerus, [namely], on the thirteenth [day] of the twelfth month, which is the month Adar.
- Esther 8:14 הַ/מֶּ֑לֶךְ ptcl def.art + n c ms So the posts who rode on swift steeds that were used in the king's service went out, being hurried and pressed on by the king's commandment; and the decree was given out in Shushan the palace.
- Esther 8:15 הַ/מֶּ֗לֶךְ ptcl def.art + n c ms Mordecai went forth from the presence of the king in royal clothing of blue and white, and with a great crown of gold, and with a robe of fine linen and purple: and the city of Shushan shouted and was glad.
- Esther 8:17 הַ/מֶּ֤לֶךְ ptcl def.art + n c ms In every province, and in every city, wherever the king's commandment and his decree came, the Jews had gladness and joy, a feast and a good day. Many from among the peoples of the land became Jews; for the fear of the Jews was fallen on them.
- Esther 9:1 הַ/מֶּ֛לֶךְ ptcl def.art + n c ms Now in the twelfth month, which is the month Adar, on the thirteenth day of the same, when the king's commandment and his decree drew near to be put in execution, on the day that the enemies of the Jews hoped to have rule over them, (whereas it was turned to the contrary, that the Jews had rule over those who hated them),
- Esther 9:2 הַ/מֶּ֣לֶךְ ptcl def.art + n c ms the Jews gathered themselves together in their cities throughout all the provinces of the king Ahasuerus, to lay hand on such as sought their hurt: and no man could withstand them; for the fear of them was fallen on all the peoples.
- Esther 9:3 לַ/מֶּ֔לֶךְ prep det + n c ms All the princes of the provinces, and the satraps, and the governors, and those who did the king's business, helped the Jews; because the fear of Mordecai was fallen on them.
- Esther 9:4 הַ/מֶּ֔לֶךְ ptcl def.art + n c ms For Mordecai was great in the king's house, and his fame went forth throughout all the provinces; for the man Mordecai grew greater and greater.
- Esther 9:11 הַ/מֶּֽלֶךְ ptcl def.art + n c ms On that day the number of those who were slain in Shushan the palace was brought before the king.
- Esther 9:12 הַ/מֶּ֜לֶךְ הַ/מֶּ֖לֶךְ ptcl def.art + n c ms ptcl def.art + n c ms The king said to Esther the queen, The Jews have slain and destroyed five hundred men in Shushan the palace, and the ten sons of Haman; what then have they done in the rest of the king's provinces! Now what is your petition? and it shall be granted you: or what is your request further? and it shall be done.
- Esther 9:13 הַ/מֶּ֣לֶךְ ptcl def.art + n c ms Then said Esther, If it please the king, let it be granted to the Jews who are in Shushan to do tomorrow also according to this day's decree, and let Haman's ten sons be hanged on the gallows.
- Esther 9:14 הַ/מֶּ֨לֶךְ֙ ptcl def.art + n c ms The king commanded it so to be done: and a decree was given out in Shushan; and they hanged Haman's ten sons.
- Esther 9:16 הַ/מֶּ֜לֶךְ ptcl def.art + n c ms The other Jews who were in the king's provinces gathered themselves together, and stood for their lives, and had rest from their enemies, and killed of those who hated them seventy-five thousand; but they didn't lay their hand on the spoil.
- Esther 9:20 הַ/מֶּ֣לֶךְ ptcl def.art + n c ms Mordecai wrote these things, and sent letters to all the Jews who were in all the provinces of the king Ahasuerus, both near and far,
- Esther 9:25 הַ/מֶּלֶךְ֒ ptcl def.art + n c ms but when [the matter] came before the king, he commanded by letters that his wicked device, which he had devised against the Jews, should return on his own head, and that he and his sons should be hanged on the gallows.
- Esther 10:1 הַ/מֶּ֨לֶךְ ptcl def.art + n c ms The king Ahasuerus laid a tribute on the land, and on the isles of the sea.
- Esther 10:2 הַ/מֶּ֑לֶךְ לְ/מַלְכֵ֖י ptcl def.art + n c ms prep + n c mp cs All the acts of his power and of his might, and the full account of the greatness of Mordecai, whereunto the king advanced him, aren't they written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Media and Persia?
- Esther 10:3 לַ/מֶּ֣לֶךְ prep det + n c ms For Mordecai the Jew was next to king Ahasuerus, and great among the Jews, and accepted of the multitude of his brothers, seeking the good of his people, and speaking peace to all his seed.
Job 7 verses
- Job 3:14 מְ֭לָכִים n c mp With kings and counselors of the earth, Who built up waste places for themselves;
- Job 12:18 מְלָכִ֣ים n c mp He loosens the bond of kings, He binds their loins with a belt.
- Job 15:24 כְּ/מֶ֤לֶךְ prep + n c ms Distress and anguish make him afraid; They prevail against him, as a king ready to the battle.
- Job 29:25 כְּ/מֶ֣לֶךְ prep + n c ms I chose out their way, and sat as chief. I lived as a king in the army, As one who comforts the mourners.
- Job 34:18 לְ/מֶ֣לֶךְ prep + n c ms Who says to a king, 'Vile!' Or to nobles, 'Wicked!'
- Job 36:7 מְלָכִ֥ים n c mp He doesn't withdraw his eyes from the righteous, But with kings on the throne, He sets them forever, and they are exalted.
- Job 41:34 מֶ֣לֶךְ n c ms He sees everything that is high: He is king over all the sons of pride."
Psalms 34 verses
- Psalms 2:10 מְלָכִ֣ים n c mp Now therefore be wise, you kings. Be instructed, you judges of the earth.
- Psalms 20:9 הַ֝/מֶּ֗לֶךְ ptcl def.art + n c ms Save, Yahweh; Let the King answer us when we call!
- Psalms 21:1 מֶ֑לֶךְ n c ms The king rejoices in your strength, Yahweh! How greatly he rejoices in your salvation!
- Psalms 21:7 הַ֭/מֶּלֶךְ ptcl def.art + n c ms For the king trusts in Yahweh. Through the loving kindness of the Most High, he shall not be moved.
- Psalms 29:10 מֶ֣לֶךְ n c ms Yahweh sat enthroned at the Flood. Yes, Yahweh sits as King forever.
- Psalms 33:16 הַ֭/מֶּלֶךְ ptcl def.art + n c ms There is no king saved by the multitude of a host. A mighty man is not delivered by great strength.
- Psalms 45:1 לְ/מֶ֑לֶךְ prep + n c ms My heart overflows with a noble theme. I recite my verses for the king. My tongue is like the pen of a skillful writer.
- Psalms 45:5 הַ/מֶּֽלֶךְ ptcl def.art + n c ms Your arrows are sharp. The nations fall under you, with arrows in the heart of the king's enemies.
- Psalms 45:9 מְ֭לָכִים n c mp Kings' daughters are among your honorable women. At your right hand the queen stands in gold of Ophir.
- Psalms 45:11 הַ/מֶּ֣לֶךְ ptcl def.art + n c ms So the king will desire your beauty, Honor him, for he is your lord.
- Psalms 45:13 מֶ֣לֶךְ n c ms The princess inside is all glorious. Her clothing is interwoven with gold.
- Psalms 45:14 לַ֫/מֶּ֥לֶךְ prep det + n c ms She shall be led to the king in embroidered work. The virgins, her companions who follow her, shall be brought to you.
- Psalms 45:15 מֶֽלֶךְ n c ms With gladness and rejoicing they shall be led. They shall enter into the king's palace.
- Psalms 47:2 מֶ֥לֶךְ n c ms For Yahweh Most High is awesome. He is a great King over all the earth.
- Psalms 48:2 מֶ֣לֶךְ n c ms Beautiful in elevation, the joy of the whole earth, Is Mount Zion, on the north sides, The city of the great King.
- Psalms 48:4 הַ֭/מְּלָכִים ptcl def.art + n c mp For, behold, the kings assembled themselves, They passed by together.
- Psalms 61:6 מֶ֣לֶךְ n c ms You will prolong the king's life; His years shall be for generations.
- Psalms 63:11 וְ/הַ/מֶּלֶךְ֮ conj + ptcl def.art + n c ms But the king shall rejoice in God. Everyone who swears by him will praise him, For the mouth of those who speak lies shall be silenced.
- Psalms 68:14 מְלָ֘כִ֤ים n c mp When the Almighty scattered kings in her, It snowed on Zalmon.
- Psalms 68:29 מְלָכִ֣ים n c mp Because of your temple at Jerusalem, Kings shall bring presents to you.
- Psalms 72:1 לְ/מֶ֣לֶךְ מֶֽלֶךְ prep + n c ms n c ms God, give the king your justice; Your righteousness to the royal son.
- Psalms 72:11 מְלָכִ֑ים n c mp Yes, all kings shall fall down before him. All nations shall serve him.
- Psalms 95:3 וּ/מֶ֥לֶךְ conj + n c ms For Yahweh is a great God, A great King above all gods.
- Psalms 98:6 הַ/מֶּ֬לֶךְ ptcl def.art + n c ms With trumpets and sound of the ram's horn, Make a joyful noise before the King, Yahweh.
- Psalms 99:4 מֶלֶךְ֮ n c ms The King's strength also loves justice. You do establish equity. You execute justice and righteousness in Jacob.
- Psalms 105:14 מְלָכִֽים n c mp He allowed no one to do them wrong. Yes, he reproved kings for their sakes,
- Psalms 105:20 מֶ֭לֶךְ n c ms The king sent and freed him; Even the ruler of peoples, and let him go free.
- Psalms 110:5 מְלָכִֽים n c mp The Lord is at your right hand. He will crush kings in the day of his wrath.
- Psalms 119:46 מְלָכִ֗ים n c mp I will also speak of your statutes before kings, And will not be disappointed.
- Psalms 135:10 מְלָכִ֥ים n c mp Who struck many nations, And killed mighty kings,
- Psalms 136:17 מְלָכִ֣ים n c mp To him who struck great kings; For his loving kindness endures forever;
- Psalms 136:18 מְלָכִ֣ים n c mp And killed mighty kings; For his loving kindness endures forever:
- Psalms 144:10 לַ/מְּלָ֫כִ֥ים prep det + n c mp You are he who gives salvation to kings, Who rescues David, his servant, from the deadly sword.
- Psalms 145:1 הַ/מֶּ֑לֶךְ ptcl def.art + n c ms I will exalt you, my God, the King. I will praise your name forever and ever.
Proverbs 29 verses
- Proverbs 8:15 מְלָכִ֣ים n c mp By me kings reign, And princes decree justice.
- Proverbs 14:28 מֶ֑לֶךְ n c ms In the multitude of people is the king's glory, But in the lack of people is the destruction of the prince.
- Proverbs 14:35 מֶ֭לֶךְ n c ms The king's favor is toward a servant who deals wisely, But his wrath is toward one who causes shame.
- Proverbs 16:10 מֶ֑לֶךְ n c ms Inspired judgments are on the lips of the king. He shall not betray his mouth.
- Proverbs 16:12 מְ֭לָכִים n c mp It is an abomination for kings to do wrong, For the throne is established by righteousness.
- Proverbs 16:13 מְ֭לָכִים n c mp Righteous lips are the delight of kings. They value one who speaks the truth.
- Proverbs 16:14 מֶ֥לֶךְ n c ms The king's wrath is a messenger of death, But a wise man will pacify it.
- Proverbs 16:15 מֶ֥לֶךְ n c ms In the light of the king's face is life. His favor is like a cloud of the spring rain.
- Proverbs 19:12 מֶ֑לֶךְ n c ms The king's wrath is like the roaring of a lion, But his favor is like dew on the grass.
- Proverbs 20:2 מֶ֑לֶךְ n c ms The terror of a king is like the roaring of a lion: He who provokes him to anger forfeits his own life.
- Proverbs 20:8 מֶ֗לֶךְ n c ms A king who sits on the throne of judgment Scatters away all evil with his eyes.
- Proverbs 20:26 מֶ֣לֶךְ n c ms A wise king winnows out the wicked, And drives the threshing wheel over them.
- Proverbs 20:28 מֶ֑לֶךְ n c ms Love and faithfulness keep the king safe. His throne is sustained by love.
- Proverbs 21:1 מֶ֭לֶךְ n c ms The king's heart is in Yahweh's hand like the watercourses. He turns it wherever he desires.
- Proverbs 22:11 מֶֽלֶךְ n c ms He who loves purity of heart and speaks gracefully Is the king's friend.
- Proverbs 22:29 מְלָכִ֥ים n c mp Do you see a man skilled in his work? He will serve kings; He won't serve obscure men.
- Proverbs 24:21 וָ/מֶ֑לֶךְ conj + n c ms My son, fear Yahweh and the king. Don't join those who are rebellious:
- Proverbs 25:2 מְ֝לָכִ֗ים n c mp It is the glory of God to conceal a thing, But the glory of kings is to search out a matter.
- Proverbs 25:3 מְ֝לָכִ֗ים n c mp As the heavens for height, and the earth for depth, So the hearts of kings are unsearchable.
- Proverbs 25:5 מֶ֑לֶךְ n c ms Take away the wicked from the king's presence, And his throne will be established in righteousness.
- Proverbs 25:6 מֶ֑לֶךְ n c ms Don't exalt yourself in the presence of the king, Or claim a place among great men;
- Proverbs 29:4 מֶ֗לֶךְ n c ms The king by justice makes the land stable, But he who takes bribes tears it down.
- Proverbs 29:14 מֶ֤לֶךְ n c ms The king who fairly judges the poor, His throne shall be established forever.
- Proverbs 30:27 מֶ֭לֶךְ n c ms The locusts have no king, Yet they advance in ranks;
- Proverbs 30:28 מֶֽלֶךְ n c ms You can catch a lizard with your hands, Yet it is in kings' palaces.
- Proverbs 30:31 וּ֝/מֶ֗לֶךְ conj + n c ms The greyhound, The male goat also; And the king against whom there is no rising up.
- Proverbs 31:1 מֶ֑לֶךְ n c ms The words of king Lemuel; the oracle which his mother taught him.
- Proverbs 31:3 מְלָכִֽין n c mp Don't give your strength to women, Nor your ways to that which destroys kings.
- Proverbs 31:4 לַֽ/מְלָכִ֨ים לַֽ/מְלָכִ֣ים prep det + n c mp prep det + n c mp It is not for kings, Lemuel; It is not for kings to drink wine; Nor for princes to say, 'Where is strong drink?'
Ecclesiastes 10 verses
- Ecclesiastes 1:1 מֶ֖לֶךְ n c ms The words of the Preacher, the son of David, king in Jerusalem:
- Ecclesiastes 1:12 מֶ֛לֶךְ n c ms I, the Preacher, was king over Israel in Jerusalem.
- Ecclesiastes 2:8 מְלָכִ֖ים n c mp I also gathered silver and gold for myself, and the treasure of kings and of the provinces. I got myself men-singers and women-singers, and the delights of the sons of men--musical instruments, and that of all sorts.
- Ecclesiastes 2:12 הַ/מֶּ֔לֶךְ ptcl def.art + n c ms I turned myself to consider wisdom, madness, and folly: for what can the king's successor do? Just that which has been done long ago.
- Ecclesiastes 4:13 מִ/מֶּ֤לֶךְ prep + n c ms Better is a poor and wise youth than an old and foolish king who doesn't know how to receive admonition any more.
- Ecclesiastes 5:9 מֶ֥לֶךְ n c ms Moreover the profit of the earth is for all. The king profits from the field.
- Ecclesiastes 8:2 מֶ֣לֶךְ n c ms I say, "Keep the king's command!" because of the oath to God.
- Ecclesiastes 8:4 מֶ֖לֶךְ n c ms for the king's word is supreme. Who can say to him, "What are you doing?"
- Ecclesiastes 9:14 מֶ֤לֶךְ n c ms There was a little city, and few men within it; and a great king came against it, besieged it, and built great bulwarks against it.
- Ecclesiastes 10:20 מֶ֚לֶךְ n c ms Don't curse the king, no, not in your thoughts; And don't curse the rich in your bedchamber: For a bird of the sky may carry your voice, And that which has wings may tell the matter.
Song of Solomon 5 verses
- Song of Solomon 1:4 הַ/מֶּ֜לֶךְ ptcl def.art + n c ms Take me away with you. Let us hurry. The king has brought me into his chambers. Friends We will be glad and rejoice in you. We will praise your love more than wine! Beloved They are right to love you.
- Song of Solomon 1:12 שֶׁ֤/הַ/מֶּ֨לֶךְ֙ ptcl rel + ptcl def.art + n c ms While the king sat at his table, My perfume spread its fragrance.
- Song of Solomon 3:9 הַ/מֶּ֣לֶךְ ptcl def.art + n c ms King Solomon made himself a carriage Of the wood of Lebanon.
- Song of Solomon 3:11 בַּ/מֶּ֣לֶךְ prep det + n c ms Go forth, you daughters of Zion, and see king Solomon, With the crown with which his mother has crowned him, In the day of his weddings, In the day of the gladness of his heart. Lover
- Song of Solomon 7:5 מֶ֖לֶךְ n c ms Your head on you is like Carmel, The hair of your head like purple; The king is held captive in its tresses.
Isaiah 31 verses
- Isaiah 6:1 הַ/מֶּ֣לֶךְ ptcl def.art + n c ms In the year that king Uzziah died, I saw the Lord sitting on a throne, high and lifted up; and his train filled the temple.
- Isaiah 6:5 הַ/מֶּ֛לֶךְ ptcl def.art + n c ms Then I said, "Woe is me! For I am undone, because I am a man of unclean lips, and I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips: for my eyes have seen the King, Yahweh of Hosts!"
- Isaiah 7:6 מֶ֨לֶךְ֙ n c ms "Let's go up against Judah, and tear it apart, and let's divide it among ourselves, and set up a king in the midst of it, even the son of Tabeel."
- Isaiah 10:8 מְלָכִֽים n c mp For he says, Aren't my princes all of them kings?
- Isaiah 14:28 הַ/מֶּ֣לֶךְ ptcl def.art + n c ms In the year that king Ahaz died was this burden.
- Isaiah 19:4 וּ/מֶ֤לֶךְ conj + n c ms I will give over the Egyptians into the hand of a cruel lord; and a fierce king shall rule over them, says the Lord, Yahweh of Hosts.
- Isaiah 23:15 מֶ֣לֶךְ n c ms It shall come to pass in that day, that Tyre shall be forgotten seventy years, according to the days of one king: after the end of seventy years it shall be to Tyre as in the song of the prostitute.
- Isaiah 30:33 לַ/מֶּ֥לֶךְ prep det + n c ms For a Topheth is prepared of old; yes, for the king it is made ready; he has made it deep and large; the pile of it is fire and much wood; the breath of Yahweh, like a stream of sulfur, does kindle it.
- Isaiah 32:1 מֶ֑לֶךְ n c ms Behold, a king shall reign in righteousness, and princes shall rule in justice.
- Isaiah 33:17 מֶ֥לֶךְ n c ms Your eyes shall see the king in his beauty: they shall see a land that reaches afar.
- Isaiah 36:1 לַ/מֶּ֣לֶךְ מֶֽלֶךְ prep det + n c ms n c ms cs Now it happened in the fourteenth year of king Hezekiah, that Sennacherib king of Assyria came up against all the fortified cities of Judah, and took them.
About this entry
At a glance — auto-summarized from this page’s data, not written by a person. Every figure links to its source below. This summary describes the numbers; it doesn’t interpret them.
מלך — transliterated melek — is a Hebrew noun carrying the sense “king.” Its earliest occurrence is Genesis 14:1. It appears 1,919 verses across 35 books of the Hebrew Bible, among its most common vocabulary. It shares a root with מלך, מלוכה and מלך. See the sense tree, 1,919-verse concordance, and the renderings breakdown below.
Gloss history
Strong's 1890 vs modern scholarship
About this word
Strong's H4428 catalogs a Hebrew word from the Hebrew Old Testament.
These counts are not copied from any lexicon or concordance. They are computed here, from the morphology-tagged Hebrew Old Testament. What Lemma adds →
- 1,919
- distinct verses
- The word appears in 1,919 distinct verses.
- 35 / 39
- OT books
- The word appears in 35 of 39 Old Testament books.
- #15
- by frequency
- Top 25 most frequent Hebrew words (rank 15 of 8,640 Hebrew words by occurrence).
View all 1,919 occurrences in the concordance →
Most concentrated in
- 2 Kings 268 verses 14%
- 1 Kings 231 verses 12%
- 2 Chronicles 218 verses 11%
By section of the Old Testament
By traditional corpus
Conventional, traditional groupings — biblical authorship is debated, so this is a traditional corpus grouping, not an authorship claim. Each share is this word’s portion of its verses in that division of the Hebrew canon. Each figure is a share of the word’s 1,919 distinct verses.
- Prophets (Nevi'im) 1,231 verses · 64%
- Writings (Ketuvim) 613 verses · 32%
- Torah (Pentateuch) 75 verses · 4%
How translations render this word
Counts come from each version’s own published word-to-Strong’s tagging or interlinear alignment — an approximate guide to how each version renders this word, not a word-level alignment the data otherwise carries. Because each total is that version’s own tagged count, the per-version totals vary from one another and need not match the appearance or distinct-verse counts above. These counts may also differ from a printed concordance because Lemma counts each distinctly tagged rendering and does not collapse phrase taggings into a single head-word total. This is a fixed set of word-tagged versions (KJV, ASV, BSB, ULT) and does not change with the reading translation you choose elsewhere. Each version’s license is shown beside its name below (and on Sources).
BDB lists this Strong’s number as 2 distinct words (homographs). Each count above pools all of them and is not split by sense — see the Senses section below. A low-frequency rendering may belong to a different one of those words, not the primary meaning.
- King James Version†: King 1,741×, Kings 202×, King's 187×
- American Standard Version†: King 1,824×, Kings 192×, All the kings 24×
- Berean Standard Bible†: King 1,732×, Kings 261×, King’s 120×
- unfoldingWord Literal Text†: King 1,322×, King of 697×, Kings of 130×
King James Version Public Domain
Renders H4428 across 2,523† tagged occurrences — most commonly:
Plus other, less common renderings. Plus 173 renderings that appear only once — usually multi-word phrases or single function words the recovered tagging swept in, not distinct renderings.
American Standard Version Public Domain
Renders H4428 across 2,522† tagged occurrences — most commonly:
Plus other, less common renderings. Plus 225 renderings that appear only once — usually multi-word phrases or single function words the recovered tagging swept in, not distinct renderings.
Berean Standard Bible Public Domain
Renders H4428 across 2,406† tagged occurrences — most commonly:
Plus other, less common renderings. Plus 86 renderings that appear only once — usually multi-word phrases or single function words the recovered tagging swept in, not distinct renderings. Not rendered by a distinct English word in 118 further occurrences.
unfoldingWord Literal Text CC BY-SA 4.0
Renders H4428 across 2,390† tagged occurrences — most commonly:
Plus other, less common renderings. Plus 37 renderings that appear only once — usually multi-word phrases or single function words the recovered tagging swept in, not distinct renderings.
9 senses and sub-senses in the full BDB
What do BDB’s symbols mean?
BDB uses these scholarly abbreviations:
| Symbol | Meaning |
|---|---|
| 𝔊 | the Septuagint (the ancient Greek translation, LXX) |
| 𝔙 | the Vulgate (the Latin translation) |
| 𝔖 | the Syriac version (the Peshitta) |
| 𝔗 | the Targum (the Aramaic translation) |
| ψ | the Psalms |
| √ | root (the underlying root or stem) |
| ‖ | parallel passage (a synonymous or contrasted parallel) |
| † | the dagger: every passage where the word occurs is cited |
The 9 senses and sub-senses the full Brown-Driver-Briggs lexicon distinguishes for this word, in lexicon order (not ranked by frequency), with BDB’s own verbatim wording and sub-sense lettering. Shown in Hebrew script with BDB’s own scholarly abbreviations. The condensed entry is in the Lexicon Entry tab. See also the Forms in the corpus table below.
מלך I king (NH id.
- 1. king: of Egypt Gn 39:20 f. Ex 1:8 f. Dt 11:3 1 K 3:1; of Mesopotamia, Shinar, Assyrian, Babyl., Pers., etc. Ju 3:8, 10 Gn 14:1 f. 2 K 15:19, 20, 29; 17:3 f.; 18:13 f.; 24:1, 11 f. Ezr 1:1 f.; 4:3 f. Est 1:2 +, 1 K 11:18, 40; 14:25 2 K 17:4 f.; 23:29 +; of Canaan, Philist., Edom, Moab, etc. (often of single city): Gn 14:2 f. v 18; 20:2; 26:1, 8; 36:31 Nu 20:14; 21:1 f.; 22:4, 10 Dt 1:4; 3:1 f. Jos 2:2 (often in Jos), Ju 1:7; 5:19; 8:5, 12; 11:12 f.; 2 K 3:4 f. +; of Aram, Hamath, etc. 2 S 8:3 f. v 9 1 K 15:18; 20:1 f.; 22:3 2 K 5:1 f.; 8:7 f v 29; 9:14, 15; 15:37; 16:5 f. +; of Tyre, etc. 2 S 5:11; 1 K 5:15; 9:11; 16 +, etc.; especially of Israel (undivided, and of both divisions) Gn 36:31 Nu 23:21; 24:7 Dt 17:14 f. Ju 17:6; 18:1; 19:1; 21:25; 1 S 2:10; 8:5 f. 2 S 2:4 f. 1 K 1:33, 34 f. + very often; cf. also Ju 9:5.—2 S 18:29b del. הַמּ׳ We Klo Dr Kit Bu. Note that in early books המלך דוד is nearly always said; in late books usually דוד (שׁלמה וגו׳) המלך; cf. Aramaic כּוֹרֶשׁ מַלְכָּא, etc. e.g. Genesis 39:20
- 2. of Davidic king, as under divine protection, 1 S 2:10 (‖ מְשִׁיחוֹ), ψ 2:6; 18:51; 89:19; 61:7, cf. 99:4; so in (Messianic) prediction Ho 3:5 Is 32:1 Je 23:5 Ez 37:22, 24 Zc 9:9. e.g. 1 Samuel 2:10
- 3. used of י׳ as king of Israel 1 S 12:12; poet. Dt 33:5 cf. ψ 5:3; 10:16; 29:10; 44:5; 48:3; 68:25; 74:12; 84:4; 145:1; 149:2 Is 41:21; 43:15; 44:6 Zp 3:15; מֶלֶךְ הַכָּבוֹד ψ 24:7, 8, 9, 10(×2); universal king ψ 47:3, 8; 95:3; 98:6 Je 10:7, 10, cf. 46:18; 48:15; 51:57 Zc 14:9, 16, 17 Mal 1:14; of false god Am 5:26. e.g. 1 Samuel 12:12
- 4. in fable, king of trees Ju 9:8, 15; fig. of crocodile Jb 41:26; מ׳ אֵין לָאַרְבֶּה Pr 30:27; of death, מֶלָךְ בַּלָּהוֹת Jb 18:14. e.g. Judges 9:8
- 5. combinations are:—
- a. הַמּ׳ הַגָּדוֹל 2 K 18:19, 28 = Is 36:4, 13 (of Assyrian king: cf. Assyrian šarru rabû); מ׳ גָּדוֹל Ec 9:14 (indef.); of י׳ Mal 1:14, מ׳ ג׳ עַל־כל־אלהים ψ 95:3; עוֹלָם מ׳ Je 10:10 (of י׳); מ׳ מְלָכִים Ez 26:7 (king of Babyl.) e.g. 2 Kings 18:19
- b. יְחִי הַמֶּלֶךְ 1 S 10:24 2 S 16:16(×2) 1 K 1:34, 39 2 K 11:12 2 Ch 23:11; מֶלָךְ בירושׁלם Ec 1:1, cf. 1 Sa 15:26; 2 S 5:2 1 K 14:2 1 Ch 29:25 2 S 2:11 (היה מ׳ בחברון על־) 1 K 11:37 2 Ch 28:4 Ec 1:12. e.g. 1 Samuel 10:24
- c. following a very (one or two acc.) שִׂים מ׳ על Dt 17:14, 15(×2) 1 S 10:19; שִׂים לָנוּ מ׳ 1 S 8:5; שִׂים לְמ׳ 1 K 10:9; נָתַן מ׳ לְ 1 S 8:6 Ho 13:10, 11; נָתַן עַל 1 S 12:13 2 Ch 2:10 Ne 9:37; 13:26; הִמְלִיךְ לְמֶלֶךְ Ju 9:6 1 S 15:11; הִמְלִיךְ מ׳ על 1 S 12:1; הִמְלִיךְ מ׳ לְ 1 S 8:22; מָשַׁח מ׳ עַל Ju 9:8; מָשַׁח לְמ׳ 1 K 1:45; מָשַׁח לְמ׳ עַל Ju 9:15 1 S 15:1, 17; 2 S 2:4; 5:3, 12; 12:7 1 K 1:34 1 Ch 11:3; 14:8; מ׳ יִהְיֶה על 1 S 8:19; בִּקֵּשׁ למ׳ על 2 S 3:17; הֵכִין לְמ׳ על 2 S 5:12 1 Ch 14:2; הֵקִים מ׳ על 1 K 14:14 Dt 28:36; יָשַׁב עַל־כִּסֵּא י׳ לְמ׳ תַּחַת וגו׳ 1 Ch 29:23, cf. Pr 20:8; נָתַן עַל־כִּסֵּא לְמ׳ לְי׳ אלהיך 2 Ch 9:8. e.g. Deuteronomy 17:14
- d. מַעֲדַנֵּי־מֶלֶךְ Gn 49:20 royal dainties, fig.; מִשְׁתֵּה הַמּ׳ 1 S 25:36 royal feast (in sim.); אֶבֶן הַמּ׳ 2 S 14:26 king’s weight; יַד־הַמּ׳ 1 K 10:13 royal bounty (in sim.); גִּזֵּי הַמּ׳ Am 7:1 king’s mowings; מִקְדַּשׁ מ׳ Am 7:13 royal sanctuary; עֲטֶרֶת מַלְכָּם 2 S 12:30 crown of their king = 1 Ch 20:2 (but read מִלְכֹּם 𝔊 We Klo Dr Kit Kau—not Bu KitChr. Hpt); cf. also בַּיִת, עֵמֶק, גַּן, שָׁוֵה, etc.—N.pr. אבימלך, אחימלך, אלימלך, נתן מלך, עבד מלך, v. sub אב, אח, etc. e.g. Genesis 49:20
מלך II m. son of Micah, a Benjamite (on מ׳ as individ. name v. GrayProp. N. 116, 112 n. 4
Senses from the full Brown-Driver-Briggs lexicon (Brown, Driver, Briggs; Oxford 1906 — public domain), digitized via Sefaria, supplemented by the OpenScriptures HebrewLexicon (CC BY 4.0). Full attribution on Sources.
Word origin
I. n.m. king (NH id.; MI 1.5.10.18.23 מלך; 1:4 המלכן; Ph. מלך; Zinj. מלך DHMSendsch. 60; Assyrian maliku, malku, prince (Assyrian šarru = king); Arabic مَلِكٌ king (orig. Heb. מַלִךְ inferred, LagBN 73 BaNB § 112 WMMAs. u. Europ. 76); Sab. מלכן SabDenkmNo. 1; cstr. מלך, pl. אמלך CISiv. 37; cf. Ethiopic አምላክ God (and Nöl.c.); Aramaic ܡܠܶܟ, מְלֵיךְ; Palm. מלך מלכא VogNo. 28; Nab. מלכא EutNab. 1);—מ׳ abs. Gn 36:31 + (ins. also 2 S 13:17 𝔊 Th We Dr Kit Bu, and v 34 𝔊 We Dr Kit Bu); in p. always מֶ֑לֶךְ Gn 49:20 + 238 times (so also n.pr. in -מֶלֶךְ); cstr. Gn 14:1 +; sf. מַלְכִּי 2 S 19:44 + 6 times, etc.; pl. מְלָכִים Gn 14:9 +; מְלָכִין Pr 31:3; cstr. מַלְכֵי Gn 17:6 +; sf. מְלָכֶיהָ Is 7:16 + 3 times; מַלְכֵיהֶם Dt 7:24 + 16 times, etc.;—
II. n.pr.m. son of Micah, a Benjamite (on מ׳ as individ. name v. GrayProp. N. 116, 112 n. 4; cf. Ph. n.pr. מלך (v. Bloch); Sab. n.pr. מלכם CIS iv. 1; Palm. n.pr. מלכו VogPalm. 92 al. Nab. id., EutNab 21, 4 al. VogNab. 1, 2);—1 Ch 8:35 (𝔊 Μελχηλ), 9:41 (𝔊 Μαλαχ; 𝔊L Μελχιηλ in both).
— Brown-Driver-Briggs (Oxford 1906, public domain), digitized via Sefaria, supplemented by the OpenScriptures HebrewLexicon (CC BY 4.0). See Sources.
Derived from מלך (mâlak) (H4427) — to reign.
Jastrow Dictionary
A second Hebrew/Aramaic lexicon for comparison, covering Aramaic and post-biblical (Talmudic, Targumic, Midrashic) usage that the biblical-Hebrew BDB does not. Matched by lemma rather than by Strong’s number, so a lemma may carry more than one Jastrow headword (shown separately below), and the entries cover usage well beyond the Bible.
*מַלָּךְ
- (= מַה לָךְ) what is it to thee?; of no practical value. Sabb. 150ᵃ sq. חשבונות של מ׳ ושל מה בכך (Ms. M. מה לך, v. Rabb. D. S. a. l. note) accounts of ‘what is it to thee?’ and of ‘what is in it?’, i.e. for no practical purpose. [Oth. opin., v. Ar.]
מָלַךְ
- (b. h.) [to lead in council,] to preside; to officiate; to be ruler. B. Bath. 164ᵇ מ׳ שנה מונין לו שתים when he has been in office one year, they date (in documents) ‘the second year’. Meg. 11ᵃ (ref. to המֹלֵךְ, Esth. I, 1) מ׳ מעצמו started a dynasty with himself (had no claims of succession). Ib. מָלְכוּ בכיפה, v. כִּיפָּה. Zeb. 118ᵇ עשרה שנה שמ׳ וכ׳ ten years during which Samuel ruled alone, ושנה שמ׳ שאול וכ׳ and one year during which Saul and Samuel ruled conjointly; Tem. 15ᵃ; a. fr. e.g. Esther 1:1
- [to be led,]
- 1. to take council, to ask advice or permission. Ber. 3ᵇ נִמְלָכִין בסנהדרין they ask the Sanhedrin for their confirmation. Ib. 4ᵃ כל מה … אני נ׳ במפיבשת וכ׳ in whatever I undertake, I consult the opinion of M., my teacher. Ib. 29ᵇ וכשאתה … הִמָּלֵךְ בקונך וצא and when thou art about to go on a journey, take council of thy Maker (pray) and go out. B. Mets. 14ᵃ צריך לִימָּלֵךְ the scribe must ask for authorization (to insert in the contract); a. fr.
- 2. [to take council with one’s self,] to reconsider, change one’s mind. Gitt. III, 1. Dem. III, 2 הלוקח … ונ׳ להחזיר if one buys vegetables …. and then decides to return (the goods). Ib. 3 נטלן לאוכלן ונ׳ להצניע if he took them up to eat them and changed his mind (deciding) to keep them; a. fr.
- to appoint or elect for rulership, to acknowledge the authority of. Snh. 64ᵃ שהִמְלִיכוּהוּ עליהם, v. מוֹלֶךְ. Y. Ned. IX, beg. 41ᵇ (ref. to Ps. LXXXI, 10) זר שבקרבך אל תַּמְלִיכֵהוּ עליך allow not the tyrant within thee (the evil inclination) to rule over thee. Ab. Zar. 18ᵃ אומה זו מן השמים הִמְלִיכוּהָ this (Roman) nation has been given the rulership by divine decree. R. Hash. 16ᵃ אמרו לפני … מלכיות שתַּמְלִיכוּנִי עליכם recite before me verses of homage (v. מַלְכוּת), in order that you may declare me your ruler; a. fr. e.g. Psalms 81:10
מְלַךְ
- 1. to rule. Targ. Gen. XXXVII, 8; a. fr.—Part. מָלִיךְ. Targ. Jer. XXXIII, 21 (ed. Wil. מְלִיךְ, corr. acc.); a. fr.—Ab. Zar. 10ᵃ בעינא דיִמְלַךְ וכ׳ I desire that my son Severus be king after me; ib. דיִמְלוֹךְ.—Ber. 64ᵃ מ׳ רבה Rabbah officiated (as teacher and judge); a. fr.
- 2. (mostly מליך) to decide. Targ. Is. XIV, 27. Ib. XXIII, 8 (ed. Ven. מַלִּיךְ). Ib. 9 מִילְכָהּ ed. Lag. (some ed. מלכא, read: מִלְכָהּ); a. fr.—Part. pass. מְלִיךְ. Ib. XIV, 26; a. e.
- 3. to advise. Targ. II Sam. XVII, 7. Targ. I Kings I, 12; a. fr.
- 1. to advise. Targ. Job XXVI, 3.
- 2. to decide, v. supra.
- 1. = preced. = preced. Hif. Targ. I Kings III, 7; a. fr.
- 2. to counsel, persuade. Targ. Josh. XV, 18. Targ. Y. Deut. XXX, 6; a. e.—[Targ. Prov. VIII, 15 מַמְלְכִין ed. Lag. rule (oth. ed. מלכין).]
- , אִמְּ׳ = preced. Nif.—Targ. Is. XXXII, 7; a. fr.—B. Bath. 4ᵃ בתר דעבדין מִתְמַלְּכִין do people ask for advice (or permission) after they have acted? Ber. 27ᵇ אִימְּלִיךְ וכ׳ consult my family. Ib. אזיל ואִמְּ׳ וכ׳ he went and consulted his wife. Ned. 54ᵃ כל מילתא דצריך שליחא לאִמְּלוּכֵי וכ׳ any change of order for which the messenger has to ask special authorization, is heterogeneous (to the object of the original commission); כל מילתא דמִימְּלִיךְ שליח עלה וכ׳ a change for which the messenger asks for instructions is homogeneous. Sot. 43ᵇ אי אימ׳ עלה if he reconsiders his original disposal; a. fr.
מֶלֶךְ
- preced.) leader in council, chief, king. Ber. 3ᵇ אדוננו המ׳ our lord the king! Tosef. Snh. VIII, 5, a. fr. מ׳ מלכי המלכים the Most Supreme King (the Lord). Ib. IX, 8 אפי׳ מ׳ של מלכים even a king of kings (great sovereign). Snh. 38ᵃ, a. fr. מ׳ בו"ד (v. בָּשָׂר) a human chief. Ab. Zar. 10ᵃ אין מושיבין מ׳ בן מ׳ they (the Romans) do not allow the son of a king to succeed his father. Kerith. 5ᵇ מ׳ ראשון a first king, starter of a dynasty. Shebu. 6ᵇ מַלְכֹּו של זה this hyparch’s chief. Num. R. s. 18 משה מ׳ וכ׳ Moses has made himself the chief, and Aaron is high priest &c.; a. v. fr.—Pl. מְלָכִים. Hor. 12ᵃ כיצד מושחין את המ׳ וכ׳ how are kings anointed? By drawing with the oil the outlines of a crown; Ker. 5ᵇ. Ib. מַלְכֵי בית דוד the kings of the house of David (southern kingdom); מ׳ ישראל the kings of the northern kingdom; a. v. fr.—בַּת מְ׳ Princess, name of a demon afflicting the eye, also a certain disorder of the eye, v. בַּת I. Sabb. 109ᵃ (Var. בת חורין, v. Rabb. D. S. a. l. note).—Pl. בנות מֶלֶךְ. Tosef. B. Kam. IX, 27 יצאו בנות מ׳ the ‘princesses’ (humors of the eye) escaped (in consequence of a blow).
מֶלֶךְ ²
- Targ. Ps. XXIV, 7; 9. Targ. Ex. I, 8; a. fr.—Snh. 110ᵃ איהו הוה מ׳ he (Moses) himself is chief. Y. Yeb. XVI, 15ᶜ, v. אָרְסְקִינָס. Y. Ter. VIII, 46ᵇ bot. אתעביד מ׳ he (Dioclet) became king; a. fr.—Pl. מַלְכֵין, מַלְכַיָּא, מַלְכֵי. Targ. Gen. XVII, 6. Ib. XIV, 5. Targ. Prov. VIII, 15; a. fr.—Gitt. 62ᵃ שלמא עלייכו מ׳ (to scholars) peace be with you, chiefs!—Shebu. 6ᵇ תרי מ׳ וכ׳ two kings and two viceroys (hyparchs); a. fr.
מֵלַךְ
- (preced. wds.) counsel, advice. Targ. Is. III, 3. Targ. Y. Deut. VIII, 18 (O. עצה; h. text כֹּחַ); a. fr.—Pl. מִלְכִין, מִלְכַיָּא, מִי׳. Targ. Is. XXV, 1. Targ. Job XII, 17 (not מַ׳). Targ. Hos. X, 6; a. e.
A Dictionary of the Targumim, the Talmud Babli and Yerushalmi, and the Midrashic Literature (Marcus Jastrow; London, Luzac, 1903) — Public Domain. Digitized via Sefaria. Digitized via Sefaria. Full attribution on Sources.
Forms in the corpus
The 242 distinct written forms H4428 takes in the Hebrew Bible, most frequent first — each parse links to that state’s occurrences in the concordance. Hebrew forms include their vowel points and cantillation, so a single lemma takes many written forms.
The 60 most common forms are shown; 182 rarer forms follow in the full concordance.
Same root — word family
Other BDB entries built from the same root as H4428, grouped by Strong’s listed origin. These share a root / origin per the lexicon — not necessarily a shared meaning. Each links to that word’s own entry.
Derives from
Shares the same root
- מלוכה mᵉlûwkâh H4410 kingship
- מלך mᵉlak H4431 counsel
- מלכות malkûwth H4438 kingdom
- מלכת mᵉleketh H4446 queen
- ממלכה mamlâkâh H4467 kingdom
Derived from this word
Proper names from this root
People and places named from this root — a name, not an additional meaning of the word.
- ימלך Yamlêk H3230 Jamlech
- מלוך Mallûwk H4409 Malluch
- מלך Môlek H4432 Molech
- מלכת Môleketh H4447 Hammoleketh
- מלך Melek H4429 Melech
- מלכיאל Malkîyʼêl H4439 Malchiel
- מלכיה Malkîyâh H4441 Malchijah
- מלכיצדק Malkîy-Tsedeq H4442 Melchizedek
- מלכירם Malkîyrâm H4443 Malchiram
- מלכישוע Malkîyshûwaʻ H4444 Malchishua
- מלכם Malkâm H4445 Milcom
Compare all same-root words → Showing 4 of 20 — not the complete family. 11 of the same-root words are proper names (people or places). They share a root, not necessarily a meaning.
Septuagint verse parallels
This word appears in 1,799 verses that also exist in the Greek Old Testament (Septuagint), out of the 1,919 Hebrew verses it occurs in. You can read those verses in Greek by switching the Old Testament edition to the Septuagint.
Read these verses in the Septuagint
- Genesis 14:1
- Exodus 1:8
- Numbers 20:14
- Deuteronomy 1:4
- Joshua 2:2
- Judges 1:7
- 1 Samuel 2:10
- 2 Samuel 2:4
- 1 Kings 1:1
- 2 Kings 1:3
- 1 Chronicles 3:2
- 2 Chronicles 1:12
This is a verse-level parallel only — the same verses exist in both the Hebrew and Greek Old Testaments. No word-level Hebrew↔Greek correspondence is claimed: the data carries no such alignment, so no Greek word is shown as this Hebrew word’s translation. Coverage is not total — the Septuagint omits the deuterocanon and renumbers the Psalms, so some Hebrew verses have no direct Greek parallel.
