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).
Grammatical forms
- Noun, Common, Masculine, Singular, Absolute 1,352 times (54%)
- Noun, Common, Masculine, Singular, Construct 892 times (35%)
- Noun, Common, Masculine, Plural, Construct 184 times (7%)
- Noun, Common, Masculine, Plural, Absolute 98 times (4%)
Parsed forms decoded from the imported morphology (morphhb / Westminster Leningrad Codex — WLC text public domain, morphhb tagging CC BY 4.0), counted across 2,526 parsed occurrences — not distinct verses.
Page 8 of 10 — showing verses 1,401–1,600 of 1,919 distinct verses where H4428 appears, across 35 books. 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.
Job 8 verses
- 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 18:14 לְ/מֶ֣לֶךְ prep + n c ms cs He shall be rooted out of his tent where he trusts. He shall be brought to the king of terrors.
- 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 63 verses
- Psalms 2:2 מַלְכֵי n c mp cs The kings of the earth take a stand, And the rulers take counsel together, Against Yahweh, and against his anointed, saying,
- Psalms 2:6 מַלְכִּ֑/י n c ms cs + sfx pers 1cs "Yet I have set my king on my holy hill of Zion."
- Psalms 2:10 מְלָכִ֣ים n c mp Now therefore be wise, you kings. Be instructed, you judges of the earth.
- Psalms 5:2 מַלְכִּ֥/י n c ms cs + sfx pers 1cs Listen to the voice of my cry, my King and my God; For to you do I pray.
- Psalms 10:16 מֶ֭לֶךְ n c ms cs Yahweh is King forever and ever! The nations will perish out of his land.
- Psalms 18:50 מַ֫לְכּ֥/וֹ n c ms cs + sfx pers 3ms He gives great deliverance to his king, And shows loving kindness to his anointed, To David and to his seed, forevermore.
- 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 24:7 מֶ֣לֶךְ n c ms cs Lift up your heads, you gates; Be lifted up, you everlasting doors: The King of glory will come in.
- Psalms 24:8 מֶ֤לֶךְ n c ms cs Who is the King of glory? Yahweh strong and mighty, Yahweh mighty in battle.
- Psalms 24:9 מֶ֣לֶךְ n c ms cs Lift up your heads, you gates; Yes, lift them up, you everlasting doors: The King of glory will come in.
- Psalms 24:10 מֶ֤לֶךְ מֶ֖לֶךְ n c ms cs n c ms cs Who is this King of glory? Yahweh of Hosts, He is the King of glory. Selah.
- 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 44:4 מַלְכִּ֣/י n c ms cs + sfx pers 1cs You are my King, God. Command victories for Jacob!
- 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 47:6 לְ/מַלְכֵּ֣/נוּ prep + n c ms cs + sfx pers 1cp Sing praise to God, sing praises. Sing praises to our King, sing praises.
- Psalms 47:7 מֶ֖לֶךְ n c ms cs For God is the King of all the earth. Sing praises with understanding.
- 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 68:12 מַלְכֵ֣י n c mp cs "Kings of armies flee! They flee!" She who waits at home divides the spoil,
- Psalms 68:14 מְלָ֘כִ֤ים n c mp When the Almighty scattered kings in her, It snowed on Zalmon.
- Psalms 68:24 מַלְכִּ֣/י n c ms cs + sfx pers 1cs They have seen your processions, God, Even the processions of my God, my King, into the sanctuary.
- 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 72:10 מַלְכֵ֬י מַלְכֵ֥י n c mp cs n c mp cs The kings of Tarshish and of the isles will bring tribute. The kings of Sheba and Seba shall offer gifts.
- Psalms 72:11 מְלָכִ֑ים n c mp Yes, all kings shall fall down before him. All nations shall serve him.
- Psalms 74:12 מַלְכִּ֣/י n c ms cs + sfx pers 1cs Yet God is my King of old, Working salvation in the midst of the earth.
- Psalms 76:12 לְ/מַלְכֵי prep + n c mp cs He will cut off the spirit of princes. He is feared by the kings of the earth.
- Psalms 84:3 מַ֝לְכִּ֗/י n c ms cs + sfx pers 1cs Yes, the sparrow has found a home, And the swallow a nest for herself, where she may have her young, Near your altars, Yahweh of Hosts, my King, and my God.
- Psalms 89:18 מַלְכֵּֽ/נוּ n c ms cs + sfx pers 1cp For our shield belongs to Yahweh; Our king to the Holy One of Israel.
- Psalms 89:27 לְ/מַלְכֵי prep + n c mp cs I will also appoint him my firstborn, The highest of the kings of the earth.
- 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 102:15 מַלְכֵ֥י n c mp cs So the nations will fear the name of Yahweh; All the kings of the earth your glory.
- 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 105:30 מַלְכֵי/הֶֽם n c mp cs + sfx pers 3mp Their land swarmed with frogs, Even in the chambers of their kings.
- 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 135:11 מֶ֤לֶךְ מֶ֣לֶךְ n c ms cs n c ms cs Sihon king of the Amorites, Og king of Bashan, And all the kingdoms of Canaan,
- 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 136:19 מֶ֣לֶךְ n c ms cs Sihon king of the Amorites; For his loving kindness endures forever;
- Psalms 136:20 מֶ֣לֶךְ n c ms cs Og king of Bashan; For his loving kindness endures forever;
- Psalms 138:4 מַלְכֵי n c mp cs All the kings of the earth will give you thanks, Yahweh, For they have heard the words of your mouth.
- 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.
- Psalms 148:11 מַלְכֵי n c mp cs Kings of the earth and all peoples; Princes and all judges of the earth;
- Psalms 149:2 בְ/מַלְכָּֽ/ם prep + n c ms cs + sfx pers 3mp Let Israel rejoice in him who made them. Let the children of Zion be joyful in their King.
- Psalms 149:8 מַלְכֵי/הֶ֣ם n c mp cs + sfx pers 3mp To bind their kings with chains, And their nobles with fetters of iron;
Proverbs 31 verses
- Proverbs 1:1 מֶ֝֗לֶךְ n c ms cs The proverbs of Solomon, the son of David, king of Israel:
- 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 25:1 מֶֽלֶךְ n c ms cs These also are proverbs of Solomon, which the men of Hezekiah king of Judah copied out.
- 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 12 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 10:16 שֶׁ/מַּלְכֵּ֖/ךְ ptcl rel + n c ms cs + sfx pers 2fs Woe to you, land, when your king is a child, And your princes eat in the morning!
- Ecclesiastes 10:17 שֶׁ/מַּלְכֵּ֖/ךְ ptcl rel + n c ms cs + sfx pers 2fs Happy are you, land, when your king is the son of nobles, And your princes eat in due season, For strength, and not for drunkenness!
- 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 71 verses
- Isaiah 1:1 מַלְכֵ֥י n c mp cs The vision of Isaiah the son of Amoz, which he saw concerning Judah and Jerusalem, in the days of Uzziah, Jotham, Ahaz, and Hezekiah, kings of Judah.
- 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 7:1 מֶ֣לֶךְ מֶֽלֶךְ מֶֽלֶךְ n c ms cs n c ms cs n c ms cs It happened in the days of Ahaz the son of Jotham, the son of Uzziah, king of Judah, that Rezin the king of Syria, and Pekah the son of Remaliah, king of Israel, went up to Jerusalem to war against it, but could not prevail against it.
- 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 7:16 מְלָכֶֽי/הָ n c mp cs + sfx pers 3fs For before the child knows to refuse the evil, and choose the good, the land whose two kings you abhor shall be forsaken.
- Isaiah 7:17 מֶ֥לֶךְ n c ms cs Yahweh will bring on you, on your people, and on your father's house, days that have not come, from the day that Ephraim departed from Judah; even the king of Assyria.
- Isaiah 7:20 בְּ/מֶ֣לֶךְ prep + n c ms cs In that day the Lord will shave with a razor that is hired in the parts beyond the River, even with the king of Assyria, the head and the hair of the feet; and it shall also consume the beard.
- Isaiah 8:4 מֶ֥לֶךְ n c ms cs For before the child shall have knowledge to cry, My father, and, My mother, the riches of Damascus and the spoil of Samaria shall be carried away before the king of Assyria.
- Isaiah 8:7 מֶ֥לֶךְ n c ms cs now therefore, behold, the Lord brings up on them the waters of the River, strong and many, [even] the king of Assyria and all his glory: and it shall come up over all its channels, and go over all its banks;
- Isaiah 8:21 בְּ/מַלְכּ֛/וֹ prep + n c ms cs + sfx pers 3ms They shall pass through it, sore distressed and hungry; and it shall happen that when they shall be hungry, they shall fret themselves, and curse by their king and by their God, and turn their faces upward:
- Isaiah 10:8 מְלָכִֽים n c mp For he says, Aren't my princes all of them kings?
- Isaiah 10:12 מֶֽלֶךְ n c ms cs Therefore it shall happen that, when the Lord has performed his whole work on Mount Zion and on Jerusalem, I will punish the fruit of the stout heart of the king of Assyria, and the glory of his high looks.
- Isaiah 14:4 מֶ֥לֶךְ n c ms cs that you shall take up this parable against the king of Babylon, and say, How has the oppressor ceased! the golden city ceased!
- Isaiah 14:9 מַלְכֵ֥י n c mp cs Sheol from beneath is moved for you to meet you at your coming; it stirs up the dead for you, even all the chief ones of the earth; it has raised up from their thrones all the kings of the nations.
- Isaiah 14:18 מַלְכֵ֥י n c mp cs All the kings of the nations, all of them, sleep in glory, everyone in his own house.
- 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 19:11 מַלְכֵי n c mp cs The princes of Zoan are utterly foolish; the counsel of the wisest counselors of Pharaoh is become brutish: how do you say to Pharaoh, I am the son of the wise, the son of ancient kings?
- Isaiah 20:1 מֶ֣לֶךְ n c ms cs In the year that Tartan came to Ashdod, when Sargon the king of Assyria sent him, and he fought against Ashdod and took it;
- Isaiah 20:4 מֶֽלֶךְ n c ms cs so shall the king of Assyria lead away the captives of Egypt, and the exiles of Ethiopia, young and old, naked and barefoot, and with buttocks uncovered, to the shame of Egypt.
- Isaiah 20:6 מֶ֣לֶךְ n c ms cs The inhabitant of this coast-land shall say in that day, Behold, such is our expectation, where we fled for help to be delivered from the king of Assyria: and we, how shall we escape?
- 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 24:21 מַלְכֵ֥י n c mp cs It shall happen in that day, that Yahweh will punish the host of the high ones on high, and the kings of the earth on the earth.
- 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 33:22 מַלְכֵּ֖/נוּ n c ms cs + sfx pers 1cp For Yahweh is our judge, Yahweh is our lawgiver, Yahweh is our king; he will save us.
- 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.
- Isaiah 36:2 מֶֽלֶךְ הַ/מֶּ֥לֶךְ n c ms cs ptcl def.art + n c ms The king of Assyria sent Rabshakeh from Lachish to Jerusalem to king Hezekiah with a great army. He stood by the conduit of the upper pool in the highway of the fuller's field.
- Isaiah 36:4 הַ/מֶּ֤לֶךְ מֶ֣לֶךְ ptcl def.art + n c ms n c ms cs Rabshakeh said to them, Say you now to Hezekiah, Thus says the great king, the king of Assyria, What confidence is this in which you trust?
- Isaiah 36:6 מֶֽלֶךְ n c ms cs Behold, you trust on the staff of this bruised reed, even on Egypt, whereon if a man lean, it will go into his hand, and pierce it: so is Pharaoh king of Egypt to all who trust on him.
- Isaiah 36:8 הַ/מֶּ֣לֶךְ ptcl def.art + n c ms Now therefore, please give pledges to my master the king of Assyria, and I will give you two thousand horses, if you are able on your part to set riders on them.
- Isaiah 36:13 הַ/מֶּ֥לֶךְ מֶ֥לֶךְ ptcl def.art + n c ms n c ms cs Then Rabshakeh stood, and cried with a loud voice in the Jews' language, and said, Hear you the words of the great king, the king of Assyria.
- Isaiah 36:14 הַ/מֶּ֔לֶךְ ptcl def.art + n c ms Thus says the king, Don't let Hezekiah deceive you; for he will not be able to deliver you:
- Isaiah 36:15 מֶ֥לֶךְ n c ms cs neither let Hezekiah make you trust in Yahweh, saying, Yahweh will surely deliver us; this city shall not be given into the hand of the king of Assyria.
- Isaiah 36:16 הַ/מֶּ֣לֶךְ ptcl def.art + n c ms Don't listen to Hezekiah: for thus says the king of Assyria, Make your peace with me, and come out to me; and eat you everyone of his vine, and everyone of his fig tree, and drink you everyone the waters of his own cistern;
- Isaiah 36:18 מֶ֥לֶךְ n c ms cs Beware lest Hezekiah persuade you, saying, Yahweh will deliver us. Has any of the gods of the nations delivered his land out of the hand of the king of Assyria?
- Isaiah 36:21 הַ/מֶּ֥לֶךְ ptcl def.art + n c ms But they held their peace, and answered him not a word; for the king's commandment was, saying, Don't answer him.
- Isaiah 37:1 הַ/מֶּ֣לֶךְ ptcl def.art + n c ms It happened, when king Hezekiah heard it, that he tore his clothes, and covered himself with sackcloth, and went into the house of Yahweh.
- Isaiah 37:4 מֶֽלֶךְ n c ms cs It may be Yahweh your God will hear the words of Rabshakeh, whom the king of Assyria his master has sent to defy the living God, and will rebuke the words which Yahweh your God has heard. Therefore lift up your prayer for the remnant that is left.
- Isaiah 37:5 הַ/מֶּ֥לֶךְ ptcl def.art + n c ms So the servants of king Hezekiah came to Isaiah.
- Isaiah 37:6 מֶלֶךְ n c ms cs Isaiah said to them, Thus shall you tell your master, Thus says Yahweh, Don't be afraid of the words that you have heard, with which the servants of the king of Assyria have blasphemed me.
- Isaiah 37:8 מֶ֣לֶךְ n c ms cs So Rabshakeh returned, and found the king of Assyria warring against Libnah; for he had heard that he was departed from Lachish.
- Isaiah 37:9 מֶֽלֶךְ n c ms cs He heard say concerning Tirhakah king of Ethiopia, He is come out to fight against you. When he heard it, he sent messengers to Hezekiah, saying,
- Isaiah 37:10 מֶֽלֶךְ מֶ֥לֶךְ n c ms cs n c ms cs Thus shall you speak to Hezekiah king of Judah, saying, Don't let your God in whom you trust deceive you, saying, Jerusalem shall not be given into the hand of the king of Assyria.
- Isaiah 37:11 מַלְכֵ֥י n c mp cs Behold, you have heard what the kings of Assyria have done to all lands, by destroying them utterly: and shall you be delivered?
- Isaiah 37:13 מֶֽלֶךְ וּ/מֶ֣לֶךְ וּ/מֶ֖לֶךְ n c ms cs conj + n c ms cs conj + n c ms Where is the king of Hamath, and the king of Arpad, and the king of the city of Sepharvaim, of Hena, and Ivvah?
- Isaiah 37:18 מַלְכֵ֥י n c mp cs Of a truth, Yahweh, the kings of Assyria have laid waste all the countries, and their land,
- Isaiah 37:21 מֶ֥לֶךְ n c ms cs Then Isaiah the son of Amoz sent to Hezekiah, saying, Thus says Yahweh, the God of Israel, Whereas you have prayed to me against Sennacherib king of Assyria,
- Isaiah 37:33 מֶ֣לֶךְ n c ms cs Therefore thus says Yahweh concerning the king of Assyria, He shall not come to this city, nor shoot an arrow there, neither shall he come before it with shield, nor cast up a mound against it.
- Isaiah 37:37 מֶֽלֶךְ n c ms cs So Sennacherib king of Assyria departed, and went and returned, and lived at Nineveh.
- Isaiah 38:6 מֶֽלֶךְ n c ms cs I will deliver you and this city out of the hand of the king of Assyria; and I will defend this city.
- Isaiah 38:9 מֶֽלֶךְ n c ms cs The writing of Hezekiah king of Judah, when he had been sick, and was recovered of his sickness.
- Isaiah 39:1 מֶֽלֶךְ n c ms cs At that time Merodach Baladan the son of Baladan, king of Babylon, sent letters and a present to Hezekiah; for he heard that he had been sick, and was recovered.
- Isaiah 39:3 הַ/מֶּ֖לֶךְ ptcl def.art + n c ms Then came Isaiah the prophet to king Hezekiah, and said to him, What said these men? and from whence came they to you? Hezekiah said, They are come from a far country to me, even from Babylon.
- Isaiah 39:7 מֶ֥לֶךְ n c ms cs Of your sons who shall issue from you, whom you shall father, shall they take away; and they shall be eunuchs in the palace of the king of Babylon.
- Isaiah 41:2 וּ/מְלָכִ֣ים conj + n c mp Who has raised up one from the east, whom he calls in righteousness to his foot? he gives nations before him, and makes him rule over kings; he gives them as the dust to his sword, as the driven stubble to his bow.
- Isaiah 41:21 מֶ֥לֶךְ n c ms cs Produce your cause, says Yahweh; bring forth your strong reasons, says the King of Jacob.
- Isaiah 43:15 מַלְכְּ/כֶֽם n c ms cs + sfx pers 2mp I am Yahweh, your Holy One, the Creator of Israel, your King.
- Isaiah 44:6 מֶֽלֶךְ n c ms cs Thus says Yahweh, the King of Israel, and his Redeemer, Yahweh of Hosts: I am the first, and I am the last; and besides me there is no God.
- Isaiah 45:1 מְלָכִ֖ים n c mp Thus says Yahweh to his anointed, to Cyrus, whose right hand I have held, to subdue nations before him, and I will loose the loins of kings; to open the doors before him, and the gates shall not be shut:
- Isaiah 49:7 מְלָכִים֙ n c mp Thus says Yahweh, the Redeemer of Israel, [and] his Holy One, to him whom man despises, to him whom the nation abhors, to a servant of rulers: Kings shall see and arise; princes, and they shall worship; because of Yahweh who is faithful, [even] the Holy One of Israel, who has chosen you.
- Isaiah 49:23 מְלָכִ֜ים n c mp Kings shall be your nursing fathers, and their queens your nursing mothers: they shall bow down to you with their faces to the earth, and lick the dust of your feet; and you shall know that I am Yahweh; and those who wait for me shall not be disappointed.
- Isaiah 52:15 מְלָכִ֖ים n c mp so shall he sprinkle many nations; kings shall shut their mouths at him: for that which had not been told them shall they see; and that which they had not heard shall they understand.
- Isaiah 57:9 לַ/מֶּ֨לֶךְ֙ prep det + n c ms You went to the king with oil, and did increase your perfumes, and did send your ambassadors far off, and did debase yourself even to Sheol.
- Isaiah 60:3 וּ/מְלָכִ֖ים conj + n c mp Nations shall come to your light, and kings to the brightness of your rising.
- Isaiah 60:10 וּ/מַלְכֵי/הֶ֖ם conj + n c mp cs + sfx pers 3mp Foreigners shall build up your walls, and their kings shall minister to you: for in my wrath I struck you, but in my favor have I had mercy on you.
- Isaiah 60:11 וּ/מַלְכֵי/הֶ֖ם conj + n c mp cs + sfx pers 3mp Your gates also shall be open continually; they shall not be shut day nor night; that men may bring to you the wealth of the nations, and their kings led captive.
- Isaiah 60:16 מְלָכִ֖ים n c mp You shall also suck the milk of the nations, and shall suck the breast of kings; and you shall know that I, Yahweh, am your Savior, and your Redeemer, the Mighty One of Jacob.
- Isaiah 62:2 מְלָכִ֖ים n c mp The nations shall see your righteousness, and all kings your glory, and you shall be called by a new name, which the mouth of Yahweh shall name.
Jeremiah 211 verses
- Jeremiah 1:2 מֶ֣לֶךְ n c ms cs to whom the word of Yahweh came in the days of Josiah the son of Amon, king of Judah, in the thirteenth year of his reign.
- Jeremiah 1:3 מֶ֣לֶךְ מֶ֣לֶךְ n c ms cs n c ms cs It came also in the days of Jehoiakim the son of Josiah, king of Judah, to the end of the eleventh year of Zedekiah, the son of Josiah, king of Judah, to the carrying away of Jerusalem captive in the fifth month.
- Jeremiah 1:18 לְ/מַלְכֵ֤י prep + n c mp cs For, behold, I have made you this day a fortified city, and an iron pillar, and brazen walls, against the whole land, against the kings of Judah, against the princes of it, against the priests of it, and against the people of the land.
- Jeremiah 2:26 מַלְכֵי/הֶם֙ n c mp cs + sfx pers 3mp As the thief is ashamed when he is found, so is the house of Israel ashamed; they, their kings, their princes, and their priests, and their prophets;
- Jeremiah 3:6 הַ/מֶּ֔לֶךְ ptcl def.art + n c ms Moreover Yahweh said to me in the days of Josiah the king, Have you seen that which backsliding Israel has done? she is gone up on every high mountain and under every green tree, and there has played the prostitute.
- Jeremiah 4:9 הַ/מֶּ֖לֶךְ ptcl def.art + n c ms It shall happen at that day, says Yahweh, that the heart of the king shall perish, and the heart of the princes; and the priests shall be astonished, and the prophets shall wonder.
- Jeremiah 8:1 מַלְכֵֽי n c mp cs At that time, says Yahweh, they shall bring out the bones of the kings of Judah, and the bones of his princes, and the bones of the priests, and the bones of the prophets, and the bones of the inhabitants of Jerusalem, out of their graves;
- Jeremiah 8:19 מַלְכָּ֖/הּ n c ms cs + sfx pers 3fs Behold, the voice of the cry of the daughter of my people from a land that is very far off: isn't Yahweh in Zion? Isn't her King in her? Why have they provoked me to anger with their engraved images, and with foreign vanities?
- Jeremiah 10:7 מֶ֣לֶךְ n c ms cs Who should not fear you, King of the nations? for to you does it appertain; because among all the wise men of the nations, and in all their royal estate, there is none like you.
- Jeremiah 10:10 וּ/מֶ֣לֶךְ conj + n c ms cs But Yahweh is the true God; he is the living God, and an everlasting King: at his wrath the earth trembles, and the nations are not able to abide his indignation.
- Jeremiah 13:13 הַ/מְּלָכִ֣ים ptcl def.art + n c mp Then shall you tell them, Thus says Yahweh, Behold, I will fill all the inhabitants of this land, even the kings who sit on David's throne, and the priests, and the prophets, and all the inhabitants of Jerusalem, with drunkenness.
- Jeremiah 13:18 לַ/מֶּ֛לֶךְ prep det + n c ms Say you to the king and to the queen-mother, Humble yourselves, sit down; for your headdresses are come down, even the crown of your glory.
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.
