מוֹלָדָה (mo.la.dah)
mo.la.dah
Moladah
N:N--LQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 4 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- N:N--L
Word Overview
The noun moladah literally means "birth" or "offspring," referring to those born into a family line. In the Hebrew Bible, this word appears only four times, and in every instance it serves as a proper name for a specific town rather than describing a general concept of birth.
This settlement is located in the southern region of Canaan. Its territorial history reflects the complex distribution of land among the tribes: initially assigned to the tribe of Judah, it was later reallocated to Simeon. This transfer is recorded in the books of Joshua and Nehemiah, highlighting how tribal boundaries shifted over time.
The name itself likely alludes to the town’s origin or its status as a place where new generations were established. By using a word for "birth" as a place name, the text connects the physical location to the idea of lineage and heritage, anchoring the community in its ancestral roots within the allotment of Simeon.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The name Moladah literally means birth or offspring, yet it appears in Scripture not as a general concept but as the specific identifier for a town in the southern region of Canaan. This shift from a common noun to a proper name anchors the community in its ancestral roots, linking physical location with lineage and heritage.
Historical records show this settlement was initially assigned to the tribe of Judah before being reallocated to Simeon. This transfer highlights how tribal boundaries shifted over time, reflecting the complex distribution of land among the tribes. The name itself likely alludes to the town’s origin or its status as a place where new generations were established.
For your faith, this word reminds us that our identity is rooted in something larger than ourselves. Just as Moladah connected its residents to their heritage, we are part of a spiritual lineage that traces back through history. This connection provides stability and hope, reminding us that we belong to a community defined by shared origins and enduring promises.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 4 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- and/ Moladah3×
- and/ in/ Moladah1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- וּ/מוֹלָדָֽה\׃2×
- וּ/מוֹלָדָ֖ה1×
- וּ/בְ/מוֹלָדָ֖ה1×
Key Verses
-
Joshua 15:26
Amam, Shema, Moladah,
This verse lists Moladah among the cities of Judah, marking its initial assignment within the tribal allotment before any boundary changes.
-
Joshua 19:2
They had for their inheritance Beersheba (or Sheba), Moladah,
Here Moladah appears in the inheritance of Simeon, illustrating the territorial transfer that occurred between the two tribes.
-
I Chronicles 4:28
They lived at Beersheba, Moladah, Hazarshual,
This genealogical record confirms that descendants lived at Beersheba and Moladah, linking the town to specific family lines in Simeon.