מַחְלִי (mach.li)
mach.li
Mahli
N:N-M-PQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 8 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- N:N-M-P
Word Overview
The name Mahli identifies a specific figure in the lineage of Levi, appearing primarily in genealogical records within Numbers, Chronicles, and Ezra. He is most frequently noted as the son of Merari and the father of Libni, Eleazar, and Kish. This placement establishes him as a key ancestor for the Mahlites, one of the major clans within the Merarite division of the Levitical priesthood.
Lexical sources note that the name likely means "sick" or "afflicted," though its precise etymology remains debated among scholars. The text distinguishes between two individuals named Mahli: the earlier patriarch in Exodus and Numbers, and a later descendant listed in Ezra who lived during the post-exilic period. This repetition highlights how ancestral names were preserved across generations to maintain tribal identity.
His significance lies not in personal deeds but in his role as a link in the chain of priestly succession. By tracing his lineage through Merari, the biblical writers ensure that the Merarite families are accounted for in both wilderness worship and later temple service. The name serves as a marker of continuity, connecting the early Levitical structure to the restored community after the Babylonian exile.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The name Mahli appears in lists that might seem dry at first glance, yet they hold a quiet significance for understanding how God values continuity. As a member of the Merari clan within the Levitical tribe, Mahli is recorded not for personal achievements but as a vital link in an unbroken chain of service. This genealogical record reminds us that our faith is built upon generations who remained faithful to their roles, ensuring that worship and temple duties continued from the wilderness days through the post-exilic restoration.
For your own life, this word invites you to see value in faithful presence rather than public acclaim. Just as Mahli’s name was preserved to identify his family’s contribution to Israel’s spiritual structure, your consistent, everyday faithfulness is seen and remembered by God. Whether serving in the background or stepping forward like Sherebiah in Ezra, your steady commitment matters deeply in the broader story of God’s people.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 8 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- Mahli7×
- for/ [the] Mahlite[s]1×
- [were] Mahli1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- מַחְלִ֣י4×
- מַחְלִ֥י2×
- מַחְלִ֖י1×
- מַחְלִ֔י1×
- לְ/מַחְלִי֙1×
Key Verses
-
Exodus 6:19
The sons of Merari: Mahli and Mushi. These are the families of the Levites according to their generations.
This verse establishes Mahli as a foundational son of Merari, setting the stage for his clan’s role in Levitical service.
-
I Chronicles 23:21
The sons of Merari: Mahli and Mushi. The sons of Mahli: Eleazar and Kish.
Here Mahli is listed alongside Mushi again, with his own sons Eleazar and Kish noted, showing the continuation of the family line into the temple era.
-
Ezra 8:18
According to the good hand of our God on us they brought us a man of discretion, of the sons of Mahli, the son of Levi, the son of Israel, namely Sherebiah, with his sons and his brothers, eighteen;
This occurrence highlights a descendant named Mahli whose lineage produced Sherebiah, demonstrating how ancestral identity remained relevant centuries later during the return from exile.