מָלֵא (ma.le)
ma.le
to fill
H:VQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 204 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- H:V
Word Overview
The Hebrew verb malē means to fill or be full, applying to both physical spaces and abstract realities. It describes containers overflowing with water, houses stocked with goods, or periods of time reaching their completion. In Genesis 1:22, God commands creatures to fill the seas, while in Exodus 40:34-35, the tabernacle is filled with a cloud representing divine presence.
Its range extends beyond mere quantity to include satisfaction and confirmation. The Piel stem often denotes fulfilling a promise or completing a ritual period, such as consecration rites where priests are "filled" with authority. This usage connects physical abundance with spiritual completeness, showing that fullness in Scripture often implies purpose and readiness rather than just volume.
Translators render malē variously depending on context: "fill," "fulfill," "accomplish," or "satisfy." The word’s versatility allows it to bridge concrete imagery of overflowing vessels with theological concepts of divine provision and covenant faithfulness. Its frequent appearance in Jeremiah and Isaiah highlights how prophets used this term to contrast God’s abundant promises with the emptiness of idolatry.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The Hebrew word malē carries a rich range of meanings, moving from simple physical filling to profound spiritual completion. When Genesis describes the earth being filled with life or violence, it speaks to a state of fullness that defines an era. This concept extends into our daily lives, reminding us that God’s provision is not scarce but abundant, capable of satisfying both our tangible needs and our deeper longings for purpose.
In the Old Testament, this verb often marks the completion of time or ritual, such as the fulfillment of days for a birth or the consecration of priests. It suggests that nothing in God’s plan is half-finished; every promise reaches its intended end. For believers, this offers a steady assurance that life’s seasons are held within divine order, and that our lives can be filled with meaning when aligned with His purposes.
Whether referring to the overflowing of wells or the satisfaction of justice, malē points toward a reality where emptiness is replaced by presence. It invites us to trust in a God who completes what He starts, offering peace that transcends our current circumstances and anchors our hope in His faithfulness.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 204 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- it is full11×
- they are full10×
- he filled10×
- to/ fill6×
- it will be filled6×
- it filled6×
- fill5×
- and/ he filled5×
- they were completed4×
- are completed4×
- and/ they will be full4×
- you have fulfilled3×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- מָלְאָ֥ה6×
- מָלֵ֥א5×
- מָלֵ֖א4×
- מָלְאָ֣ה4×
- מָלְא֖וּ4×
- מָ֣לְאוּ4×
- מִלֵּ֖א4×
- וּ/מָלְא֥וּ4×
- וַ/תִּמָּלֵ֥א4×
- מָלְא֥וּ3×
- מָלְא֣וּ3×
- מִלֵּ֥א3×
Key Verses
-
Genesis 1:28
God blessed them. God said to them, “Be fruitful, multiply, fill the earth, and subdue it. Have dominion over the fish of the sea, over the birds of the sky, and over every living thing that moves on the earth.”
This verse establishes the foundational command for humanity to fill the earth, linking physical multiplication with divine blessing and stewardship.
-
Exodus 28:3
You shall speak to all who are wise-hearted, whom I have filled with the spirit of wisdom, that they make Aaron’s garments to sanctify him, that he may minister to me in the priest’s office.
Here the word shifts from physical space to spiritual capacity, describing how God fills individuals with wisdom for sacred service.
-
Genesis 6:11
The earth was corrupt before God, and the earth was filled with violence.
This occurrence shows the negative side of fullness, where the earth is filled with violence, indicating a state that provokes divine judgment.
-
Exodus 23:26
No one will miscarry or be barren in your land. I will fulfill the number of your days.
The verb is used metaphorically to promise the fulfillment of a person's lifespan, assuring completeness and protection from premature loss.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the primary meaning of malē in the Old Testament?
How is malē different from other words for 'full'?
Does this word appear in the New Testament?
Every Occurrence (204 verses across 30 books)
Genesis 15 verses
God blessed them, saying, “Be fruitful, and multiply, and fill the waters in the seas, and let birds multiply on the…
Genesis 1:28God blessed them. God said to them, “Be fruitful, multiply, fill the earth, and subdue it. Have dominion over the fish…
Genesis 6:11The earth was corrupt before God, and the earth was filled with violence.
Genesis 6:13God said to Noah, “I will bring an end to all flesh, for the earth is filled with violence through them. Behold, I will…
Genesis 9:1God blessed Noah and his sons, and said to them, “Be fruitful, multiply, and replenish the earth.
Genesis 21:19God opened her eyes, and she saw a well of water. She went, filled the container with water, and gave the boy a drink.
Genesis 24:16The young lady was very beautiful to look at, a virgin. No man had known her. She went down to the spring, filled her…
Genesis 25:24When her days to be delivered were fulfilled, behold, there were twins in her womb.
Genesis 26:15Now all the wells which his father’s servants had dug in the days of Abraham his father, the Philistines had stopped,…
Genesis 29:21Jacob said to Laban, “Give me my wife, for my days are fulfilled, that I may go in to her.”
Genesis 29:27Fulfill the week of this one, and we will give you the other also for the service which you will serve with me for…
Genesis 29:28Jacob did so, and fulfilled her week. He gave him Rachel his daughter as wife.
Genesis 42:25Then Joseph gave a command to fill their bags with grain, and to restore each man’s money into his sack, and to give…
Genesis 44:1He commanded the steward of his house, saying, “Fill the men’s sacks with food, as much as they can carry, and put each…
Genesis 50:3Forty days were used for him, for that is how many days it takes to embalm. The Egyptians wept for Israel for seventy…