מְלוּכָה (me.lu.khah)
me.lu.khah
kingship
H:N-FQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 20 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- H:N-F
Word Overview
The noun melukkah denotes kingship, royalty, or the kingly office itself. Derived from the root malak, meaning to reign, it functions as a passive participle describing "that which is ruled" or a realm under authority. In the Hebrew Bible, this word shifts focus from the person of the king to the institution, status, or territory he governs.
Its usage often highlights the tangible aspects of royal power. For instance, it describes the "royal throne" in 2 Samuel 12:26 and the "royal stock" or lineage in 1 Kings 1:46. The term also appears in contexts of political ambition, such as when characters ask what they have more than "the kingdom" in 1 Samuel 18:8, emphasizing the possession of sovereign authority rather than just personal rule.
Translators typically render melukkah as "kingdom," "royal," or "king's." This distinction is important because it separates the abstract concept of sovereignty from the individual ruler. The word underscores that kingship in Scripture is not merely a title but a structured reality involving territory, lineage, and established order.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The word melukkah points us toward the reality of God’s reign rather than just the figure of a human ruler. In Scripture, this noun shifts our focus from individual leaders to the enduring structure of authority and order that God establishes. It reminds us that true sovereignty is not merely a title held by one person, but a tangible system of justice, lineage, and territory under divine oversight.
When we read about kingship in the Bible, we see both human ambition and divine purpose intertwined. Figures like Saul and David navigate the complexities of power, yet the narrative consistently shows that earthly kingdoms are temporary. The ultimate hope lies in a kingdom that does not fall, where God’s rule brings lasting peace and stability to His people.
This perspective offers comfort in times of political uncertainty or personal instability. While human governments rise and fall, the principle of God’s kingship remains constant. We can trust that He is working out His purposes through history, inviting us to align our lives with His righteous order rather than chasing fleeting power.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 20 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- the/ kingship13×
- <the>/ royalty5×
- royalty1×
- kingship1×
- [will be that which] a kingship1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- הַ/מְּלוּכָֽה\׃5×
- הַ/מְּלוּכָ֔ה5×
- הַ/מְּלוּכָ֖ה3×
- מְלוּכָ֖ה2×
- הַ/מְּלוּכָה֙2×
- מְלוּכָ֣ה1×
- הַ֠/מְּלוּכָה1×
- הַ/מְּלוּכָ֗ה1×
- הַ/מְּלֻכָ֔ה1×
Key Verses
-
I Samuel 10:25
Then Samuel told the people the regulations of the kingdom, and wrote it in a book and laid it up before Yahweh. Samuel sent all the people away, every man to his house.
This verse highlights the institutional nature of kingship, as Samuel records the regulations to establish a structured and accountable system of governance for Israel.
-
I Kings 12:21
When Rehoboam had come to Jerusalem, he assembled all the house of Judah and the tribe of Benjamin, a hundred and eighty thousand chosen men who were warriors, to fight against the house of Israel, to bring the kingdom again to Rehoboam the son of Solomon.
Rehoboam’s attempt to regain the kingdom illustrates the intense political struggle over territorial authority and the fragility of human royal power.
-
Obadiah 1:21
Saviors will go up on Mount Zion to judge the mountains of Esau, and the kingdom will be Yahweh’s.
This prophecy provides the ultimate resolution, declaring that the kingdom will ultimately belong to Yahweh, transcending all earthly disputes.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does the Hebrew word melukkah mean?
How is melukkah different from other words for kingdom?
Where does this word appear most frequently?
Every Occurrence (20 verses across 9 books)
I Samuel 5 verses
Saul said to his uncle, “He told us plainly that the donkeys were found.” But concerning the matter of the kingdom, of…
I Samuel 10:25Then Samuel told the people the regulations of the kingdom, and wrote it in a book and laid it up before Yahweh. Samuel…
I Samuel 11:14Then Samuel said to the people, “Come! Let’s go to Gilgal, and renew the kingdom there.”
I Samuel 14:47Now when Saul had taken the kingdom over Israel, he fought against all his enemies on every side: against Moab, and…
I Samuel 18:8Saul was very angry, and this saying displeased him. He said, “They have credited David with ten thousands, and they…