מֶ֫לֶךְ (me.lekh)
me.lekh
king
H:N-MQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 1,792 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- H:N-M
Word Overview
The noun melek refers to a king, specifically one who holds sovereign power over a people or land. Derived from a root meaning to reign, it appears nearly two thousand times in the Hebrew Bible, with significant concentration in the historical books of Kings and Chronicles. The term describes human rulers such as David, Solomon, or Nebuchadnezzar, often followed by a genitive indicating their territory, like "king of Judah" or "king of Israel."
A distinctive feature of this word is its application to God Himself. Scripture frequently calls Yahweh the King of Israel or the great King over all the earth, as seen in Psalm 47:2 and Psalm 10:16. This theological usage distinguishes divine sovereignty from human monarchy, positioning God as the ultimate authority above earthly powers. The word also appears in titles like "king of kings" for Babylonian rulers, yet the biblical narrative consistently reserves the highest royal status for God alone.
Translators render melek simply as "king," which captures its straightforward political and social meaning. However, the context often reveals whether the term highlights legitimate rule, tyranny, or divine appointment. By applying this title to both human monarchs and Yahweh, the text creates a continuous thread of authority that runs through Israel’s history, contrasting temporary earthly reigns with eternal divine kingship.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The word melek simply means king, yet it carries a weight that shapes how we understand authority. In the Hebrew Bible, this term describes human rulers who hold power over land and people. It appears in stories of ancient dynasties, from the kings of Sodom to the pharaohs of Egypt. These narratives show us that earthly power is real but often fragile, subject to change and conflict.
More importantly, melek is used for God Himself. Scripture calls Yahweh the King of Israel and the great King over all the earth. This distinction reminds us that while human leaders may rise and fall, divine sovereignty remains constant. When we read about kingship in these texts, we are invited to trust in a ruler whose authority is eternal and just.
For your faith life, this word offers comfort. It suggests that no matter how chaotic the political world becomes, there is a ultimate King who holds history in His hands. You can find peace knowing that true authority belongs to God alone, and His reign brings stability that human kingdoms cannot provide.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 1,792 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- the/ king957×
- [the] king of739×
- [the] kings of94×
- a king65×
- to the/ king50×
- the/ kings33×
- of/ [the] kings of32×
- kings31×
- and/ the/ king31×
- to/ king28×
- of the/ king24×
- to/ [the] king of20×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- מֶֽלֶךְ\־319×
- מֶ֣לֶךְ277×
- הַ/מֶּ֔לֶךְ175×
- הַ/מֶּ֖לֶךְ134×
- מֶ֥לֶךְ112×
- הַ/מֶּ֙לֶךְ֙99×
- הַ/מֶּ֑לֶךְ85×
- הַ/מֶּֽלֶךְ\׃84×
- הַ/מֶּ֣לֶךְ82×
- הַ/מֶּ֜לֶךְ58×
- מַלְכֵ֣י49×
- הַ/מֶּ֗לֶךְ44×
Key Verses
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Genesis 14:18
Melchizedek king of Salem brought out bread and wine. He was priest of God Most High.
This verse introduces Melchizedek as king of Salem, linking royal authority with priesthood in a rare biblical figure who blesses Abram.
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Genesis 17:6
I will make you exceedingly fruitful, and I will make nations of you. Kings will come out of you.
God promises Abraham that kings will come from him, establishing the foundational covenantal link between patriarchal promise and future monarchy.
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Exodus 1:8
Now there arose a new king over Egypt, who didn’t know Joseph.
The rise of a new king who did not know Joseph sets the stage for Israel's oppression, showing how political shifts can impact God's people.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does the Hebrew word melek mean?
How is melek different from other words for ruler?
Where does this word appear most often?
Every Occurrence (1,792 verses across 33 books)
Genesis 22 verses
In the days of Amraphel, king of Shinar; Arioch, king of Ellasar; Chedorlaomer, king of Elam; and Tidal, king of Goiim,
Genesis 14:2they made war with Bera, king of Sodom; Birsha, king of Gomorrah; Shinab, king of Admah; Shemeber, king of Zeboiim; and…
Genesis 14:5In the fourteenth year Chedorlaomer and the kings who were with him came and struck the Rephaim in Ashteroth Karnaim,…
Genesis 14:8The king of Sodom, and the king of Gomorrah, the king of Admah, the king of Zeboiim, and the king of Bela (also called…
Genesis 14:9against Chedorlaomer king of Elam, Tidal king of Goiim, Amraphel king of Shinar, and Arioch king of Ellasar; four kings…
Genesis 14:10Now the valley of Siddim was full of tar pits; and the kings of Sodom and Gomorrah fled, and some fell there. Those who…
Genesis 14:17The king of Sodom went out to meet him after his return from the slaughter of Chedorlaomer and the kings who were with…
Genesis 14:18Melchizedek king of Salem brought out bread and wine. He was priest of God Most High.
Genesis 14:21The king of Sodom said to Abram, “Give me the people, and take the goods for yourself.”
Genesis 14:22Abram said to the king of Sodom, “I have lifted up my hand to Yahweh, God Most High, possessor of heaven and earth,
Genesis 17:6I will make you exceedingly fruitful, and I will make nations of you. Kings will come out of you.
Genesis 17:16I will bless her, and moreover I will give you a son by her. Yes, I will bless her, and she will be a mother of…
Genesis 20:2Abraham said about Sarah his wife, “She is my sister.” Abimelech king of Gerar sent, and took Sarah.
Genesis 26:1There was a famine in the land, in addition to the first famine that was in the days of Abraham. Isaac went to…
Genesis 26:8When he had been there a long time, Abimelech king of the Philistines looked out at a window, and saw, and, behold,…
Genesis 35:11God said to him, “I am God Almighty. Be fruitful and multiply. A nation and a company of nations will be from you, and…
Genesis 36:31These are the kings who reigned in the land of Edom, before any king reigned over the children of Israel.
Genesis 39:20Joseph’s master took him, and put him into the prison, the place where the king’s prisoners were bound, and he was…
Genesis 40:1After these things, the butler of the king of Egypt and his baker offended their lord, the king of Egypt.
Genesis 40:5They both dreamed a dream, each man his dream, in one night, each man according to the interpretation of his dream, the…
Genesis 41:46Joseph was thirty years old when he stood before Pharaoh king of Egypt. Joseph went out from the presence of Pharaoh,…
Genesis 49:20“Asher’s food will be rich. He will produce royal dainties.