מַלְכִּיאֵל (mal.ki.el)
mal.ki.el
Malchiel
N:N-M-PQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 3 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- N:N-M-P
Word Overview
The name Malchiel, meaning "my king is God," appears in the genealogies of the tribe of Asher during the patriarchal and wilderness periods. It belongs to a man mentioned in Genesis 46:17 and Numbers 26:44 as the son of Beriah and brother of Heber. The name also generates the gentilic Malchielite, found in 1 Chronicles 7:38.
As a personal name, it combines malch ("king") with El ("God"), reflecting a common Hebrew pattern that acknowledges divine sovereignty within family lineage. Its brief appearance in Scripture serves primarily to trace the ancestry of Asher’s descendants rather than to highlight individual deeds or theological narratives.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The name Malchiel means "my king is God." It appears in the genealogies of Asher, linking Beriah to his sons Heber and Malchiel. This simple naming pattern reminds us that our identity is rooted in who rules over our lives. In a world where many seek power or status, this name points to a higher authority.
Seeing God’s name woven into family records shows His care for every generation. Even those with little recorded history are part of His plan. This encourages us to trust that our lives, however quiet they may seem, matter deeply to Him.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 3 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- and/ Malkiel2×
- of/ Malkiel1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- לְ/מַ֨לְכִּיאֵ֔ל1×
- וּ/מַלְכִּיאֵֽל\׃1×
- וּ/מַלְכִּיאֵ֑ל1×
Key Verses
-
Genesis 46:17
The sons of Asher: Imnah, Ishvah, Ishvi, Beriah, and Serah their sister. The sons of Beriah: Heber and Malchiel.
This verse introduces Malchiel as the son of Beriah, establishing his place in the lineage of Asher during Israel's move to Egypt.
-
Numbers 26:45
Of the sons of Beriah: of Heber, the family of the Heberites; of Malchiel, the family of the Malchielites.
Here the name generates the gentilic 'Malchielites,' showing how a single person’s name became the identifier for an entire family group in the wilderness census.
-
I Chronicles 7:31
The sons of Beriah: Heber and Malchiel, who was the father of Birzaith.
This passage confirms Malchiel’s role as a father, linking him to Birzaith and preserving the tribal record for future generations.