מַלְכִּיאֵלִי (mal.ki.e.li)
mal.ki.e.li
Malchielite
N:N--PGQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 1 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- N:N--PG
Word Overview
The term Malchielite identifies a specific clan within the tribe of Asher, named after their ancestor Malchiel. This gentilic adjective appears only once in the Hebrew Bible, serving as a collective noun for this family group in the census recorded in Numbers 26:45.
The name Malchiel itself carries significant theological weight, translating to "my king is God." By attaching this personal name to the clan designation, the text preserves a declaration of faith across generations. The Malchielites are listed among the descendants of Beriah, placing them firmly within the lineage of Asher, one of Jacob’s sons.
As a rare gentilic form, this word highlights how ancient Israel organized its society into distinct familial units for census and inheritance purposes. Its solitary occurrence underscores the meticulous record-keeping of the wilderness generation, ensuring that each clan, no matter how small, was accounted for before entering the Promised Land.
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," a declaration that anchors identity in divine sovereignty rather than human power. When Numbers 26:45 lists the family of the Malchielites, it preserves this confession within the tribe of Asher. Such records were not merely administrative; they affirmed that every clan had a place in God’s plan.
For your faith, this reminds you that your name and lineage matter to Him. Even when history seems vast or your role small, God keeps account of those who belong to Him. His kingdom is the true inheritance, secure across generations.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 1 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- the/ Malchielite[s]1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- הַ/מַּלְכִּיאֵלִֽי\׃1×
Key Verses
-
Numbers 26:45
Of the sons of Beriah: of Heber, the family of the Heberites; of Malchiel, the family of the Malchielites.
This verse uses Malchielite as a gentilic term to identify the specific family group descending from Malchiel within the tribe of Asher.