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מַלְקוֹחַ (mal.qo.ach)

mal.qo.ach

prey; jaw

H4455 · Hebrew · Old Testament · 7 verses

H:N-M

Quick Reference

Language
Biblical Hebrew
Testament
Old Testament
Occurrences
7 verses
Root
—
Part of speech
H:N-M

Word Overview

The Hebrew noun malqoach carries two distinct meanings that share a common thread of seizing or taking hold. In its most frequent usage, it refers to booty or prey, describing goods captured during conflict or spoils taken from an enemy. This sense appears prominently in the prophetic literature, such as Isaiah, where nations are described as dividing up plunder.

Less commonly, particularly in poetic texts like Psalm 22:16, the word denotes a jaw. The connection lies in the physical action of the jaw seizing and holding food or prey. This metaphorical link between the mouth’s grip and the act of capture illustrates how ancient Hebrew vocabulary often rooted abstract concepts in tangible, bodily experiences.

With only seven occurrences in the Hebrew Bible, malqoach is a rare term. Its dual definition highlights the semantic flexibility of biblical Hebrew, where a single word can bridge the gap between violent conquest and basic biological function, depending on context.

Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).

What This Word Means for Your Faith

The Hebrew word malqoach appears in contexts of war and capture, referring to the goods taken from an enemy. In Numbers, it describes the sheep, cattle, and clothing gathered after a military campaign. This usage highlights the tangible reality of conflict, where resources are seized and redistributed among the people.

Isaiah uses this same term to speak of hope in difficult times. The prophet asks if plunder can be taken from a warrior or captives freed from a tyrant. The answer is yes, because God promises to fight for His people and restore what was lost. This offers comfort when we feel overpowered by circumstances beyond our control.

Though rare, the word reminds us that God sees the injustice of those who take what belongs to others. It assures believers that no victory is permanent if it opposes divine justice. We can trust that God defends the vulnerable and restores what has been stolen, whether material goods or personal dignity.

How it's translated

How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 7 verses where it appears, by frequency.

  • the/ booty4×
  • booty1×
  • and/ [the] booty of1×
  • [the] booty of1×

Forms in the text

The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.

  • הַ/מַּלְק֔וֹחַ2×
  • מַלְק֙וֹחַ֙1×
  • מַלְק֑וֹחַ1×
  • וּ/מַלְק֥וֹחַ1×
  • הַ/מַּלְק֛וֹחַ1×
  • הַ/מַּלְק֑וֹחַ1×

Key Verses

  • Numbers 31:27
    and divide the plunder into two parts: between the men skilled in war, who went out to battle, and all the congregation.

    This verse explicitly commands the division of malqoach between soldiers and the congregation, showing its role in communal resource distribution after conflict.

  • Isaiah 49:25
    But Yahweh says, “Even the captives of the mighty shall be taken away, and the plunder retrieved from the fierce, for I will contend with him who contends with you and I will save your children.

    Here malqoach is used metaphorically to describe captives taken by a 'fierce' enemy, emphasizing God's power to retrieve what seems lost forever.

  • Numbers 31:12
    They brought the captives with the prey and the plunder, to Moses, and to Eleazar the priest, and to the congregation of the children of Israel, to the camp at the plains of Moab, which are by the Jordan at Jericho.

    The text lists malqoach alongside other spoils brought to Moses, illustrating its status as a significant portion of the war's outcome.

Frequently Asked Questions

What does malqoach mean in the Bible?

Malqoach primarily means prey or plunder, referring to goods captured during war. It appears in Numbers describing spoils of battle and in Isaiah speaking of captives taken by enemies.

Why is malqoach significant in Isaiah 49?

In Isaiah 49:25, the word describes captives held by a powerful foe. The verse uses it to show that God can rescue people even when they seem completely trapped by stronger opponents.

How is malqoach different from other words for treasure?

Unlike general terms for wealth, malqoach specifically denotes items taken by force or in conflict. It carries a connotation of seizure rather than earned income or inheritance.

Every Occurrence (7 verses across 2 books)

Numbers 5 verses
Numbers 31:11

They took all the captives, and all the plunder, both of man and of animal.

Numbers 31:12

They brought the captives with the prey and the plunder, to Moses, and to Eleazar the priest, and to the congregation…

Numbers 31:26

“Count the plunder that was taken, both of man and of animal, you, and Eleazar the priest, and the heads of the…

Numbers 31:27

and divide the plunder into two parts: between the men skilled in war, who went out to battle, and all the congregation.

Numbers 31:32

Now the plunder, over and above the booty which the men of war took, was six hundred seventy-five thousand sheep,

Isaiah 2 verses