מֶלְתָּחָה (mel.ta.chah)
mel.ta.chah
apparel
H:N-FQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 1 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- H:N-F
Word Overview
The Hebrew noun meltaḥah refers specifically to clothing or a wardrobe. It appears only once in the entire Old Testament, in 2 Kings 10:22. In this passage, King Jehu orders the preparation of an extensive collection of garments for his followers.
This single occurrence highlights the word’s focus on personal attire rather than general textiles. The context involves a large-scale distribution of clothes to those who would support Jehu’s coup against the house of Ahab. The term emphasizes the tangible, wearable nature of these items, serving as a symbol of status and unity among the king’s supporters.
Because it is so rare, meltaḥah offers little scope for comparative analysis with other Hebrew words for clothing. Its significance lies in this unique historical moment, where material wealth was mobilized for political and military purposes. The brevity of its usage leaves scholars to infer its meaning primarily from this singular narrative context.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The word meltaḥah appears only once in Scripture, found in 2 Kings 10:22. It refers specifically to a wardrobe or a collection of garments. In this narrative, King Jehu demands that the keeper of the wardrobe bring out robes for all who worship Baal. This act was not merely about clothing; it was a decisive move to strip away the symbols of false allegiance.
For your faith life, this rare word reminds us that our outer appearance often reflects our inner devotion. Just as those garments were gathered and removed from Baal’s worshippers, God calls us to examine what we hold dear. Are there habits or attachments in our lives that compete with our loyalty to Him? This passage invites a honest look at the 'wardrobe' of our hearts.
May you find freedom in discarding what does not honor God. Trust that He provides what is truly needed for your walk with Him, replacing old patterns with new life in Christ.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 1 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- the/ wardrobe1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- הַ/מֶּלְתָּחָ֔ה1×
Key Verses
-
II Kings 10:22
He said to him who kept the wardrobe, “Bring out robes for all the worshipers of Baal!” So he brought robes out to them.
This verse captures the word's singular appearance, showing how material goods were mobilized to expose and dismantle a system of false worship.