מַמְלָכָה (mam.la.khah)
mam.la.khah
kingdom
H:N-FQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 101 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- H:N-F
Word Overview
The Hebrew noun mamlakah refers to a kingdom, dominion, or reign. It derives from the root malakh, meaning "to reign," and functions as a feminine noun that covers both the abstract authority of rule and the concrete territory subject to a king. The sources note it is used for royal dignity as well as the physical realm itself.
While often translated simply as "kingdom," the word carries a specific weight in its context. It frequently describes non-Israelite realms or the political structures surrounding Israel, such as the "kingdoms of the earth" mentioned in Deuteronomy 28:25. In passages like 1 Kings 11:11, it denotes the sovereign power granted or taken from a ruler. The term appears most often in Chronicles and Jeremiah, reflecting the historical focus on national stability and divine judgment upon earthly powers.
Translators render mamlakah as kingdom, dominion, reign, or royal depending on whether the emphasis is on the person ruling or the land ruled. This distinction highlights that ancient Israelite thought did not strictly separate the monarch from the state; the king’s authority and his territory were viewed as a unified entity under divine sovereignty.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The word mamlakah reminds us that authority ultimately belongs to God. In the Old Testament, it describes both the physical land a king rules and the abstract power of his reign. This dual meaning shows that ancient Israelites saw no separation between the ruler and the territory; the king’s power was real but derived from a higher source.
For your faith, this offers comfort when political systems feel unstable. The Bible records how God raised up kings like David and took them away when they failed. It teaches that earthly kingdoms are temporary, while God’s sovereignty remains constant. You can trust in a ruler who does not fail.
This perspective helps us navigate our own lives with peace. When we face uncertainty or changing circumstances, we remember that true stability comes from aligning with divine will rather than human power structures. It invites us to rest in the knowledge that God holds history in His hands.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 101 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- [the] kingdoms of22×
- the/ kingdom17×
- kingdoms11×
- [the] kingdom of7×
- kingdom/ his6×
- <the>/ royalty5×
- the/ kingdoms4×
- kingdom/ your3×
- kingdom3×
- and/ the/ kingdom3×
- a kingdom3×
- [the] reign of2×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- מַמְלְכ֣וֹת13×
- הַ/מַּמְלָכָ֖ה9×
- מַמְלְכ֥וֹת8×
- הַ/מַּמְלָכָה֙7×
- מַמְלָכֽוֹת\׃4×
- מַמְלָכָ֖ה3×
- מַמְלֶ֥כֶת3×
- הַ/מַּמְלָכ֔וֹת3×
- מַמְלָכָ֑ה2×
- מַמְלָכ֔וֹת2×
- מַמְלָכ֑וֹת2×
- מַמְלֶ֣כֶת2×
Key Verses
-
II Samuel 7:13
He will build a house for my name, and I will establish the throne of his kingdom forever.
This verse highlights the contrast between earthly reigns and the eternal kingdom promised to David's offspring, showing the word's theological depth.
-
I Samuel 13:14
But now your kingdom will not continue. Yahweh has sought for himself a man after his own heart, and Yahweh has appointed him to be prince over his people, because you have not kept that which Yahweh commanded you.”
Here the term marks a pivotal shift in leadership, demonstrating that royal authority is conditional on obedience to God's commands.
-
Deuteronomy 28:25
Yahweh will cause you to be struck before your enemies. You will go out one way against them, and will flee seven ways before them. You will be tossed back and forth among all the kingdoms of the earth.
The phrase 'kingdoms of the earth' illustrates how the word applies to foreign powers that oppose Israel, emphasizing their temporary nature under divine judgment.
-
Genesis 10:10
The beginning of his kingdom was Babel, Erech, Accad, and Calneh, in the land of Shinar.
This early usage establishes the concept of political organization starting with Babel, showing the term's broad application to human governance.