מְשֻׁלָּם (me.shul.lam)
me.shul.lam
Meshullam
N:N-M-PQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 21 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- N:N-M-P
Word Overview
The name Meshullam, meaning "friend" or "one who is complete," appears frequently in the genealogies and lists of Ezra and Nehemiah. It identifies seventeen different individuals across Israel’s history, ranging from royal officials to priests and Levites who returned from exile. This commonality suggests it was a popular personal name among faithful families during the post-exilic period.
Several bearers of this name played significant roles in restoring Jerusalem. One Meshullam helped rebuild the city walls (Nehemiah 3:4), while another assisted Ezra in addressing mixed marriages (Ezra 10:29). Another served as a chief who sealed the covenant with Nehemiah. The name’s root implies friendship or wholeness, reflecting a desire for relational integrity and divine favor.
Though the name occurs often, it rarely appears outside of official records. Its presence highlights the importance of community leadership and covenant faithfulness in rebuilding Israel after the Babylonian exile. Each Meshullam contributed to restoring religious and social order in Jerusalem.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The name Meshullam appears frequently in the genealogies of Ezra and Nehemiah, identifying seventeen different individuals who served as priests, Levites, and officials during the post-exilic period. This recurrence highlights a strong tradition of faithful leadership within these families, where the name itself suggests wholeness or friendship. It reflects a community deeply committed to restoring religious order after the Babylonian exile.
Several bearers of this name played crucial roles in rebuilding Jerusalem. One Meshullam helped repair the city walls alongside Meremoth, while another assisted Ezra in addressing mixed marriages. These actions demonstrate how personal names can carry weight in biblical history, marking individuals who contributed to the spiritual and social restoration of Israel.
Though often listed in official records, these Meshullams remind us of the importance of community leadership and covenant faithfulness. Their presence in the text encourages readers to value their own roles in supporting religious and social stability within their communities today.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 21 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- Meshullam13×
- and/ Meshullam7×
- and/ for/ Meshullam1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- מְשֻׁלָּם֙2×
- מְשֻׁלָּ֥ם2×
- מְשֻׁלָּ֖ם2×
- מְשֻׁלָּ֔ם2×
- וּ/מְשֻׁלָּ֛ם2×
- וּ/מְשֻׁלָּ֖ם2×
- מְשֻׁלָּֽם\׃\ \פ1×
- מְשֻׁלָּֽם\׃1×
- מְשֻׁלָּ֤ם1×
- מְשֻׁלָּ֣ם1×
- מְשֻׁלָּ֡ם1×
- וּ/מְשֻׁלָּם֙1×
Key Verses
-
Nehemiah 3:4
Next to them, Meremoth the son of Uriah, the son of Hakkoz made repairs. Next to them, Meshullam the son of Berechiah, the son of Meshezabel made repairs. Next to them, Zadok the son of Baana made repairs.
This verse places Meshullam son of Berechiah alongside Meremoth, showing his active participation in the physical rebuilding of Jerusalem's walls.
-
Ezra 10:29
Of the sons of Bani: Meshullam, Malluch, Adaiah, Jashub, Sheal, and Jeremoth.
Here, Meshullam is listed among those who helped Ezra address the issue of mixed marriages, indicating his role in religious reform.
-
I Chronicles 3:19
The sons of Pedaiah: Zerubbabel and Shimei. The sons of Zerubbabel: Meshullam and Hananiah; and Shelomith was their sister;
This genealogy links Meshullam to Zerubbabel, highlighting his connection to the royal lineage and the return from exile.
-
Nehemiah 12:25
Mattaniah, Bakbukiah, Obadiah, Meshullam, Talmon, and Akkub were gatekeepers keeping the watch at the storehouses of the gates.
Meshullam is identified as a gatekeeper at the storehouses, showing his ongoing service in maintaining the temple's security and order.