עֲמָלֵק (a.ma.leq)
a.ma.leq
Amalek
N:N-M-PQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 36 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- N:N-M-P
Word Overview
The name Amalek identifies both a grandson of Esau and the ancient people descended from him, who inhabited the regions south of Palestine between Edom and Egypt. Genesis records his lineage as part of the family tree of Israel’s ancestor, while later historical books describe his descendants as a persistent adversary living in the Negev and near the Sinai peninsula. Their presence is noted in early conflicts during the Exodus and again during the period of the Judges.
Lexical sources suggest the name may be of foreign origin, with some traditions linking it to a meaning like "dweller in a valley." This group appears frequently in the narrative as a symbol of opposition to Israel. The most significant encounter occurs in Exodus 17, where they attack the Israelites at Rephidim, an event that leads to a lasting command for God’s people to remember and blot out their memory.
Amalek serves as a recurring reminder of spiritual hostility in the Old Testament. Their repeated attacks, particularly against the weary and stragglers at the rear of the Israelite camp, mark them as enemies who sought to undermine the community’s survival. The prophetic literature and historical accounts treat their eventual defeat as a settled matter of divine justice.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The name Amalek appears in Scripture not merely as a historical footnote but as a recurring symbol of hostility against God’s people. From the time of the Exodus through the days of the Judges, this group represented an enemy that attacked the weak and weary among Israel. Their actions serve as a stark reminder of spiritual opposition that seeks to undermine faith and community.
For believers today, this narrative invites reflection on vigilance and reliance on God. When Moses held up his hands in prayer during battle, Israel prevailed; when they lowered, the enemy gained ground. This imagery highlights how our spiritual strength depends on sustained connection with the Divine rather than our own power alone.
The command to remember Amalek’s deeds encourages us to recognize patterns of opposition in our own lives. It calls for discernment and trust in God’s justice, knowing that evil does not go unnoticed. This promise offers hope that faithfulness is rewarded and that God remains sovereign over all conflicts.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 36 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- Amalek23×
- and/ Amalek6×
- and/ from/ Amalek2×
- against/ Amalek2×
- with/ Amalek1×
- on/ Amalek1×
- of/ Amalek1×
- [was] in/ Amalek1×
- <the>/ Amalek1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- עֲמָלֵ֑ק8×
- עֲמָלֵ֔ק7×
- עֲמָלֵ֖ק3×
- בַּ/עֲמָלֵ֑ק3×
- עֲמָלֵֽק\׃2×
- עֲמָלֵ֥ק2×
- עֲמָלֵ֗ק1×
- לַ/עֲמָלֵ֑ק1×
- וַֽ/עֲמָלֵ֛ק1×
- וּ/מֵֽ/עֲמָלֵֽק\׃1×
- וּ/מֵֽ/עֲמָלֵ֑ק1×
- וַֽ/עֲמָלֵק֙1×
Key Verses
-
Exodus 17:8
Then Amalek came and fought with Israel in Rephidim.
This verse marks the first recorded military conflict between Israel and Amalek, establishing their role as immediate adversaries after the Exodus.
-
Exodus 17:14
Yahweh said to Moses, “Write this for a memorial in a book, and rehearse it in the ears of Joshua: that I will utterly blot out the memory of Amalek from under the sky.”
God commands Moses to record this event as a permanent memorial, emphasizing the lasting significance of Amalek’s attack in biblical memory.
-
Deuteronomy 25:19
Therefore it shall be, when Yahweh your God has given you rest from all your enemies all around, in the land which Yahweh your God gives you for an inheritance to possess it, that you shall blot out the memory of Amalek from under the sky. You shall not forget.
This passage reiterates the command to blot out Amalek’s memory, linking their defeat to God’s provision of rest and security for Israel.
-
I Samuel 15:3
Now go and strike Amalek, and utterly destroy all that they have, and don’t spare them; but kill both man and woman, infant and nursing baby, ox and sheep, camel and donkey.’”
Here, God commands Saul to execute judgment on Amalek, showing how the legacy of this enemy continued to demand accountability in later generations.