תֵּל מֶ֫לַח (tel me.lach)
tel me.lach
Tel-melah
N:N--LQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 2 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- N:N--L
Word Overview
The phrase tel me-lach translates literally as "mound of salt" and identifies a specific locality in ancient Babylonia. It appears only twice in the Hebrew Bible, both within the genealogical records of Ezra and Nehemiah that track the return of exiles to Jerusalem.
These passages list individuals from this place who returned with Zerubbabel but had no recorded paternal lineage or tribal affiliation. The name itself likely refers to a geographical feature, perhaps a salt flat or a mound rich in mineral deposits, which served as a landmark for these families before their journey home.
The mention of this site highlights the diverse origins of the post-exilic community. By recording names from tel me-lach alongside those from other regions, the text preserves the memory of those who rebuilt Jerusalem even when their specific family histories were lost or unknown to later generations.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The name Tel-melah means 'mound of salt,' a stark and specific landmark in ancient Babylonia. It appears only twice in Scripture, within the lists of those who returned to Jerusalem after the exile. These records do not focus on geography for its own sake, but on people. Specifically, they mention families from this place who could no longer prove their lineage or tribal connection.
This detail offers a quiet comfort to anyone who feels disconnected from their heritage or unsure of their standing. The biblical text does not exclude these individuals because their records were lost; it includes them in the community of return. Their presence reminds us that belonging to God's people is not strictly defined by pedigree or past achievements, but by the act of returning and rebuilding together.
Even when personal history fades or becomes unclear, your place in the story of faith remains secure. The same God who gathered these exiles from distant lands invites you into His ongoing work today, valuing your presence just as much as your provenance.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 2 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- from/ Tel2×
- Melah2×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- מֶ֙לַח֙2×
- מִ/תֵּ֥ל2×
Key Verses
-
Ezra 2:59
These were those who went up from Tel Melah, Tel Harsha, Cherub, Addan, and Immer; but they could not show their fathers’ houses and their offspring, whether they were of Israel:
This verse establishes the context of the return from Babylon and explicitly lists those from Tel-melah who lacked documented ancestry, highlighting the inclusivity of the restored community.
-
Nehemiah 7:61
These were those who went up from Tel Melah, Tel Harsha, Cherub, Addon, and Immer; but they could not show their fathers’ houses, nor their offspring, whether they were of Israel:
The repetition in Nehemiah confirms that despite the loss of family records, these individuals were still recognized as part of the people who rebuilt Jerusalem's walls and life.