3121. Maleleél

Lexical Summary

Maleleél: Mahalalel

Original Word: Μαλελεήλ
Part of Speech: Proper Noun, Indeclinable
Transliteration: Maleleél
Pronunciation: mah-leh-leh-AYL
Phonetic Spelling: (mal-el-eh-ale')
KJV: Maleleel
NASB: Mahalaleel
Word Origin: [of Hebrew origin (H4111 (מַהֲלַלאֵל - Mahalalel))]

1. Maleleel (i.e. Mahalalel), an antediluvian (pre-flood)

Strong's Exhaustive Concordance

Maleleel.

Of Hebrew origin (Mahalal'el); Maleleel (i.e. Mahalalel), an antediluvian -- Maleleel.

see HEBREW Mahalal'el

NAS Exhaustive Concordance

Word Origin
of Hebrew origin Mahalalel
Definition
Mahalaleel, an antediluvian
NASB Translation
Mahalaleel (1).

Thayer's Greek Lexicon

STRONGS NT 3121: Μαλελεήλ

Μαλελεήλ (Μελελεηλ, Tdf.), ὁ (מַחֲלַלְאֵל, praising God, from מְחַלֵּל and אֵל), Mahalaleel (A. V. Maleleel), son of Cainan: Luke 3:37.

STRONGS NT 3121: Μελελεηλ [Μελελεηλ: Luke 3:37 Tdf., see Μαλεληλ.]

Topical Lexicon

Biblical Context

Luke 3:37 places Μαλελεήλ (Mahalalel) within the legal genealogy of Jesus Christ: “the son of Methuselah, the son of Enoch, the son of Jared, the son of Mahalalel, the son of Cainan” (Luke 3:37). Though only mentioned once in the Greek New Testament, the name is lifted directly from the Hebrew antediluvian record of Genesis 5 and carried into the New Covenant narrative to reinforce the historical continuity of God’s redemptive line.

Genealogical Connections

1. Genesis 5:12-17 gives the life span and family data of Mahalalel, situating him as the great-grandfather of Enoch and fifth in line from Adam through Seth.
2. 1 Chronicles 1:2 reiterates his place in Israel’s official genealogical archives.
3. Luke 3 draws on the Septuagint spelling and, by doing so, unites Greek-speaking believers with the Hebrew heritage from which Messiah springs.

By bridging the primeval era to the Incarnation, the inspired genealogy testifies that the same covenant-keeping God oversaw every generation from Adam to Christ (Galatians 3:16; Acts 17:26).

Historical Backdrop

Mahalalel lived before the flood, in an era characterized by rapidly expanding humanity and rising corruption (Genesis 6:1-5). His life spanned 895 years, intersecting with patriarchs who walked closely with God, notably Enoch (Genesis 5:22-24). The longevity of these patriarchs supplied overlapping eyewitness chains, enabling the faithful transmission of divine revelation across centuries.

Theological Themes

1. Providential Preservation

Luke’s insertion of Mahalalel confirms that not a single link in God’s promised Seed was lost (Genesis 3:15; Luke 1:55). The precision of the record showcases divine sovereignty over history.

2. Reliability of Early Genesis

New Testament citation of a pre-flood patriarch underscores the historicity of Genesis 1–11. Luke treats Genesis not as myth but as factual lineage crucial to Christology.

3. Universality of Salvation

By tracing Jesus through Mahalalel back to Adam (Luke 3:38), Scripture proclaims that the Savior represents all humanity, not merely the Abrahamic line (Romans 5:12-19; 1 Corinthians 15:22).

4. Worship Across Generations

The patriarch’s name, associated with praising God, reminds readers that worship predates the Mosaic covenant and is woven into the earliest family lines.

Ministry Applications

• Genealogies Encourage Faithfulness

Pastors can highlight how obscure yet faithful individuals like Mahalalel were essential in God’s plan, motivating believers to value hidden but steady obedience.

• Family Discipleship

The chain from Adam to Christ illustrates the impact of generational faith transmission (Deuteronomy 6:6-9; 2 Timothy 1:5). Parents today likewise steward a link in the gospel story.

• Apologetics

Pointing to Mahalalel in Luke counters claims that the New Testament divorces itself from the Old. Instead, it affirms scriptural unity and provides evidence of historical reliability.

Christological Implications

The inclusion of Mahalalel in Luke’s genealogy is more than a historical footnote; it is a theological assertion that Jesus is the rightful and promised “seed” embedded in human history. By rooting the Messiah in the pre-flood patriarchs, Luke demonstrates that the gospel fulfills the oldest prophecies and extends grace to every nation descended from Adam (Isaiah 49:6; Acts 13:47).

Related Old Testament Passages

• Genesis 5:12-17 – record of Mahalalel’s age, offspring, and death
• Genesis 9:1 – continuation of the creation mandate through Noah’s line
• 1 Chronicles 1:1-4 – condensed genealogy anchoring Israel’s origins

Summary Points for Teaching and Preaching

1. Mahalalel stands as a witness to God’s faithful preservation of the messianic line.
2. His presence in Luke affirms the historic reliability of Genesis and the unity of Scripture.
3. The genealogy underscores Jesus’ solidarity with the entire human race.
4. Even seemingly minor biblical figures play indispensable roles in God’s redemptive story.

Forms and Transliterations

Μαλελεηλ Μαλελεήλ Μαλελεὴλ Maleleel Maleleēl Maleleḗl

Englishman's Concordance

Luke 3:37 N
GRK: Ἰάρετ τοῦ Μαλελεήλ τοῦ Καινάμ
NAS: the son of Jared, the son of Mahalaleel, the son of Cainan,
KJV: which was [the son] of Jared, which was [the son] of Maleleel, which was [the son] of Cainan,
INT: of Jared of Mahalalel of Cainan

Strong's Greek 3121
1 Occurrence

Μαλελεήλ — 1 Occ.