3197. Melchi

Lexical Summary

Melchi: Melchi

Original Word: Μελχί
Part of Speech: Proper Noun, Indeclinable
Transliteration: Melchi
Pronunciation: MEL-khee
Phonetic Spelling: (mel-khee')
KJV: Melchi
NASB: Melchi
Word Origin: [of Hebrew origin (H4428 (מֶלֶך - king) with pronominal suffix, my king)]

1. Melchi (i.e. Malki), the name of two Israelites

Strong's Exhaustive Concordance

Melchi.

Of Hebrew origin (melek with pronominal suffix, my king); Melchi (i.e. Malki), the name of two Israelites -- Melchi.

see HEBREW melek

NAS Exhaustive Concordance

Word Origin
of Hebrew origin melek
Definition
Melchi, the name of two Isr.
NASB Translation
Melchi (2).

Thayer's Greek Lexicon

STRONGS NT 3197: Μελχί

Μελχί (T Tr WH Μελχει; see εἰ, ἰ), ὁ (מַלְכִּי, my king), Melchi;

1. one of Christ's ancestors: Luke 3:24.

2. another of the same: Luke 3:28.

Topical Lexicon

Name and Etymology

Melchi (Μελχὶ) is a Greek form of a Semitic name derived from the root mlk, “king.” In Hebrew the cognate appears in names such as Malchi (1 Chronicles 24:9) and Malkijah (Jeremiah 38:6). The royal nuance embedded in the root subtly reinforces Luke’s emphasis on the Messiah’s regal lineage.

Occurrences in Scripture

1. Luke 3:24 – “…the son of Matthat, the son of Levi, the son of Melchi, the son of Jannai, the son of Joseph,”.
2. Luke 3:28 – “…the son of Melchi, the son of Addi, the son of Cosam, the son of Elmadam, the son of Er,”.

Luke cites two different men named Melchi, separated by several generations, within the genealogy of Jesus traced through His legal father, Joseph.

Role in the Lukan Genealogy

• Luke’s genealogy (Luke 3:23-38) traces Jesus’ ancestry from Joseph back to Adam, highlighting Christ as the Son of Man and the universal Savior.
• Unlike Matthew, who follows the royal line through Solomon, Luke follows the line through David’s son Nathan (Luke 3:31), thus avoiding the cursed line of Jeconiah (Jeremiah 22:30) and underscoring God’s meticulous providence.
• The two Melchis sit in the post-exilic portion of the genealogy, after the Babylonian captivity and before the silent years leading to the New Testament era. Their placement testifies to God’s preservation of the Davidic promise in a period seemingly devoid of prophetic activity.

Historical Context

• The first Melchi (Luke 3:28) likely lived during or soon after the exile, a time when Judah’s national identity was in flux and ancestral records were carefully maintained (Ezra 2:62).
• The second Melchi (Luke 3:24) appears roughly four centuries later, during the Hellenistic period under successive foreign powers. Luke’s ability to access these names demonstrates the continued integrity of Jewish genealogical archives.
• Both generations bridge the gap between the Old Testament narrative and the advent of the Messiah, illustrating the continuity of redemptive history.

Theological Significance

1. Preservation of Promise: The inclusion of otherwise unknown individuals like Melchi showcases God’s faithfulness across obscured generations, affirming that “the gifts and the calling of God are irrevocable” (Romans 11:29).
2. Universal Scope: By grounding Jesus’ lineage in everyday Israelites, Luke stresses that the gospel is not confined to royal courts but reaches ordinary families.
3. Authenticity of Incarnation: The concrete naming of ancestors corroborates the historical reality of the Word made flesh (John 1:14), countering any notion of mythologized origins.

Lessons for Ministry

• God values hidden faithfulness. Though the two Melchis performed no recorded exploits, their place in salvation history is indispensable.
• Ministry impact often lies beyond public recognition. A believer’s quiet fidelity can shape future generations for Christ.
• Accurate record-keeping and attention to heritage can serve gospel purposes; Luke’s orderly account (Luke 1:3) models careful research for those who teach and defend Scripture today.

Related Old Testament Parallels

• Malchijah, a priestly leader who repaired Jerusalem’s wall (Nehemiah 3:31), and Malchi-shua, a son of Saul (1 Samuel 14:49), share the same name root. Each appears in settings where God safeguards His people, echoing the protective theme seen in Luke’s genealogy.
• The broader mlk root surfaces in Melchizedek (“king of righteousness”), to whom Jesus is compared in Hebrews 7, further reinforcing the messianic Kingship embedded in the name Melchi.

Practical Application

Believers can draw encouragement from the anonymous Melchis: even the uncelebrated chapters of life are woven into God’s grand narrative. A life devoted to covenant fidelity—recorded or unnoticed—advances the kingdom and magnifies Christ, the true and final King foretold through every generational link.

Forms and Transliterations

Μελχει Μελχεί Μελχὶ Melchi Melchì

Englishman's Concordance

Luke 3:24 N
GRK: Λευὶ τοῦ Μελχὶ τοῦ Ἰανναί
NAS: the son of Levi, the son of Melchi, the son of Jannai,
KJV: which was [the son] of Levi, which was [the son] of Melchi, which was [the son] of Janna,
INT: of Levi of Melchi of Jannai

Luke 3:28 N
GRK: τοῦ Μελχὶ τοῦ Ἀδδὶ
NAS: the son of Melchi, the son of Addi,
KJV: Which was [the son] of Melchi, which was [the son] of Addi,
INT: of Melchi of Addi

Strong's Greek 3197
2 Occurrences

Μελχὶ — 2 Occ.