Lexical Summary Mahalalel: Mahalalel Original Word: מַהֲלַלְאֵל Strong's Exhaustive Concordance Mahalaleel From mahalal and 'el; praise of God; Mahalalel, the name of an antediluvian patriarch and of an Israelite -- Mahalaleel. see HEBREW mahalal see HEBREW 'el NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Originfrom mahalal and el Definition "praise of God," great-grandson of Seth, also a man of Judah NASB Translation Mahalalel (7). Brown-Driver-Briggs מַהֲלַלְאֵל proper name, masculine **read מְהַלֶּלְאֵל GrayProp. N. 201. (praise of God, compare יְהַלֶּלְאֵל above); — 1 great-grandson of Seth according to Genealogy of P, Genesis 5:12,13,15,16,17; 1 Chronicles 1:2. 2 a man of Judah Nehemiah 11:4. Topical Lexicon Lineage and Name Mahalalel, fifth in descent from Adam through the line of Seth, is introduced in Genesis as “the son of Kenan” and “father of Jared” (Genesis 5:12, 15). His name means “praise of God,” an early witness that the Sethite line intentionally memorialized the worship of the LORD amid an increasingly corrupt antediluvian world. The New Testament retains the form “Mahalalel” in the messianic genealogy (Luke 3:37), confirming his historical place in the lineage culminating in Jesus Christ. Occurrences in Scripture • The antediluvian genealogy: Genesis 5:12-17 records his age at the birth of Jared (65 years), the length of his remaining life (830 years), and his total lifespan (895 years). Chronological Placement Genesis situates Mahalalel midway between Adam and Noah. A straightforward reading of the ages yields these overlaps: – Adam lived until Mahalalel was 243 years old, allowing direct transmission of creation’s testimony. – Mahalalel lived 234 years concurrently with Noah, linking pre-Flood revelation to the preacher of righteousness. This continuity underscores Scripture’s portrayal of an unbroken chain of eyewitnesses preserving divine truth. Theological Significance 1. Preservation of the godly seed: Mahalalel represents a generation that “walked with God” in contrast to Cain’s line. His immediate descendant, Jared, fathers Enoch, whose translation prefigures resurrection hope (Hebrews 11:5). Prophetic and Christological Connections The genealogy of Luke 3 extends from Jesus back to “Mahalalel, son of Kenan.” This establishes: – The authenticity of Genesis 5 as historical, not mythic. – The continuity of redemptive history: the One through whom all praise rightly returns to the Father descends from an ancestor whose name means “praise of God.” Christ embodies and fulfills what Mahalalel’s name declares. Legacy in Post-exilic Israel Nehemiah’s record demonstrates that, after exile, families tracing descent to Mahalalel returned to re-populate Jerusalem, reinforcing covenant identity. Their willingness to dwell in the restored city mirrors their patriarch’s heritage of faithfulness, bridging antediluvian devotion and Second Temple obedience. Lessons for Faith and Life • A life marked by praise leaves generational impact. Forms and Transliterations מַֽהֲלַלְאֵ֔ל מַֽהֲלַלְאֵ֗ל מַֽהֲלַלְאֵֽל׃ מַהֲלַלְאֵ֔ל מַהֲלַלְאֵ֖ל מהללאל מהללאל׃ ma·hă·lal·’êl mahălal’êl MahalalElLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance Genesis 5:12 HEB: וַיּ֖וֹלֶד אֶת־ מַֽהֲלַלְאֵֽל׃ NAS: and became the father of Mahalalel. KJV: years, and begat Mahalaleel: INT: years and became of Mahalalel Genesis 5:13 Genesis 5:15 Genesis 5:16 Genesis 5:17 1 Chronicles 1:2 Nehemiah 11:4 7 Occurrences |
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