Lexical Summary Maki: Maki Original Word: מָכִי Strong's Exhaustive Concordance Machi Probably from muwk; pining; Maki, an Israelite -- Machi. see HEBREW muwk NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Originof uncertain derivation Definition a Gadite NASB Translation Machi (1). Brown-Driver-Briggs מָכִי proper name, masculine a Gadite Numbers 13:15. ᵐ5 Μα(κ)χι. Topical Lexicon Biblical Occurrence and Context “from the tribe of Gad, Geuel son of Machi” (Numbers 13:15). The single appearance of Machi’s name places him in the pivotal episode when Moses sent twelve men to reconnoiter Canaan from Kadesh-barnea. Though mentioned only as the father of one of the spies, his name anchors a lineage and a tribe within Israel’s national history at a decisive moment. Identity within the Tribe of Gad Machi stands as an ancestral figure in Gad, Jacob’s seventh son by Zilpah (Genesis 30:9-11). Gad’s descendants camped on the south side of the tabernacle (Numbers 2:14-15) and were known for valor and swiftness (1 Chronicles 12:8). By recording Machi during the wilderness wanderings, Scripture affirms that every Gadite family—however briefly noted—possessed a recognized place in the covenant community. Role in the Kadesh Barnea Crisis Geuel, Machi’s son, joined the ten leaders who returned with a faithless report, discouraging Israel from entering the land (Numbers 13:31-33; 14:1-4). The fathers’ names are preserved to underline accountability: entire households bore the consequences when leaders sowed unbelief (Numbers 14:26-35). Thus Machi’s household endured the same forty-year judgment that fell on the generation aged twenty and above. Genealogical and Tribal Legacy Though Machi is not listed in later genealogies, the tribe of Gad eventually received territory east of the Jordan (Joshua 13:24-28) and fought faithfully with the rest of Israel under Joshua (Joshua 22:1-4). The Gadites who crossed back to the Transjordan erected a witness altar, testifying to their unity with the western tribes (Joshua 22:10-34). Machi’s line, once marked by hesitancy through Geuel, ultimately shared in the settled inheritance of the tribe. Theological Reflections 1. Covenant Individuality: Even a fleeting name serves God’s larger narrative, illustrating that no family is incidental in redemptive history (cf. Psalm 87:6). Ministry Applications • Fathers and mothers influence the spiritual trajectory of their descendants; therefore, cultivating personal faithfulness is vital (Proverbs 20:7). Related Passages for Further Study Genesis 46:16; Numbers 26:15-18; Deuteronomy 33:20-21; Joshua 22:1-4; 1 Chronicles 12:8-15; Hebrews 3:16-19 Forms and Transliterations מָכִֽי׃ מכי׃ mā·ḵî maChi māḵîLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance Numbers 13:15 HEB: גְּאוּאֵ֖ל בֶּן־ מָכִֽי׃ NAS: Geuel the son of Machi. KJV: Geuel the son of Machi. INT: Geuel the son of Machi |
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