Lexical Summary Malluk or Malluki: Malluk, Malluki Original Word: מַלּוּךְ Strong's Exhaustive Concordance Malluch, Melichu Or Malluwkiy (Neh. 12:14) {mal-loo-kee'}; from malak; remnant; Malluk, the name of five Israelites -- Malluch, Melichu (from the margin). see HEBREW malak NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Originfrom the same as melek Definition the name of several Isr. NASB Translation Malluch (6). Brown-Driver-Briggs מַלּוּךְ proper name, masculine ᵐ5 Μαλωχ, Μαλουχ, etc. 1 Levites: b. Nehemiah 12:2 (priest ?). 2 various men: a. Ezra 10:29. b. Ezra 10:32. c. Nehemiah 10:5. d. Nehemiah 10:28. מלוכי Kt, מְלִיכוּ Qr proper name, masculine a priest Nehemiah 12:14. ᵐ5 Μαλουχ, ᵐ5L Μαλουκ. Topical Lexicon Occurrences in Scripture The name Malluch appears seven times in the Old Testament record, five of those references clustered in the post-exilic books of Ezra and Nehemiah. One earlier appearance is embedded in the Levitical genealogies (1 Chronicles 6 44). Together these notices trace three distinct individuals: 1. A Merarite Levite descended from Levi through Mahli (1 Chronicles 6 44). Levitical Heritage and Worship Service The first appearance of Malluch in 1 Chronicles 6 links him to the Merarite division of the Levites. According to the Chronicler, Merarites were “appointed over all the work of the tabernacle of the house of God” (1 Chronicles 6 48). Malluch therefore belongs to the legacy of faithful custodians whose duty was to guard the sanctity of Israel’s worship. Though no specific exploits are recorded, his inclusion in the genealogy underlines the Lord’s meticulous preservation of those who served in His house, reminding readers that God never forgets even the nameless stewards of His glory. Post-Exilic Repentance under Ezra More than a century after Solomon’s Temple fell, another Malluch surfaces in Ezra’s account of national repentance. Ezra discovered that some returning exiles had taken pagan wives, “adding to the guilt of Israel” (Ezra 10 10). Among the sons of Bani and Harim, Malluch distinguished himself by publicly confessing sin and pledging to put away the illicit marriages (Ezra 10 29, 32). That action illustrates genuine contrition: • Recognition of transgression against the covenant. The episode gives Malluch’s name a redemptive hue. While his earlier compromise harmed the community, his repentance helped restore the purity of the nascent post-exilic society. The narrative encourages believers that failures need not be final; sincere confession and obedience can still honor God and strengthen the people of faith. Covenant Renewal with Nehemiah Nehemiah’s reform a generation later showcases yet another Malluch—possibly two, one a priest (Nehemiah 10 4; 12 2, 14) and one a lay head of a family (Nehemiah 10 27). Both affixed their seals to the oath “to walk in God’s law… and to observe and do all the commandments of the LORD our Lord” (Nehemiah 10 29). The joint appearance of clergy and laity underscores a central theme in Nehemiah: covenant commitment is communal. When God rebuilds walls, He also rebuilds hearts, drawing every stratum of society into renewed obedience. In Nehemiah 12 Malluch is listed among the priestly heads during the high priesthood of Joiakim. The catalog traces continuity from the earliest post-exilic priests to the next generation, demonstrating that the spiritual infrastructure Ezra and Nehemiah labored to restore endured beyond their lifetimes. Malluch’s house, counted among the twenty-two priestly families, helped ensure regular sacrifice and instruction in the Law—vital means of grace for a vulnerable nation surrounded by hostile neighbors. Historical Significance 1. Continuity of Levitical lines: From the wilderness tabernacle to the Second Temple, the Malluch name appears wherever God’s people gather for ordered worship. Ministry Applications • Faithful obscurity: Malluch serves God without fanfare, teaching that kingdom work often proceeds through unheralded service. Theological Reflections The Scripture’s consistent mention of Malluch, though brief, testifies that God weaves even the smallest threads into His redemptive tapestry. In Chronicles He is the guardian of ritual; in Ezra the penitent; in Nehemiah the reformer and covenant signer. Across these varied roles one theme endures: God works through consecrated individuals to safeguard communal holiness. Their accounts invite the church today to combine reverence in worship, sincerity in repentance, and resolve in covenant faithfulness—ever mindful that “the eyes of the Lord roam to and fro over all the earth, to show Himself strong on behalf of those whose hearts are fully devoted to Him” (2 Chronicles 16 9). Forms and Transliterations לִמְלִ֙יכוּ֙ למליכו מַלּ֖וּךְ מַלּ֥וּךְ מַלּֽוּךְ׃ מַלּוּךְ֙ מלוך מלוך׃ lim·lî·ḵū limLichu limlîḵū mal·lūḵ malLuch mallūḵLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance 1 Chronicles 6:44 HEB: עַבְדִּ֖י בֶּן־ מַלּֽוּךְ׃ NAS: of Abdi, the son of Malluch, KJV: of Abdi, the son of Malluch, INT: of Abdi the son of Malluch Ezra 10:29 Ezra 10:32 Nehemiah 10:4 Nehemiah 10:27 Nehemiah 12:2 Nehemiah 12:14 7 Occurrences |