Lexical Summary melukah: Kingdom, Kingship, Reign Original Word: מְלוּכָה Strong's Exhaustive Concordance kingsom, king's, royal Feminine passive participle of malak; something ruled, i.e. A realm -- kingsom, king's, X royal. see HEBREW malak NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Originfrom the same as melek Definition kingship, royalty NASB Translation king (1), kingdom (15), reign* (1), royal (6), royalty (1). Brown-Driver-Briggs מְלוּכָה noun feminine kingship, royalty; — ׳מ absolute 1 Samuel 10:16 23t.; — kingship, kingly office, royalty: 1 Samuel 10:16,25; 1 Samuel 11:14; 1 Samuel 18:5; 1 Kings 2:15 (twice in verse); 1 Kings 2:22; 1 Kings 11:35; 1 Chronicles 10:14; Isaiah 34:12; belonging to ׳י Obadiah 21; Psalm 22:29 ("" וּמשֵׁל בַּגּוֺיִם); עַל ׳לָכַד מ 1 Samuel 14:47 assume sovereignty over; בְּיַד ׳נָתַן מ 2 Samuel 16:18 give kingship to (subject ׳י); ׳ל ׳הֵשִׁיב מ 1 Kings 12:21 restore kingship to; על ׳עָשָׂה מ 1 Kings 21:7 exercise kingship over; metaphor of Jerusalem וַתִּצְלְחִי לִמְלוּכָה Ezekiel 16:13 (strike out ᵐ5 Co); ׳עִיר הַמ 2 Samuel 12:26 = royal city; compare ׳כִּסֵּא הַמ 1 Kings 1:46; ׳זֶרַע הַמ 2 Kings 25:25 so Jeremiah 41:1; Ezekiel 17:13; Daniel 1:3; ׳צְנִו֯ף מ Isaiah 62:3 ("" עֲטֶרֶת תִּפְאֶרֶת). Topical Lexicon Overview The Hebrew term מְלוּכָה appears twenty-four times and focuses on the sphere, authority, and symbols of a king’s rule—whether earthly or divine. It is used for (1) the act of reigning, (2) the realm or kingdom itself, and (3) royal status or prerogatives. Inauguration of Israel’s Monarchy When Saul is anointed, מְלוּכָה describes both the new institution and its legal framework. “Samuel explained to the people the rights of kingship. He wrote them on a scroll and laid it up before the LORD” (1 Samuel 10:25). The term thus embodies covenantal accountability: the throne exists under God’s law, not above it. Samuel later calls Israel to “renew the kingship” at Gilgal (1 Samuel 11:14), emphasizing that royal authority must be reaffirmed before the LORD and His people. Responsibilities and Limitations 1 Samuel 14:47 notes, “After Saul had taken the kingship over Israel, he fought against all his enemies,” linking מְלוּכָה to military defense of the covenant people. Yet 1 Samuel 18:8 shows its perils; Saul fears David lest he lose “nothing but the kingdom,” revealing how self-interest can corrupt God-given authority. Transfer to Davidic Rule God’s judgment on Saul (“He turned the kingdom over to David,” 1 Chronicles 10:14) introduces the Davidic covenant, grounding royal legitimacy in divine choice rather than dynasty alone. Shimei’s taunt—“The LORD has delivered the kingdom into the hand of Absalom your son” (2 Samuel 16:8)—illustrates how sin endangers even a chosen house, while God still preserves His redemptive purposes. Solomonic Consolidation and Contest In Solomon’s accession, מְלוּכָה speaks of enthronement: “Solomon even sits on the royal throne” (1 Kings 1:46). Yet Adonijah’s claim, “The kingdom was mine” (1 Kings 2:15), and Solomon’s retort (1 Kings 2:22) reveal that royal stature is a stewardship, not a personal possession. Division and Decline Through Ahijah, the LORD says, “I will take the kingdom out of his son’s hand and give it to you—ten tribes” (1 Kings 11:35). Subsequent attempts to “restore the kingdom” to Rehoboam (1 Kings 12:21) fail, displaying how disobedience fragments God’s people. Later, Jezebel’s cynical words to Ahab, “Do you now reign over the kingdom of Israel?” (1 Kings 21:7), underline moral bankruptcy within the throne. Royal Line in Exile and Beyond During Babylonian domination מְלוּכָה designates surviving heirs (2 Kings 25:25; Jeremiah 41:1; Daniel 1:3), keeping hope alive that the scepter has not departed from Judah. Ezekiel twice speaks of Jerusalem’s restoration to “royalty” (Ezekiel 16:13; 17:13), indicating that true kingship will re-emerge by divine intervention, not by human stratagem. The LORD’s Ultimate Kingship Psalm 22:28 declares, “For dominion belongs to the LORD, and He rules over the nations,” shifting the focus from human thrones to God’s eternal reign. Isaiah portrays judgment (“Her nobles—there are none to call it a kingdom,” Isaiah 34:12) and restoration (“You will be a crown of glory…a royal diadem,” Isaiah 62:3), affirming that all earthly מְלוּכָה stands or falls under God’s sovereign rule. The climax arrives in Obadiah 1:21: “Deliverers will ascend Mount Zion to judge the mountains of Esau, and the kingdom will be the LORD’s.” Messianic and Eschatological Significance The Davidic promise finds fulfillment in Jesus Christ, “the root and descendant of David” who inherits everlasting מְלוּכָה (compare Luke 1:32-33). Old Testament usage prepares hearts to recognize a kingdom “not of this world” yet destined to fill the earth (Daniel 2:44). Every occurrence of מְלוּכָה anticipates the day when “the kingdom of the world has become the kingdom of our Lord and of His Christ” (Revelation 11:15). Ministry Implications 1. Authority is delegated: leaders today, like Israel’s kings, must govern under Scripture’s authority and for the people’s good. Forms and Transliterations הַ֠מְּלוּכָה הַמְּלֻכָ֔ה הַמְּלוּכָ֑ה הַמְּלוּכָ֔ה הַמְּלוּכָ֖ה הַמְּלוּכָ֗ה הַמְּלוּכָֽה׃ הַמְּלוּכָה֙ המלוכה המלוכה׃ המלכה לִמְלוּכָֽה׃ למלוכה׃ מְלוּכָ֖ה מְלוּכָ֣ה מלוכה ham·mə·lu·ḵāh ham·mə·lū·ḵāh hammeluChah hamməluḵāh hamməlūḵāh lim·lū·ḵāh limluChah limlūḵāh mə·lū·ḵāh meluChah məlūḵāhLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance 1 Samuel 10:16 HEB: וְאֶת־ דְּבַ֤ר הַמְּלוּכָה֙ לֹֽא־ הִגִּ֣יד NAS: him about the matter of the kingdom which KJV: But of the matter of the kingdom, whereof Samuel INT: the donkeys the matter of the kingdom did not tell 1 Samuel 10:25 1 Samuel 11:14 1 Samuel 14:47 1 Samuel 18:8 2 Samuel 12:26 2 Samuel 16:8 1 Kings 1:46 1 Kings 2:15 1 Kings 2:15 1 Kings 2:22 1 Kings 11:35 1 Kings 12:21 1 Kings 21:7 2 Kings 25:25 1 Chronicles 10:14 Psalm 22:28 Isaiah 34:12 Isaiah 62:3 Jeremiah 41:1 Ezekiel 16:13 Ezekiel 17:13 Daniel 1:3 Obadiah 1:21 24 Occurrences |
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