4417. melach

Lexicon

melach: Salt

Original Word: מֶלַח
Part of Speech: Noun Masculine
Transliteration: melach
Pronunciation: meh'-lakh
Phonetic Spelling: (meh'-lakh)
Definition: Salt
Meaning: powder, salt

Strong's Exhaustive Concordance

saltpit

From malach; properly, powder, i.e. (specifically) salt (as easily pulverized and dissolved -- salt((-pit)).

see HEBREW malach

NAS Exhaustive Concordance

Word Origin
of uncertain derivation
Definition
salt
NASB Translation
salt (27).

Brown-Driver-Briggs

II. מֶ֫לַח noun masculine salt (Late Hebrew id.; Arabic ; Aramaic , מִלְחָא); — ׳מ absolute Genesis 19:26 +; construct Leviticus 2:13; — salt for seasoning food Job 6:6; offering Leviticus 2:13 (3 t. in verse) compare Ezekiel 43:24; בְּרִית מֶ֫לַח Numbers 18:19; 2Chronicles 13:5 (compare Leviticus 2:13 see Di); used in purifying waters 2 Kings 2:20,21; strewn on site of devoted city Judges 9:45 compare Zephaniah 2:9 (׳מִכְרֵהמֿ) Deuteronomy 29:22 ("" גָּפְרִית); produced in marshes reserved for purpose Ezekiel 47:11; pillar of salt ׳נְצִיב מ Genesis 19:26; usually in combination הַמֶּלַח יָם (ֿׅ Genesis 14:3 (עֶ֫מֶק הַשִּׂדִּים), Numbers 34:3,12; Deuteronomy 3:17 ("" יָם הָעֲתָבָה), Joshua 3:16; Joshua 12:3; Joshua 15:2,5; Joshua 18:19; also ׳גֵיאמֿ 2 Samuel 8:13; 2 Kings 14:7 Qr, Psalm 60:2 (title), ׳גֵּיא הַמּ 1 Chronicles 18:12; 2Chronicles 25:11; 2 Kings 14:7 Kt.

Topical Lexicon

Word Origin: Derived from an unused root meaning to pulverize or to disappear as dust.

Corresponding Greek / Hebrew Entries: • G217: ἅλας (halas) • salt
• G233: ἁλίζω (halizo) • to salt, to sprinkle with salt

These Greek terms are used in the New Testament to convey similar meanings, particularly in the teachings of Jesus, such as in Matthew 5:13, "You are the salt of the earth." Here, salt symbolizes the influence and preservation that believers are to have in the world.

Usage: The term מֶלַח is used in the Hebrew Bible to refer to salt, a substance that was essential in ancient times for seasoning, preservation, and ritual purposes. It appears in various contexts, including dietary laws, offerings, and covenants.

Context: מֶלַח (melach) is a noun in the Hebrew Bible that primarily denotes salt. Salt was a valuable commodity in the ancient Near East, used for preserving food, enhancing flavor, and in religious rituals. In the sacrificial system, salt was required for offerings, symbolizing purity and the covenant between God and His people. Leviticus 2:13 states, "You are to season each of your grain offerings with salt; you must not omit from your grain offering the salt of the covenant of your God. You are to add salt to each of your offerings." This highlights the importance of salt in maintaining the covenant relationship.

Salt also appears in narratives and metaphors. In Genesis 19:26, Lot's wife is turned into a pillar of salt, symbolizing judgment and the consequences of disobedience. In 2 Kings 2:20-21, Elisha uses salt to purify the waters of Jericho, demonstrating its purifying properties. The "Salt Sea" or Dead Sea is another significant mention, known for its high salinity and symbolic of desolation.

The concept of a "covenant of salt" is mentioned in Numbers 18:19 and 2 Chronicles 13:5, indicating a perpetual and unbreakable agreement. Salt's preservative qualities make it an apt symbol for enduring covenants.

Forms and Transliterations

בַּמֶּ֣לַח במלח הַמֶּ֑לַח הַמֶּ֔לַח הַמֶּ֖לַח הַמֶּ֙לַח֙ הַמֶּֽלַח׃ המלח המלח׃ וָמֶלַח֮ ומלח לְמֶ֥לַח למלח מֶ֑לַח מֶ֔לַח מֶ֙לַח֙ מֶ֚לַח מֶ֥לַח מֶ֨לַח מֶֽלַח׃ מלח מלח׃ bam·me·laḥ bamMelach bammelaḥ ham·me·laḥ hamMelach hammelaḥ lə·me·laḥ leMelach ləmelaḥ me·laḥ Melach melaḥ vameLach wā·me·laḥ wāmelaḥ

Englishman's Concordance

Genesis 14:3
HEB: ה֖וּא יָ֥ם הַמֶּֽלַח׃
NAS: of Siddim (that is, the Salt Sea).
KJV: of Siddim, which is the salt sea.
INT: which sea is the Salt

Genesis 19:26
HEB: וַתְּהִ֖י נְצִ֥יב מֶֽלַח׃
NAS: a pillar of salt.
KJV: and she became a pillar of salt.
INT: became A pillar of salt

Leviticus 2:13
HEB: קָרְבַּ֣ן מִנְחָתְךָ֮ בַּמֶּ֣לַח תִּמְלָח֒ וְלֹ֣א
NAS: of yours, moreover, you shall season with salt, so that the salt
KJV: shalt thou season with salt; neither shalt thou suffer the salt
INT: your offerings offering salt shall season not

Leviticus 2:13
HEB: וְלֹ֣א תַשְׁבִּ֗ית מֶ֚לַח בְּרִ֣ית אֱלֹהֶ֔יךָ
NAS: with salt, so that the salt of the covenant
KJV: with salt; neither shalt thou suffer the salt of the covenant
INT: not shall not be lacking the salt of the covenant of your God

Leviticus 2:13
HEB: קָרְבָּנְךָ֖ תַּקְרִ֥יב מֶֽלַח׃ ס
NAS: your offerings you shall offer salt.
KJV: thou shalt offer salt.
INT: your offerings shall offer salt

Numbers 18:19
HEB: עוֹלָ֑ם בְּרִית֩ מֶ֨לַח עוֹלָ֥ם הִוא֙
NAS: covenant of salt before
KJV: it [is] a covenant of salt for ever
INT: A perpetual covenant of salt is an everlasting he

Numbers 34:3
HEB: מִקְצֵ֥ה יָם־ הַמֶּ֖לַח קֵֽדְמָה׃
NAS: from the end of the Salt Sea
KJV: shall be the outmost coast of the salt sea
INT: the end Sea of the Salt eastward

Numbers 34:12
HEB: תוֹצְאֹתָ֖יו יָ֣ם הַמֶּ֑לַח זֹאת֩ תִּהְיֶ֨ה
NAS: and its termination shall be at the Salt Sea.
KJV: and the goings out of it shall be at the salt sea:
INT: termination Sea the Salt likewise become

Deuteronomy 3:17
HEB: הָֽעֲרָבָה֙ יָ֣ם הַמֶּ֔לַח תַּ֛חַת אַשְׁדֹּ֥ת
NAS: of the Arabah, the Salt Sea,
KJV: of the plain, [even] the salt sea,
INT: of the Arabah Sea the Salt the foot of the slopes

Deuteronomy 29:23
HEB: גָּפְרִ֣ית וָמֶלַח֮ שְׂרֵפָ֣ה כָל־
NAS: is brimstone and salt, a burning
KJV: thereof [is] brimstone, and salt, [and] burning,
INT: is brimstone and salt A burning All

Joshua 3:16
HEB: הָעֲרָבָ֛ה יָם־ הַמֶּ֖לַח תַּ֣מּוּ נִכְרָ֑תוּ
NAS: of the Arabah, the Salt Sea,
KJV: of the plain, [even] the salt sea,
INT: of the Arabah Sea the Salt were completely cut

Joshua 12:3
HEB: הָעֲרָבָ֤ה יָם־ הַמֶּ֙לַח֙ מִזְרָ֔חָה דֶּ֖רֶךְ
NAS: of the Arabah, [even] the Salt Sea,
KJV: of the plain, [even] the salt sea
INT: of the Arabah Sea the Salt eastward toward

Joshua 15:2
HEB: מִקְצֵ֖ה יָ֣ם הַמֶּ֑לַח מִן־ הַלָּשֹׁ֖ן
NAS: was from the lower end of the Salt Sea,
KJV: was from the shore of the salt sea,
INT: end Sea of the Salt from the bay

Joshua 15:5
HEB: קֵ֙דְמָה֙ יָ֣ם הַמֶּ֔לַח עַד־ קְצֵ֖ה
NAS: border [was] the Salt Sea,
KJV: border [was] the salt sea,
INT: the east Sea the Salt far as the mouth

Joshua 18:19
HEB: לְשׁ֤וֹן יָם־ הַמֶּ֙לַח֙ צָפ֔וֹנָה אֶל־
NAS: bay of the Salt Sea,
KJV: bay of the salt sea
INT: bay Sea of the Salt the north about

Judges 9:45
HEB: הָעִ֔יר וַיִּזְרָעֶ֖הָ מֶֽלַח׃ פ
NAS: the city and sowed it with salt.
KJV: the city, and sowed it with salt.
INT: the city and sowed salt

2 Samuel 8:13
HEB: אֲרָ֖ם בְּגֵיא־ מֶ֑לַח שְׁמוֹנָ֥ה עָשָׂ֖ר
NAS: Arameans in the Valley of Salt.
KJV: in the valley of salt, [being] eighteen
INT: Arameans the Valley of Salt eight teen

2 Kings 2:20
HEB: וְשִׂ֥ימוּ שָׁ֖ם מֶ֑לַח וַיִּקְח֖וּ אֵלָֽיו׃
NAS: and put salt in it. So they brought
KJV: and put salt therein. And they brought
INT: and put in it salt brought about

2 Kings 2:21
HEB: וַיַּשְׁלֶךְ־ שָׁ֖ם מֶ֑לַח וַיֹּ֜אמֶר כֹּֽה־
NAS: and threw salt in it and said,
KJV: and cast the salt in there, and said,
INT: and threw there salt and said Thus

2 Kings 14:7
HEB: [הַמֶּלַח כ] (מֶ֙לַח֙ ק) עֲשֶׂ֣רֶת
NAS: in the Valley of Salt 10000
KJV: in the valley of salt ten
INT: of Edom the valley salt ten thousand

1 Chronicles 18:12
HEB: אֱדוֹם֙ בְּגֵ֣יא הַמֶּ֔לַח שְׁמוֹנָ֥ה עָשָׂ֖ר
NAS: Edomites in the Valley of Salt.
KJV: in the valley of salt eighteen
INT: of the Edomites the Valley of Salt eight teen

2 Chronicles 13:5
HEB: וּלְבָנָ֖יו בְּרִ֥ית מֶֽלַח׃ ס
NAS: and his sons by a covenant of salt?
KJV: by a covenant of salt?
INT: and his sons A covenant salt

2 Chronicles 25:11
HEB: וַיֵּ֖לֶךְ גֵּ֣יא הַמֶּ֑לַח וַיַּ֥ךְ אֶת־
NAS: to the Valley of Salt and struck down
KJV: to the valley of salt, and smote
INT: along to the valley of salt and smote for

Job 6:6
HEB: תָּ֭פֵל מִבְּלִי־ מֶ֑לַח אִם־ יֶשׁ־
NAS: be eaten without salt, Or is there any
KJV: be eaten without salt? or is there
INT: something without salt Or is there

Psalm 60:1
HEB: אֱד֣וֹם בְּגֵיא־ מֶ֑לַח שְׁנֵ֖ים עָשָׂ֣ר
KJV: in the valley of salt twelve
INT: of Edom the valley of salt both ten

28 Occurrences

Strong's Hebrew 4417
28 Occurrences

bam·me·laḥ — 1 Occ.
ham·me·laḥ — 11 Occ.
lə·me·laḥ — 1 Occ.
me·laḥ — 14 Occ.
wā·me·laḥ — 1 Occ.