Lexical Summary milchamah: War, battle, conflict Original Word: מִלְחָמָה Strong's Exhaustive Concordance battle, fighting, warrior From lacham (in the sense of fighting); a battle (i.e. The engagement); generally, war (i.e. Warfare) -- battle, fight(-ing), war((-rior)). see HEBREW lacham NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Originfrom lacham Definition a battle, war NASB Translation attacked (1), battle (148), battle* (1), battles (6), fight (2), military (1), onslaught (1), soldiers* (3), time of war (1), wage war (1), war (136), warfare (1), warrior (4), warriors (4), wars (9), weapons of war (1). Brown-Driver-Briggs מִלְחָמָה819 noun feminine battle, war; — absolute ׳מ Genesis 14:2,8; Exodus 1:10 +; construct מִלְהֶ֫מֶת 1 Samuel 13:22 (מִכְמָשׁ ׳מ ᵐ5 Th We Bu HPS Ew§ 188 c Köii. 182 > absolute Thes and others); suffix מִלְחַמְתִּי2Chronicles 35:21; מִלְחַמְתְּךָ 2 Samuel 11:25; מִלְחַמְתֶּ֑ךָ Isaiah 41:12, etc.; plural מִלְחָמוֺת Isaiah 42:13 7t. Chronicles, Psalms; construct מִלְחֲמוֺת Judges 3:1 +, etc.; — battle, Genesis 14:8; 1 Samuel 17:1,2,8; 1 Samuel 31:3; 1 Kings 20:14,18,29,39 + often; war, Genesis 14:2; Exodus 1:10; Deuteronomy 20:12; Joshua 11:23; Joshua 14:15; 2 Samuel 3:1 (אֲרֻכָּה וַתְּהִי הַמִּלְחָמָה) +; מִלְחֲמוֺת כְּנָ֑עַן Judges 3:1; ׳סֵפֶד מִלְחֲמֹת י Numbers 21:14 (JE); accusative of congnate meaning with verb with נלחם 1 Samuel 8:20; 2Chronicles 32:8 and (׳מִלְחֲמוֺת י) 1 Samuel 18:17; 1 Samuel 25:28; = art of war, ׳למד מ Isaiah 2:4 learn war = Micah 4:3; ׳למּד מ Judges 3:2 teach war, fighting; ׳מְלַמֵּד יָדַי לַמּ 2 Samuel 22:35 = Psalm 18:35, compare Psalm 144:1; ׳לְמוּדֵי מ 1 Chronicles 5:18, ׳מְלֻמְּדֵי מ Songs 3:8 instructed in war; once = battlefield וַיָּבֹאוּ ׳עַד הַמּ 1 Samuel 14:20 (so KitKauAT). The most frequent phrases are: ׳אִישׁ מ Isaiah 3:2; 1 Samuel 16:18; 1 Samuel 17:33; 2 Samuel 17:8; Ezekiel 39:20; Joshua 17:1 (P), also (collective) Judges 20:17, of ׳י Exodus 15:3 (poem); ׳אַנְשֵׁי הַמּ Joshua 6:3; Joshua 10:24 (both J E), Deuteronomy 2:14,16; Joshua 5:4,6 (all D), Jeremiah 38:4; Jeremiah 39:4; Jeremiah 41:3,16; Jeremiah 49:26; Jeremiah 51:32; Jeremiah 52:7,25, also 1 Kings 9:22; 2 Kings 25:4; Numbers 31:28,49 (P), Joel 4:9; late ׳אַנְשֵׁי מ Joel 2:7; 1 Chronicles 12:39 (38 van d. H) 2Chronicles 8:9; 17:13; אִישׁ מִלְחָמוֺת Isaiah 42:13; 1 Chronicles 28:3; אַנְשֵׁי מִלְחַמְתָּהּ Jeremiah 50:30 her men of war, compare Isaiah 41:12; Ezekiel 27:10,27; אִישׁ מִלְחֲמוּת תֹּעִי 2 Samuel 8:10 a man of battles of Toi, i.e. his frequent opponent (see Dr), = 1 Chronicles 18:10; seldom ׳גִּבּוֺר מ Psalm 24:8 (f ׳י), ׳גִּבּוֺרֵי מ2Chronicles 13:3; שָׂרֵי מִלְחָמוֺת2Chronicles 32:6; ׳עַם הַמּ Joshua 8:1,3; Joshua 10:7; Joshua 11:7, compare Joshua 8:11 (all J E), compare also 1 Samuel 13:16 add. ᵐ5 We Dr, compare Klo; ׳אַנְשֵׁי חַיִל לַמּ Jeremiah 48:14; ׳צְבָא מ battle-host Isaiah 13:4, so ׳הַמּ ׳צ Numbers 31:14 (P); also ׳גְּדוּדֵי צְבָא מ 1 Chronicles 7:4, ׳לַמּ ׳יֹצְאֵי צ 1 Chronicles 7:11 ׳אַנְשֵׁי צָבָא לַמּ 1 Chronicles 12:9 (8 van d. H) ; weapons of war, ׳כְּלֵי (ה)מ Judges 18:11,17; Jeremiah 21:4; Jeremiah 51:20; 1 Chronicles 12:34 (33 van d. H), also figurative 2 Samuel 1:27 ׅ "" (גִבּוֺרִים; ׳כְּלֵי צְבָא מ 1 Chronicles 12:38 (37 van d. H); ׳קֶשֶׁת מ Zechariah 9:10; Zechariah 10:4; כְּלֵי מִלְחַמְתּוֺ his weapons of war 1 Samuel 8:12; Deuteronomy 1:41, compare Judges 18:16; Ezekiel 32:37; ׳דִּבְרֵי הַמּ = the news of the battle 2 Samuel 11:18,19 + 2 Samuel 11:22 add. ᵐ5 The We Klo Dr Bu. Frequently combined with verbs are: ׳עָרַךְ מ draw up battle-line Judges 20:22 +, followed by אֵת with = against Genesis 14:8; Judges 20:20, followed by עִם2Chronicles 13:3; ׳אסר המּ i. e. begin the battle 1 Kings 20:14, compare 2Chronicles 13:3; ׳וַתִּקְרַב הַמּ 1 Kings 20:29 and the battle was joined; ׳עָשָׂה מ make war Proverbs 20:8; Proverbs 24:6; 1 Chronicles 22:8, followed by אֵת with Genesis 14:2; Joshua 11:18 (D), followed by עִם Deuteronomy 20:12,20; 1 Chronicles 5:10,19; עִם ׳יָצָא לַמּ Judges 20:14,20,28, with עַל 1 Kings 8:44; 2Chronicles 6:34; עִם ׳הָלַךְ לַמּ 2 Kings 8:28; עַם ׳נגשׁ לַמּ Judges 20:23, with בְּ 1 Samuel 7:10; 2 Samuel 10:3, absolute Jeremiah 46:3; עִם ׳וַתְּהִי הַמּ 2 Samuel 21:18,19, with בֵּין 2 Samuel 3:1, compare 2 Samuel 3:6 +; ׳קִדַּשׁ מ consecrate war, i.e. open a campaign (with sacred rites, Che) Micah 3:5; Jeremiah 6:4 (both withעל), Joel 4:9; compare ׳הִדְבִּיקָתְהוּ וְהַמּ Judges 20:42 and the battle clung to them; ׳וַתַּעֲלֶה הַמּ Judg 22:35 and the battle rose (high) = 2 Chronicles 18:34; ׳וַתִּטּשׁ הַמּ 1 Samuel 4:2, read ׳וַתֵּט הַמּ (ᵐ5 We Klo Bu, compare Dr) and the battle inclined (in favour of one side); ׳נָפוֺצֶת הַמּ 2 Samuel 18:8 Qr the battle was spread (extended), so read 1 Samuel 14:24 add. ᵐ5 The We Klo Dr; ׳תָּקוּם עָלַי מ Psalm 27:3 if war rise against me; כָּבֵ֑דָה ׳הַמּ Judges 20:34 the battle was severe, compare אֶלשָֿׁאוּל ׳וַתִּכְבַּד הַמּ 1 Samuel 31:3 = 1 Chronicles 10:3 (על for אל); so חֲזָקָה ׳וַתְּהִי הַמּ 1 Samuel 14:52, חָזַק מִמֶּנּוּ ׳הַמּ 2 Kings 3:26; קָשָׁה ׳וַתְּהִי הַמּ 2 Samuel 2:17: compare ׳כֹּבֶד מ Isaiah 21:15, ׳עֱזוּז מ Isaiah 42:25. Topical Lexicon The Scope of מלחמה in Scripture מלחמה appears roughly 319 times across the Hebrew Scriptures and is rendered “war,” “battle,” “fighting,” or “warfare” in English translations. The breadth of usage ranges from large-scale national conflicts to personal combat, and from literal military clashes to figurative descriptions of spiritual or moral struggle. Distribution across the Canon • Torah: key to Israel’s deliverance (Exodus 14:14) and conquest preparation (Numbers 21:14; Deuteronomy 20). Holy War and the Divine Warrior From the Red Sea to the conquest of Canaan, מלחמה is inseparably linked to the revelation of the LORD as a warrior who fights for His covenant people: “The LORD is a warrior; the LORD is His name” (Exodus 15:3). The “Divine Warrior” theme recurs when the ark leads Israel (Numbers 10:35), when hailstones fall on the Amorites (Joshua 10:11), and when Gideon’s three hundred rout Midian (Judges 7). Victory is consistently attributed to divine initiative rather than military superiority (1 Samuel 17:47). War as Instrument of Judgment and Salvation Scripture portrays war both as judgment upon wicked nations (Deuteronomy 9:4-5) and as a means of deliverance for the oppressed (2 Chronicles 20). The same conflict that destroys Egypt’s chariots also births Israel’s national identity; the Babylonian campaigns that devastate Judah also purify a remnant for restoration (Jeremiah 25:8-11). Covenant and Land: the Conquest Narratives In Joshua, מלחמה advances the Abrahamic promise of land. Obedience (Joshua 6) and compromise (Joshua 9) directly affect military outcomes, underscoring covenant fidelity as the decisive factor. The Chronicler later revisits this theology, crediting revival under righteous kings with victory (2 Chronicles 14:11-12) and disobedience with defeat (2 Chronicles 28:5-6). Monarchy and National Identity Saul’s reign is inaugurated by war (1 Samuel 11); David’s by continued campaigns that secure borders (2 Samuel 8). Yet even Israel’s warrior-king recognizes that “some trust in chariots and some in horses, but we trust in the name of the LORD our God” (Psalms 20:7). Solomon’s era is marked by the absence of מלחמה (1 Kings 5:4), illustrating the covenant ideal of peace that wars were meant to establish. Prophetic Perspective on War and Peace Prophets both pronounce imminent מלחמה and envision its end. Isaiah anticipates swords beaten into plowshares (Isaiah 2:4), while Ezekiel sees final conflict against Gog (Ezekiel 38–39). War, therefore, is temporary in God’s redemptive plan, culminating in an eschatological peace secured by Messiah. Worship and Liturgy Many psalms transform historic battles into worship, teaching succeeding generations to trust the LORD in every מלחמה. “Blessed be the LORD, my Rock, who trains my hands for war, my fingers for battle” (Psalms 144:1) frames military readiness as a gift of divine grace. Figurative and Moral Uses Proverbs warns of a “quarrelsome wife” like “constant dripping of rain” (Proverbs 19:13), using imagery of relentless conflict. Job laments, “Is not man’s life on earth a conscripted service?” (Job 7:1), treating existence itself as warfare. These metaphors prepare readers for New Testament teaching on spiritual warfare (Ephesians 6:10-18), demonstrating canonical continuity. Spiritual Lessons for Believers 1. Dependence on God: victories follow faith, not armaments (2 Chronicles 20:15-17). Representative Passages • Exodus 14:14 “The LORD will fight for you; you need only to be still.” Related Terms and Themes צָבָא (host, army), גְּבוּרָה (mighty act), נָצַל (deliver), שָׁלום (peace). Together they weave a biblical theology in which מלחמה serves God’s purposes until ultimate peace is established. Summary מלחמה in the Old Testament is more than human strife; it is a stage on which the LORD reveals His holiness, justice, and mercy. Through wars He delivers, disciplines, and directs His people, foreshadowing the final victory accomplished in Christ and the everlasting peace that will follow. Forms and Transliterations בְמִלְחָמָֽה׃ בַּמִּלְחָמָ֑ה בַּמִּלְחָמָ֔ה בַּמִּלְחָמָ֖ה בַּמִּלְחָמָ֗ה בַּמִּלְחָמָֽה׃ בַמִּלְחָמָ֑ה בַמִּלְחָמָ֔ה בַמִּלְחָמָ֛ה בַמִּלְחָמָֽה׃ במלחמה במלחמה׃ הַמִּלְחָמ֥וֹת הַמִּלְחָמָ֑ה הַמִּלְחָמָ֔ה הַמִּלְחָמָ֖ה הַמִּלְחָמָ֗ה הַמִּלְחָמָ֛ה הַמִּלְחָמָ֜ה הַמִּלְחָמָ֡ה הַמִּלְחָמָ֤ה הַמִּלְחָמָ֤ה ׀ הַמִּלְחָמָ֨ה הַמִּלְחָמָֽה׃ הַמִּלְחָמָה֙ הַמִּלְחָמָה֮ המלחמה המלחמה׃ המלחמות וְהַ֨מִּלְחָמָ֔ה וְהַמִּלְחָמָ֖ה וּ֝בְמִלְחָמָ֗ה וּבְמִלְחֲמ֥וֹת וּבְמִלְחָמָ֔ה וּבְמִלְחָמָ֗ה וּמִלְחֲמ֧וֹת וּמִלְחָמ֥וֹת וּמִלְחָמָ֖ה וּמִלְחָמָ֣ה וּמִלְחָמָ֥ה וּמִלְחָמָ֨ה וּמִלְחָמָֽה׃ וּמִלְחָמָה֙ ובמלחמה ובמלחמות והמלחמה ומלחמה ומלחמה׃ ומלחמות כַּמִּלְחָמָ֖ה כמלחמה לְמִלְחָמָ֖ה לְמִלְחָמָ֛ה לַֽמִּלְחָמָ֞ה לַמִּלְחָמָ֑ה לַמִּלְחָמָ֔ה לַמִּלְחָמָ֖ה לַמִּלְחָמָ֗ה לַמִּלְחָמָ֛ה לַמִּלְחָמָ֜ה לַמִּלְחָמָֽה׃ לַמִּלְחָמָה֒ לַמִּלְחָמָה֙ למלחמה למלחמה׃ מִ֝לְחָמָ֗ה מִלְחֲמ֣וֹת מִלְחֲמ֤וֹת מִלְחֲמ֥וֹת מִלְחֲמֹ֣ת מִלְחֲמֹתֵ֑נוּ מִלְחֲמֹתֵֽנוּ׃ מִלְחֲמֹתָ֖יו מִלְחֶ֔מֶת מִלְחַמְתְּךָ֧ מִלְחַמְתִּ֔י מִלְחַמְתֵּ֑ךְ מִלְחַמְתֵּ֜ךְ מִלְחַמְתֶּֽךָ׃ מִלְחַמְתָּ֔ם מִלְחַמְתָּ֥הּ מִלְחַמְתָּם֩ מִלְחַמְתּ֔וֹ מִלְחַמְתּ֖וֹ מִלְחָמ֖וֹת מִלְחָמ֛וֹת מִלְחָמָ֑ה מִלְחָמָ֔ה מִלְחָמָ֖ה מִלְחָמָ֗ה מִלְחָמָ֛ה מִלְחָמָ֜ה מִלְחָמָ֥ה מִלְחָמָֽה׃ מִלְחָמָה֙ מִלְחָמָה֮ מִלְחָמֽוֹת׃ מִלְחָמוֹת֮ מִמִּלְחָמָֽה׃ מלחמה מלחמה׃ מלחמות מלחמות׃ מלחמת מלחמתה מלחמתו מלחמתי מלחמתיו מלחמתך מלחמתך׃ מלחמתם מלחמתנו מלחמתנו׃ ממלחמה׃ עַל־ על־ ‘al- al bam·mil·ḥā·māh ḇam·mil·ḥā·māh bammilchaMah bammilḥāmāh ḇammilḥāmāh ḇə·mil·ḥā·māh ḇəmilḥāmāh ham·mil·ḥā·māh ham·mil·ḥā·mō·wṯ hammilchaMah hammilchaMot hammilḥāmāh hammilḥāmōwṯ kam·mil·ḥā·māh kammilchaMah kammilḥāmāh lam·mil·ḥā·māh lammilchaMah lammilḥāmāh lə·mil·ḥā·māh lemilchaMah ləmilḥāmāh mil·ḥā·māh mil·ḥă·mō·ṯāw mil·ḥă·mō·ṯê·nū mil·ḥă·mō·wṯ mil·ḥā·mō·wṯ mil·ḥă·mōṯ mil·ḥam·tāh mil·ḥam·tām mil·ḥam·te·ḵā mil·ḥam·tə·ḵā mil·ḥam·têḵ mil·ḥam·tî mil·ḥam·tōw mil·ḥe·meṯ milchaMah milchaMot milchamoTav milchamoTenu milchamTah milchamTam milchamTech milchamteCha milchamTi milchamTo milChemet milḥāmāh milḥămōṯ milḥămōṯāw milḥămōṯênū milḥămōwṯ milḥāmōwṯ milḥamtāh milḥamtām milḥamtêḵ milḥamteḵā milḥamtəḵā milḥamtî milḥamtōw milḥemeṯ mim·mil·ḥā·māh mimilchaMah mimmilḥāmāh ū·ḇə·mil·ḥā·māh ū·ḇə·mil·ḥă·mō·wṯ ū·mil·ḥā·māh ū·mil·ḥă·mō·wṯ ū·mil·ḥā·mō·wṯ ūḇəmilḥāmāh ūḇəmilḥămōwṯ umilchaMah umilchaMot ūmilḥāmāh ūmilḥămōwṯ ūmilḥāmōwṯ uvemilchaMah uvemilchaMot vammilchaMah vehammilchaMah vemilchaMah wə·ham·mil·ḥā·māh wəhammilḥāmāhLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance Genesis 14:2 HEB: עָשׂ֣וּ מִלְחָמָ֗ה אֶת־ בֶּ֙רַע֙ NAS: [that] they made war with Bera king KJV: [That these] made war with Bera INT: made war with Bera Genesis 14:8 Exodus 1:10 Exodus 13:17 Exodus 15:3 Exodus 17:16 Exodus 32:17 Numbers 10:9 Numbers 21:14 Numbers 21:33 Numbers 31:14 Numbers 31:21 Numbers 31:27 Numbers 31:28 Numbers 31:49 Numbers 32:6 Numbers 32:20 Numbers 32:27 Numbers 32:29 Deuteronomy 1:41 Deuteronomy 2:9 Deuteronomy 2:14 Deuteronomy 2:16 Deuteronomy 2:24 Deuteronomy 2:32 319 Occurrences |