4432. Molek

Lexicon

Molek: Molek

Original Word: מֹלֶךְ
Part of Speech: Proper Name Masculine
Transliteration: Molek
Pronunciation: MO-lek
Phonetic Spelling: (mo'-lek)
Definition: Molek
Meaning: Molek

Strong's Exhaustive Concordance

Molech

From malak; Molek (i.e. King), the chief deity of the Ammonites -- Molech. Compare Malkam.

see HEBREW malak

see HEBREW Malkam

NAS Exhaustive Concordance

Word Origin
from the same as melek
Definition
a heathen god to whom Isr. sacrificed children
NASB Translation
Molech (8).

Brown-Driver-Briggs

מֹ֫לֶךְ proper name, of a divinity Molech (ᵐ5 Μολοχ, ᵑ9 Moloch) (= מֶלֶךְ i.e. (divine) King, with vowels of בּשֶׁת to denote abhorrence, Hoffm^{ZAW iii. 1883, 124} RS^{Semitic i. 353; 2nd ed. 372}; compare Hoffm^{GG Abh. xxxvi. 1890 a (May, 1889), 25}; Phoenician proper name, of divinity מלך Milk, in proper names compare Bloch, Dr^{Dt.222 f.}); — with article ׳הַמּ: — the god to whom Israel sacrificed children with fire (in valley of Hinnom); ׳העביר בָּנֵשׁ לַ מּ 2 Kings 23:10; ׳העביר לַמּ Jeremiah 32:35 ("" הַבַּעַל), Leviticus 18:21 (H); ׳נתן לַמּ Leviticus 20:2,3,4 (H); more Generally ׳לִזְנוֺת אַחֲרֵי הַמּ Leviticus 20:5 (H). In 1 Kings 11:7 read probably מִלְכֹּם, q. v.

Topical Lexicon

Word Origin: Derived from the root word מֶלֶךְ (melek), meaning "king."

Corresponding Greek / Hebrew Entries: The corresponding Greek entry is G3434 (Μολόχ, Moloch), which appears in the New Testament in Acts 7:43, where Stephen, in his speech before the Sanhedrin, references the Israelites' idolatry, including the worship of Moloch, during their time in the wilderness. This connection underscores the continuity of the biblical condemnation of Molek worship from the Old Testament to the New Testament.

Usage: Molek is mentioned in the context of ancient Israelite practices that were condemned by the Hebrew Bible. The worship of Molek involved the sacrifice of children, which was strictly prohibited by the laws given to the Israelites.

Context: Molek, also spelled Moloch, was a deity worshiped by the Ammonites and other Canaanite peoples. The worship of Molek is most infamously associated with the practice of child sacrifice, where children were offered by fire. This practice is explicitly condemned in the Hebrew Bible, and the Israelites were repeatedly warned against adopting such abominable customs.

The worship of Molek is mentioned in several passages, including Leviticus 18:21, which states, "You must not give any of your children to be sacrificed to Molek, for you must not profane the name of your God. I am the LORD." Similarly, Leviticus 20:2-5 prescribes severe penalties for those who engage in Molek worship, emphasizing the seriousness of this transgression.

The practice is also referenced in 2 Kings 23:10, where King Josiah defiles Topheth in the Valley of Ben Hinnom to prevent anyone from sacrificing their son or daughter in the fire to Molek. This indicates that despite the prohibitions, the worship of Molek had infiltrated Israelite society at various times, necessitating reform and purification efforts by faithful leaders.

Molek's worship is often associated with the broader category of idolatry and is seen as a symbol of the moral and spiritual decline that can occur when God's commandments are ignored. The biblical narrative consistently portrays the worship of Molek as a grave sin, highlighting the importance of fidelity to the covenant with God and the rejection of pagan practices.

Forms and Transliterations

הַמֹּ֖לֶךְ המלך וּלְמֹ֕לֶךְ ולמלך לַמֹּ֑לֶךְ לַמֹּ֔לֶךְ לַמֹּ֖לֶךְ לַמֹּֽלֶךְ׃ לַמֹּלֶךְ֒ למלך למלך׃ מַלְכְּכֶ֔ם מלככם ham·mō·leḵ hamMolech hammōleḵ lam·mō·leḵ lamMolech lammōleḵ mal·kə·ḵem malkeChem malkəḵem ū·lə·mō·leḵ uleMolech ūləmōleḵ

Englishman's Concordance

Leviticus 18:21
HEB: תִתֵּ֖ן לְהַעֲבִ֣יר לַמֹּ֑לֶךְ וְלֹ֧א תְחַלֵּ֛ל
NAS: to offer them to Molech, nor
KJV: pass through [the fire] to Molech, neither shalt thou profane
INT: give to offer to Molech nor profane

Leviticus 20:2
HEB: יִתֵּ֧ן מִזַּרְע֛וֹ לַמֹּ֖לֶךְ מ֣וֹת יוּמָ֑ת
NAS: of his offspring to Molech, shall surely
KJV: [any] of his seed unto Molech; he shall surely
INT: gives of his offspring to Molech shall surely be put

Leviticus 20:3
HEB: מִזַּרְעוֹ֙ נָתַ֣ן לַמֹּ֔לֶךְ לְמַ֗עַן טַמֵּא֙
NAS: of his offspring to Molech, so
KJV: of his seed unto Molech, to defile
INT: of his offspring has given to Molech so to defile

Leviticus 20:4
HEB: בְּתִתּ֥וֹ מִזַּרְע֖וֹ לַמֹּ֑לֶךְ לְבִלְתִּ֖י הָמִ֥ית
NAS: of his offspring to Molech, so as not to put him to death,
KJV: of his seed unto Molech, and kill
INT: gives of his offspring to Molech not to put

Leviticus 20:5
HEB: לִזְנ֛וֹת אַחֲרֵ֥י הַמֹּ֖לֶךְ מִקֶּ֥רֶב עַמָּֽם׃
NAS: after Molech.
KJV: him, to commit whoredom with Molech, from among
INT: the harlot after Molech among their people

1 Kings 11:7
HEB: פְּנֵ֣י יְרוּשָׁלִָ֑ם וּלְמֹ֕לֶךְ שִׁקֻּ֖ץ בְּנֵ֥י
NAS: of Jerusalem, and for Molech the detestable idol
KJV: Jerusalem, and for Molech, the abomination
INT: before of Jerusalem Molech idol of the sons

2 Kings 23:10
HEB: בִּתּ֛וֹ בָּאֵ֖שׁ לַמֹּֽלֶךְ׃
NAS: pass through the fire for Molech.
KJV: to pass through the fire to Molech.
INT: his daughter the fire Molech

Jeremiah 32:35
HEB: וְאֶת־ בְּנוֹתֵיהֶם֮ לַמֹּלֶךְ֒ אֲשֶׁ֣ר לֹֽא־
NAS: to pass through [the fire] to Molech, which
KJV: to pass through [the fire] unto Molech; which I commanded
INT: their sons and their daughters Molech which nor

Amos 5:26
HEB: אֵ֚ת סִכּ֣וּת מַלְכְּכֶ֔ם וְאֵ֖ת כִּיּ֣וּן
INT: carried Sikkuth Molech and Kiyyun your images

9 Occurrences

Strong's Hebrew 4432
9 Occurrences

ham·mō·leḵ — 1 Occ.
lam·mō·leḵ — 6 Occ.
mal·kə·ḵem — 1 Occ.
ū·lə·mō·leḵ — 1 Occ.