4435. Milkah
Lexical Summary
Milkah: Milcah

Original Word: מִלְכָּה
Part of Speech: Proper Name Feminine
Transliteration: Milkah
Pronunciation: MIL-kah
Phonetic Spelling: (mil-kaw')
KJV: Milcah
NASB: Milcah
Word Origin: [a form of H4436 (מַלכָּה - Queen)]

1. queen
2. Milcah, the name of a Hebrewess and of an Israelite

Strong's Exhaustive Concordance
Milcah

A form of malkah; queen; Milcah, the name of a Hebrewess and of an Israelite -- Milcah.

see HEBREW malkah

NAS Exhaustive Concordance
Word Origin
from the same as melek
Definition
two Isr. women
NASB Translation
Milcah (11).

Brown-Driver-Briggs
מִלְכָּה proper name, feminine ᵐ5 Μελχα (= מַלְכָּה ? NöZMG xlii. 1888. 484 compare Phoenician proper name, of deities מלכת; compare GrayProp. N. 116); —

1 wife of Nahor Genesis 11:29 (twice in verse); Genesis 22:20,23; Genesis 24:15,24,47 (all J).

2 daughter of Zelo-phehad (of Manasseh), Numbers 26:33; Numbers 27:1; Numbers 36:11; Joshua 17:3 (all P). — Perhaps original town-name, Grayl.c.

Topical Lexicon
Identity and Etymological Note

Milcah appears in Scripture as a feminine personal name borne by two distinct women. Although the name carries royal connotations, the biblical focus rests on their covenantal roles rather than on lexical nuance.

Milcah, Wife of Nahor (Genesis 11–24)

1. Genealogical bridge. Milcah is introduced as the daughter of Haran and the wife of Abram’s brother, Nahor (Genesis 11:29). This places her at a pivotal point in the Terah family tree, linking Abram (Abraham) to later patriarchal events.
2. Instrumental in the provision of Rebekah. Her son Bethuel fathered Rebekah, Isaac’s bride. When Abraham’s servant prays for God’s guidance, Rebekah emerges from Milcah’s lineage, validating the servant’s conviction that “The LORD has made my journey a success” (Genesis 24:21). That success rests on Milcah’s earlier obedience to marry within Terah’s household, thereby preserving a covenant-minded line in Mesopotamia.
3. Testament to divine orchestration. The dual mention in Genesis 22:20, 22:23—reported immediately after the Mount Moriah narrative—highlights God’s meticulous preparation of Isaac’s future before the sacrifice account closes. Even the family of Milcah is marshaled to safeguard the promise.

Milcah, Daughter of Zelophehad (Numbers 26–Joshua 17)

1. Advocate of righteous inheritance. In Numbers 27:1–11, Milcah and her four sisters petition Moses and the elders so their father’s name “will not be lost from his clan” (Numbers 27:4). Their respectful yet resolute appeal leads God to declare, “What Zelophehad’s daughters say is right” (Numbers 27:7). Thus Milcah stands among the first recorded women to secure property rights in Israel, setting precedent for equitable treatment within covenant law.
2. Model of obedient faith. When later required to marry within their tribe to safeguard land boundaries, Milcah complies (Numbers 36:11). Her balance of bold initiative and submissive obedience embodies the harmony between individual responsibility and corporate unity.
3. Enduring memorial. Joshua 17:3 revisits Milcah and her sisters when land allotments are finalized, underscoring that God’s word through Moses came to pass. Their account certifies that divine promises, once spoken, remain active across generations.

Themes and Ministry Significance

• Covenant continuity through women. Both Milcahs provide essential links in redemptive history—one preserves the Messianic line by giving rise to Rebekah; the other safeguards tribal inheritance so Messianic geography remains intact. Their appearance at strategic narrative junctures reminds readers that God often advances His purposes through faithful women whose obedience is quietly woven into larger events.

• Prayer and providence. The servant’s encounter with Rebekah showcases interplay between earnest prayer and Milcah’s earlier motherhood (Genesis 24:12–15). Ministry application: believers can pray with confidence, knowing God has already arranged answers—sometimes generations in advance.

• Righteous petition and just leadership. Milcah the daughter of Zelophehad demonstrates godly advocacy. Her respectful challenge leads to clarified legislation, revealing that Spirit-filled leaders listen to sound petitions and adjust practice to conform to God’s revealed will. Churches today may glean principles for handling grievances, especially from marginalized voices, in a manner that honors both law and compassion.

• Inheritance as eschatological sign. Milcah’s secured allotment anticipates the believer’s guaranteed inheritance in Christ (Ephesians 1:14). Just as her claim was upheld before Moses, so the saints’ inheritance is upheld before the Father.

Intertextual Echoes

The name Milcah, bearing royal undertones, complements the promise that kings will come from Abraham’s line (Genesis 17:6). Though she herself never reigns, her descendants participate in the unfolding kingdom. Additionally, her association with land rights prefigures later prophetic assurances that “the meek will inherit the land” (Psalm 37:11).

Practical Reflections for Teaching and Discipleship

• Encourage women to recognize their God-given place in advancing His promises.
• Highlight the necessity of intergenerational faithfulness: today’s obedience positions tomorrow’s blessings.
• Emphasize lawful appeal: Milcah’s petitions were grounded in covenant statutes, offering a template for addressing injustice within ecclesial settings.

Summary

Across eleven Old Testament occurrences, מִלְכָּה (Milcah) signifies more than a proper name. She embodies God’s sovereignty in lineage and land, champions both prayerful dependence and courageous petition, and illustrates the secure inheritance awaiting all who walk in covenant fidelity.

Forms and Transliterations
וּמִלְכָּ֖ה וּמִלְכָּ֛ה ומלכה מִלְכָּ֑ה מִלְכָּ֔ה מִלְכָּ֕ה מִלְכָּ֖ה מִלְכָּ֥ה מלכה mil·kāh milKah milkāh ū·mil·kāh umilKah ūmilkāh
Links
Interlinear GreekInterlinear HebrewStrong's NumbersEnglishman's Greek ConcordanceEnglishman's Hebrew ConcordanceParallel Texts
Englishman's Concordance
Genesis 11:29
HEB: אֵֽשֶׁת־ נָחוֹר֙ מִלְכָּ֔ה בַּת־ הָרָ֥ן
NAS: wife was Milcah, the daughter
KJV: wife, Milcah, the daughter
INT: wife of Nahor's was Milcah the daughter of Haran

Genesis 11:29
HEB: הָרָ֥ן אֲבִֽי־ מִלְכָּ֖ה וַֽאֲבִ֥י יִסְכָּֽה׃
NAS: the father of Milcah and Iscah.
KJV: the father of Milcah, and the father
INT: of Haran the father of Milcah the father and Iscah

Genesis 22:20
HEB: הִ֠נֵּה יָלְדָ֨ה מִלְכָּ֥ה גַם־ הִ֛וא
NAS: saying, Behold, Milcah also has borne
KJV: saying, Behold, Milcah, she hath also born
INT: Behold has borne Milcah also he

Genesis 22:23
HEB: אֵ֙לֶּה֙ יָלְדָ֣ה מִלְכָּ֔ה לְנָח֖וֹר אֲחִ֥י
NAS: these eight Milcah bore to Nahor,
KJV: these eight Milcah did bear
INT: these the father Milcah to Nahor brother

Genesis 24:15
HEB: לִבְתוּאֵ֣ל בֶּן־ מִלְכָּ֔ה אֵ֥שֶׁת נָח֖וֹר
NAS: the son of Milcah, the wife
KJV: son of Milcah, the wife
INT: to Bethuel the son of Milcah the wife Nahor

Genesis 24:24
HEB: אָנֹ֑כִי בֶּן־ מִלְכָּ֕ה אֲשֶׁ֥ר יָלְדָ֖ה
NAS: the son of Milcah, whom
KJV: the son of Milcah, which she bare
INT: I the son of Milcah whom bore

Genesis 24:47
HEB: יָֽלְדָה־ לּ֖וֹ מִלְכָּ֑ה וָאָשִׂ֤ם הַנֶּ֙זֶם֙
NAS: whom Milcah bore
KJV: son, whom Milcah bare
INT: whom bore Milcah put the ring

Numbers 26:33
HEB: וְנֹעָ֔ה חָגְלָ֥ה מִלְכָּ֖ה וְתִרְצָֽה׃
NAS: Noah, Hoglah, Milcah and Tirzah.
KJV: and Noah, Hoglah, Milcah, and Tirzah.
INT: Noah Hoglah Milcah and Tirzah

Numbers 27:1
HEB: נֹעָ֔ה וְחָגְלָ֥ה וּמִלְכָּ֖ה וְתִרְצָֽה׃
NAS: Noah and Hoglah and Milcah and Tirzah.
KJV: and Hoglah, and Milcah, and Tirzah.
INT: Noah and Hoglah and Milcah and Tirzah

Numbers 36:11
HEB: תִרְצָ֗ה וְחָגְלָ֧ה וּמִלְכָּ֛ה וְנֹעָ֖ה בְּנ֣וֹת
NAS: Hoglah, Milcah and Noah,
KJV: and Hoglah, and Milcah, and Noah,
INT: Tirzah Hoglah Milcah and Noah the daughters

Joshua 17:3
HEB: וְנֹעָ֔ה חָגְלָ֥ה מִלְכָּ֖ה וְתִרְצָֽה׃
NAS: and Noah, Hoglah, Milcah and Tirzah.
KJV: and Noah, Hoglah, Milcah, and Tirzah.
INT: and Noah Hoglah Milcah and Tirzah

11 Occurrences

Strong's Hebrew 4435
11 Occurrences


mil·kāh — 9 Occ.
ū·mil·kāh — 2 Occ.

4434
Top of Page
Top of Page