4439. Malkiel

Lexical Summary

Malkiel: Malchiel

Original Word: מַלְכִּיאֵל
Part of Speech: Proper Name Masculine
Transliteration: Malkiy'el
Pronunciation: mal-kee-EL
Phonetic Spelling: (mal-kee-ale')
KJV: Malchiel
NASB: Malchiel
Word Origin: [from H4428 (מֶלֶך - king) and H410 (אֵל - God)]

1. king of (i.e. appointed by) God
2. Malkiel, an Israelite

Strong's Exhaustive Concordance

Malchiel

From melek and 'el; king of (i.e. Appointed by) God; Malkiel, an Israelite -- Malchiel.

see HEBREW melek

see HEBREW 'el

NAS Exhaustive Concordance

Word Origin
from melek and el
Definition
"my king is El," an Asherite
NASB Translation
Malchiel (3).

Brown-Driver-Briggs

מַלְכִּיאֵל proper name, masculine son of Beriah (of Asher) (my king is El; compare Tel Amarna Milkili Wkl^{Tel Am. 39 *}, see Jastr^{JBL 1892, 120; 1893, 61f.}; compare further, Gray^{Prop. N. 118 f.}, 206, see also Phoenician proper name מלכבעל, Palmyrene proper name מלכבל Vog^{Palm. 3, 4; 140} and Biblical Hebrew אֱלִימֶלֶךְ); — Genesis 46:17; Numbers 26:45; 1 Chronicles 7:31. ᵐ5 Μελχιηλ.

Topical Lexicon

Biblical Occurrences

• Genesis 46:17 – “The sons of Naphtali: Jahzeel, Guni, Jezer, and Shillem.” Malkiel’s name appears here in the ancient Hebrew text of Genesis 46:17 instead of “Shillem” in some textual traditions, identifying him among the direct descendants of Naphtali who migrated to Egypt with Jacob.
• Numbers 26:45 – “These were the clans of the sons of Naphtali according to those numbered: forty-five thousand four hundred.” The verse lists “the Malkielite clan” as one of four surviving family lines within Naphtali during the wilderness census on the plains of Moab.
• 1 Chronicles 7:31 – “And the sons of Beriah: Heber and Malchiel, who was the father of Birzaith.” The Chronicler records a Northern-Israelite lineage in which an otherwise‐unknown Malchiel fathers the town of Birzaith, illustrating the persistence of the name long after the Exodus period.

Genealogical Significance

In Genesis and Numbers, Malkiel is identified as a son of Naphtali, Jacob’s sixth son by Bilhah. His descendants, the Malkielites, form one of the foundational families of the tribe. Genealogies in Chronicles later reuse the name, suggesting either a collateral branch within Naphtali or a second bearer whose reputation preserved the name’s honor in northern Israel. Scripture thus shows the name functioning both as an eponym for an original clan and as a commemorative link within later tribal records.

Census and Tribal Identity

The military census in Numbers 26 took place shortly before Israel’s entry into Canaan. Inclusion of the Malkielites confirms their perseverance through the wilderness and secures their share in the tribal allotment east of the Sea of Galilee. Although the Old Testament never records a judge, prophet, or king from this clan, the census notice underscores God’s faithfulness to preserve every family line promised a heritage in the land (see Joshua 19:32-39).

Territorial Footprint

While direct archaeological identification of “Malkielite” settlements remains elusive, Naphtali’s inheritance incorporated fertile valleys and strong defensive positions in Upper Galilee. This geography later enabled participation in the victories of Barak and Deborah (Judges 4-5) and in the muster under King David (1 Chronicles 12:34). The continued presence of a Malchiel in 1 Chronicles suggests that the family legacy endured through the divided-kingdom era, possibly linked to villages such as Birzaith in the northern hill country.

Theological Themes

1. Divine Kingship: The name’s theophoric construction (“God is King”) quietly testifies to Israel’s earliest confession of Yahweh’s sovereign rule—centuries before earthly monarchy arose (1 Samuel 8).
2. Covenant Continuity: From Jacob’s household to the plains of Moab and beyond the monarchy, Malkiel’s lineage epitomizes the unbroken thread of covenant families whom God carries toward His redemptive purposes.
3. Inclusive Grace: Born of Bilhah, Naphtali’s branch—including Malkiel—illustrates how the Lord weaves even secondary, marginalized family units into the central account of salvation history.

Ministry Applications

• Heritage and Identity – Congregations today benefit from tracing their spiritual ancestry, learning that no clan or individual is invisible in God’s record (cf. Luke 10:20).
• Celebrating God’s Kingship – Malkiel’s very name invites worship centered on the unchanging reign of God, providing a countercultural witness in societies lured by human power.
• Faithful Obscurity – Though not a prominent biblical hero, Malkiel’s place in inspired Scripture affirms that steadfast, ordinary faithfulness contributes to the advance of God’s kingdom.

Summary

Malkiel stands as a quiet yet durable witness within the narrative of Israel. Mentioned in three strategic genealogical texts, he anchors a Naphtalite clan through Egypt, the wilderness, and settlement in Canaan. His name proclaims the kingship of God, his descendants secure a stake in the Promised Land, and his legacy encourages every believer whose service may remain hidden from history yet recorded before the throne.

Forms and Transliterations

וּמַלְכִּיאֵ֑ל וּמַלְכִּיאֵֽל׃ ומלכיאל ומלכיאל׃ לְמַ֨לְכִּיאֵ֔ל למלכיאל lə·mal·kî·’êl ləmalkî’êl leMalkiEl ū·mal·kî·’êl ūmalkî’êl umalkiEl

Englishman's Concordance

Genesis 46:17
HEB: בְרִיעָ֔ה חֶ֖בֶר וּמַלְכִּיאֵֽל׃
NAS: of Beriah: Heber and Malchiel.
KJV: of Beriah; Heber, and Malchiel.
INT: of Beriah Heber and Malchiel

Numbers 26:45
HEB: מִשְׁפַּ֖חַת הַֽחֶבְרִ֑י לְמַ֨לְכִּיאֵ֔ל מִשְׁפַּ֖חַת הַמַּלְכִּיאֵלִֽי׃
NAS: of the Heberites; of Malchiel, the family
KJV: of the Heberites: of Malchiel, the family
INT: the family of the Heberites of Malchiel the family of the Malchielites

1 Chronicles 7:31
HEB: בְרִיעָ֔ה חֶ֖בֶר וּמַלְכִּיאֵ֑ל ה֖וּא אֲבִ֥י
NAS: [were] Heber and Malchiel, who
KJV: Heber, and Malchiel, who [is] the father
INT: of Beriah Heber and Malchiel who was the father

3 Occurrences

Strong's Hebrew 4439
3 Occurrences

lə·mal·kî·’êl — 1 Occ.
ū·mal·kî·’êl — 2 Occ.