Lexical Summary Amaleq: Amalek Original Word: עֲמָלֵק Strong's Exhaustive Concordance Amalek Probably of foreign origin; Amalek, a descendant of Esau; also his posterity and their country -- Amalek. NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Originfrom amal Definition a desc. of Esau, also his posterity NASB Translation Amalek (25), Amalekites (14). Brown-Driver-Briggs עֲמָלֵק39 proper name, of a people Amalek (on ָ֯ see LagBN 162 BaNB 160); — ancient people Numbers 24:20 (twice in verse), south of Canaan — in Negeb Numbers 13:29 (all J E), fierce and war-like Bedawin (compare GASmGeogr. 282 GFMJudges 6:3,33), foes of Israel during Exodus Exodus 17:8 6t. Exodus 17 (E), Deuteronomy 25:17,19; later marauders in Israel territory Judges 3:13; Judges 6:3,33; Judges 7:12; Judges 10:12, defeated by Saul 1 Samuel 14:48; 1 Samuel 15:2 9t. 1 Samuel 14; 1 Samuel 28:18, and by David 1 Samuel 30:18 (compare adjective, of a people below), 2 Samuel 8:12 = 1 Chronicles 18:11, compare Psalm 83:8; also ׳הָע 2 Samuel 1:1 (where read עֲמָלֵק or הָעֲמָלֵקִי, see Commentaries); ׳ע 1 Chronicles 4:43; as grandson of Esau Genesis 36:12 (P) = 1 Chronicles 1:36; Genesis 36:16; apparently connected with Ephraimitic territory Judges 5:14 (compare Judges 12:15 below; yet GFM conjecture עֵמֶק). — On Amalek see NöAmalekites {1864}; Ency. Bi. under the word. Topical Lexicon Genealogy and Origin Amalek is first named in Genesis 36:12 as the son of Eliphaz and grandson of Esau: “Timna was a concubine to Eliphaz the son of Esau; and she bore Amalek to Eliphaz.” From this individual sprang the tribe that Scripture consistently portrays as Israel’s inveterate foe. Although the Amalekites later occupied territory in the Negev and parts of the Sinai, their founder is thus linked to the rejected line of Esau, foreshadowing perpetual hostility toward the covenant family of Jacob. Earliest Biblical References Genesis 14:7 records a campaign against “the whole territory of the Amalekites,” an editorial nod to a people who would become prominent centuries later. Balaam’s oracle likewise calls Amalek “first among the nations, but his end is destruction” (Numbers 24:20). From the outset, therefore, Amalek represents an early, aggressive nation doomed by divine decree. The Battle at Rephidim and the Name Jehovah-Nissi Exodus 17:8–16 recounts Amalek’s surprise attack on Israel only weeks after the Exodus. As Moses’ uplifted hands determined the battle’s outcome, “Joshua overwhelmed Amalek and his army with the sword” (Exodus 17:13). The LORD then swore, “I will utterly blot out the memory of Amalek from under heaven” (17:14) and Moses built an altar named “The LORD Is My Banner” (Jehovah-Nissi), sealing the perpetual warfare between the LORD and Amalek “from generation to generation” (17:16). Divine Judgment Reaffirmed Deuteronomy 25:17–19 commands Israel to remember Amalek’s treachery—striking the weary and stragglers—and to “wipe out the memory of Amalek from under heaven.” The passage anchors their judgment in God’s righteous character and Israel’s covenant obligation, not in ethnic animosity. Amalek in the Wilderness Reports When the spies returned, they cited Amalekite strength in the Negev (Numbers 13:29), contributing to Israel’s unbelief. The next day, when the people presumptuously advanced without divine blessing, “the Amalekites and Canaanites… attacked them and beat them back” (Numbers 14:45), illustrating the futility of fleshly self-effort apart from obedience. Hostilities during the Judges Era Amalek appears alongside Moab in Judges 3:12–13, oppressing Israel in tandem with Eglon. In Judges 6–7 they raid with Midian, leaving Israel impoverished. Gideon’s victory, culminating in Judges 7:22, again foreshadows the ultimate eradication of Amalek yet shows that partial victories do not annul the standing divine sentence. King Saul’s Incomplete Obedience The climax of the Amalekite narrative comes in 1 Samuel 15. God’s instruction is explicit: “Now go and strike down Amalek and devote to destruction all that belongs to them” (1 Samuel 15:3). Saul’s failure to execute Agag and destroy the spoil led to Samuel’s indictment: “Because you have rejected the word of the LORD, He has rejected you as king” (1 Samuel 15:23). Saul’s disobedience preserved Amalekite remnants that would resurface in later conflicts. Davidic Confrontations and Cleanup Operations David warred almost continuously with Amalek. He struck them in the wilderness of Paran (1 Samuel 27:8–9) and later at Ziklag, where the raiders carried off his families. Scripture records, “David struck them down from twilight until evening the next day” (1 Samuel 30:17). After Saul’s death an Amalekite claimed to have dispatched the wounded king (2 Samuel 1:1–10); David executed him, citing respect for the LORD’s anointed. Additional campaigns under David (2 Samuel 8:12; 1 Chronicles 18:11) pushed Amalek toward extinction, and 1 Chronicles 4:43 notes that Simeonite clans “destroyed the remnant who had escaped.” Post-Exilic Shadow: Haman the Agagite Though the name Amalek does not appear in the Book of Esther, Haman is repeatedly styled “the Agagite” (Esther 3:1; 3:10; 8:3, 5; 9:24), linking him to the royal Amalekite line spared by Saul. His genocidal plot against the Jews reprises Amalek’s ancient hatred and meets the same divinely ordained doom, fulfilling the promise that the LORD would war against Amalek “from generation to generation.” Theological and Ministry Implications 1. Perpetual Enmity: Amalek embodies fleshly opposition to God’s redemptive plan, an enmity ultimately crushed by divine intervention rather than human effort. Key Old Testament References Genesis 14:7; 36:12, 16 Numbers 13:29; 14:25, 43, 45; 24:20 Judges 3:13; 5:14; 6:3, 33; 7:12; 10:12 1 Samuel 14:48; 15:1–35; 27:8; 28:18; 30:1–20 2 Samuel 1:1–13; 8:12 1 Chronicles 4:43; 18:11 These passages trace the rise, hostility, and divinely mandated decline of Amalek, reinforcing the certainty that “the hand is upon the throne of the LORD” (Exodus 17:16) until every enemy is finally subdued. Forms and Transliterations בַּֽעֲמָלֵ֑ק בַּעֲמָלֵ֑ק בַּעֲמָלֵ֔ק בעמלק הָעֲמָלֵ֑ק העמלק וַֽעֲמָלֵ֛ק וַֽעֲמָלֵק֙ וַעֲמָלֵ֑ק וַעֲמָלֵ֛ק וַעֲמָלֵ֤ק וַעֲמָלֵֽק׃ וּמֵֽעֲמָלֵ֑ק וּמֵֽעֲמָלֵֽק׃ ומעמלק ומעמלק׃ ועמלק ועמלק׃ לַעֲמָלֵ֑ק לעמלק עֲמָלֵ֑ק עֲמָלֵ֔ק עֲמָלֵ֖ק עֲמָלֵ֗ק עֲמָלֵ֥ק עֲמָלֵֽק׃ עמלק עמלק׃ ‘ă·mā·lêq ‘ămālêq amaLek ba‘ămālêq ba·‘ă·mā·lêq baamaLek hā‘ămālêq hā·‘ă·mā·lêq haamaLek la‘ămālêq la·‘ă·mā·lêq laamaLek ū·mê·‘ă·mā·lêq ūmê‘ămālêq umeamaLek vaamaLek wa‘ămālêq wa·‘ă·mā·lêqLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance Genesis 36:12 HEB: לֶאֱלִיפַ֖ז אֶת־ עֲמָלֵ֑ק אֵ֕לֶּה בְּנֵ֥י NAS: and she bore Amalek to Eliphaz. KJV: to Eliphaz Amalek: these [were] the sons INT: bore to Eliphaz Amalek These are the sons Genesis 36:16 Exodus 17:8 Exodus 17:9 Exodus 17:10 Exodus 17:11 Exodus 17:13 Exodus 17:14 Exodus 17:16 Numbers 13:29 Numbers 24:20 Numbers 24:20 Deuteronomy 25:17 Deuteronomy 25:19 Judges 3:13 Judges 5:14 Judges 6:3 Judges 6:33 Judges 7:12 Judges 10:12 1 Samuel 14:48 1 Samuel 15:2 1 Samuel 15:3 1 Samuel 15:5 1 Samuel 15:6 39 Occurrences |
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