מַחֲלַת
Machalath, the name of an Ishmaelitess and of an Israelitess
Definition
Machălath is a proper noun used as the name of two women in the Old Testament. In Genesis 28:9, it refers to Mahalath, the daughter of Ishmael and wife of Esau. In 2 Chronicles 11:18, it refers to a different Mahalath, a wife of King Rehoboam and daughter of David's son Jerimoth. The name is identical to the Hebrew word for 'sickness' or 'disease' (מַחֲלַת, H4257), suggesting it may have carried a meaning related to affliction or weakness.
Biblical Usage
The word is used exclusively as a personal name in its two occurrences. It appears in a genealogical context in Genesis 28:9, identifying Esau's third wife from the line of Ishmael. It appears again in 2 Chronicles 11:18 within a list of King Rehoboam's wives and children, identifying a woman from the royal line of Judah. There is no narrative usage beyond simple identification.
Etymology
Machălath is derived from the root חלה (ḥlh), meaning 'to be weak, sick, or afflicted.' It is the identical form of the common noun מַחֲלַת (machălath, H4257), meaning 'sickness' or 'disease.' As a name, it likely carried the sense of 'the sickly one' or 'one born from/into affliction,' a practice not uncommon in Hebrew onomastics (name-giving).
Semantic Range
While the name itself is not theologically loaded, its etymological connection to 'sickness' may reflect the circumstances of birth or a parental hope for healing. Its use in Genesis highlights the intermarriage between the lines of Isaac (through Esau) and Ishmael, a union outside the covenant line. In Chronicles, it signifies a marriage within the Davidic royal family, reinforcing dynastic connections.
In ancient Hebrew culture, names were often descriptive, reflecting circumstances, hopes, or characteristics. A name meaning 'sickness' might indicate a difficult birth, a period of illness, or a parental prayer for the child's survival and health. It does not necessarily carry a negative connotation in this context but may acknowledge human fragility.
As a proper noun, it has no direct synonyms. Its root is shared with: חלי (chŏlî, H2483) — a more common noun for 'sickness' or 'disease.'
Word Details
How this works
Hebrew definitions are from Brown-Driver-Briggs (1906) and Strong's Exhaustive Concordance (1890), both public domain. BDB was groundbreaking for its era but reflects 19th-century assumptions about Semitic etymology. Modern scholarship (HALOT, DCH) has revised many entries. Use these definitions as a starting point for exploration, not as the final word on a term's meaning in context.
Full methodology & sources →