מַחְלָה
Machlah, the name apparently of two Israelitesses
Definition
Machlah is the name of at least two Israelite women in the Old Testament. Most prominently, she is one of the five daughters of Zelophehad from the tribe of Manasseh (Numbers 26:33, 27:1). These sisters famously petitioned Moses for the right to inherit their father's property since he had no sons, leading to a landmark legal ruling on inheritance rights for women (Numbers 27:1-7). In a different genealogical list, a Machlah is also mentioned as a wife of Manasseh and the mother of several sons (1 Chronicles 7:18). The name itself means 'sickness' or 'weakness,' which may reflect circumstances at birth or a hope for divine protection from illness.
Biblical Usage
The name Machlah is used exclusively as a proper noun for women. It appears in legal narratives concerning inheritance (Numbers 27, 36) and in genealogical records (Numbers 26:33, Joshua 17:3, 1 Chronicles 7:18). Its primary narrative context is the story of Zelophehad's daughters, where Machlah and her sisters are central figures in establishing a legal precedent for female inheritance within the Israelite community when there is no male heir.
Etymology
Derived from the Hebrew root חָלָה (ḥālâ, H2470), meaning 'to be weak, sick, or diseased.' As a proper name, Machlah is a feminine noun form meaning 'sickness' or 'weakness.' Such names were not uncommon in the ancient Near East and could reflect a parent's acknowledgment of a child's frailty at birth, a plea for healing, or an apotropaic wish to ward off illness.
Semantic Range
The story of Machlah and her sisters (Numbers 27, 36) is theologically significant as it demonstrates God's concern for justice, fairness, and the protection of vulnerable members within the covenant community. Their case established that God's laws are adaptable to ensure equity, particularly for women in a patriarchal society. It underscores that inheritance and belonging in the promised land are matters of divine justice, not merely custom. Understanding this narrative enriches reading by highlighting how God's instruction evolves to uphold the spirit of the law.
In the patriarchal culture of ancient Israel, inheritance typically passed exclusively through male heirs. The case of Zelophehad's daughters, including Machlah, was a radical challenge to this norm. Their successful petition shows that the Mosaic legal system had mechanisms for addressing unforeseen social dilemmas and protecting family lineages. A name meaning 'sickness' might seem negative today, but in its context, it could express honest human experience or a hope that the child would be spared from further illness.
No direct synonyms as a proper name. Related conceptually: נֹחַלָה (nochlah, H5159) — 'possession, inheritance,' the legal right Machlah and her sisters sought.
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.
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