מַלְכִּירָם
Malkiram, an Israelite
Definition
Malkiram is a proper name meaning 'my king is exalted' or 'king of exaltation.' It belongs to a son of King Jehoiachin (Jeconiah) of Judah, as recorded in 1 Chronicles 3:18. The name appears only in this genealogical list, identifying him as a member of the Davidic royal line during the Babylonian exile. As a personal name, it carries no other major senses or meanings in the biblical text beyond this single identification.
Biblical Usage
This name is used exactly once in the Old Testament, in the genealogical record of 1 Chronicles 3:18. It appears in a list of the sons born to King Jehoiachin during his captivity in Babylon. There are no patterns of usage, as it is a unique personal identifier within a historical lineage.
Etymology
The name Malkiram is a compound of two Hebrew elements: 'melek' (H4428), meaning 'king,' and 'rum' (H7311), meaning 'to be high' or 'exalted.' It is formed similarly to other Hebrew theophoric names (names incorporating God's attributes), though it uses 'king' rather than a divine name like 'El' or 'Yah.' The construction signifies 'my king is exalted' or 'king of exaltation.'
Semantic Range
While the name itself is not central to doctrine, its placement is theologically significant. Malkiram is a son of the exiled King Jehoiachin, a figure under God's judgment (Jeremiah 22:24-30). His inclusion in the Davidic genealogy in 1 Chronicles highlights God's faithfulness in preserving the royal line despite exile, a lineage that ultimately leads to the Messiah (Matthew 1:11-12). The name's meaning ('my king is exalted') may ironically contrast with the family's humbled state, pointing to hope in God's ultimate sovereignty.
In ancient Israel, names often conveyed meaning or parental hopes. A name like Malkiram, combining 'king' and 'exalted,' would have been significant for a royal descendant, even in captivity. It reflects a cultural practice of using names to affirm identity and divine attributes during a period of national disgrace. The recording of such names in Chronicles served to preserve the identity and continuity of the Judahite community after the exile.
Malkiyahu (H4441) — Another theophoric name meaning 'my king is Yahweh,' borne by other biblical figures. Malchiel (H4439) — A name meaning 'my king is God' or 'God is king.'
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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