מָלַח

מָלַח

properly, to rub to pieces or pulverize; intransitively

Definition

The Hebrew verb מָלַח (mâlach) primarily means 'to salt' or 'to season with salt.' In its literal sense, it describes the action of applying salt to food, as in seasoning a grain offering (Leviticus 2:13). It can also carry a more intensive meaning of 'to rub' or 'to pulverize,' as seen in the preparation of incense where ingredients are to be 'tempered together' (Exodus 30:35). In a figurative sense, it denotes vanishing or wearing away, like the heavens disappearing as smoke (Isaiah 51:6).

Biblical Usage

This word is used only four times in the Old Testament, each with a distinct nuance. In cultic contexts, it refers to the salting of sacrifices (Leviticus 2:13) and the blending of sacred incense (Exodus 30:35). In a metaphorical prophetic use, it describes the heavens vanishing (Isaiah 51:6). In a graphic metaphorical description, it is used for the rubbing of a newborn with salt (Ezekiel 16:4), a practice whose exact nature is debated.

Etymology

מָלַח is a primitive root meaning 'to salt.' It is also used as a denominative verb derived from the noun מֶלַח (melach, H4417), meaning 'salt.' This root connection firmly anchors its core meaning in the substance and action of salting.

Semantic Range

This word is theologically significant due to its role in the Mosaic law. The command to salt every grain offering (Leviticus 2:13) symbolized God's enduring covenant, as salt represents permanence and purification. Understanding this verb enriches the reading of both ritual texts and prophetic imagery, connecting the tangible act of salting sacrifices to concepts of God's lasting promise and the impermanence of creation contrasted with God's salvation (Isaiah 51:6). In the ancient Near East, salt was a valuable preservative and purifying agent. Its use in covenants (a 'covenant of salt') signified an unbreakable pact. The action described in Ezekiel 16:4, rubbing a newborn with salt, may reflect a cultural practice for cleansing or toughening the skin, though its precise purpose is unclear and not directly commanded in biblical law. מֶלַח (melach, H4417) — The noun for 'salt,' the substance from which the verb's action is derived. כָּבַס (kābas, H3526) — To wash or cleanse; while מָלַח can imply purification through salt, כָּבַס typically involves water. טָבַל (ṭāḇal, H2881) — To dip or immerse, a different mode of applying a substance compared to rubbing or sprinkling with salt.

Word Details