Bible Word Study
מַלְאֲכוּת
malʼăkûwth · a message
מַלְאֲכוּת
a message
Definition
The Hebrew noun מַלְאֲכוּת (malʼăkûth) refers to a message, specifically a formal or official communication. It is derived from the root for 'messenger' and denotes the content or substance of what is delivered. In its sole biblical occurrence, Haggai 1:13, it refers to the prophetic message that Haggai, as God's messenger, delivers to the people. The word emphasizes the authority and divine origin of the communication, not just casual information.
Biblical Usage
This word is used only once in the Old Testament, in Haggai 1:13. It describes the specific prophetic message that Haggai relayed from the LORD to the people of Judah, urging them to rebuild the temple. The context is a formal, divinely authorized proclamation delivered through a designated spokesperson (a prophet). Its singular usage highlights a specific, weighty instance of divine communication.
Etymology
מַלְאֲכוּת is a feminine noun derived from the root מ-ל-א-ך (m-l-ʼ-k), which relates to sending or messaging. It is an abstract noun formed from מַלְאָךְ (malʼāk, H4397), meaning 'messenger' or 'angel.' Thus, מַלְאֲכוּת essentially means 'messengership' or 'the business/word of a messenger,' focusing on the message itself rather than the messenger.
Semantic Range
Though used only once, this word is theologically significant as it encapsulates the concept of prophetic revelation. It underscores that the prophet's words are not his own but are the authoritative 'message' of God. Understanding this Hebrew term enriches reading by highlighting the weight and divine origin behind prophetic speech, connecting the messenger's role directly to the content delivered. In ancient Israelite culture, official messages from a king or deity were delivered by trusted envoys. The message (מַלְאֲכוּת) carried the full authority of the sender. In Haggai's context, the people would have understood his 'message' as a direct communication from the LORD, demanding obedience just as a royal decree would. דָּבָר (dāḇār, H1697) — a broader term for 'word,' 'matter,' or 'thing,' not necessarily a formal message. מִשְׁמָע (mishmāʿ, H4926) — a 'report' or 'thing heard,' often news, but less official. שְׁמוּעָה (shemûʿâh, H8052) — 'news' or 'rumor,' generally of human origin.
Word Details
How this works
Definitions are from the Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (BDB, 1906, public domain). Concordance and morphology data are from the OSHB (Open Scriptures Hebrew Bible).
Full methodology & sources →References
- Abbott-Smith, G. (1921) A Manual Greek Lexicon of the New Testament. Edinburgh: T&T Clark. [Public Domain]
- Brown, F., Driver, S.R. and Briggs, C.A. (1906) A Hebrew and English Lexicon of the Old Testament. Oxford: Clarendon Press. [Public Domain]
- Tyndale House, Cambridge (n.d.) Tyndale Brief lexicon of Extended Strongs for Greek (TBESG). STEPBible. Available at: https://www.stepbible.org. [CC BY 4.0]
- Tyndale House, Cambridge (n.d.) Translators Formatted full LSJ (TFLSJ). STEPBible. Available at: https://www.stepbible.org. [CC BY 4.0]
- Thayer, J.H. (1889) A Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament. [Public Domain]
- Gesenius, W. (1846) Gesenius' Hebrew-Chaldee Lexicon to the Old Testament. [Public Domain]
- Dodson, J. (2010) Greek Lexicon. Biblical Humanities. [CC0]