Bible Word Study
מַלְכִּיאֵל
Malkîyʼêl · Malkiel, an Israelite
מַלְכִּיאֵל
Malkiel, an Israelite
Definition
Malkiel is a proper name meaning 'king of God' or 'God is my king,' belonging to a descendant of Asher in the Israelite genealogies. He is identified as a son of Beriah and grandson of Asher (Genesis 46:17, Numbers 26:45). The name appears exclusively in genealogical lists, signifying his place within the tribal lineage and inheritance. No narrative actions or distinct meanings are associated with the individual beyond this familial role.
Biblical Usage
The name Malkiel is used only in three Old Testament genealogical passages: Genesis 46:17 (listing Jacob's family who went to Egypt), Numbers 26:45 (the census of the Israelites in the wilderness), and 1 Chronicles 7:31 (the genealogy of the tribe of Asher). Its usage is strictly for establishing lineage and tribal identity within the nation of Israel, with no narrative or descriptive context provided.
Etymology
The name is a compound of two Hebrew elements: 'melekh' (H4428), meaning 'king,' and 'El' (H410), one of the primary names for God. It is a theophoric name, literally translating to 'king of God' or 'my king is God,' expressing a declaration of God's sovereignty. Similar name constructions include 'Elimelech' (my God is king) and 'Malchijah' (Yahweh is king).
Semantic Range
As a theophoric name meaning 'king of God,' Malkiel embodies a core Israelite confession of Yahweh's kingship. While the individual is not prominent, the name itself serves as a theological marker within a genealogy, reminding readers that even in lists of names, the identity of God's people is rooted in His sovereign rule. It enriches reading by highlighting how personal names in Scripture often function as declarations of faith. In ancient Israelite culture, names carried significant meaning and often reflected parental hopes or theological convictions. A name like Malkiel, affirming God as king, placed the individual within a community defined by covenant relationship with Yahweh. Its appearance solely in genealogies underscores the importance of lineage, tribal identity, and the inheritance of promises within the covenant people. Elimelech (ʼĔlîmeleḵ, H458) — Means 'my God is king'; a different order of the same core elements. Malchijah (Malkîyâh, H4441) — Means 'Yahweh is king'; uses the divine name Yahweh instead of El.
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]