Lexical Summary
melakah: Work, occupation, craftsmanship, service
Original Word:מְלָאכָה
Part of Speech:Noun Feminine
Transliteration:mla'kah
Pronunciation:meh-lah-KAH
Phonetic Spelling:(mel-aw-kaw')
KJV: business, + cattle, + industrious, occupation, (+ -pied), + officer, thing (made), use, (manner of) work((-man), -manship)
NASB:work, workmen, anything, business, craftsmanship, property, service
Word Origin:[from the same asH4397 (מַלאָך - angel)]
1. (properly) deputyship, i.e. ministry
2. (generally) employment (never servile)
3. (abstractly or concretely) work
4. (as the result of labor) property
Strong's Exhaustive Concordance
business, cattle, industrious, occupation, officer, manner of workman,
From the same asmal'ak; properly, deputyship, i.e. Ministry; generally, employment (never servile) or work (abstractly or concretely); also property (as the result of labor) -- business, + cattle, + industrious, occupation, (+ -pied), + officer, thing (made), use, (manner of) work((-man), -manship).
see HEBREWmal'ak
NAS Exhaustive Concordance
Word Originfrom the same as
malakDefinitionoccupation, work
NASB Translationanything (4), article made (1), business (4), cattle (1), craftsmanship (3), details (1), duties (1), everything* (1), industrious* (1), laborer (1), material (1), occupation (1), performed (1), project (1), property (2), purpose (1), service (2), something (1), supplies (1), task (2), use (2), used (2), work (118), workers (1), workmanship (1), workmen (5), workmen* (5), works (1).
Brown-Driver-Briggs
167 (for *; compare Phoenician
labour) —
Exodus 12:16 102t.; 2Chronicles 13:10; construct
Exodus 35:24 42t.; suffix
Jonah 1:8;
Exodus 20:9 2t.;
Genesis 2:2 13t.; plural construct
1 Chronicles 28:19; suffix
Psalm 73:28; —
occupation, business,what is thy occupationJonah 1:8; business of a stewardGenesis 39:11 (J); diligent in businessProverbs 22:29; slack in businessProverbs 18:9.
property in which one is occupied,his neighbour's propertyExodus 22:7;Exodus 22:10 (E); possessions of herds and flocksGenesis 33:14 (J),1 Samuel 15:9 (compare );great property2Chronicles 17:13.
work as something done or made:
Genesis 2:2 (twice in verse);Genesis 2:3 (P), in judgmentJeremiah 50:25, in GeneralPsalm 73:28.
,leather-workLeviticus 13:48,51 (P),work in the field1 Chronicles 27:26; in buildingProverbs 24:27 +, the walls of JerusalemNehemiah 4:5 +, making the tabernacle and its furnitureExodus 36:2 +, the temple1 Kings 5:30 +; work of the potterJeremiah 18:3, of the seamanPsalm 107:23, of the Levites1 Chronicles 26:29, of priests in the sacrifices 2Chronicles 29:34; phrase of P,Exodus 35:24;Exodus 36:1,3;Leviticus 23:7,8,21,25,35,36;Numbers 28:18,25,26;Numbers 29:1,12,35 also1 Chronicles 9:13;1 Chronicles 9:19;1 Chronicles 28:13;1 Chronicles 28:20; 2Chron 24:12;1 Chronicles 23:24;Exodus 36:5 (P); compare the phraseworkmenEzra 3:9;Nehemiah 2:16;1 Kings 5:30;1 Kings 9:23 +;any work forbidden on the SabbathExodus 20:9,10;Leviticus 23:3 (P)Deuteronomy 5:13,14;Jeremiah 17:22,24; on holy convocationsExodus 12:16;Leviticus 16:29;Leviticus 23:28,30,31;Numbers 29:7 (P).
workmanship,in every kind of workmanship, phrase of P:Exodus 31:3,5;Exodus 35:29,31,33,35; and Chronicles:1 Chronicles 22:15;1 Chronicles 28:21;1 Chronicles 29:5;1 Kings 7:14.
service, useLeviticus 7:24;Leviticus 11:32;Judges 16:11;Ezekiel 28:13.
public business:
political1 Kings 11:28;1 Chronicles 29:6;Daniel 8:27;Esther 3:9;Esther 9:3.
religious, putting away foreign wivesEzra 10:13;1 Chronicles 26:30;Exodus 36:4;Exodus 38:24 (P),1 Chronicles 6:34;Exodus 35:21 (P),1 Chronicles 23:4;Ezra 3:8;Ezra 6:22;Nehemiah 10:34;Nehemiah 11:22.
Topical Lexicon
Scope and Semantic Rangeמְלָאכָה (melakhah) embraces the entire sphere of purposeful human activity—work, craftsmanship, service, business, or occupation. Of its roughly 167 attestations, the Torah furnishes the largest share, followed by the Historical Books, Wisdom Literature, and Prophets. Context determines whether the term points to manual labor, skilled artistry, administrative duty, or any deliberate task undertaken for a goal.
Melakhah and Divine Work
Creation sets the pattern: “By the seventh day God completed His work that He had done, and He rested on the seventh day from all His work” (Genesis 2:2). God’s finished melakhah becomes the theological basis for Israel’s rhythm of labor and rest. Human work is thus portrayed as derivative, dignified, and accountable before its Creator.
Sabbath and Sacred Times
The word appears most frequently in prohibitions marking holy days. The Decalogue frames weekly labor within divine limits: “Six days you shall labor and do all your work, but the seventh day is a Sabbath to the LORD your God; on it you shall do no work” (Exodus 20:9-10). Similar language governs Passover and the other appointed feasts (Exodus 12:16;Leviticus 23:7-8, 21, 25, 28, 35-36;Numbers 28:25). The link between melakhah and rest underscores God’s concern for worship, family, servants, foreigners, and even livestock (Deuteronomy 5:13-14).
Sabbath violations draw sharp warnings. Jeremiah urges Jerusalem: “Do not carry a load out of your houses or do any work on the Sabbath Day” (Jeremiah 17:22; cf. 17:27). Nehemiah enforces the same standard after the exile (Nehemiah 13:15-21). The episode of the man gathering sticks (Numbers 15:32-36) illustrates the seriousness of transgressing the melakhah boundary.
Tabernacle and Temple Construction
Melakhah frequently denotes the skilled craftsmanship dedicated to sanctuary building. Free-will offerings were brought “for every kind of work that the LORD had commanded to be done through Moses” (Exodus 35:21, 24, 29). Bezalel and Oholiab are “filled with wisdom… to perform all kinds of craftsmanship” (Exodus 36:1). The narrative highlights organized labor, Spirit-endowed skill, and willing hearts, showing that sacred architecture is both worship and work.
Later, David commissions Solomon: “Be strong and do the work” (1 Chronicles 28:20). Solomon appoints 250 officials “who ruled over the people doing the work” (2 Chronicles 8:10). Restoration eras echo the theme: Joash’s reforms (2 Chronicles 24:12-13) and Hezekiah’s priests “were too few, so their brothers the Levites helped them until the work was finished” (2 Chronicles 29:34).
Royal and Civic Administration
Beyond construction, melakhah signifies governmental oversight. Solomon’s labor force for the palace and temple is described as “over the work of the king” (1 Kings 5:30;1 Kings 9:23). The term also covers the logistical tasks of war and city defense (Nehemiah 4:16-19) and the rebuilding strategy when threats arose: “I am doing a great work and cannot come down” (Nehemiah 6:3).
Personal Vocation and Craftsmanship
Wisdom texts apply melakhah to everyday livelihood. Proverbs counsels diligence: “Prepare your work outside; make it ready in the field” (Proverbs 24:27). Ecclesiastes reflects on life’s brevity: “Whatever your hand finds to do, do it with all your might” (Ecclesiastes 9:10). These passages affirm the goodness of industry while warning against idleness (Proverbs 14:23).
Consequences of Neglecting God’s Pattern of Work and Rest
Prophetic indictments against Judah’s Sabbath-breaking (Jeremiah 17;Ezekiel 20:12-13) and unjust labor practices (Amos 8:5) reveal how melakhah, when detached from covenant obedience, becomes oppression. Judgment falls not on work itself but on work pursued without regard for holiness, justice, and mercy.
Typological and Theological Insights
The cessation of melakhah on the seventh day foreshadows the ultimate rest secured by Christ (Hebrews 4:9-10). His declaration, “It is finished” (John 19:30), echoes the completed melakhah ofGenesis 2, inviting believers into a Sabbath rest that reshapes their labor now: “always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain” (1 Corinthians 15:58).
Practical Ministry Application
1. Work as Worship: Scripture elevates every legitimate task to priestly service when done unto the Lord (Colossians 3:23).
2. Rhythm of Rest: Congregational life should honor the principle of periodic cessation, modeling trust in God’s provision.
3. Vocational Discipleship: Equipping believers to steward gifts—administrative, artistic, technical—reflects the Tabernacle pattern of Spirit-empowered craftsmanship.
4. Social Justice: Fair labor practices and Sabbath consideration for employees bear witness to God’s character.
5. Eschatological Hope: Faithful melakhah anticipates the new creation, where “His servants will serve Him” (Revelation 22:3), combining worship and work in perfect harmony.
Thus, מְלָאכָה weaves through Scripture as a thread linking God’s creative act, Israel’s covenant life, and the Church’s calling, affirming that meaningful labor, rightly ordered under divine authority, reflects both the dignity and destiny of the people of God.
Forms and Transliterations
בִּמְלֶ֜אכֶת בִּמְלֶ֣אכֶת בִּמְלֶ֥אכֶת בִּמְלַאכְתּ֖וֹ בִּמְלַאכְתּ֗וֹ בִּמְלַאכְתּֽוֹ׃ בִמְלַאכְתּ֑וֹ בַּמְּלָאכָ֑ה בַּמְּלָאכָ֗ה בַּמְּלָאכָֽה׃ בַּמְּלָאכָה֒ בַּמְלָֽאכֶת׃ בַמְּלָאכָ֔ה במלאכה במלאכה׃ במלאכת במלאכת׃ במלאכתו במלאכתו׃ הַמְּלָאכָ֑ה הַמְּלָאכָ֔ה הַמְּלָאכָ֖ה הַמְּלָאכָ֗ה הַמְּלָאכָ֛ה הַמְּלָאכָ֤ה הַמְּלָאכָ֥ה הַמְּלָאכָֽה׃ הַמְּלָאכָה֒ הַמְּלָאכָה֙ המלאכה המלאכה׃ וְהַמְּלָאכָ֗ה וְהַמְּלָאכָ֣ה וּמְלָאכָ֥ה והמלאכה ומלאכה לִמְלֶ֛אכֶת לִמְלֶ֨אכֶת לִמְלַאכְתּ֑וֹ לִמְלַאכְתּֽוֹ׃ לִמְלָאכָ֑ה לִמְלָאכָֽה׃ לַמְּלָאכָ֑ה לַמְּלָאכָ֔ה לַמְּלָאכָ֖ה לַמְּלָאכָ֤ה למלאכה למלאכה׃ למלאכת למלאכתו למלאכתו׃ מְ֝לָאכָ֗ה מְּלַאכְתְּךָ֙ מְלֶ֖אכֶת מְלֶ֙אכֶת֙ מְלֶ֣אכֶת מְלֶ֥אכֶת מְלֶ֨אכֶת מְלַאכְתֶּ֗ךָ מְלַאכְתֶּֽךָ֒ מְלַאכְתֶּֽךָ֒׃ מְלַאכְתּ֑וֹ מְלַאכְתּ֔וֹ מְלַאכְתּ֖וֹ מְלַאכְתּֽוֹ׃ מְלָאכָ֑ה מְלָאכָ֔ה מְלָאכָ֖ה מְלָאכָ֛ה מְלָאכָ֜ה מְלָאכָ֡֜ה מְלָאכָ֡ה מְלָאכָ֣ה מְלָאכָ֤ה מְלָאכָֽה׃ מְלָאכָה֒ מְלָאכָה֙ מִמְּלַאכְתּ֖וֹ מַלְאֲכ֥וֹת מַלְאֲכוֹתֶֽיךָ׃ מלאכה מלאכה׃ מלאכות מלאכותיך׃ מלאכת מלאכתו מלאכתו׃ מלאכתך מלאכתך׃ ממלאכתו bam·lā·ḵeṯ bam·mə·lā·ḵāh ḇam·mə·lā·ḵāh bamLachet bamlāḵeṯ bammelaChah bamməlāḵāh ḇamməlāḵāh bim·laḵ·tōw ḇim·laḵ·tōw bim·le·ḵeṯ bimlachTo bimlaḵtōw ḇimlaḵtōw bimLechet bimleḵeṯ ham·mə·lā·ḵāh hammelaChah hamməlāḵāh lam·mə·lā·ḵāh lammelaChah lamməlāḵāh lim·lā·ḵāh lim·laḵ·tōw lim·le·ḵeṯ limlaChah limlachTo limlāḵāh limlaḵtōw limLechet limleḵeṯ mal’ăḵōwṯ mal’ăḵōwṯeḵā mal·’ă·ḵō·w·ṯe·ḵā mal·’ă·ḵō·wṯ malaChot malachoTeicha mə·lā·ḵāh mə·laḵ·te·ḵā mə·laḵ·tə·ḵā mə·laḵ·tōw mə·le·ḵeṯ melaChah melachteCha melachTo məlāḵāh məlaḵteḵā məlaḵtəḵā məlaḵtōw meLechet məleḵeṯ mim·mə·laḵ·tōw mimelachTo mimməlaḵtōw ū·mə·lā·ḵāh umelaChah ūməlāḵāh vammelaChah vehammelaChah vimlachTo wə·ham·mə·lā·ḵāh wəhamməlāḵāh
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