Lexical Summary
malach: To salt, to season with salt
Original Word:מָלַח
Part of Speech:Verb
Transliteration:malach
Pronunciation:mah-lakh'
Phonetic Spelling:(maw-lakh')
KJV: X at all, salt, season, temper together, vanish away
Word Origin:[a primitive root]
1. (properly) to rub to pieces or pulverize
2. (intransitively) to disappear as dust
3. (as denominative from H4417) to salt whether internally (to season with salt) or externally (to rub with salt)
Strong's Exhaustive Concordance
salt, season, temper together, vanish away
A primitive root; properly, to rub to pieces or pulverize; intransitively, to disappear as dust; also (as denominative frommelach) to salt whether internally (to season with salt) or externally (to rub with salt) -- X at all, salt, season, temper together, vanish away.
see HEBREWmelach
Brown-Driver-Briggs
I. [] , figurative (compare Arabic
pull out eye, tooth, &c.; especially Dozy
tear off branch to plant it, &c. so Ethiopic
evellere); —
be dispersed in fragments, dissipated, PerfectIsaiah 51:6.
III. [] ;
Imperfect2masculine singular followed by accusativeLeviticus 2:13 (object offering).
ParticipleExodus 30:35salted, i.e. the incense (see Di.)
Perfect2feminine singular +Infinitive absoluteEzekiel 16:4, i.e.rubbed orwashed with salt (of infant, in personification).
[] with accusative of congnate meaning with verb, ; —
Perfect1pluralEzra 4:14we have eaten the salt of the palace (so most), i.e. have assumed obligations of loyalty, compare M69* K§ 71, 2 (and Syriac
be intimate with PS2134); Str (after NesMM 30 f.) thinks noun with suffix:our salt is the salt of the palace.
Topical Lexicon
Meaning and ScopeThe verb מָלַח means “to salt” or “to season with salt.” In Scripture it always describes a deliberate act of applying salt in order to preserve, purify, dedicate, or heal. Because salt was universally recognized in the Ancient Near East as a cleansing agent and an incorruptible preservative, מָלַח naturally became a powerful symbol of permanence, loyalty, and covenant fidelity.
Old Testament Occurrences
1.Exodus 30:35 – The sacred incense for the tabernacle is to be “pure and holy, seasoned with salt.”
2.Leviticus 2:13 – “You shall season all your grain offerings with salt. You must not allow the salt of the covenant of your God to be lacking from your grain offering; add salt to all your offerings.”
3.Isaiah 51:6 – The earth is pictured as wearing out like a garment, in stark contrast to the enduring quality symbolized by salt.
4.Ezekiel 16:4 (twice) – Israel, depicted as an abandoned newborn, is shamed because she was “not rubbed with salt,” exposing her spiritual vulnerability and uncleanness.
Covenantal and Sacrificial Significance
Leviticus 2:13 explicitly links salt with “the covenant of your God.” Because salt resists decay and maintains the flavor of food, it fittingly represents the enduring, unalterable nature of the Lord’s promises. Each grain offering—along with the incense ofExodus 30—had to be salted, testifying that every act of worship rested on a steadfast covenant. When priests salted the offerings, they dramatized the truth that God’s relationship with His people cannot spoil or perish.
Ritual and Domestic Practices in Ancient Israel
• Newborns were customarily rubbed with salt (Ezekiel 16:4) to cleanse the skin, prevent infection, and symbolize acceptance into the family.
• Meat, fish, and even dairy products were salted for preservation, making salt a daily reminder of life-sustaining provision.
• Covenantal meals in the Ancient Near East often involved a “salt ceremony,” where parties shared salted bread to seal a treaty. Scripture assumes this cultural background when it speaks of “a covenant of salt” (Numbers 18:19;2 Chronicles 13:5).
Prophetic Imagery
Isaiah 51:6 contrasts the temporal world with the everlasting righteousness of God. The same chapter employs “wearing out” language opposite to the preserving power implied in מָלַח. The prophet thereby underscores that while creation will deteriorate, God’s salvation remains imperishable—just as salted offerings pointed to something enduring beyond physical decay.
Ezekiel 16:4 rebukes Jerusalem for forsaking the covenant. An unsalted infant was exposed to infection and shame; likewise, an unfaithful nation stood exposed to judgment. The absence of salt becomes a picture of spiritual neglect and covenantal abandonment.
Theological and Christological Insights
The verb מָלַח invites reflection on the Lord Jesus Christ, whose sacrifice fulfills and transcends the salted offerings. Just as salt ensured the purity and permanence of Old Testament sacrifices, the blood of Christ guarantees an incorruptible covenant (Hebrews 9:13-15). Furthermore, Jesus applies the imagery to His disciples: “You are the salt of the earth” (Matthew 5:13), calling believers to embody preserving influence and covenant faithfulness within a decaying world.
Practical Ministry Applications
1. Worship: Like Israel’s priests, believers today should offer service that is “seasoned” with purity and permanence, guarding against half-hearted or corrupted worship.
2. Discipleship: “Have salt among yourselves, and be at peace with one another” (Mark 9:50). Salting reflects steadfast relationships within the body of Christ.
3. Evangelism: A salted witness restrains moral decay and brings savor to society.Colossians 4:6 exhorts, “Let your speech always be gracious, seasoned with salt.”
4. Holiness: The unsalted infant of Ezekiel warns against spiritual complacency. Regular self-examination and confession keep believers from exposure to corruption.
New Testament Resonance
While מָלַח appears only in the Hebrew Scriptures, its theological thread runs straight into the New Testament:
•Matthew 5:13 – Christians function as preservers in a morally spoiling culture.
•Mark 9:49-50 – “Everyone will be salted with fire,” linking purification and sacrifice.
•Colossians 4:6 – Gracious speech must carry the cleansing, preserving quality of salt.
These texts assume the Old Testament background where salting signifies purity, permanence, and covenant loyalty.
Conclusion
Throughout Scripture, מָלַח serves as a vivid object lesson. Whether preserving food, purifying incense, dedicating offerings, or protecting newborns, the application of salt points beyond itself to God’s unchanging faithfulness and His desire for a holy, enduring relationship with His people. In Christ, the ultimate “salt covenant” has been ratified, calling every believer to a life and ministry characterized by steadfast purity, preserving influence, and covenantal devotion.
Forms and Transliterations
הֻמְלַ֔חַתְּ המלחת וְהָמְלֵ֙חַ֙ והמלח מְמֻלָּ֖ח ממלח נִמְלָ֙חוּ֙ נמלחו תִּמְלָח֒ תמלח hum·la·ḥat humLachat humlaḥat mə·mul·lāḥ memulLach məmullāḥ nim·lā·ḥū nimLachu nimlāḥū tim·lāḥ timLach timlāḥ vehameLeach wə·hā·mə·lê·aḥ wəhāməlêaḥ
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