Lexical Summary
Milkah: Milcah
Original Word:מִלְכָּה
Part of Speech:Proper Name Feminine
Transliteration:Milkah
Pronunciation:MIL-kah
Phonetic Spelling:(mil-kaw')
KJV: Milcah
NASB:Milcah
Word Origin:[a form ofH4436 (מַלכָּה - Queen)]
1. queen
2. Milcah, the name of a Hebrewess and of an Israelite
Strong's Exhaustive Concordance
Milcah
A form ofmalkah; queen; Milcah, the name of a Hebrewess and of an Israelite -- Milcah.
see HEBREWmalkah
NAS Exhaustive Concordance
Word Originfrom the same as
melekDefinitiontwo Isr. women
NASB TranslationMilcah (11).
Brown-Driver-Briggs
(= ? Nö
ZMG xlii. 1888. 484 compare Phoenician proper name, of deities ; compare Gray
Prop. N. 116); —
Genesis 11:29 (twice in verse);Genesis 22:20,23;Genesis 24:15,24,47 (all J).
(of Manasseh),Numbers 26:33;Numbers 27:1;Numbers 36:11;Joshua 17:3 (all P). — Perhaps original town-name, Grayl.c.
Topical Lexicon
Identity and Etymological NoteMilcah appears in Scripture as a feminine personal name borne by two distinct women. Although the name carries royal connotations, the biblical focus rests on their covenantal roles rather than on lexical nuance.
Milcah, Wife of Nahor (Genesis 11–24)
1. Genealogical bridge. Milcah is introduced as the daughter of Haran and the wife of Abram’s brother, Nahor (Genesis 11:29). This places her at a pivotal point in the Terah family tree, linking Abram (Abraham) to later patriarchal events.
2. Instrumental in the provision of Rebekah. Her son Bethuel fathered Rebekah, Isaac’s bride. When Abraham’s servant prays for God’s guidance, Rebekah emerges from Milcah’s lineage, validating the servant’s conviction that “The LORD has made my journey a success” (Genesis 24:21). That success rests on Milcah’s earlier obedience to marry within Terah’s household, thereby preserving a covenant-minded line in Mesopotamia.
3. Testament to divine orchestration. The dual mention inGenesis 22:20, 22:23—reported immediately after the Mount Moriah narrative—highlights God’s meticulous preparation of Isaac’s future before the sacrifice account closes. Even the family of Milcah is marshaled to safeguard the promise.
Milcah, Daughter of Zelophehad (Numbers 26–Joshua 17)
1. Advocate of righteous inheritance. InNumbers 27:1–11, Milcah and her four sisters petition Moses and the elders so their father’s name “will not be lost from his clan” (Numbers 27:4). Their respectful yet resolute appeal leads God to declare, “What Zelophehad’s daughters say is right” (Numbers 27:7). Thus Milcah stands among the first recorded women to secure property rights in Israel, setting precedent for equitable treatment within covenant law.
2. Model of obedient faith. When later required to marry within their tribe to safeguard land boundaries, Milcah complies (Numbers 36:11). Her balance of bold initiative and submissive obedience embodies the harmony between individual responsibility and corporate unity.
3. Enduring memorial.Joshua 17:3 revisits Milcah and her sisters when land allotments are finalized, underscoring that God’s word through Moses came to pass. Their account certifies that divine promises, once spoken, remain active across generations.
Themes and Ministry Significance
• Covenant continuity through women. Both Milcahs provide essential links in redemptive history—one preserves the Messianic line by giving rise to Rebekah; the other safeguards tribal inheritance so Messianic geography remains intact. Their appearance at strategic narrative junctures reminds readers that God often advances His purposes through faithful women whose obedience is quietly woven into larger events.
• Prayer and providence. The servant’s encounter with Rebekah showcases interplay between earnest prayer and Milcah’s earlier motherhood (Genesis 24:12–15). Ministry application: believers can pray with confidence, knowing God has already arranged answers—sometimes generations in advance.
• Righteous petition and just leadership. Milcah the daughter of Zelophehad demonstrates godly advocacy. Her respectful challenge leads to clarified legislation, revealing that Spirit-filled leaders listen to sound petitions and adjust practice to conform to God’s revealed will. Churches today may glean principles for handling grievances, especially from marginalized voices, in a manner that honors both law and compassion.
• Inheritance as eschatological sign. Milcah’s secured allotment anticipates the believer’s guaranteed inheritance in Christ (Ephesians 1:14). Just as her claim was upheld before Moses, so the saints’ inheritance is upheld before the Father.
Intertextual Echoes
The name Milcah, bearing royal undertones, complements the promise that kings will come from Abraham’s line (Genesis 17:6). Though she herself never reigns, her descendants participate in the unfolding kingdom. Additionally, her association with land rights prefigures later prophetic assurances that “the meek will inherit the land” (Psalm 37:11).
Practical Reflections for Teaching and Discipleship
• Encourage women to recognize their God-given place in advancing His promises.
• Highlight the necessity of intergenerational faithfulness: today’s obedience positions tomorrow’s blessings.
• Emphasize lawful appeal: Milcah’s petitions were grounded in covenant statutes, offering a template for addressing injustice within ecclesial settings.
Summary
Across eleven Old Testament occurrences, מִלְכָּה (Milcah) signifies more than a proper name. She embodies God’s sovereignty in lineage and land, champions both prayerful dependence and courageous petition, and illustrates the secure inheritance awaiting all who walk in covenant fidelity.
Forms and Transliterations
וּמִלְכָּ֖ה וּמִלְכָּ֛ה ומלכה מִלְכָּ֑ה מִלְכָּ֔ה מִלְכָּ֕ה מִלְכָּ֖ה מִלְכָּ֥ה מלכה mil·kāh milKah milkāh ū·mil·kāh umilKah ūmilkāh
Links
Interlinear Greek •
Interlinear Hebrew •
Strong's Numbers •
Englishman's Greek Concordance •
Englishman's Hebrew Concordance •
Parallel Texts
