Lexical Summary
mamlakah: Kingdom, Dominion, Reign
Original Word:מַמְלָכָה
Part of Speech:Noun Feminine
Transliteration:mamlakah
Pronunciation:mam-lah-KAH
Phonetic Spelling:(mam-law-kaw')
KJV: kingdom, king's, reign, royal
NASB:kingdom, kingdoms, royal, reign, dominion, rule, sovereignty
Word Origin:[fromH4427 (מָלַך - To reign)]
1. dominion
2. (abstractly) the estate (rule)
3. (concretely) the country (realm)
Strong's Exhaustive Concordance
kingdom, king's, reign, royal
Frommalak; dominion, i.e. (abstractly) the estate (rule) or (concretely) the country (realm) -- kingdom, king's, reign, royal.
see HEBREWmalak
NAS Exhaustive Concordance
Word Originfrom the same as
melekDefinitionkingdom, sovereignty, dominion, reign
NASB Translationdominion (1), kingdom (58), kingdoms (48), reign (2), royal (6), rule (1), sovereignty (1).
Brown-Driver-Briggs
; — absolute
Joshua 10:2 +; construct
Exodus 19:6 11t. (including
Micah 4:8 before ); suffix
Genesis 20:9 +, etc.; plural
Deuteronomy 3:21 +; construct
Deuteronomy 28:25 +; —
kingdom, realm, chiefly non-Israel:Genesis 10:10 (J),Genesis 20:9 (E),Numbers 32:33 (twice in verse) (P),Deuteronomy 3:4,10,13,21;Deuteronomy 28:25;Joshua 11:10 (D),1 Samuel 10:18;1 Kings 5:1;1 Kings 10:20;1 Kings 18:10 (twice in verse) (both "" ),Isaiah 10:10;1 Chronicles 16:20 =Psalm 105:13 ("" and ),Psalm 135:11;Isaiah 14:16;Isaiah 19:2 (twice in verse);Isaiah 23:11; 2Chronicles 9:19; 2 Chronicles 14:4; 2 Chronicles 29:21; 32:15 ("" ),Nehemiah 9:22 ("" ,Psalm 46:7 ("" ),Psalm 79:6 (""id.),Psalm 102:23 ("" ,Isaiah 60:12 ("" ), soJeremiah 1:10;Jeremiah 18:7,9;Jeremiah 27:8;Jeremiah 28:8;Jeremiah 49:28;Jeremiah 51:20,27;Amos 6:2;Nahum 3:5;Zephaniah 3:8;Haggai 2:22;Ezekiel 17:14;Ezekiel 29:14,15;Ezekiel 37:22; 2Chronicles 20:6, compareIsaiah 13:4;2 Kings 19:15,19 =Isaiah 37:16,20; 2Chronicles 36:23 =Ezra 1:2;Psalm 68:33;Isaiah 23:17;Jeremiah 15:4;Jeremiah 24:9;Jeremiah 25:26;Jeremiah 29:18;Jeremiah 34:1,17;1 Chronicles 29:30; 2Chronicles 12:8; 17:10; 20:29; of IsraelAmos 9:8;Deuteronomy 17:20;2 Samuel 3:28;Lamentations 2:2; 2Chronicles 21:4; compareExodus 19:6 ("" ); of Messianic kingIsaiah 9:6; (of Babylon)Isaiah 13:19, (id.)Isaiah 47:5;Jeremiah 1:15.
sovereignty, dominion1 Samuel 13:14 (Israel; with ), compare1 Samuel 24:21; 2Chronicles 13:8 ;1 Chronicles 29:11;2 Kings 14:5; 2Chronicles 25:32 Kings 15:19 compare 2 Chronicles 22:9; (subject )1 Samuel 13:13 (Israel), compare2 Samuel 7:12,16 ("" ); 2 Chronicles 17:5 () compare1 Kings 2:46 (); (subject )2 Samuel 5:12; (subject ) 2 Chronicles 13:5, compare 2 Chronicles 21:3; (subject )1 Samuel 28:17 (Israel),1 Kings 11:11 (followed by ),1 Kings 11:31;1 Kings 14:8; omitted1 Kings 11:13;1 Kings 11:34 (or =kingdom ?), (subject ),2 Samuel 3:10 (Israel);Isaiah 17:3; compare1 Kings 12:26;Micah 4:8; 2Chronicles 11:1;Deuteronomy 17:18 (Israel; ),2 Samuel 7:13 (),1 Kings 9:5 () 2 Chronicles 23:20,Haggai 2:22;royal houseAmos 7:13;royal citiesJoshua 10:2 compare1 Samuel 27:5;royal seed, children,2 Kings 11:1 2Chronicles 22:10.
reign,Jeremiah 27:1;Jeremiah 28:1in the beginning of the reign of (compare
, ).
Topical Lexicon
Concept and Range of Meaningמַמְלָכָה (mamlākhāh) denotes a realm ruled by a king, the authority exercised within that realm, and, by extension, the people who belong to it. The term can describe divine reign, Israel’s united or divided monarchy, the domains of foreign powers, or anticipated future rule. Because it gathers together ideas of territory, authority, covenant, and hope, the word forms a central thread that runs through the entire biblical narrative.
Occurrences and Literary Distribution
Approximately one hundred seventeen occurrences span every major section of the Old Testament:
• Pentateuch – Origins of covenantal kingship
• Historical Books – Rise, division, and fall of Israelite monarchy
• Wisdom and Psalms – Praise of the LORD’s everlasting dominion
• Prophets – Oracles against human kingdoms and promises of an eternal kingdom
Foundational Text:Exodus 19:6
Before Israel ever asked for a human king, the LORD declared, “you shall be to Me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation” (Exodus 19:6). Here mamlākhāh is linked with priesthood and holiness, showing that God’s purpose for His people was to mediate His rule to the nations.
Mamlākhāh in the Historical Narrative
1. Conquest and Settlement – Israel inherited territories wrested from the “kingdom of Sihon” and the “kingdom of Og” (Numbers 32:33), illustrating that earthly realms rise and fall at God’s command.
2. United Monarchy – Saul’s disobedience resulted in the verdict, “The LORD has sought out a man after His own heart and appointed him ruler over His people, because you have not kept what the LORD commanded” (1 Samuel 13:14). David recognized the divine origin of his rule: “David realized that the LORD had established him as king over Israel and had exalted his kingdom for the sake of His people Israel” (2 Samuel 5:12).
3. Divided Monarchy – After Solomon, the kingdom split (1 Kings 12). Prophets traced the eventual exile to covenant infidelity, yet insisted the promise of an enduring kingdom would not fail (2 Samuel 7:16;2 Kings 17:21-23).
Poetic Meditations on the Divine Kingdom
Psalms celebrates God’s universal reign:
• “For kingship belongs to the LORD, and He rules over the nations.” (Psalm 22:28)
• “Your throne, O God, endures forever and ever; justice is the scepter of Your kingdom.” (Psalm 45:6)
• “The LORD has established His throne in heaven, and His kingdom rules over all.” (Psalm 103:19)
Such texts affirm that every human mamlākhāh exists under the greater, unshakable sovereignty of Yahweh.
Prophetic Usage: Judgment and Hope
1. Judgment on Proud Kingdoms – Isaiah, Jeremiah, Ezekiel, Amos, and Obadiah pronounce doom on the kingdoms of Assyria, Babylon, Edom, Moab, and others, underscoring that “the LORD of Hosts has purposed, and who will annul it? His hand is stretched out, and who can turn it back?” (Isaiah 14:27).
2. Promise of the Messianic Kingdom – “Of the increase of His government and peace there will be no end… over His kingdom to establish and sustain it with justice and righteousness from that time and forevermore” (Isaiah 9:7). Daniel foresees a kingdom “that will never be destroyed” which God Himself will set up (Daniel 2:44; 7:27).Micah 4:8 anticipates restoration: “to you it will come — the former dominion will come, the kingdom of Daughter Jerusalem.”
Covenant and Kingdom
The Davidic covenant (2 Samuel 7) binds mamlākhāh to God’s oath that a descendant of David would possess an everlasting throne. The exile appeared to nullify this promise, but the prophets insisted God’s steadfast love would preserve the royal line, preparing the way for the New Testament revelation of Jesus Christ as the rightful heir (Luke 1:32-33).
Continuity into the New Testament
While מַמְלָכָה itself does not occur in the Greek Scriptures, its theological substance carries over in basileia. Jesus announces, “The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand” (Mark 1:15). The Petrine and Pauline writings describe believers as “a royal priesthood” (1 Peter 2:9), echoingExodus 19:6 and showing that the church participates even now in God’s covenant kingdom while awaiting its consummation.
Ministry Implications
1. Gospel Proclamation – The good news centers on the arrival, through Christ, of the kingdom promised in the Old Testament.
2. Discipleship – Believers live under divine authority, manifesting kingdom ethics in justice, mercy, and holiness.
3. Mission – The church, like Israel, is called to be a kingdom of priests, mediating God’s blessing to the nations.
4. Eschatological Hope – Confidence in God’s unshakeable mamlākhāh fortifies the church amid political upheaval, for “His kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and His dominion endures through all generations” (Psalm 145:13).
Summary
מַמְלָכָה threads together the Bible’s account of creation, covenant, monarchy, exile, and redemption. It reminds God’s people that every earthly rule is provisional, every national glory temporary, and every promise of enduring peace finds its fulfillment in the sovereign reign of the Lord and His Anointed King.
Forms and Transliterations
בְּמַמְלָכָֽה׃ בַּמַּמְלָכָה֙ בממלכה בממלכה׃ הַמַּמְלְכ֣וֹת הַמַּמְלָכ֔וֹת הַמַּמְלָכ֣וֹת הַמַּמְלָכ֥וֹת הַמַּמְלָכָ֑ה הַמַּמְלָכָ֔ה הַמַּמְלָכָ֖ה הַמַּמְלָכָ֛ה הַמַּמְלָכָ֥ה הַמַּמְלָכָֽה׃ הַמַּמְלָכָה֙ הַמַּמְלָכוֹת֙ הממלכה הממלכה׃ הממלכות וְהַמַּמְלָכָ֗ה וְהַמַּמְלָכָ֛ה וְהַמַּמְלָכָ֥ה וּ֝מַמְלָכ֗וֹת וּֽלְמַמְלְכ֣וֹת וּמִמַּמְלָכָ֖ה וּמַֽמְלַכְתְּךָ֛ וּמַמְלַכְתִּ֛י וּמַמְלָכ֖וֹת וּמַמְלָכָ֔ה וּמַמְלָכָ֥ה וּמַמְלָכָה֙ והממלכה ולממלכות וממלכה וממלכות וממלכתי וממלכתך ומממלכה לְמַמְלְכֹ֖ת לְמַמְלָכָֽה׃ לממלכה׃ לממלכת מִ֝מַּמְלָכָ֗ה מַֽמְלַכְתְּךָ֛ מַמְלְכ֣וֹת מַמְלְכ֤וֹת מַמְלְכ֥וֹת מַמְלֶ֔כֶת מַמְלֶ֖כֶת מַמְלֶ֙כֶת֙ מַמְלֶ֛כֶת מַמְלֶ֣כֶת מַמְלֶ֤כַת מַמְלֶ֥כֶת מַמְלַכְתְּךָ֣ מַמְלַכְתִּ֖י מַמְלַכְתּ֑וֹ מַמְלַכְתּ֔וֹ מַמְלַכְתּ֖וֹ מַמְלַכְתּ֛וֹ מַמְלַכְתּֽוֹ׃ מַמְלַכְתּוֹ֙ מַמְלָכ֑וֹת מַמְלָכ֔וֹת מַמְלָכ֖וֹת מַמְלָכ֗וֹת מַמְלָכ֣וֹת מַמְלָכָ֑ה מַמְלָכָ֖ה מַמְלָכָ֣ה מַמְלָכָ֥ה מַמְלָכָ֧ה מַמְלָכָֽה׃ מַמְלָכֽוֹת׃ מַמְלָכוֹת֙ ממלכה ממלכה׃ ממלכות ממלכות׃ ממלכת ממלכתו ממלכתו׃ ממלכתי ממלכתך מממלכה bam·mam·lā·ḵāh bammamlaChah bammamlāḵāh bə·mam·lā·ḵāh bemamlaChah bəmamlāḵāh ham·mam·lā·ḵāh ham·mam·lā·ḵō·wṯ ham·mam·lə·ḵō·wṯ hammamlaChah hammamlaChot hammamlāḵāh hammamlāḵōwṯ hammamleChot hammamləḵōwṯ lə·mam·lā·ḵāh lə·mam·lə·ḵōṯ lemamlaChah ləmamlāḵāh lemamleChot ləmamləḵōṯ mam·lā·ḵāh mam·lā·ḵō·wṯ mam·laḵ·tə·ḵā mam·laḵ·tî mam·laḵ·tōw mam·le·ḵaṯ mam·le·ḵeṯ mam·lə·ḵō·wṯ mamlaChah mamlaChot mamlachteCha mamlachTi mamlachTo mamlāḵāh mamlāḵōwṯ mamlaḵtəḵā mamlaḵtî mamlaḵtōw mamLechat mamLechet mamleChot mamleḵaṯ mamleḵeṯ mamləḵōwṯ mim·mam·lā·ḵāh mimamlaChah mimmamlāḵāh O ū·lə·mam·lə·ḵō·wṯ ū·mam·lā·ḵāh ū·mam·lā·ḵō·wṯ ū·mam·laḵ·tə·ḵā ū·mam·laḵ·tî ū·mim·mam·lā·ḵāh ulemamleChot ūləmamləḵōwṯ umamlaChah umamlaChot umamlachteCha umamlachTi ūmamlāḵāh ūmamlāḵōwṯ ūmamlaḵtəḵā ūmamlaḵtî umimamlaChah ūmimmamlāḵāh vehammamlaChah wə·ham·mam·lā·ḵāh wəhammamlāḵāh
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