מֶלֶךְ
Melech
King, ruler, sovereign
Melech (מֶלֶךְ) is a Hebrew word meaning “king, ruler, sovereign,” pronounced “MEH-lekh.” Derived from the root מ-ל-כ, melech appears 2,523 times in the Hebrew Bible (Strong's H4428).
| Hebrew | מֶלֶךְ |
|---|---|
| Transliteration | Melech |
| Pronunciation | MEH-lekh |
| Meaning | King, ruler, sovereign |
| Root Letters | מ-ל-כ |
| Occurrences in Hebrew Bible | 2,523× |
| Key Verse | Psalm 24:7 |
| Strong's Number | H4428 |
| Category | Covenant & Theology |
Every Hebrew blessing begins with 'Baruch Atah Adonai, Eloheinu Melech HaOlam' — 'Blessed are You, LORD our God, King of the Universe.' The word melech (מֶלֶךְ) — king — is spoken by Jewish people dozens of times daily, embedded in the fabric of worship. But the story of kingship in the Bible is surprisingly complex. God was meant to be Israel's only melech. When the people demanded a human king 'like all the other nations' (1 Samuel 8:5), God told Samuel it was a rejection of divine kingship. Yet God worked through the flawed institution of human monarchy to reveal His ultimate plan: an eternal King from David's line. The promise of 2 Samuel 7:16 — 'Your throne shall be established forever' — is the seed of the Messianic hope. Every subsequent king was measured against David, and every one fell short. The prophets looked forward to a King who would finally get it right: a righteous branch from David's line (Jeremiah 23:5), a ruler from Bethlehem (Micah 5:2), a King who would ride into Jerusalem on a donkey (Zechariah 9:9). When Jesus rode into Jerusalem on Palm Sunday, the crowds shouted, 'Blessed is the King who comes in the name of the Lord!' (Luke 19:38). The irony of the cross is that Pilate wrote 'King of the Jews' as mockery — but it was the most accurate political statement ever made. Melech is not just a title; it is the destiny of Jesus and the hope of the world.
Key Bible Verse: Psalm 24:7
“Lift up your heads, O gates! And be lifted up, O ancient doors, that the King (Melech) of glory may come in.”
What Is the Root of Melech in Hebrew?
Melech comes from the root מ-ל-כ (mem-lamed-kaf), meaning 'to reign, to rule.' The related words 'malkut' (kingdom), 'malchut' (sovereignty), and 'malchah' (queen) all derive from this root. 'Malchut shamayim' (kingdom of heaven) is the central concept of Jesus' teaching.
What Does Melech Mean in the Bible?
Melech appears over 2,500 times in the Hebrew Bible — one of the most frequent words. It refers to human kings (Saul, David, Solomon), God as King (Psalm 24:7-10; 47:7; Isaiah 6:5), pagan kings (Pharaoh, Nebuchadnezzar), and the coming Messianic King (Zechariah 9:9; Jeremiah 23:5). The book of Kings (Melachim) traces the rise and fall of Israel's monarchy.
How Is Melech Used in Modern Hebrew?
The phrase 'Melech HaMashiach' (King Messiah) is central to Jewish messianic expectation. In the Aleinu prayer, recited three times daily, Jews declare God as the ultimate Melech. Many Jewish last names derive from melech: Melchior, Malkin, Elimelech. The Hebrew greeting to a Bar Mitzvah boy is sometimes 'Mazel Tov, you are now a ben melech' (son of the King).
How to Use Melech in Prayer & Worship
Declare 'Adonai Melech' — 'The LORD is King' — over every area of your life. Surrender your plans, fears, and ambitions to His sovereignty. The same God who orchestrated the rise and fall of empires is the Melech who reigns over your circumstances.
Frequently Asked Questions About Melech
How do you say “King” in Hebrew?
“King” in Hebrew is Melech (מֶלֶךְ), pronounced “MEH-lekh.” Melech comes from the root מ-ל-כ (mem-lamed-kaf), meaning 'to reign, to rule.' The related words 'malkut' (kingdom), 'malchut' (sovereignty), and 'malchah' (queen) all derive from this root. 'Malchut shamayim' (kingdom of heaven) is the central concept of Jesus' teaching.
What does Melech mean in the Bible?
Melech (מֶלֶךְ) means “King, ruler, sovereign” in Biblical Hebrew. Melech appears over 2,500 times in the Hebrew Bible — one of the most frequent words. It refers to human kings (Saul, David, Solomon), God as King (Psalm 24:7-10; 47:7; Isaiah 6:5), pagan kings (Pharaoh, Nebuchadnezzar), and the coming Messianic King (Zechariah 9:9; Jeremiah 23:5). The book of Kings (Melachim) traces the rise and fall of Israel's monarchy.
How do you pronounce Melech?
Melech is pronounced “MEH-lekh.” The word comes from the Hebrew root מ-ל-כ.
Why did God not want Israel to have a human king?
When Israel demanded a king in 1 Samuel 8, God told Samuel: 'They have not rejected you, but they have rejected Me from being king over them' (8:7). God's original design was theocracy — direct divine rule. A human king introduced a mediator between God and the people, and God warned about the costs: taxation, conscription, and loss of freedom (8:11-18). Yet God graciously worked through kingship to reveal the Messiah — the King who would perfectly unite divine and human rule.
What does 'Melech HaOlam' mean?
'Melech HaOlam' (מֶלֶךְ הָעוֹלָם) means 'King of the Universe' or 'King of Eternity.' It appears in nearly every Jewish blessing: 'Blessed are You, LORD our God, King of the Universe, who...' This phrase acknowledges God's sovereignty over all creation and all time. Jesus' frequent teaching about the 'Kingdom of Heaven' (malchut shamayim) draws directly from this concept — God's kingship breaking into human reality.
How is Jesus the fulfillment of the Davidic King?
God promised David an eternal throne (2 Samuel 7:16). The prophets described a future Davidic King: born in Bethlehem (Micah 5:2), ruling with justice (Isaiah 11:1-5), bringing peace (Isaiah 9:6-7), and riding humbly on a donkey (Zechariah 9:9). Jesus fulfilled each prophecy: born in Bethlehem, descended from David (Matthew 1), entered Jerusalem on a donkey (Matthew 21:5), and was proclaimed King — even on the cross. His kingdom, unlike David's, will have no end (Luke 1:33).
Sources & Further Study
- Blue Letter Bible — H4428: Melech
- Bible Gateway — Psalm 24:7 (ESV)
- Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (BDB) — entry for מ-ל-כ
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