Milcah

Milcah is a figure in the Hebrew Bible, known primarily as the wife of Nahor and the daughter of Haran. She is introduced in the Genesis genealogies as Nahor’s wife and the mother of Bethuel.

Through Bethuel, Milcah is the grandmother of Rebekah and Laban. Rebekah becomes the wife of Isaac, linking Milcah’s lineage to the patriarchal line of the Israelites. Laban, Rebekah’s brother, is the father of Leah and Rachel, who become the wives of Jacob. In this way, Milcah’s descendants play a significant role in the Genesis narrative, though Milcah herself appears only in genealogical references rather than as a central character.

Name and etymology as used in the text: Milcah (also rendered Milkah) is a Hebrew name. The exact meaning is not clearly established in biblical sources; some scholars suggest a possible connection to words meaning “queen” or “royalty,” but etymology remains uncertain.

In summary, Milcah’s importance lies in her position within the ancestral line of several key biblical figures rather than in narrative episodes attributed to her directly. She is cited to establish the genealogical connections that lead to the marriages and lineages central to the Genesis story. References to Milcah appear in the Genesis genealogies, particularly in relation to Nahor, Haran, Bethuel, Rebekah, and Laban.