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melech

Melech (Hebrew: מֶלֶךְ) is the Hebrew word for "king." In English transliteration it is often written as melekh or melek, with the common modern spelling melekh. The feminine form for queen is malka. The plural of melech is melekim or malakhim, depending on transliteration, and the root conveys sovereignty or rule.

Etymology and cognates: Melech comes from the Northwest Semitic root mlk, associated with ruling or sovereignty.

Usage in Hebrew Bible: In the Hebrew Bible, melekh is used primarily as a title for rulers—kings

Modern usage and cultural context: In modern Hebrew, melekh remains the standard term for a king and

See also: Melek, Malka, Malik, Melekh Ha-olam.

Related
terms
appear
in
other
Semitic
languages,
such
as
Akkadian
malāk
(“to
rule”)
and
Arabic
malik
or
malika
for
king
and
queen,
respectively.
These
cognates
reflect
a
shared
linguistic
heritage
across
ancient
Near
Eastern
languages.
of
Israel,
Judah,
and
other
nations.
It
denotes
temporal
authority
rather
than
a
personal
name,
though
the
term
can
appear
in
phrases
naming
a
ruler,
such
as
“melech
Yisra’el”
(the
king
of
Israel).
The
word
appears
frequently
in
prophetic
and
historical
books
and
forms
part
of
religious
expressions
like
“Melekh
Olam”
(the
King
of
the
World)
in
liturgy.
is
used
in
historical,
literary,
and
religious
contexts.
In
liturgy,
phrases
such
as
“Melekh
Olam”
appear
in
prayers
and
blessings.
The
word
also
appears
as
a
given
name
in
some
Jewish
and
other
communities,
where
it
may
function
as
a
masculine
name
or
as
part
of
biblical
or
honorific
naming
traditions.