Lexical Summary Moleketh: Queen, female ruler Original Word: מֹלֶכֶת Strong's Exhaustive Concordance Hammoleketh Feminine active participle of malak; queen; Moleketh, an Israelitess -- Hammoleketh (including the article). see HEBREW malak NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Originfrom the same as melek Definition an Isr. woman NASB Translation Hammolecheth (1). Brown-Driver-Briggs מֹ֫לֶכֶת proper name, feminine with article הַמֹּלֶ֑כֶת 1 Chronicles 7:18 (of Manasseh). ᵐ5 ἡ Μαλέχεθ, ᵐ5L Μελχαθ. Topical Lexicon Biblical SettingIn its sole appearance, מֹלֶכֶת stands as the proper feminine name “Hammolecheth.” “His sister Hammolecheth gave birth to Ishhod, Abiezer, and Mahlah” (1 Chronicles 7:18). The verse is nested in the Manassite genealogy (1 Chronicles 7:14-19), a list that traces the northern tribe’s clans from the patriarch Joseph through Manasseh and his son Machir. The notice about Hammolecheth is brief, yet it bridges two critical time-lines: the pre-monarchic period of the judges and the later settlement history recorded in Chronicles. Genealogical Importance 1. Maternal Link in a Patriarchal Line Chronicles rarely pauses for female names, but when it does, the women invariably mark strategic transitions (for example, Miriam in 1 Chronicles 4:17 or Shelomith in 2 Chronicles 24:22). Hammolecheth serves the same purpose: through her three sons she provides a distinct branch within the Manassite families. That the text says “sister” rather than “wife” indicates intentional emphasis—she is recognized independently, not merely as someone’s spouse. 2. Ancestress of the Abiezrites Abiezer becomes progenitor of the Abiezrite clan (Judges 6:11, 15; 8:32), from which the judge Gideon emerges. Thus, Hammolecheth is a matriarch behind one of Israel’s pivotal deliverers. Gideon’s later cry, “My clan is the weakest in Manasseh,” gains nuance when viewed against the royal flavor embedded in his ancestress’s name. Royal Connotations Derived from the root for “king,” the name carries the sense of “queen” or “royal lady.” Though Israel had no monarchy during the period described in Judges, the Chronicles compiler—writing after the rise and fall of Davidic kingship—reminds readers that royal vocabulary was already woven into tribal identities. Within Manasseh, Hammolecheth exemplifies a subtle foreshadowing: God can bring regal purpose from unexpected quarters, even from a woman mentioned only once. Foreshadowing Gospel Themes 1. Hidden yet Strategic Lines Just as Hammolecheth’s obscurity masks her future influence through Gideon, so the lineage of Jesus Christ flows through humble, sometimes overlooked figures (Matthew 1:5-6). The pattern underscores divine sovereignty over genealogies, validating Paul’s assertion that God “chose what is low and despised in the world” (compare 1 Corinthians 1:28). 2. Royal Identity of Believers The royal nuance of Hammolecheth’s name anticipates the believer’s standing in Christ: “You are a chosen people, a royal priesthood” (1 Peter 2:9). The Scriptures consistently tie regal language to covenant vocation, whether in a solitary mother in Manasseh or in the multinational church. Ministry Reflections • Value of Overlooked Servants: Hammolecheth’s brief mention invites pastors and teachers to highlight the hidden saints whose faithfulness ripples across generations. Related References 1 Chronicles 7:14-19; Judges 6:11-24; Judges 8:32; 1 Peter 2:9; 1 Corinthians 1:26-31. Forms and Transliterations הַמֹּלֶ֑כֶת המלכת ham·mō·le·ḵeṯ hammoLechet hammōleḵeṯLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance 1 Chronicles 7:18 HEB: וַאֲחֹת֖וֹ הַמֹּלֶ֑כֶת יָלְדָה֙ אֶת־ NAS: His sister Hammolecheth bore Ishhod KJV: And his sister Hammoleketh bare Ishod, INT: his sister Hammolecheth bore Ishhod 1 Occurrence |
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