Original Word: מַלְכוּ
Part of Speech: Noun Feminine
Transliteration: malkuw
Pronunciation: mal-KOO
Phonetic Spelling: (mal-koo')
KJV: kingdom, kingly, realm, reign
NASB: kingdom, realm, reign, sovereignty, kingdoms, royal, government affairs
Word Origin: [(Aramaic) corresponding to H4438 (מַלכּוּת מַלכּוּת מַלכּוּיָה - kingdom)]

1. dominion
{abstractly or concretely}

kingdom, kingly, realm, reign

(Aramaic) corresponding to malkuwth; dominion (abstractly or concretely) -- kingdom, kingly, realm, reign.

see HEBREW malkuwth

Word Origin
(Aramaic) corresponding to malkuth
Definition
royalty, reign, kingdom
NASB Translation
government affairs (1), kingdom (38), kingdoms (3), realm (4), reign (4), royal (3), sovereignty (4).

מַלְכוּ noun feminine royalty, reign, kingdom; — absolute ׳מ Daniel 2:39 +; construct מַלְכוּת Ezra 4:24 +; emphatic תָא- Daniel 2:37 +, תָה- Daniel 2:44; suffix תִי- Daniel 4:15 +, הֵתּ- Daniel 3:33 +, תָךְ- Daniel 4:23 +; plural construct מַלְכְוָת Daniel 7:27; emphatic וָתָא- Daniel 2:44; Daniel 7:23; —

1 royalty, kingship, kingly authority: Daniel 4:23; Daniel 4:28; Daniel 4:33; ׳הֵיכַל מ Daniel 4:26, ׳בֵּית מ Daniel 4:27, כָּרְסֵא Daniel 5:20.

2 organized (world-) kingdom: Daniel 2:39 (twice in verse); Daniel 2:40,41,42,44; Daniel 7:23 (twice in verse); Daniel 7:24,27; אֲנָשָׁא ׳מ Daniel 4:14; Daniel 4:22; Daniel 4:29; Daniel 5:21; of specific kings Daniel 2:37; Daniel 5:18,28; Daniel 6:1; of God Daniel 3:33; Daniel 7:27 (both עָלַם ׳מ), Daniel 2:44 (twice in verse); Daniel 3:33; Daniel 4:31; Daniel 6:27; Daniel 7:27; of Messiah Daniel 7:14 (twice in verse); of saints Daniel 7:18 (twice in verse); Daniel 7:22,27.

3 realm (territorial) Daniel 4:15; Daniel 4:33b; Daniel 5:7,11,16,29; Daniel 6:2 (twice in verse); Daniel 6:4; Daniel 6:8; Daniel 6:27; Ezra 7:13,23; metonymy Ezra 6:5 #NAME?

4 reign, time of reigning Daniel 5:26; Daniel 6:29 (twice in verse); Ezra 4:24; Ezra 6:15.

Definition and Scope of Usage

מַלְכוּ (malkû) denotes “kingdom, reign, sovereignty, dominion.” Though an Aramaic word, it carries the same rich covenant ideas wrapped into the Hebrew מַמְלָכָה (Strong’s 4467) yet is confined to the Aramaic passages of the Old Testament. It appears about fifty-seven times, almost exclusively in Ezra, Nehemiah, and Daniel, witnessing to Israel’s life under foreign rule and to the abiding kingship of God.

Distribution in the Old Testament

• Daniel: over forty occurrences (Daniel 2–7).
• Ezra: Ezra 4:24; 5:13; 6:14; 7:13, 24.
• Nehemiah: Nehemiah 9:35.

These books chronicle the Babylonian, Median, Persian, and early Hellenistic eras—periods in which Israel had no Davidic king. The concentration of מַלְכוּ in these writings underscores the question, “Who truly rules?”—a question the Spirit answers by contrasting transient empires with the everlasting dominion of God.

Earthly Kingdoms under Divine Oversight

The Aramaic narratives highlight imperial power yet deliberately show its limits. Nebuchadnezzar extols God after learning that “His dominion is an everlasting dominion, and His kingdom endures from generation to generation” (Daniel 4:34). Belshazzar’s feast ends with the verdict, “Your kingdom has been divided and given over to the Medes and Persians” (Daniel 5:28). Cyrus, Darius, and Artaxerxes issue decrees favoring the return and rebuilding (Ezra 6:14), but their authority is portrayed as derivative—executing “the command of the God of Israel.” In every case מַלְכוּ attached to human rulers is shown to be temporal, contingent, and accountable.

The Everlasting Kingdom of God

Daniel 2:44 sets the keynote: “The God of heaven will set up a kingdom that will never be destroyed.” Subsequent visions repeat the theme (Daniel 4:3; 6:26; 7:14, 27). This kingdom is:
• Eternal—“will endure forever” (Daniel 2:44).
• Universal—embracing “every people, nation, and language” (Daniel 7:14).
• Transferable to the saints—“the sovereignty… will be given to the saints—the people of the Most High” (Daniel 7:27).

The word מַלְכוּ thus becomes the Old Testament bridge to the New Testament proclamation, “The kingdom of God has come near” (Mark 1:15).

Messianic Expectations and the Son of Man

Daniel 7 links מַלְכוּ to the enthronement of “One like a Son of Man” (Daniel 7:13–14). The dominion granted to this figure is the same מַלְכוּ assigned to God Himself, anchoring messianic hope in an everlasting, divine-human reign. The New Testament adopts this imagery for Jesus Christ (Matthew 26:64; Revelation 11:15), affirming continuity between Testaments.

Exilic and Post-Exilic Hope

For exiles returned to a ruined Jerusalem, the repeated use of מַלְכוּ reassured them that imperial edicts did not nullify covenant promises. Ezra 7:13 records Artaxerxes’ decree, yet Ezra’s narrative attributes ultimate causation to “the hand of the Lord.” Nehemiah 9:35 laments national rebellion despite God’s many gifts, acknowledging that even under foreign “kings” (malkû) Israel remained under divine discipline and mercy.

Theological Themes

1. Sovereignty: God governs history, raises and removes kings (Daniel 2:21).
2. Eschatology: A final, indestructible kingdom will supplant all others.
3. Covenant Faithfulness: Despite exile, Yahweh’s kingship persists.
4. Human Accountability: Earthly rulers answer to a higher throne (Daniel 4:37).
5. Participation of the Saints: The faithful inherit the kingdom (Daniel 7:18).

New Testament Resonance

The Greek βασιλεία τοῦ Θεοῦ echoes the Aramaic מַלְכוּ. Jesus’ announcement, apostolic preaching, and Revelation’s climactic vision all rest on the groundwork laid in Daniel. Matthew’s genealogy deliberately ends the exile with Christ’s advent, signaling the shift from promised מַלְכוּ to inaugurated kingdom.

Practical Ministry Implications

• Worship: Exalting God’s unending kingship steadies believers amid political change.
• Discipleship: Daniel’s example shows how allegiance to the divine kingdom shapes integrity in secular workplaces.
• Mission: The universal scope of God’s מַלְכוּ motivates global evangelism—people of “every language” are destined for the kingdom.
• Pastoral Care: Suffering under unjust authorities can be framed within God’s larger redemptive reign, fostering hope.
• Eschatological Vigilance: Preaching the everlasting kingdom cultivates watchfulness and holy living (2 Peter 3:11-13).

Summary

מַלְכוּ encapsulates the tension and triumph of biblical history: earthly empires rise and fall, but the sovereignty of God stands firm, culminating in the Messiah’s everlasting dominion and the saints’ promised inheritance.

בְּמַלְכ֣וּת בְּמַלְכוּתִי֩ בְּמַלְכוּתָ֗ךְ בְּמַלְכוּתָֽא׃ בְמַלְכוּתָ֖א במלכות במלכותא במלכותא׃ במלכותי במלכותך וּבְמַלְכ֖וּת וּמַ֨לְכוּתָ֔ה וּמַלְכ֔וּ וּמַלְכ֨וּ וּמַלְכוּ֙ וּמַלְכוּתֵ֖הּ וּמַלְכוּתֵהּ֙ וּמַלְכוּתָ֖א וּמַלְכוּתָ֨ה ובמלכות ומלכו ומלכותא ומלכותה לְמַלְכ֖וּת למלכות מַלְכ֔וּ מַלְכ֣וּת מַלְכ֤וּ מַלְכ֥וּ מַלְכ֥וּת מַלְכְוָת֙ מַלְכְוָתָ֑א מַלְכְוָתָ֔א מַלְכוּ֙ מַלְכוּתִ֗י מַלְכוּתִ֜י מַלְכוּתִ֣י מַלְכוּתֵ֔הּ מַלְכוּתֵהּ֙ מַלְכוּתָ֑א מַלְכוּתָ֔א מַלְכוּתָ֔ה מַלְכוּתָ֔ךְ מַלְכוּתָ֖ה מַלְכוּתָ֖ךְ מַלְכוּתָ֗א מַלְכוּתָ֛א מַלְכוּתָ֤א מַלְכוּתָ֥א מַלְכוּתָֽא׃ מַלְכוּתָא֙ מלכו מלכות מלכותא מלכותא׃ מלכותה מלכותי מלכותך bə·mal·ḵū·ṯā ḇə·mal·ḵū·ṯā bə·mal·ḵū·ṯāḵ bə·mal·ḵū·ṯî bə·mal·ḵūṯ bemalChut bemalchuTa bemalchuTach bemalchuTi bəmalḵūṯ bəmalḵūṯā ḇəmalḵūṯā bəmalḵūṯāḵ bəmalḵūṯî lə·mal·ḵūṯ lemalChut ləmalḵūṯ mal·ḵə·wā·ṯā mal·ḵə·wāṯ mal·ḵū mal·ḵū·ṯā mal·ḵū·ṯāh mal·ḵū·ṯāḵ mal·ḵū·ṯêh mal·ḵū·ṯî mal·ḵūṯ malcheVat malchevaTa malChu malChut malchuTa malchuTach malchuTah malchuTeh malchuTi malḵəwāṯ malḵəwāṯā malḵū malḵūṯ malḵūṯā malḵūṯāh malḵūṯāḵ malḵūṯêh malḵūṯî ū·ḇə·mal·ḵūṯ ū·mal·ḵū ū·mal·ḵū·ṯā ū·mal·ḵū·ṯāh ū·mal·ḵū·ṯêh ūḇəmalḵūṯ umalChu umalchuTa uMalchuTah umalchuTeh ūmalḵū ūmalḵūṯā ūmalḵūṯāh ūmalḵūṯêh uvemalChut vemalchuTaInterlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel Texts