Original Word: מַלְכָּם
Part of Speech: Proper Name Masculine
Transliteration: Malkam
Pronunciation: mal-kahm'
Phonetic Spelling: (mal-kawm')
KJV: Malcham, Milcom
Word Origin: [from H4428 (מֶלֶך - king) for H4432 (מוֹלֶך - Molech)]

1. Malcam or Milcom, the national idol of the Ammonites

Malcham, Milcom

Or Milkowm {mil-kome'}; from melek for Molek; Malcam or Milcom, the national idol of the Ammonites -- Malcham, Milcom.

see HEBREW melek

see HEBREW Molek

מַלְכָּם proper name, masculine a Benjamite 1 Chronicles 8:9. ᵐ5 B Μελχας, A Μελχαμ, ᵐ5^L Μελχομ. On Jeremiah 49:1,3; Zephaniah 1:5 see מִלְכֹּם.

מִלְכֹּם proper name, of a divinity Milcom, god of Ammonites (compare RS^{Semitic i. 67}) — שִׁקֻּץ עַמֹּנִים ׳מ 1 Kings 11:5 ("" עַשְׁתֹּרֶת); compare אֱלֹהֵי בְנֵי עַמּוֺן ׳מ 1 Kings 11:33 ("" ׳ע + כְּמוֺשׁ), so read also (for ᵑ0 מֹלֶךְ) 1 Kings 11:7 ("" כְּמוֺשׁ); תּוֺעֲבַת ׳מ בְּנֵיעַֿמּוֺן 2 Kings 23:13 ("" as 1 Kings 11:33); read מִלְכֹּם also for מַלְכָּם Jeremiah 49:1,3(ᵐ5 Μελχολ, Μελχομ), compare Gie, and Zephaniah 1:5 (ᵑ6 ᵑ9, compare Now), probably 2 Samuel 12:30 = 1 Chronicles 20:2 (see מֶלֶךְ 5d), and perhaps Amos 1:15 (whence Jeremiah 49:3; compare Dr Now; — not We GASm).

Identity and Principal Sense

Malcam (Strong’s Hebrew 4445) appears primarily as the name or title of the national god of the Ammonites, set in direct opposition to the covenant LORD. As such it functions in Scripture as a concrete reminder of Israel’s temptation to blend true worship with the surrounding pagan environment. A single occurrence (1 Chronicles 8:9) preserves the name in a personal genealogy, but the theological weight of the word rests on its association with idolatry.

Occurrences and Narrative Setting

• 1 Kings 11:5, 33 – Solomon’s later years are marred when “Solomon followed Ashtoreth the goddess of the Sidonians and Milcom the abomination of the Ammonites”. The king who built the temple also sponsored an altar to this false god, illustrating how compromise at the highest level filters down to the nation.
• 2 Kings 23:13 – Josiah’s reforms culminate in the desecration of “the high places that Solomon king of Israel had built…for Chemosh… and for Milcom.” The text intentionally links Josiah’s obedience with Solomon’s failure, demonstrating that the covenant can be renewed through decisive repentance.
• Zephaniah 1:5 – Centuries later, syncretism persists: “those who bow down and swear by the LORD, and also swear by Milcom.” Here Malcam is not an outright replacement of Yahweh but a rival enthroned alongside Him, exactly the spiritual duplicity the prophet condemns.
• 1 Chronicles 8:9 – The name is given to a descendant of Benjamin, perhaps reflecting a customary royal title (“their king”) without idolatrous intent, yet its presence shows how common vocabulary could carry either neutral or sinister overtones depending on context.

Historical and Religious Background

The Ammonites, east of the Jordan, venerated Malcam as “their king,” echoing the wider Near-Eastern practice of deifying the sovereign. Archaeological finds from Amman (biblical Rabbah) reveal votive inscriptions to Milkom/Malcam dating to the Iron Age. Worship likely included child sacrifice, parallel to Molech devotion in Moab and among syncretistic Israelites (Leviticus 18:21; Jeremiah 32:35). Israel’s proximity to Ammon, combined with political alliances such as Solomon’s marriages, opened doors for cultic importation.

Relationship to Molech and Chemosh

Malcam is frequently mentioned beside Chemosh, god of Moab, and bears functional similarity to Molech. The triad represents the regional pantheon that enticed Israel: Chemosh (Moab), Milcom/Malcam (Ammon), Molech (broader Canaan). While distinct deities, their rites shared common elements of royal ideology and human sacrifice, underscoring why Scripture condemns them collectively as “abominations.”

Theological Themes

1. The Peril of Compromise – Solomon’s lapse proves that wisdom without obedience cannot safeguard the heart. Introducing Malcam into Jerusalem’s worship infrastructure blurred the distinction between holy and profane, violating the First Commandment.
2. The Necessity of Reform – Josiah models how idolatry must be confronted physically (tearing down high places) and spiritually (renewing covenant). His example instructs believers to deal ruthlessly with lingering sin, not merely rename it.
3. The Folly of Syncretism – Zephaniah exposes the emptiness of dual allegiance. Swearing by both the LORD and Malcam is portrayed as spiritual adultery that incurs divine wrath. True faith demands exclusivity.
4. Covenant Continuity – Despite centuries of fluctuation, Scripture maintains a consistent witness: the LORD alone is King. Malcam’s repeated defeat—first by prophetic word, then by reform, finally by exile—highlights God’s sovereignty over all rival claims.

Ministry Significance Today

• Discernment: Modern believers face subtler idols—materialism, self-promotion, cultural approval—yet the pattern mirrors Malcam’s lure. Faith communities must identify and remove any practice that dilutes wholehearted devotion.
• Leadership Accountability: The narrative warns that when leaders tolerate or endorse idolatry, the entire body suffers. Churches and households alike require shepherds who guard doctrine and worship.
• Revival Strategy: Genuine revival, as modeled by Josiah, demands both doctrinal correction and tangible action. Teaching, prayer, and structural change operate together.
• Hope of Restoration: Even after long apostasy, God welcomes repentance. The chronicles of Solomon, Josiah, and Zephaniah remind the church that reform is possible and fruitful when anchored in Scripture.

Summary

Malcam embodies the perennial temptation to enthrone a counterfeit king alongside, or in place of, the true King. Its brief yet potent biblical footprint urges every generation to uphold exclusive loyalty to the LORD, resisting cultural pressures to compromise the faith once for all delivered to the saints.

בְּמַלְכָּֽם׃ במלכם׃ וּלְמִלְכֹּ֖ם ולמלכם מִלְכֹּ֔ם מַלְכָּֽם׃ מלכם מלכם׃ bə·mal·kām bemalKam bəmalkām mal·kām malKam malkām mil·kōm milKom milkōm ū·lə·mil·kōm ulemilKom ūləmilkōmInterlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel Texts