Lexical Summary Nethan-melek: Nethan-melek Original Word: נְתַן־מֶלֶךְ Strong's Exhaustive Concordance Nathan-melech From nathan and melek; given of (the) king; Nethan-Melek, an Israelite -- Nathan-melech. see HEBREW nathan see HEBREW melek NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Originfrom nathan and melek Definition "given of a king," a leader in Judah NASB Translation Nathan-melech (1). Brown-Driver-Briggs [תַּהְמֻּכָה] noun feminine perversity, perverse thing (only Proverbs except Deuteronomy 32:20) — Plural absolute תַּהְמֻּכוֺת Deuteronomy 32:20 8t.; construct id. Proverbs 2:14; — perverse things, particularly utterances Proverbs 2:12; Proverbs 10:32; Proverbs 23:33, compare ׳מִּי ת Proverbs 8:13, ׳לְשׁוֺן ת Proverbs 10:31, and even ׳אִישׁ ת Proverbs 16:28 ("" נִרְגָּן slanderer); but also thoughts, devices Proverbs 6:14; Proverbs 16:30; ׳דּוֺר ת Deuteronomy 32:20 = perverse Generation, ("" לֹאאֵֿמֻן בָּם), רָ֑ע ׳ת Proverbs 2:14 ("" עֲשׂוֺת רָ֑ע). נְתַןמֶֿ֫לֶךְ proper name, masculine an official of Judah, Josiah's time 2 Kings 23:11; ᵐ5 Ναθαν βασιλέως (τοῦ εὐνούχου), ᵐ5L Ναθαν εὐνούχου τοῦ βασιλέως. Topical Lexicon Name Significance Derived from the verb “to give” and the noun “king,” the name Nethan-melech conveys the idea of “Gift of the King.” In the context of Judah’s monarchy this title suggests a courtier granted to, or favored by, the royal house. Scriptural Setting Nethan-melech appears once, in the record of King Josiah’s reformation: “Josiah removed from the entrance to the house of the LORD the horses that the kings of Judah had dedicated to the sun. They had been kept near the chamber of Nethan-melech the official, which was in the precincts; and he burned up the chariots of the sun with fire.” (2 Kings 23:11) Historical Background 1. Sun worship, imported from surrounding nations and long tolerated in Judah, involved processional horses and chariots symbolically driven by the sun-god. Role and Status The term translated “official” (often “eunuch” or high court servant) places Nethan-melech among the trusted inner circle of the king’s household. His proximity to both palace and temple suggests administrative authority over royal ceremonial matters. Even if he was not the originator of sun worship, the relocation of the horses to his quarters names him as the person most directly connected to their maintenance. Archaeological Note In 2019 a clay bulla unearthed in the City of David bore the inscription “(belonging) to Nathan-Melech, servant of the king.” While absolute identification cannot be proven, the spelling, title, and location match the biblical description and provide rare extra-biblical corroboration for a specific individual in Josiah’s era. Religious Significance 1. Josiah’s destruction of the horses and chariots demonstrates uncompromising fidelity to the covenant ideal that worship belongs exclusively to Yahweh (Deuteronomy 6:4-5). Prophetic Parallels • Ezekiel 8:16 describes men turning “their backs to the temple of the LORD and their faces toward the east, bowing down to the sun,” a scene likely contemporaneous with the practice Josiah abolished. Ministry Lessons • Proximity to sacred spaces does not guarantee purity; continual vigilance is needed to guard worship from cultural compromise. Christological Reflection Where Nethan-melech’s chamber once housed implements of a counterfeit “sun king,” Jesus Christ—“the Sun of righteousness” (Malachi 4:2)—purifies the temple of the heart. Josiah’s reform foreshadows the Messiah’s cleansing zeal (John 2:13-17) and ultimate reign in which no other glory competes (Revelation 21:23). Key Takeaways for Today 1. Evaluate traditions and symbols: do they exalt the Lord or rival Him? Forms and Transliterations מֶ֣לֶךְ מלך me·leḵ Melech meleḵLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance 2 Kings 23:11 HEB: לִשְׁכַּת֙ נְתַן־ מֶ֣לֶךְ הַסָּרִ֔יס אֲשֶׁ֖ר NAS: by the chamber of Nathan-melech the official, KJV: by the chamber of Nathanmelech the chamberlain, INT: by the chamber of Nathan-melech the official which |