### Core Meaning & Semantic Range
The Hebrew word **malʼăkûwth**, represented by `{{H4400}}`, means **message**. Derived from the same root as the word for messenger, it appears only **1 time** in the Bible. Its singular usage highlights the specific and authoritative nature of a divine communication.
### Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis
The sole appearance of `{{H4400}}` is in [[Haggai 1:13]], where the prophet Haggai delivers a crucial word from God to the people. The text states, "Then spake Haggai the LORD'S messenger in the LORD'S **message** unto the people, saying, I am with you, saith the LORD." This context explicitly frames the word as a divinely-authored dispatch, carried by a designated messenger for a specific purpose.
### Related Words & Concepts
Several related words from its context help clarify the concept of a divine message:
* `{{H4397}}` **mălʼâk** (messenger): This is the root from which `{{H4400}}` is derived. It refers to the one who carries the communication, such as a prophet or an angel. In [[Haggai 1:13]], Haggai is identified as the LORD's **messenger**.
* `{{H2292}}` **Chaggay** (Haggai): The name of the prophet tasked with delivering the Lord's message. As the human agent, he is the designated speaker for God in this instance [[Haggai 1:13]].
* `{{H3068}}` **Yᵉhôvâh** (Jehovah, the Lord): This is the Jewish national name of God and identifies the ultimate source of the message. The communication is explicitly "the LORD'S message," underscoring its divine origin and authority [[Haggai 1:13]].
### Theological Significance
The theological weight of `{{H4400}}` is concentrated in its single, powerful use.
* **Divine Authority:** The term distinguishes the **message** itself from the messenger who carries it. The authority rests not with Haggai, but with the LORD, from whom the message originates.
* **Prophetic Function:** It underscores the role of a prophet as a conduit for God's direct communication. Haggai is not sharing his own thoughts but delivering a specific verbal dispatch from God to His people `{{H5971}}`.
* **Content of Assurance:** The specific message delivered is one of divine presence and support: "I am with you, saith `{{H5002}}` the LORD" [[Haggai 1:13]]. This shows that the purpose of such a direct message is to comfort and reaffirm God's relationship with His people.
### Summary
In summary, `{{H4400}}` provides a precise term for a **message** of divine origin. Though used only once, its context in [[Haggai 1:13]] clearly defines it as a communication directly from the LORD, delivered by His chosen messenger. It powerfully illustrates the distinction between the divine author, the human speaker, and the sacred content being conveyed.
TRV