Word Study for H4416 (מְלַח) | Strong's Concordance

mᵉlach /mel-akh'/ Ask about this word

Root(Aramaic) from מְלַח

Meaningsalt

KJV usagesalt.

Idioms & phrasesphrase maintenance

Word Study

In depth

A plain-language study of mᵉlach — the range of meaning it carries, how Scripture actually uses it, and where it points. Written for readers who don’t know the original language.

Core Meaning & Semantic Range

The Aramaic word mᵉlach, represented by H4416, literally means salt. It appears only 3 times across 3 unique verses in the Bible. While its primary meaning is the common mineral, it is also used in a phrase to signify maintenance or sustenance provided by a patron.

Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis

In its biblical usage, H4416 appears exclusively in the book of Ezra, where it is presented as a crucial commodity. It is decreed by the king to be supplied for the temple services in Jerusalem, listed alongside other essential provisions like wheat, wine, and oil for the burnt offerings Ezra 6:9. It is mentioned again as a resource to be provided abundantly, "without prescribing how much," for the temple Ezra 7:22. The word also carries a figurative meaning in the context of political loyalty, where officials write to the king that because they have maintenance from the palace, it is not right for them to see the king dishonored Ezra 4:14.

Related Words & Concepts

Several related Aramaic words provide context for the meaning of H4416:

H4415 mᵉlach (have maintenance): This is the corresponding verb, meaning to "eat salt" or subsist. It is used alongside H4416 in the phrase "we have maintenance from the king's palace," establishing the idiomatic meaning of being salaried or supported by a king Ezra 4:14.
H1965 hêykal (palace, temple): This term for a large public building appears in the same verse, identifying the source of the "maintenance" as the king's palace Ezra 4:14.

Theological Significance

The practical and symbolic weight of H4416 is evident in its specific contexts.

Essential for Worship: The inclusion of salt in the list of provisions for burnt offerings underscores its required role in the temple rituals as mandated by royal decree Ezra 6:9.
Symbol of Sustenance and Loyalty: The phrase "we have maintenance from the king's palace" connects the act of receiving salt (i.e., sustenance) with an obligation of loyalty. The support from the king compelled the officials to protect his interests Ezra 4:14.
Royal Provision: In all its appearances, salt is a resource supplied by royal authority. This highlights its value as a commodity managed and distributed by the highest levels of power for both religious and administrative purposes Ezra 7:22.

Summary

In summary, H4416 is more than a simple word for a mineral. Although used rarely, it functions as both a literal and essential element for sacred offerings in the temple and as a powerful metaphor for the sustenance and binding loyalty that exists between a ruler and his subjects. Its use in Ezra provides a clear window into its importance in ancient religious and political life.

How the KJV Renders It

Translation

Strong’s lists the renderings but not their weight. These are counted from the King James text of the tagged verses — the bar under each is how often the translators actually reached for it. Select one to filter the occurrences below.

Grammatical Forms

Morphology

In the Hebrew Old Testament, this word appears as a noun across 3 occurrences, inflected in 2 grammatical forms — each row is one form, and the bar is how often it is that form. Select any form to read what each part of its name means, and to filter the occurrence list to it.

מְלַח
מְלַח

Theographic Context

Context

The people, places, and span of history the verses containing this word touch on — drawn from the theographic tagging of Scripture. Select any name to isolate its verses in the occurrence list.

Biblical Distribution

Distribution

3 verses, all in Ezra — and none of the other 38 Old Testament books.

Every Occurrence

Concordance

Every verse where the word is tagged in the King James text. Filter by book, by the English word the translators chose, by grammatical form, or search within the verses.

Sources. Definition and numbering: James Strong, Exhaustive Concordance of the Bible (1890). Morphology: STEPBible / Tyndale House (CC BY). Verse tagging: the King James text keyed to Strong’s numbers. Every count on this page is computed from the tagged corpus, not estimated.