from מָלַח; properly, powder, i.e. (specifically) salt (as easily pulverized and dissolved); salt(-pit).
Transliteration:melach
Pronunciation:meh'-lakh
Detailed Word Study
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### Core Meaning & Semantic Range
The Hebrew word מֶלַח (melach, `{{H4417}}`) is derived from the verbal root מָלַח (malach), which signifies "to sprinkle with salt," "to season," or "to be salted." At its core, melach refers to "salt," the common crystalline compound. The base definition emphasizes its physical properties: "properly, powder, i.e. (specifically) salt (as easily pulverized and dissolved)." This highlights its utility for seasoning, preservation, and its capacity for dissolution. Beyond the substance itself, melach can also denote a "salt-pit" or a place from which salt is extracted, representing a metonymic extension of the primary meaning.
### Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis
The occurrences of melach in the Hebrew Bible reveal its multifaceted significance.
1. **Preservation and Covenant:** One of its most profound uses is in the phrase "covenant of salt" (e.g., [[Numbers 18:19]], [[2 Chronicles 13:5]]). This signifies an unbreakable, enduring, and perpetual agreement. Just as salt preserves food from decay, so too does this covenant remain incorruptible and steadfast, reflecting God's eternal faithfulness to His promises, particularly concerning the Aaronic priesthood and the Davidic dynasty.
2. **Ritual Purity and Offering:** Salt was a mandatory component of all grain offerings presented to the Lord (e.g., [[Leviticus 2:13]]). It was explicitly called "the salt of the covenant of your God," symbolizing the enduring nature of the covenant between God and Israel, the purity of the offering, and perhaps the integrity of the worshiper's devotion. It prevented corruption and ensured the offering's acceptability.
3. **Seasoning and Palatability:** Melach is recognized for its ability to make food palatable (e.g., [[Job 6:6]]). This simple culinary use underscores its role in enhancing life and making things agreeable, though Job uses it in a rhetorical question to emphasize the tastelessness of his suffering without understanding.
4. **Desolation and Judgment:** Paradoxically, salt also symbolizes barrenness and utter ruin. Sowing a conquered city with salt, as Abimelech did to Shechem (e.g., [[Judges 9:45]]), was a symbolic act to render the land infertile and uninhabitable, signifying a curse and perpetual desolation. This imagery recurs in descriptions of lands laid waste by divine judgment (e.g., [[Deuteronomy 29:23]], [[Psalm 107:34]], [[Jeremiah 17:6]], [[Ezekiel 47:11]]). A "salt land" (`{{H4418}}`) is inherently barren.
5. **Healing and Purification:** In a remarkable instance, Elisha uses salt to purify the contaminated waters of Jericho, rendering them healthy and productive (e.g., [[2 Kings 2:20-21]]). This miracle demonstrates God's power to transform barrenness into fruitfulness, using a substance that also symbolizes desolation, highlighting divine sovereignty over creation.
6. **Infant Care:** Melach is mentioned in the context of newborn care in [[Ezekiel 16:4]], where Jerusalem's neglected state is compared to an infant not rubbed with salt or swaddled. This practice was likely for cleansing, firming the skin, or antiseptic purposes, suggesting its role in health and proper upbringing.
### Related Words & Concepts
The study of melach is enriched by its connections to other Hebrew terms and theological concepts:
* **מָלַח (malach):** The verbal root `{{H4414}}` from which melach derives, meaning "to salt," "to season," or "to be salty." This direct linguistic link emphasizes the action and state associated with salt.
* **מִמְלָחָה (mimlachah):** `{{H4419}}` This noun, closely related, specifically denotes a "salt-pit" or "salt pan," a place where salt is found or produced. It appears in [[Zephaniah 2:9]] to describe the future desolation of Moab.
* **מְלֵחָה (melekhah):** `{{H4418}}` Meaning "salt land" or "barren land," it describes ground made infertile by the presence of salt, reinforcing the concept of desolation (e.g., [[Job 39:6]], [[Jeremiah 17:6]]).
* **Covenant (בְּרִית - berit):** `{{H1285}}` The concept of the "covenant of salt" is a pivotal theological association, underscoring the enduring and unbreakable nature of divine promises.
* **Preservation:** A core function of salt, leading to its symbolic use for permanence and fidelity.
* **Purity and Integrity:** Reflected in its use in cultic offerings, symbolizing an uncorrupted state.
* **Desolation and Judgment:** The destructive aspect of salt when applied to land, symbolizing divine curse and ruin.
### Theological Significance
The theological significance of melach is profound and multifaceted.
1. **Divine Faithfulness and Permanence:** The "covenant of salt" stands as a powerful testament to God's unyielding commitment and the eternal nature of His promises. It assures believers of the steadfastness of God's character and His unchanging decrees, particularly regarding His chosen people and established institutions like the priesthood.
2. **Holiness and Acceptability:** The requirement of salt in sacrifices (e.g., [[Leviticus 2:13]]) underscores the necessity of purity, integrity, and preservation in worship. It represents the uncorrupted nature of the offering and the worshiper's sincere devotion, essential for acceptance before a holy God.
3. **Divine Judgment and Curse:** The destructive potential of salt on land serves as a stark metaphor for the consequences of sin and divine retribution. Lands sown with salt or described as "salt land" signify utter ruin, sterility, and a state of being cursed, demonstrating the severity of God's judgment against rebellion.
4. **Redemption and Transformation:** Elisha's miraculous use of salt to purify water (e.g., [[2 Kings 2:20-21]]) introduces a redemptive dimension. It illustrates God's power to reverse curses, bring life to barren places, and transform what is defiled into something pure and beneficial, often through unexpected means.
5. **Moral Influence (Implicit):** While melach is an Old Testament word, its properties inform New Testament metaphors. Jesus' call for His disciples to be "the salt of the earth" (`{{G217}}` - halas, in [[Matthew 5:13]]) draws upon salt's preservative qualities, implying the believer's role in preventing moral decay in society and adding spiritual "flavor" through righteous living and the proclamation of truth.
### Summary
The Hebrew word מֶלַח (melach, `{{H4417}}`) denotes "salt" and is derived from a root signifying "to sprinkle with salt." Its biblical usage is rich with symbolic meaning, extending beyond its literal definition. Most notably, melach symbolizes an enduring and unbreakable "covenant of salt" (e.g., [[Numbers 18:19]]), reflecting God's unwavering faithfulness and the permanence of His promises. Its required presence in offerings (e.g., [[Leviticus 2:13]]) signifies purity, integrity, and the lasting nature of the worshiper's commitment. Conversely, melach also serves as a potent symbol of divine judgment and desolation, rendering land barren (e.g., [[Judges 9:45]]). Yet, in the hands of God's prophet, salt also becomes an instrument of miraculous purification and restoration (e.g., [[2 Kings 2:20-21]]). Thus, melach encapsulates a profound theological spectrum, representing divine fidelity, cultic purity, severe judgment, and the transformative power of God's grace.
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