from מָלַח (in its denominative sense); understood as land (אֶרֶץ); properly, salted (i.e. land), i.e. a desert; barren land(-ness), salt (land).
Transliteration:mᵉlêchâh
Pronunciation:mel-ay-khaw'
Detailed Word Study
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### Core Meaning & Semantic Range
The Hebrew word מְלֵחָה (*mᵉlêchâh*, `{{H4420}}`) is derived from the root מָלַח (*malakh*), meaning "to salt" (`{{H4414}}`). In its denominative sense, *mᵉlêchâh* refers to land that has been "salted." This primary meaning extends semantically to describe a "salt land," a "barren land," or a "desert." The core implication is one of infertility, desolation, and an environment hostile to life and cultivation. It evokes imagery of parched, unproductive ground, often associated with divine judgment or natural harshness.
### Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis
The term *mᵉlêchâh* appears twice in the Hebrew Bible, consistently conveying its meaning of desolation:
1. **Job 39:6**: "whose house I have made the wilderness, and the salt land his dwelling place." Here, *mᵉlêchâh* is used in parallel with "wilderness" (מִדְבָּר, *midbar*, `{{H4057}}`) to describe the habitat of the wild donkey. In this context, it highlights the untamed, uncultivated, and desolate nature of the animal's dwelling, emphasizing God's sovereign design even for creatures inhabiting the most barren regions. It underscores the wild donkey's independence from human control and its ability to thrive in environments inhospitable to others.
2. **Jeremiah 17:6**: "For he shall be like a shrub in the desert, and shall not see when good comes; but shall inhabit the parched places in the wilderness, in a salt land and not inhabited." This verse presents a powerful contrast between the blessed person (like a tree by water) and the cursed person. The cursed individual is likened to a "shrub in the desert" and is destined to inhabit "parched places" (שְׁרָבִים, *sheravim*) and a *mᵉlêchâh*. Here, the "salt land" serves as a vivid metaphor for spiritual barrenness, divine judgment, and a life utterly devoid of blessing, fruitfulness, or sustenance. It signifies a state of isolation and unfruitfulness, directly linked to a lack of trust in the Lord.
In both instances, *mᵉlêchâh* is associated with uninhabitable or unproductive land, reinforcing its core meaning of desolation and barrenness.
### Related Words & Concepts
* **מָלַח (*malakh*, `{{H4414}}`)**: The verbal root, "to salt," from which *mᵉlêchâh* is derived.
* **מֶלַח (*melakh*, `{{H4417}}`)**: The noun "salt," often associated with preservation, covenant (e.g., "covenant of salt"), but also with desolation (e.g., the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah, which became a "salt pit").
* **אֶרֶץ (*eretz*, `{{H776}}`)**: The general word for "land" or "earth," which *mᵉlêchâh* specifies as a particular type of land.
* **מִדְבָּר (*midbar*, `{{H4057}}`)**: "Wilderness" or "desert," a common parallel term for *mᵉlêchâh*, emphasizing the desolate nature.
* **צִיָּה (*tsiyyah*, `{{H6723}}`)**: "Dry land," "desert," another term frequently used to describe arid and unproductive regions.
* **Barrenness and Desolation**: These concepts are often used metaphorically in the Bible to describe spiritual unfruitfulness, divine judgment, or the absence of God's blessing.
### Theological Significance
The theological significance of *mᵉlêchâh* primarily resides in its powerful metaphorical use, particularly in Jeremiah.
1. **Consequence of Disobedience and Lack of Trust**: In Jeremiah 17:6, *mᵉlêchâh* serves as a stark symbol of the curse that befalls those who rely on human strength rather than trusting in the Lord. It portrays a life that is spiritually barren, unfruitful, and devoid of the life-giving presence and blessing of God. This imagery underscores the severe consequences of spiritual apostasy and self-reliance.
2. **Divine Judgment**: The transformation of fertile land into a "salt land" is a recurring biblical motif for divine judgment (e.g., Deuteronomy 29:23, Judges 9:45). While *mᵉlêchâh* itself doesn't explicitly describe a *transformed* land, its inherent barrenness evokes the idea of a land under a curse, reflecting the spiritual state of one under divine displeasure.
3. **God's Sovereignty over All Creation**: In Job 39:6, God Himself declares His role in assigning the *mᵉlêchâh* as the wild donkey's dwelling. This highlights God's meticulous design and provision even in the most desolate and seemingly inhospitable parts of His creation, demonstrating His wisdom and sovereignty over all aspects of the natural world.
4. **Contrast with Blessing**: The imagery of *mᵉlêchâh* stands in stark contrast to biblical descriptions of blessed land, which is often depicted as fertile, well-watered, and abundant (e.g., the Promised Land, a "land flowing with milk and honey," or the blessed individual "like a tree planted by streams of water" in [[Psalm 1:3]]). This contrast underscores the profound difference between a life lived in accordance with God's will and one lived in rebellion or self-reliance.
### Summary
The Hebrew word מְלֵחָה (*mᵉlêchâh*, `{{H4420}}`) precisely defines "salted land," encompassing the broader concepts of barrenness, desolation, and desert. Derived from the root "to salt," its two biblical occurrences in [[Job 39:6]] and [[Jeremiah 17:6]] consistently depict an environment hostile to life and cultivation. In Job, it describes the wild donkey's untamed habitat, showcasing God's provision even in harsh landscapes. More profoundly, in Jeremiah, *mᵉlêchâh* functions as a potent metaphor for the spiritual barrenness and divine judgment experienced by those who fail to trust in the Lord. It powerfully conveys the absence of life-giving sustenance, both physical and spiritual, serving as a vivid counterpoint to the biblical imagery of blessing and fruitfulness.
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