Word Study for H4448 (מָלַל) | Strong's Concordance

mâlal /maw-lal'/ Ask about this word

Roota primitive root

Meaningto speak (mostly poetical) or say

KJV usagesay, speak, utter.

Word Study

In depth

A plain-language study of mâlal — 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 Hebrew word mâlal, represented by H4448, is a primitive root used poetically to mean to speak or say. It is a rare term, appearing only 5 times in 5 unique verses, often implying a significant or expressive form of communication beyond simple conversation. Its usage ranges from profound declarations to non-verbal forms of speech.

Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis

In its biblical appearances, H4448 is used to convey speech that carries particular weight. In a moment of wonder, Sarah exclaims, "Who would have said unto Abraham, that Sarah should have given children suck?" Genesis 21:7, using the term to express an almost unbelievable proclamation. In contrast, Job is questioned, "How long wilt thou speak these things?" Job 8:2, where it denotes lengthy and forceful discourse. The word can also describe sincere expression, as when Elihu states his lips will "utter knowledge clearly" Job 33:3, or even non-verbal communication, as with the wicked man who "speaketh with his feet" Proverbs 6:13.

Related Words & Concepts

Several related words help clarify the specific nature of H4448:

H559 ʼâmar (to say): This is the common, everyday verb for speaking. It is used in Genesis 21:7 ("And she said") right before the more poetic H4448 is used, highlighting a shift in tone from simple reporting to a more profound exclamation.
H561 ʼêmer (something said; speech, word): As a noun often derived from H559, this term refers to the content of speech. It is used alongside H4448 when Job is accused of speaking windy "words" Job 8:2 and when Elihu promises his "words" will reflect an upright heart Job 33:3.
H3384 yârâh (to point out, to teach): This verb is paired with H4448 in Proverbs 6:13, where a man "speaketh with his feet" and "teacheth with his fingers," showing that the "speaking" of mâlal can be a form of instruction or signaling.
H8085 shâmaʻ (to hear intelligently; causatively, to tell): In Psalms 106:2, the act of "uttering" H4448 God's mighty acts is paralleled with the ability to "shew forth" His praise, linking the poetic speech of mâlal with the act of causing others to hear or proclaiming.

Theological Significance

The theological weight of H4448 lies in its focus on the quality and impact of speech.

Expressing the Inexpressible: The word is used when human language attempts to capture divine acts or profound human experiences, such as the wonder of a miraculous birth Genesis 21:7 or the challenge of fully declaring the "mighty acts of the LORD" Psalms 106:2.
Speech as Moral Indicator: H4448 is used to characterize different types of speakers. It can describe the clear, knowledgeable speech of the righteous Job 33:3 or the deceptive, non-verbal communication of the wicked Proverbs 6:13.
Consequential Utterances: The contexts in which H4448 appears are not casual. They involve pronouncements that reflect fulfilled promises, confrontational arguments, or attempts to convey divine praise, underscoring that this form of speech has significance and power.

Summary

In summary, H4448 is far more than a synonym for "talk." As a rare and poetic term, mâlal emphasizes the weight, character, and expressive power of an utterance. It captures a range of communication from the profound and praiseworthy to the deceptive and verbose, highlighting how the act of speaking can reveal the heart and grapple with truths both human and divine.

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 verb across 5 occurrences, inflected in 5 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.

תְּמַלֶּל
יְמַלֵּל
מִלֵּלוּ
מִלֵּל
מֹלֵל

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

Appears in 5 verses across 4 of the 39 books. Most frequent in Job (2 verses); never once in the other 35.

Genesis

Job

Psalms

Proverbs

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.