### Core Meaning & Semantic Range
The Hebrew word **mamlâkûwth**, represented by `{{H4468}}`, is a term for **dominion**, **kingdom**, or **reign**. It appears **9 times** across **9 unique verses**. As a form of the word מַמְלָכָה, it is used to describe both a concrete country or realm and the abstract authority of a ruler's estate or rule.
### Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis
In the biblical narrative, `{{H4468}}` is used to define the status and boundaries of sovereign power. It appears in contexts of divine judgment, as when the LORD declares He will "cause to cease the **kingdom** of the house of Israel" [[Hosea 1:4]]. Similarly, Samuel informs Saul that the LORD has rent the **kingdom** of Israel from him [[1 Samuel 15:28]]. The term also functions as a geographical descriptor, outlining the specific territories of earthly rulers, such as "all the **kingdom** of Og in Bashan" [[Joshua 13:12]] and "the **kingdom** of Sihon king of Heshbon" [[Joshua 13:27]]. In a more abstract sense, it can refer to a period of rule, as seen in the phrase "In the beginning of the **reign** of Jehoiakim" [[Jeremiah 26:1]].
### Related Words & Concepts
Several related words clarify the concept of royal authority:
* `{{H3068}}` **Yᵉhôvâh**: This is the Jewish national name of God, meaning "the self-Existent or Eternal." The LORD is the ultimate authority who establishes and removes kingdoms, as stated in verses like [[1 Samuel 15:28]].
* `{{H4427}}` **mâlak**: This primitive root means "to reign." It is the action associated with a kingdom, describing how Og "reigned in Ashtaroth" [[Joshua 13:12]] or how Sihon "reigned in Heshbon" [[Joshua 13:21]].
* `{{H4428}}` **melek**: This word for "king" or "royal" identifies the ruler of a kingdom. It is used to describe figures like "Sihon **king** of the Amorites" [[Joshua 13:21]] and "Og **king** of Bashan" [[Joshua 13:30]], whose domains are described using `{{H4468}}`.
### Theological Significance
The theological weight of `{{H4468}}` centers on the nature of authority, both divine and human.
* **Divine Sovereignty over Nations:** The use of the word underscores that the LORD holds ultimate power over earthly dominions. He is the one who can "cause to cease the **kingdom**" [[Hosea 1:4]] and who can give a **kingdom** to another [[1 Samuel 15:28]], demonstrating that human rule is contingent upon His will.
* **Concrete Political Entities:** `{{H4468}}` firmly grounds the concept of a kingdom in real-world geography and politics. The detailed accounts in Joshua specify the "cities of the **kingdom** of Og" [[Joshua 13:31]] and "the rest of the **kingdom** of Sihon" [[Joshua 13:27]], treating them as tangible territories that were conquered and redistributed.
* **The Abstract Concept of Rule:** Beyond a physical place, the word can signify the temporal period of a monarch's authority. Its use as **reign** in [[Jeremiah 26:1]] marks a specific era, highlighting that a kingdom is also defined by the duration of its ruler's power.
### Summary
In summary, `{{H4468}}` is a precise term that carries a dual meaning of both a physical territory and the abstract authority of a **reign**. It is used to delineate the boundaries of earthly dominions, like those of Og and Sihon, while also serving as a vehicle to express God's ultimate sovereignty over the rise and fall of nations. The word illustrates how the Bible views human authority as a defined, and often temporary, stewardship granted and overseen by the LORD.
TRV