What does מֶלְקָח (melĕqāḥ) mean in the Bible?
מֶלְקָח (melĕqāḥ): Specialized implement for precise removal or handling; appears exclusively in dual form, suggesting paired functional necessity.
Hebrew · H4457
מֶלְקָח
(Only in dual) tweezers
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מֶלְקָח H4457
Pronunciation melĕqāḥ
What does מֶלְקָח (melĕqāḥ) mean in the Bible?
מֶלְקָח (melĕqāḥ): Specialized implement for precise removal or handling; appears exclusively in dual form, suggesting paired functional necessity.
Full entry for מֶלְקָח (H4457) · Open the biblical lexicon
Questions this entry answers
How does the BSB render H4457?
The BSB source-word alignment has 6 aligned rows for this entry. Common renderings include and tongs (2), its wick trimmers (1), The wick trimmers (1), wick trimmers (1), with tongs (1).
Where does מֶלְקָח (melĕqāḥ) appear in Scripture?
The source-word alignment first shows this entry at Exodus 25:38. Its strongest book concentrations include Exodus (2), 1 Kings (1), 2 Chronicles (1), Isaiah (1).
Source Word Evidence
BSB source-word alignment connects this entry to exact verse rows, English rendering, source form, transliteration, and parsing.
How English Renders It and tongs 2× 1 Kings 7:49, 2 Chronicles 4:21
its wick trimmers 1× Exodus 37:23
The wick trimmers 1× Exodus 25:38
wick trimmers 1× Numbers 4:9
with tongs 1× Isaiah 6:6
Show sample aligned rows
Exodus 25:38 וּמַלְקָחֶ֥יהָ to The wick trimmers Conjunctive waw | Noun - masculine dual construct | third person feminine singular Exodus 37:23 וּמַלְקָחֶ֥יהָ to its wick trimmers Conjunctive waw | Noun - masculine dual construct | third person feminine singular Numbers 4:9 מַלְקָחֶ֖יהָ to wick trimmers Noun - masculine dual construct | third person feminine singular 1 Kings 7:49 וְהַמֶּלְקַחַ֖יִם to and tongs Conjunctive waw, Article | Noun - md 2 Chronicles 4:21 וְהַמֶּלְקַחַ֖יִם to and tongs Conjunctive waw, Article | Noun - md Isaiah 6:6 בְּמֶ֨לְקַחַ֔יִם to with tongs Preposition-b | Noun - md
Usage map
A compact distribution from source-word alignment before the full evidence tables.
First aligned row Exodus 25:38
Aligned rows 6
Books represented 5
Exodus 2 Numbers 1 1 Kings 1 2 Chronicles 1 Isaiah 1
Source forms
וְהַמֶּלְקַחַ֖יִם 2x wə·ham·mel·qa·ḥa·yim 1 Kings 7:49, 2 Chronicles 4:21
וּמַלְקָחֶ֥יהָ 2x ū·mal·qā·ḥe·hā Exodus 25:38, Exodus 37:23
בְּמֶ֨לְקַחַ֔יִם 1x bə·mel·qa·ḥa·yim Isaiah 6:6
מַלְקָחֶ֖יהָ 1x mal·qā·ḥe·hā Numbers 4:9
Parsing patterns
Conjunctive waw | Noun - masculine dual construct | third person feminine singular 2x Exodus 25:38, Exodus 37:23
Conjunctive waw, Article | Noun - md 2x 1 Kings 7:49, 2 Chronicles 4:21
Noun - masculine dual construct | third person feminine singular 1x Numbers 4:9
Preposition-b | Noun - md 1x Isaiah 6:6
Evidence Summary
Hebrew word. Specialized implement for precise removal or handling; appears exclusively in dual form, suggesting paired functional necessity.
Source Gloss
(only in dual) tweezers
Extended definition Source: Open Scriptures Hebrew Lexicon + Brown-Driver-Briggs
Specialized implement for precise removal or handling; appears exclusively in dual form, suggesting paired functional necessity.
(only in dual) tweezers BDB: tongs Usage: snuffers, tongs.
Word Origins
מֶלְקָח is built from this root:
Sources
MorphGNT Strong's Dictionary XML — CC0 1.0 Public Domain
Open Scriptures Hebrew Bible (morphhb/OSHB) — CC BY 4.0
Open Scriptures Hebrew Lexicon — CC BY 4.0
Berean Standard Bible (BSB) source-word alignment - CC0 Public Domain