Boy Old Testament Rare
Amalek
a people that licks up
עֲמָלֵק a.ma.leq
Amalek (Hebrew: עֲמָלֵק, a.ma.leq) means “a people that licks up”, by traditional interpretation. It appears in 12 verses across 8 books of the Bible. In United States birth records the name is below the reporting threshold. Appears with Adah in Genesis 36.
The bearer in scripture
One person in scripture bears this name.
-
Amalek
son of Eliphaz; daughter of Timna
Scripture against society
The two measures, side by side
At a glance
- Verses
- 12 across 8 books
- Bearers
- 1 one person only
- Testament
- Old
- Era
- Patriarchal
Using it today
In United States birth records this name is below the reporting threshold. The Social Security Administration does not publish counts under five, so a name given to four children looks the same as one given to none.
In scripture
| Fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| First appears | Genesis 36:12 |
| Last appears | 1 Chronicles 1:36 |
| Cross-references | 215 linked passages |
Names connected to this one
- Gatam attested sibling Attested sibling — both named as children of Eliphaz.
- Omar attested sibling Attested sibling — both named as children of Eliphaz.
- Zepho attested sibling Attested sibling — both named as children of Eliphaz.
- Gatam co-occurrence Appears with Gatam in Genesis 36.
- Eliphaz co-occurrence Appears with Eliphaz in Genesis 36.
- Korah co-occurrence Appears with Korah in Genesis 36.
- Rehob co-occurrence Appears with Rehob in 2 Samuel 8.
- Timna co-occurrence Appears with Timna in Genesis 36.
Origin & meaning
A man of the Edomites living at the time of the Patriarchs, first mentioned at Gen.36.12;
son of: Eliphaz (H0464) and Timna (H8555);
brother of: Teman (H8487), Omar (H0201), Zepho (H6825), Gatam (H1609), Kenaz (H7073) and Korah (H7141H)
§ Amalek = "dweller in a valley"
1) son of Eliphaz by his concubine Timnah, grandson of Esau, and progenitor of a tribe of people in southern Canaan
2) descendants of Amalek
Amalek was the son of Eliphaz and grandson of Esau, and he became the ancestor of the Amalekite people.
The biblical story
Amalek is mentioned in the genealogy of Esau, the son of Isaac and the brother of Israel (or 'Jacob'), who became the ancestor of the Edomites. Amalek was the son of Eliphaz, Esau's firstborn son, and his concubine Timna. (Gen.36.12)
As a grandson of Esau, Amalek became the ancestor of the Amalekite people, a nomadic tribe that inhabited the Negev desert region south of Canaan. The Amalekites became a significant enemy of the Israelites during their journey from Egypt to the Promised Land and in the period of the judges and early monarchy.
In the book of Exodus, the Amalekites attacked the Israelites at Rephidim, but they were defeated by Joshua and the Israelite army under the leadership of Moses. (Exo.17.8-16) God declared that He would be at war with the Amalekites from generation to generation because of their opposition to Israel. (Exo.17.16)
Later, during the period of the judges, the Amalekites joined forces with the Moabites and Ammonites to attack Israel, but they were defeated by Ehud and the Israelite army. (Jdg.3.12-30)
In the time of King Saul, God commanded him to completely destroy the Amalekites because of their past hostility towards Israel. (1Sa.15.1-3) However, Saul disobeyed God's command by sparing the Amalekite king Agag and some of the livestock. This act of disobedience led to God's rejection of Saul as king. (1Sa.15.4-35)
The Amalekites continued to be a threat to Israel until the time of King David, who defeated them and secured Israel's borders. (1Sa.27.8; 30.1-20)
Amalek's mention in the genealogy of Esau and the subsequent history of the Amalekites highlight the ongoing conflict between the descendants of Jacob and Esau and the fulfillment of God's prophecy that the two nations would be in opposition to each other. (Gen.25.23)
Key verses
Amalek appears in 2 verses. Here are some of the most notable:
-
And Timna was concubine to Eliphaz Esau’s son; and she bare to Eliphaz Amalek: these were the sons of Adah Esau’s wife.
Genesis 36:12 -
Duke Korah, duke Gatam, and duke Amalek: these are the dukes that came of Eliphaz in the land of Edom; these were the sons of Adah.
Genesis 36:16
Show all 2 references
Genesis (2)
- Genesis 36:12
- Genesis 36:16