MEMPHIS mem'-fis: 1. Name: The ancient capital of Egypt, 12 miles South of the modern Cairo. This Greek and Roman form of the name was derived from the Coptic form Menfi (now Arabic Menf), the abbreviation of the Egyptian name Men-nofer, "the good haven." This name was applied to the pyramid of Pepy I, in the cemetery above the city; some have th

MEMUCAN me-mu'-kan (memukhan; derivation unknown but probably of Persian origin (Esther 1:14,16,21)): One of "the seven princes of Persia and Media, who saw the king's face, and sat first in the kingdom." Ahasuerus consults these men, as those "that knew law and judgment," as to the proper treatment of the rebellious Vashti. Memucan is the spokesm

MEMMIUS, QUINTUS mem'-i-us, kwin'-tus (Kointos Memmios): One of the 2 Roman legates who bore a letter to the Jews after their victory over Lysias 163 BC (2 Macc 11:34). No Quintus Memmius is otherwise known to history, and no Memmius among the list of legates sent to Asia. Polybius (xxxi.18) mentions a Quintus and a Canuleius as sent to Egypt, 162

MEMORIAL; MEMORY me-mo'-ri-al, mem'-o-ri ('azkarah, zekher, zekher, zikkaron; mnemosunon): "Memorial" as the translation of 'azkdrah is a sacrificial term, that which brings the offerer into remembrance before God, or brings God into favorable remembrance with the offerer; it is used of the burning of a portion of the meal offering, the Revised Ve

MEMBER mem'-ber (1) yatsur; melos; (2) shaphekhah, "membrum virile" (Deuteronomy 23:1)): The first Hebrew word is derived from a root meaning "to knead," "to mold in clay," "to create." It therefore denotes any feature or part of the body. "So the tongue also is a little member, and boasteth great things" (James 3:5). "The members" is equivalent

MEMEROTH mem'-e-roth (Codex Alexandrinus, Mareroth; Codex Vaticanus here omits Memeroth and two other names; the King James Version Meremoth): A name in the genealogy of Ezra (1 Esdras 8:2) = "Meraioth" in Ezra 7:3, also "Marimoth" in 2 Esdras 1:2. Copyright Statement These files are public domain. Bibliography Information Orr, James, M.A., D.D. G

MELZAR mel'-zar (ha-meltsar; Septuagint Abiesdri, Theod. Hamelsad): Possibly a transliteration of the Babylonian Ameluucur, the officer to whom was entrusted the bringing-up of Daniel and his three companions (Daniel 1:11 the King James Version, the Revised Version (British and American) "the steward," margin "Hebrew: Hammelzar"). It has been sugg

MEM mam, mem "m" : The 13th letter of the Hebrew alphabet, transliterated in this Encyclopedia as "m". It came also to be used for the number 40. See ALPHABET, for name, etc. Copyright Statement These files are public domain. Bibliography Information Orr, James, M.A., D.D. General Editor. "Entry for 'MEM'". "International Standard Bible Encyclope

MELODY mel'-o-di: zimrah, a musical piece or song to be accompanied by an instrument (Isaiah 51:3); an instrument of praise (Amos 5:23); naghan, "to play on a stringed instrument," "Make sweet melody, sing many songs" (Isaiah 23:16); psallo to celebrate the praises of God with music (Ephesians 5:19). See MUSIC. Copyright Statement These files are

MELONS mel'-unz (`abhattichim; compare Arabic battikh, the "water melon"; pepones): In Numbers 11:5, the melon is referred to as common in Egypt, and there can be no doubt that the variety indicated is the watermelon (Citrullus vulgaris) which is indigenous in tropical Africa. It has been cultivated in Egypt since the earliest times. Copyright Sta

MELICU mel'-i-ku (melikhu, also melukhi, "regnant"): Same as MALLUCHI (which see). Copyright Statement These files are public domain. Bibliography Information Orr, James, M.A., D.D. General Editor. "Entry for 'MELICU'". "International Standard Bible Encyclopedia". 1915.

MELITA mel'-i-ta (Melite, Acts 28:1): Is now generally identified with Malta. The former error in attributing the reference to the island of Meleda on the East coast of the Adriatic Sea was due to the ancient practice of employing the term Adria to include the Ionian and Sicilian seas. Malta is the largest of a group of islands including Gozo and

MELECH me'-lek (melekh, "king"): Great-grandson of Jonathan, son of Saul, grandson of Mephibosheth or Meribbaal (1 Chronicles 8:35; 9:41). Copyright Statement These files are public domain. Bibliography Information Orr, James, M.A., D.D. General Editor. "Entry for 'MELECH'". "International Standard Bible Encyclopedia". 1915.

MELCHIZEDEK; MELCHISEDEC mel-kiz'e-dek, and (the King James Version in the book of Hebrews) (malki-tsedheq, "Tsedheq, or Tsidhiq is my king" (Genesis 14:18; Psalms 110:4); Melchisedek (Hebrews 5:6,10; 6:20; 7:1,10,11,15,17)): The name is explained in Hebrews 7:2 as "king of righteousness," with "-i" as the old genitive ending; but the correct expl

MELEA me'-le-a, mel'-e-a (Melea): An ancestor of Jesus in Luke's genealogy (Luke 3:31). Copyright Statement These files are public domain. Bibliography Information Orr, James, M.A., D.D. General Editor. "Entry for 'MELEA'". "International Standard Bible Encyclopedia". 1915.

MELCHIEL mel'-ki-el (Melchiel, Codex Vaticanus, Melcheiel): The father of Charmis, one of the governors of Bethulia (Judith 6:15). Other readings are Sellem and Mochisel. Copyright Statement These files are public domain. Bibliography Information Orr, James, M.A., D.D. General Editor. "Entry for 'MELCHIEL'". "International Standard Bible Encyclope

MELCHISHUA mel-ki-shoo'-a (malkishua`, "king's help"). See MALCHI-SHUA. Copyright Statement These files are public domain. Bibliography Information Orr, James, M.A., D.D. General Editor. "Entry for 'MELCHISHUA'". "International Standard Bible Encyclopedia". 1915.

MELCHIAS mel-ki-as (Codex Vaticanus, Melcheias, Codex Vaticanus (b), Codex Alexandrinus, Melchias): Name of three men who had taken "strange wives": (1) 1 Esdras 9:26 = "Malchijah" (Ezra 10:25). (2) 1 Esdras 9:32 = "Malchijah" (Ezra 10:31). (3) One of those who stood at Ezra's left hand when the law was read (1 Esdras 9:44) = "Malchijah" (Nehem

MELCHI mel'-ki (Tischendorf, Tregelles, Westcott and Hort, The New Testament in Greek, Melchei; Textus Receptus of the New Testament, Melchi): The name of two ancestors of Jesus according to Luke's genealogy, one being in the 4th generation before Joseph, the husband of Mary, the other being in the 3rd generation before Zerubbabel (Luke 3:24,28).

MELCHIAH mel-ki'-a (malkhiyah, "Yah's king"): A priest and father of Pashur (Jeremiah 21:1 the King James Version); elsewhere and in the Revised Version (British and American) called MALCHIAH and MALCHIJAH (which see). Copyright Statement These files are public domain. Bibliography Information Orr, James, M.A., D.D. General Editor. "Entry for 'MEL