Amalekite

[ am-uh-lek-ahyt, uh-mal-i-kahyt ]

noun

, plural Am·a·lek·ites, (especially collectively) Am·a·lek·ite.

1. a member of the tribe of Amalek.

adjective

1. of or relating to the Amalekites.

Amalekite

/ əˈmæləˌkaɪt /

noun

1. Old Testament a member of a nomadic tribe descended from Esau (Genesis 36:12), dwelling in the desert between Sinai and Canaan and hostile to the Israelites: they were defeated by Saul and destroyed by David (I Samuel 15–30)

Word History and Origins

Origin of Amalekite¹

From Hebrew ʿămālēq Amalek + -ite ¹

Example Sentences

How, then, could a faithful Israelite ever bow to an Amalekite?

From Project Gutenberg

King Saul obeyed the injunction, save that he spared the life of Agag, the Amalekite king, and some of the finest animals.

From Project Gutenberg

He had none of that eagerness to occupy the throne on which the Amalekite reckoned as a universal instinct of human nature.

From Project Gutenberg

An Israelite might have had a chance of mercy, but an Amalekite had none—the man was condemned to instant death.

From Project Gutenberg

More recently, it had been one of the places selected by David to receive a portion of the Amalekite spoil.

From Project Gutenberg