Melicu is a name found in the King James Bible, appearing 1 time in the text.
Who This Was
Melicu was one of the priests who returned to Jerusalem after the Babylonian exile. He is mentioned in the book of Nehemiah, in a passage that recounts the priests and Levites who were registered in the days of the rebuilding of Jerusalem’s walls and the renewal of worship in the city. The setting is the post-exilic community, a time when a remnant of Judah had come back from captivity in Babylon and was working to restore the temple, the city, and the ordered life of God’s people.
In Nehemiah 12:14, Melicu appears in a list of priestly families, each represented by its head. The text reads, “Of Melicu, Jonathan; of Shebaniah, Joseph.” This indicates that Melicu was the ancestor or head of a priestly house, and that Jonathan was the priest who represented that house in the days being described. The passage is part of a larger record of the priests and Levites who served during the time of the high priest Joiakim, the son of Jeshua, and it was written to preserve the memory of those who faithfully carried on the work of the priesthood after the return from exile.
Scripture says nothing else about Melicu beyond this single reference. He did not perform any deed that the text records, nor are any words of his preserved. What is known of him is simply that his family line was counted among the priests of the restored community, and that his name was inscribed in the record of those who served. His significance lies in being part of that faithful remnant through whom the worship of God continued in Jerusalem after the captivity.
The Name
The name Melicu appears to be a shortened or variant form of a Hebrew name, likely related to Malluchi or Melichu, which is often connected to a root meaning “my king” or “kingly,” possibly from the Hebrew word for king (melek). Some scholars link it to a meaning such as “counselor” or “my king.” However, the exact meaning of this particular form is not clearly recoverable with certainty, and various suggestions have been offered without firm agreement. It is best to say plainly that the precise meaning of the name Melicu is uncertain, and no meaning should be asserted as definite.
A Closing Thought
Melicu is one of those names that appears only once, in a list, with no story attached. Yet his inclusion in Scripture is not accidental. He was part of a generation that chose to rebuild rather than dwell on what had been lost. His name, preserved for centuries, reminds us that faithfulness is often quiet and unrecorded by the world, but never forgotten by God. Whether we are remembered by many or by few, what matters is that we are counted among those who serve the Lord in our own day, in our own place, with the same steady devotion.
At a Glance
- Gender: Male
- Testament: Old
- Mentions in the KJV: 1
Where It Appears in Scripture
- Nehemiah 12:14 — Of Melicu, Jonathan; of Shebaniah, Joseph;