The Actual words Melo-Ha-Goyim are Hebrew for ‘The Fullness of the Nations.’ Melo means Fullness or completeness as in its entirety. It is a masculine noun and is found in the Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon as H4393:
Fullness, that which fills, handful, mass, multitude, entire, contents, full length, full line. Its root word is from the Hebrew word Mala which is H4390 and is a verb and means to: accomplish, to satisfy or to mass themselves together; to be armed.
Ha is a the definite article which means ‘the’ it relates to the noun which it precedes which is our next word, Goyim; Nations H1471:It is the plural word for ‘goy’ which means:
Nation, people, usually of non-Hebrew people, of descendants of Abraham, of Israel
The interesting thing is that this word’s primitive root is ‘ga’ah’ which means to: To rise up, grow up, be exalted in triumph, to be lifted up
So the actual meaning of Melo HaGoyim is:
The completeness and multitude of a people massed together and armed descendants of Abraham being exalted and lifted up in triumph.
Now that we have clarified what the literal meaning of Melo HaGoyim is let us take a look at the spiritual deeper or ‘sod’ level of the phrase.
When the children of Israel came out of Egypt (Mitzrayim) they came out with a mixed multitude of people (Exodus 12:38). The mixed multitude means that there were those of the house of Jacob and those of Egyptian descent, also at this time Egypt was the world power; there may have been many other cultures of peoples there that left when the Israel slaves were released. We do know that at the time of the release Egypt was devastated by the plagues that YAHWEH had brought on them for Pharaoh not letting Israel go. Once the multitude of people were out in the wilderness, Moses was told to lead them to Mt. Sinai where they all stood and received the covenant of love from the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob.
At the foot of Mt. Sinai the mixed multitude was given the Blessings and the Curses. They would receive the Blessings if they did all that was commanded of them that day or the curses if they did not do all that was commanded of them that day. Father was very clear that everyone standing there was on the same level playing field; He never differentiated between the house of Israel and the other people who came out with them which made up the mixed multitude. So they all stood at the Mt. and came into covenant relationship with the Creator of the universe. This mixed multitude promised to remain separated to the God of Israel, they said:
Deuteronomy 5:27 ‘You go near and hear all that יהוה our Elohim says, and speak to us all that יהוה our Elohim says to you, and we shall hear and do it (Sh’ma).’
The Most High told them that as long as they remained faithful to Him that they would enjoy the blessings, but if they became unfaithful and turned to the right or to the left they would be subjected to the curses named in Deuteronomy 28 and 29. As we look at the curses one is very specific in regards to were He would send them if they did not keep His Commands and Covenant:
Deuteronomy 28:64 “And יהוה shall scatter you among all peoples, from one end of the earth to the other, and there you shall serve other mighty ones, which neither you nor your fathers have known, wood and stone.
He said that He would scatter them among all the peoples, or the nations. As we understand scattering we have to look at the implication of what would take place if these people, the mixed multitude; did not keep the commands of God. They would be scattered into all the nations and mixed up to where they may not be recognizable as to who they really are. Elohim made a promise to Abraham that his seed would be as the stars of the heavens and that he would be the father of many nations. Could this ‘mixing up’ be how Yah is accomplishing the task of making Abraham the father of many nations?
Let us take a look at the events as they unfolded once the children of Israel were at rest in there land of promise after they crossed over the Jordan. Israel was a combined nation of people from the crossing of the Jordan through King Saul, David and Solomon’s reigns, after which the kingdoms became torn from each other and became two house opposed to being one. In 722 BC the northern kingdom (that was split from the Southern kingdom) was taken into captivity by the Assyrians and later dispersed out into the nations of peoples. Father told Abraham that in his seed all the nations of the earth will be blessed (Genesis18:18; 22:18). He took the seed that had turned from His Ways and scattered them out to bring the harvest of Abraham. Isn’t it interesting that Father gives this promise to Abraham, makes the seed go into Egypt where Ishmael’s seed is, gathers them all
together, brings them out together, allows them to go into the land of promise, allows them to be sold into slavery and to be scattered through out all nations of peoples and so, Abraham’s seed becomes the melo hagoyim. As we all stood at the foot of Mt. Sinai, The Most High gave His Covenant to a people that was a mixed multitude and promised that if we keep His commands that He would acknowledge us as a people set apart to Him:
Deuteronomy 29:14-15 “And not with you alone I am making this covenant and this oath, but with him who stands here with us today before יהוה our Elohim, as well as with him who is not here with us today.
We are the seed of father Abraham even though we don’t look anything like what the seed of Abraham is depicted as in this society. As we walk in the Torah we confound the wise who think they know the chosen seed. Do we dispel the thought that there are many nations that are clearly the seed of Abraham, by no means, we lift up the idea that everyone regardless of national origin, creed, culture, or color who takes on the mantel of the Torah and walks in it; is the promised seed of father Abraham. This is the promise of multiplicity to Abraham in Genesis 15:5 And He (YAHWEH) brought him (Abram) outside and said, “Look now toward the heavens, and count the stars if you are able to count them.” And He said to him, “So are your seed.” And not only are we the seed according to the promise to receive the blessings of Abraham, but we are also called to the curses if we do not keep the Commands of God.
I challenge you to take a poll of your family issues, now go to the Scriptures and read Deuteronomy 28 and 29 and see if you are the promised seed. If the plights of your family’s generational curses or generational blessings match those spoken of in those Scriptures then it is clear that you are the seed Abraham. It’s not about being Jewish of Non-Jewish, but it’s about lining your life up with the Scriptures and knowing who you really are. Can we be made the seed through the Blood of Yahshuah, yes! Messiah came and lifted up His life to be the Sacrifice for all that were once far off but now come near to take hold of His Torah and walk in His Ways; they have become the sons of the Living God:
Ephesians 2:13 But now in Messiah יהושע you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of the Messiah.
Romans 9:26 “And it shall be in the place where it was said to them, ‘You are not My people,’ there they shall be called sons of the living Elohim (God).” (Read the book of Hosea)
Even more, as the promised seed or the melo hagoyim we become conquerors in this battle against unrighteousness. Referencing the meaning of ga’ah the primitive root of goy makes us triumphant warriors for Righteousness. In Genesis 22:17 YAHWEH says, “that I shall certainly bless you, and I shall certainly increase your seed as the stars of the heavens and as the sand which is on the seashore, and let your seed possess the gate of their enemies.” Father has given us the tools to possess that gate of our enemies.
We have a very dear friend who is an elderly European Jewish man who lives in Israel. Upon one of his many visits to the U.S. he came and blessed our home and spoke to our MHG family. He said something very profound to us that night and I will never forget it, “the Rabbis teach that when a goy comes to the Truth of the Torah and walks in it; it is as they are as great as the priest.” In closing, melo hagoyim in its simplest form means;
Regular massed together people, that no one recognizes as priests, become the mighty warriors of Righteousness.
The awesome part of this is that we know from historical accounts that we are not ‘goy’ but are a people of Elohim, from the beginning. We are part of the common wealth of Israel whether by blood or inheritance by Messiah (Ephesians 2:11-22). Understanding that our heritage is rich concerning Israel and we were lost to its remembrance. HalleluYAH for the scales falling from our eyes; now we can walk unrestrained in the covenant of our fathers.
May your life be fruitful and the thoughts of Torah engulf you and bring double fruit that will exalt the Greatness of YAHWEH.
Blessings and Shalom!