Meaning & History
Mahali is a variant of Mahli appearing in select verses of the King James Version of the Old Testament. It represents a minor orthographic variation rather than a distinct name, reflecting the KJV translators' occasional inconsistency in rendering Hebrew names. The name itself derives from the Hebrew נַחְלִי (Maḥli), which is based on the root חָלָה (ḥala), meaning "weak" or "sick."
In the Bible, Mahali is referenced as one of the sons of Merari (a grandson of Levi), mentioned in Exodus 6:19 and Numbers 3:20, as part of the genealogical framework establishing the Levitical priesthood. The alternate spelling Mahali also appears in the KJV at 1 Chronicles 6:29, representing the same figure. Both figures named Mahli in the Old Testament—the Merarite leader and a son of Mushi (another Levite lineage—see 1 Chronicles 23:21–23)—may be encountered under this variant in some English Bibles.
The strong linguistic root ḥala carries a sense of physical malady or frailty, a rare instance where a biblical name may derive from an explicitly unflattering attribute. The related feminine names Machla and Machli appear in the Biblical Hebrew source text, parallel to the masculine Mahli. Despite its negative connotation, the name has persisted in Levitical lists as a marker of lineage rather than personal character.
- Meaning: "weak, sick" (from Hebrew ḥala)
- Origin: Biblical Hebrew, via the root חָלָה
- Type: Spelling variant of Mahli
- Usage regions: Old Testament, in the King James Version of the English Bible