LMLK seal

LMLK seals were stamped on the handles of large storage jars in and around Jerusalem during the reign of King Hezekiah (circa 700 BC) based on several complete jars found in situ buried under a destruction layer caused by Sennacherib at Lachish. None of the original seals have been found, but about 2,000 impressions (also referred to as stamps) made by at least 21 seal types have been published. Photos of more than 600 stamps on broken handles are viewable on the LMLK Research website.

למלך

LMLK stands for the Hebrew letters Lamed Mem Lamed Kaf (L' Melech), which can be translated from Hebrew as:

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• "belonging to the king" (of Judah)
• "belonging to King" (name of a person or deity)
• "belonging to the government" (of Judah)
• "to be sent to the King"

In each of the above readings, the prefix L' could be read as "to (belonging to or towards)", "for" or "of". The word Melech is translated "king", but can refer to a specific king, to any king, or to the king's government.

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