work
me.la.khah denotes an undertaking or labor, especially a construction project or an assigned duty of service.
In the supplied verses, the noun most often denotes a concrete undertaking, particularly the skilled building, repair, and completion of work connected with the house of the LORD. It also names assigned service and oversight, as well as personal, royal, and regulated labor.
Senses in use
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Building, repair, and craft undertaking · dominant
The singular noun identifies a project carried out by skilled workers: in 1 Kings 7:14 the APB renders the clause about doing bronze work, and in 1 Kings 7:40 it describes Hiram finishing what he did in the house of the LORD. In 2 Chronicles 24:13, those doing the work carry it out so that the house is repaired and strengthened; 2 Kings 22:5 likewise places the undertaking in repairing its breach.
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Assigned service or supervised duty · common
The noun can designate duties assigned within organized service. In 1 Chronicles 23:4 the APB renders an assignment to supervise the work of the house of the LORD, while 1 Chronicles 9:19 connects it with keeping the threshold of the tent. In 1 Chronicles 26:30, oversight of Israel is described as being for the work of the LORD and the service of the king.
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Personal, royal, or regulated labor · occasional
The noun also occurs for labor belonging to an individual or ruler and for labor governed by instruction. In Exodus 20:9 the APB renders the command to labor and do all one's work, whereas Deuteronomy 16:8 prohibits doing work on the seventh day. Daniel 8:27 places Daniel's activity in the work of the king, and 1 Samuel 8:16 describes servants and animals being put to a king's work.
In the Anselm Project Bible: Across the cited verses, the APB commonly presents the surrounding clauses with “work,” while also using expressions such as “task,” “service,” and “repair.” These renderings describe the clauses' presentation rather than supplying a separate definition for each occurrence.