גְּלוֹם
clothing (as wrapped)
Definition
The Hebrew noun גְּלוֹם (gᵉlôwm) refers to a specific type of clothing, understood as a wrapped garment or mantle. It is derived from the root meaning 'to wrap' or 'to fold,' indicating an article of apparel that is draped or wound around the body. This term appears only once in the Old Testament, in Ezekiel 27:24, where it is listed among the luxury goods traded by the merchants of Tyre. In this context, it signifies fine, valuable textiles, likely cloaks or robes, that were part of high-value commerce.
Biblical Usage
This word is used only in Ezekiel 27:24, within a detailed oracle against the city of Tyre. The verse catalogs the city's extensive and luxurious international trade, listing 'גְּלוֹם' among items like blue and purple fabrics, embroidered work, and cedar. Its singular occurrence in this specific mercantile context suggests it was a recognized term for a type of premium, wrapped garment that was a commodity in ancient Near Eastern markets.
Etymology
גְּלוֹם (gᵉlôwm) is a noun derived from the root גָּלַם (gālam, H1563), which means 'to wrap' or 'to fold.' This root connection directly informs the word's meaning, defining the garment by its manner of use—being wrapped around the wearer. Cognates in other Semitic languages support the sense of wrapping or folding cloth.
Semantic Range
In the ancient Near East, fine clothing was a significant marker of wealth, status, and luxury, often traded as a high-value commodity. The mention of 'גְּלוֹם' in Ezekiel 27:24 among Tyre's imports highlights the city's opulence and its network trading in premium goods. Such wrapped garments were likely not everyday wear but items of considerable worth, reflecting the excess and pride for which Tyre is condemned in the prophetic text.
בֶּגֶד (beged, H899) — a general term for clothing or garment. שִׂמְלָה (śimlâ, H8008) — a cloak or outer garment, often a more common term for apparel. לְבוּשׁ (lᵉḇûš, H3830) — attire or clothing, often with a connotation of being put on.
Word Details
How this works
Hebrew definitions are from Brown-Driver-Briggs (1906) and Strong's Exhaustive Concordance (1890), both public domain. BDB was groundbreaking for its era but reflects 19th-century assumptions about Semitic etymology. Modern scholarship (HALOT, DCH) has revised many entries. Use these definitions as a starting point for exploration, not as the final word on a term's meaning in context.
Full methodology & sources →