לוּט
to wrap up
Definition
The Hebrew verb לוּט (lûwṭ) means 'to wrap up' or 'to cover over.' It describes the physical action of wrapping an object, such as a sword in a cloth (1 Samuel 21:9). In a figurative sense, it can mean to conceal or veil oneself, as when Elijah wraps his face in his mantle before encountering God (1 Kings 19:13). The word also appears in a powerful prophetic metaphor, where it describes God's action in 'swallowing up' or 'covering over' death forever, portraying a complete and final victory (Isaiah 25:7).
Biblical Usage
לוּט is used only three times in the Old Testament. It appears in narrative contexts for literal wrapping (1 Samuel 21:9) and for a person veiling themselves in a moment of divine encounter (1 Kings 19:13). Its final and most significant use is in prophetic poetry, where it conveys God's ultimate, decisive action of destroying death (Isaiah 25:7). The usage thus progresses from concrete to deeply theological.
Etymology
לוּט is a primitive root. It is related to the Arabic root meaning 'to cover' or 'to veil.' The core meaning of wrapping or covering is consistent across its Semitic cognates.
Semantic Range
This word is theologically significant, especially in Isaiah 25:7. Here, the promise that God will 'swallow up' (לוּט) the covering over all peoples—the shroud of death—is a cornerstone of biblical hope. It points directly to God's final victory over mortality, a theme fulfilled in the New Testament's resurrection hope (1 Corinthians 15:54). Understanding this Hebrew term enriches the reading of this profound prophecy, moving it beyond mere 'destruction' to the image of God decisively enveloping and removing the power of death itself.
The act of wrapping or veiling with a garment (as in 1 Kings 19:13) was a sign of reverence, submission, or preparation to encounter the divine in the ancient Near East. It physically signified hiding one's face from a holy presence. The 'covering' or 'veil' in Isaiah 25:7 uses imagery familiar to the culture—a funeral shroud or a heavy cloth representing mourning and death—to communicate the totality of God's coming redemption.
כָּסָה (kāsâ, H3680) — a more general term for 'to cover' or 'conceal.' עָטָה (ʿāṭâ, H5844) — to wrap or cover oneself, often with garments. לָבַשׁ (lāḇaš, H3847) — to put on or wear clothing, less about wrapping and more about wearing.
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 →