מַעַל
treachery, i.e. sin
Definition
The Hebrew noun מַעַל (maʻal) fundamentally denotes a breach of trust or faithlessness, specifically a violation of a sacred covenant or relationship. It most often refers to acts of treachery against God, such as unfaithfulness in worship (Leviticus 5:15) or violating the covenant through idolatry (Numbers 31:16). The word also describes serious social and legal violations, like deceit against a neighbor (Leviticus 6:2) or marital unfaithfulness (Numbers 5:12, 27). In contexts like Joshua 7:1, it encapsulates the severe consequences of such covenant-breaking sin.
Biblical Usage
מַעַל is used predominantly in legal and narrative contexts within the Pentateuch (Leviticus, Numbers) to define specific covenant violations requiring restitution or atonement. It appears in ritual texts detailing offerings for unintentional sins (Leviticus 5:15) and in legal procedures for suspected adultery (Numbers 5). The term also frames national crises, as in the sin of Achan (Joshua 7:1) and Israel's collective unfaithfulness (Leviticus 26:40). Its usage consistently highlights a serious, relational breach rather than a mere mistake.
Etymology
Derived from the verb מָעַל (maʻal, H4603), meaning 'to act unfaithfully, to trespass, to break trust.' The root conveys the idea of overstepping a boundary or betraying a position of trust. This semantic field connects to concepts of treachery and covenant violation, emphasizing the relational damage of the act.
Semantic Range
מַעַל is a theologically significant term for understanding sin in the Old Testament as fundamentally relational—a betrayal of the covenant relationship with God. It underscores that sin is not just a legal infraction but a breach of sacred trust, with communal consequences (Joshua 7). This enriches the reading of passages on repentance (Leviticus 26:40) and atonement, highlighting the need for restoration of the broken relationship.
In ancient Israel's covenant-based society, faithfulness (אֱמוּנָה, 'emunah) was paramount for social and religious stability. מַעַל represented one of the most serious categories of wrongdoing, as it undermined the divine-human and inter-human bonds that held the community together. Such an act was seen as polluting the camp (Joshua 7) and requiring formal resolution to restore holiness and peace.
פֶּשַׁע (peshaʻ, H6588) — emphasizes rebellion or willful transgression. חַטָּאת (chattaʼth, H2403) — a broader term for sin, often meaning 'to miss the mark.' עָווֹן (ʻavon, H5771) — conveys iniquity, guilt, or moral crookedness.
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 →