מַעֲטָפָה
a cloak
Definition
The Hebrew noun מַעֲטָפָה (maʻăṭâphâh) refers to an outer garment, specifically a cloak or mantle. It describes a loose, flowing piece of clothing worn over other garments, likely for warmth, protection, or as a status symbol. In its sole biblical occurrence in Isaiah 3:22, it is listed among the luxurious items of clothing and adornments that the women of Jerusalem will lose as part of God's judgment. The term emphasizes an article of fine or elaborate apparel, not merely a functional covering.
Biblical Usage
This word is used only once in the Old Testament, in Isaiah 3:22. It appears in a list of specific luxury items—including fine robes, sashes, and veils—that will be taken away. Its usage is entirely within a prophetic context of judgment, where the removal of such garments symbolizes the stripping away of pride, security, and social status from the people of Judah.
Etymology
מַעֲטָפָה is derived from the root עָטַף (ʿāṭap̱, H5848), which means 'to cover,' 'to wrap,' or 'to envelop.' The noun form carries the sense of a wrapping or covering garment. Cognates in other Semitic languages also relate to covering or clothing, reinforcing its core meaning as an outer wrap.
Semantic Range
Though used only once, this word holds theological significance within its context in Isaiah. It is part of a catalog of vanity and misplaced trust in material wealth and social appearance (Isaiah 3:16-24). Understanding it as a specific, luxurious cloak enriches the reading of God's judgment, highlighting how He will remove the very symbols of human pride and self-sufficiency, redirecting focus to reliance on Him alone.
In ancient Israelite culture, outer garments like cloaks were significant. They provided practical protection but could also indicate social standing, wealth, or profession. A fine מַעֲטָפָה would be a costly item, possibly imported or intricately made, marking the wearer as part of the elite. Its loss in Isaiah 3:22 would be a profound public humiliation and a real economic deprivation, not just a symbolic one.
שִׂמְלָה (śimlâ, H8008) — a more general term for a garment or robe, often the principal outer garment. בֶּגֶד (beged, H899) — a common word for clothing, garment, or covering, sometimes with connotations of treachery. מְעִיל (məʿîl, H4598) — a robe or mantle, often official or priestly (e.g., 1 Samuel 2:19, 1 Samuel 28:14).
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.
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