מַחֲלָצָה
a mantle (as easily drawn off)
Definition
The Hebrew noun מַחֲלָצָה refers to a special, high-quality garment, specifically a mantle or robe that is easily put on or taken off. It describes a luxurious, changeable suit of apparel, likely a festive or ceremonial outer garment. In Isaiah 3:22, it is listed among the extravagant items of finery that the women of Jerusalem will lose as a judgment from God. In Zechariah 3:4, the high priest Joshua's filthy garments are removed, and he is clothed with מַחֲלָצוֹת (plural), symbolizing the removal of iniquity and the bestowal of pure, honorable vestments.
Biblical Usage
This word occurs only twice in the Old Testament, both times in prophetic books. In Isaiah 3:22, it appears in a list of luxury items within a prophecy of judgment against Judah's pride and vanity. In Zechariah 3:4, it is used in a visionary scene where the angel of the Lord provides clean, rich garments to the high priest, representing a divine act of purification and restoration. The usage consistently denotes a garment of significant value and symbolic importance.
Etymology
Derived from the root חָלַץ (ḥālaṣ, H2502), which means 'to draw off, to strip, to deliver.' The noun form מַחֲלָצָה carries the sense of something that is drawn off or on, hence a garment that is easily removed or changed. This root idea of removal or deliverance connects to the word's use in Zechariah 3:4, where filthy clothes are 'removed' and replaced.
Semantic Range
This word is theologically significant as it visually represents the concepts of divine judgment, purification, and restoration. In Isaiah, the removal of the מַחֲלָצָה signifies God's stripping away of pride and false security. In Zechariah, the clothing with מַחֲלָצוֹת is a powerful symbol of God's gracious act of taking away sin and clothing his servant in righteousness and honor, prefiguring the believer's justification in Christ.
In ancient Israelite culture, clothing was a strong indicator of social status, wealth, and spiritual condition. A מַחֲלָצָה was not everyday attire but a costly, likely ornate, outer garment reserved for special occasions or for persons of high rank, such as priests or the wealthy. Its inclusion in lists of finery (Isaiah 3) and its use in a priestly vision (Zechariah 3) highlight its association with honor, celebration, and ceremonial purity.
בֶּגֶד (beged, H899) — a general term for garment or clothing. מַעֲטֶה (maʿăṭeh, H4594) — a covering or cloak, often for warmth or concealment. שִׂמְלָה (śimlâh, H8008) — a wrapper or mantle, a principal outer garment.
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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