מְעִיל
a robe (i.e. upper and outer garment)
Definition
The Hebrew word מְעִיל (mᵉʻîyl) refers to a long, sleeveless outer garment or robe, typically worn over other clothing. It was a formal, often ceremonial, garment, distinct from everyday tunics or cloaks. In the Bible, it is most prominently associated with the sacred vestments of the High Priest (e.g., Exodus 28:4, 31), but it is also worn by royalty (e.g., Saul and Jonathan in 1 Samuel 18:4, 24:4) and other figures of high status. In some prophetic contexts, like Isaiah 61:10, it serves as a metaphor for righteousness and salvation.
Biblical Usage
The מְעִיל is used 27 times, primarily in the Torah's descriptions of the priestly garments (Exodus 28-29, 39). It appears as a key component of the High Priest's regalia, often detailed with specific materials like blue cloth, gold bells, and pomegranates. Outside the Pentateuch, it denotes royal or noble attire in the historical books (1 Samuel, 2 Samuel, Ezra) and is used metaphorically in poetic and prophetic literature (Job, Psalms, Isaiah). For example, in 1 Samuel 18:4, Jonathan gives his robe to David as a sign of honor and covenant.
Etymology
Derived from the root מָעַל (H4603, māʻal), which carries the basic sense of 'to cover' or 'to wrap.' This root connection highlights the garment's primary function as a covering. Cognates in other Semitic languages, like Ugaritic, also point to a meaning of a cloak or mantle, confirming its role as a significant outer garment.
Semantic Range
The מְעִיל holds theological significance as a symbol of divine appointment, authority, and consecration. The High Priest's robe (Exodus 28) represented his mediatory role before God, with its elements like the bells symbolizing the need for holiness in God's presence. Its use in royal contexts (1 Samuel 18:4) ties it to covenant and transfer of status. Prophetic metaphors, such as being clothed with 'garments of salvation' and the 'robe of righteousness' (Isaiah 61:10), connect the physical garment to spiritual realities of God's covering and redemption, enriching our understanding of biblical imagery for grace.
In ancient Israelite culture, the מְעִיל was not everyday wear but a marker of high social, religious, or political rank. Unlike a simple cloak for warmth, it was a tailored, often ornate, garment signifying office and identity. The detailed specifications for the High Priest's robe (Exodus 28) underscore its ritual importance, differentiating it from common clothing and emphasizing the sacred separation of the priesthood.
שִׂמְלָה (śimlâ, H8008) — a more general term for a wrapper, mantle, or garment, often an outer cloak worn by various people. בֶּגֶד (beged, H899) — a very common, general term for clothing, garment, or robe, which can sometimes contextually overlap but lacks the specific ceremonial or noble connotations of מְעִיל.
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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