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מְעִיל

𐤌𐤏𐤉𐤋

mᵉʻîyl

H4598 noun

SILEX Entry

Root מעל to cover, cover over, act unfaithfully (in verbal form)

Definition

A large, outer garment—typically sleeveless—worn over other clothing, most often associated with individuals of high social status, priestly office, or royal function. In the Hebrew Bible, the מְעִיל is usually a distinct upper garment used for ceremonial, official, or honorific purposes—such as the priestly robe of the high priest, the royal mantle of Saul or Samuel, or the cloak of prophets. Its function is generally to serve as an outer layer, visually marking someone’s position or role, or as part of ritual dress. The term can also be used more broadly to refer to a substantial outer covering or garment in non-official contexts.

Semantic Range

upper garment, outer robe, ceremonial robe, priestly garment, mantle, cloak; special outerwear marking high status or office

Root / Etymology

Root: מעל (m-ʻ-l), primary meaning 'to cover, to be high, to act treacherously' (by extension). However, the precise derivation of מְעִיל from מעל in the sense of covering is debated, as the noun designates a specific type of garment rather than the act or general concept of covering. The word is thus best understood as a specialized noun, possibly based on an older verbal root referring to enveloping or over-covering, but lexical development is not entirely clear.

Historical & Contextual Notes

In the Hebrew Bible, מְעִיל appears in contexts relating to both cultic/priests’ garments (especially the high priest’s blue robe in Exodus 28–29, 39; Leviticus 8) and royal/professional attire (as with Samuel, Saul, David, and prophets like Elijah and Elisha). During the monarchic period, the מְעִיל seems to denote a dignified outer garment marking authority or ritual status, while in later contexts the term could refer more generally to an outer cloak or mantle. English translations often render it as 'robe', 'mantle', or 'cloak,' but may not consistently reflect the ceremonial or hierarchical nuance attached to the Hebrew term. The מְעִיל is distinct from other Hebrew garments such as the כֻּתֹּנֶת (tunics) or שִׂמְלָה (general clothes or wrap), signifying a more formal or symbolic article of clothing. In post-exilic and Second Temple literature, the term persists more in ritual than everyday clothing references. Later rabbinic usage extends the sense further, but the biblical example focuses on status and function, not generic clothing.

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

from מָעַל in the sense of covering; a robe (i.e. upper and outer garment); cloke, coat, mantle, robe.

Bantu Hebrew

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Root Family

מעל (m-ʿ-l) — to cover, cover over; to be high; (verbally) to act unfaithfully

Strong's Lemma SIBI-P1
H4603 מָעַל in their breach-of-trust
H4604 מַעַל in the breach-of-faith

Word Forms

12 distinct forms

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 Occurrences
H4598-02 הַ/מְּעִ֖יל hameil HTd/Ncmsa the robe the outer robe 8
H4598-06 מְעִ֥יל meil HNcmsc robe outer covering-robe 5
H4598-10 מְעִיל֖/וֹ meilo HNcmsc/Sp3ms his robe his outer robe 3
H4598-11 וּ/מְעִ֔יל umeil HC/Ncmsa a little robe ceremonial outer robe 2
H4598-12 וּ/מְעִילִ֑/י umeili HC/Ncmsc/Sp1cs and my robe and my outer robe 2
H4598-07 מְעִילְ/ךָ֖ meilekha HNcmsc/Sp2ms of-your-robe your outer robe 2
H4598-04 כַ/מְעִ֣יל khameil HRd/Ncmsa as with a robe like an outer mantle 1
H4598-08 מְעִ֣ילֵי/הֶ֔ם meileyhem HNcmpc/Sp3mp their robes their ceremonial outer robes 1
H4598-03 כַּ/מְעִ֖יל kameil HRd/Ncmsa as a cloak as an outer robe 1
H4598-09 מְעִילִ֑ים meilim HNcmpa robes ceremonial outer robes 1

Occurrences in Scripture

28 total occurrences

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1
H4598-11 Exodus 28:4 וּ/מְעִ֔יל umeil HC/Ncmsa and a robe ceremonial outer robe
H4598-06 Exodus 28:31 מְעִ֥יל meil HNcmsc the robe outer covering-robe
H4598-02 Exodus 28:34 הַ/מְּעִ֖יל hameil HTd/Ncmsa the robe the outer robe
H4598-06 Exodus 29:5 מְעִ֣יל meil HNcmsc the robe outer covering-robe
H4598-06 Exodus 39:22 מְעִ֥יל meil HNcmsc robe outer covering-robe
H4598-02 Exodus 39:23 הַ/מְּעִ֥יל hameil HTd/Ncmsa of-the-robe the outer robe
H4598-02 Exodus 39:24 הַ/מְּעִ֔יל hameil HTd/Ncmsa the robe the outer robe
H4598-02 Exodus 39:25 הַ/מְּעִיל֙ hameil HTd/Ncmsa the robe the outer robe
H4598-02 Exodus 39:26 הַ/מְּעִ֖יל hameil HTd/Ncmsa the-robe the outer robe
H4598-02 Leviticus 8:7 הַ/מְּעִ֔יל hameil HTd/Ncmsa robe the outer robe
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