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מָעַל

𐤌𐤏𐤋

mâʻal

H4603 verb

SILEX Entry

Root מעל to be unfaithful, to commit a breach of trust, to act treacherously

Definition

To act unfaithfully or treacherously in relation to a trust or obligation; to commit a breach of duty, especially with reference to sacred trust, property, or covenant. The term denotes the violation of a specific expectation, responsibility, or loyalty, often in a religious, legal, or communal context. In most instances, it concerns offenses against the sanctity of dedicated objects, persons, or agreements, implying both disloyalty and illicit appropriation.

Semantic Range

to act treacherously, to be unfaithful, to violate a trust, to commit sacrilege, to carry out a clandestine transgression; to trespass (especially in a covenantal or sacred context), to defraud, to betray confidence

Root / Etymology

Root: מעל. The root conveys the idea of acting unfaithfully, committing a breach of trust, or behaving dishonestly. The literal sense of 'covering up' suggested in some lexicons is debated and not universally accepted among modern scholars; it is more accurately understood as a transposition into the figurative sense of faithlessness or treachery. The actual lexical meaning centers around the notion of betraying a trust or obligation, rather than concealment per se.

Historical & Contextual Notes

מָעַל is regularly used to describe violations of trust or faith, especially in relation to sacred obligations—such as withholding or misusing items set apart for deity use (e.g., Leviticus 5:15–16), infidelity to a covenant (2 Chronicles 28:19), or communal unfaithfulness (Ezra 10:2). The term differs from חָטָא (ḥaṭa', 'to miss the mark, to sin') in that מָעַל emphasizes the breach of a fiduciary or covenantal relationship, whereas חָטָא is broader and can refer to any general wrongdoing. In Priestly material and later texts, מָעַל often signifies ritual or sacrilegious defilement (Numbers 5:6, 18:22). The English term 'trespass' is a partial equivalent, but does not always convey the nuance of breach of trust or treachery intrinsic to מָעַל. Use of 'trespass' in older translations sometimes obscures these nuances. In post-exilic texts, the word can also denote communal collective unfaithfulness, particularly regarding marriage to non-Israelite women (Ezra 9:2; 10:2–10).

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

a primitive root; properly, to cover up; used only figuratively, to act covertly, i.e. treacherously; transgress, (commit, do a) trespass(-ing).

Bantu Hebrew

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Root Family

מעל (m-ʿ-l) — unfaithfulness, treachery, breach of trust

Strong's Lemma SIBI-P1
H4598 מְעִיל in an outer robe of
H4604 מַעַל in the breach-of-faith

Word Forms

17 distinct forms

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 Occurrences
H4603-08 מָֽעֲלוּ maalu HVqp3cp they-trespassed they acted unfaithfully 8
H4603-05 מָ֤עַל maal HVqp3ms commit breach of faith 6
H4603-09 מְעַלְתֶּ֜ם mealetem HVqp2mp have transgressed you have acted unfaithfully 4
H4603-04 לִ/מְעֹ֥ל limeol HR/Vqc to-act-treacherously to act unfaithfully 3
H4603-12 וּ/מָעֲלָ֥ה umaalah HC/Vqq3fs and commits and she acted unfaithfully 2
H4603-16 וַ/יִּמְעֲל֧וּ vayimealu HC/Vqw3mp and they acted unfaithfully and they breached trust 2
H4603-17 יִמְעַל yimeal HVqi3ms transgress he will act treacherously 1
H4603-15 וַ/יִּמְעַ֖ל vayimeal HC/Vqw3ms and he acted unfaithfully and he acted unfaithfully 1
H4603-13 וּ/מָע֥וֹל umaol HC/Vqa and had been very to act unfaithfully 1
H4603-02 לִ/מְעָל limeal HR/Vqc by committing a trespass to breach trust 1

Occurrences in Scripture

36 total occurrences

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1
H4603-11 Leviticus 5:15 תִמְעֹ֣ל timeol HVqi3fs commits unfaithfulness she will act unfaithfully
H4603-12 Leviticus 5:21 וּ/מָעֲלָ֥ה umaalah HC/Vqq3fs and-commits-trespass and she acted unfaithfully
H4603-08 Leviticus 26:40 מָֽעֲלוּ maalu HVqp3cp they committed they acted unfaithfully
H4603-04 Numbers 5:6 לִ/מְעֹ֥ל limeol HR/Vqc to-act-trespass to act unfaithfully
H4603-12 Numbers 5:12 וּ/מָעֲלָ֥ה umaalah HC/Vqq3fs and commits and she acted unfaithfully
H4603-14 Numbers 5:27 וַ/תִּמְעֹ֣ל vatimeol HC/Vqw3fs and-she-has-been-unfaithful and she acted unfaithfully
H4603-09 Deuteronomy 32:51 מְעַלְתֶּ֜ם mealetem HVqp2mp you trespassed you have acted unfaithfully
H4603-16 Joshua 7:1 וַ/יִּמְעֲל֧וּ vayimealu HC/Vqw3mp and they acted unfaithfully and they breached trust
H4603-09 Joshua 22:16 מְעַלְתֶּם֙ mealetem HVqp2mp you have committed you have acted unfaithfully
H4603-05 Joshua 22:20 מָ֤עַל maal HVqp3ms commit breach of faith
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