מַד
𐤌𐤃
mad
H4055 noun
SILEX Entry
Definition
A garment or article of clothing, typically one that is specifically measured or fitted; by extension, used for a wide range of attire, including robes, tunics, and vestments. Less commonly, refers to a dimension (such as height or length) and, in some contexts, to a measured piece of textile such as a carpet. In rare cases, may denote physical stature or extent, especially as ascertained by measurement.
Semantic Range
garment, robe, tunic, vestment, article of clothing, measured cloth, carpet, extent, height, stature, size
Root / Etymology
From the root מדד (m-d-d), meaning 'to measure.' The noun מַד (mad) derives from this root, signifying something that has been measured, in particular a measured amount, a measured garment, or stature. The related word מִדָּה (middah) more broadly describes measure or proportion.
Historical & Contextual Notes
In biblical usage, מַד (mad) appears primarily to denote garments or fitted raiment, especially garments assigned or given in fixed quantity or size (e.g., 2 Chronicles 18:9, Daniel 3:21). Less frequently, it describes a measurement of extent or distance, and, by extension, may refer to a carpet or spread cloth (Isaiah 14:11). In post-exilic and later biblical Hebrew, the sense ascribed to 'garment' became predominant. There is some overlap with מִדָּה (middah), but מַד (mad) is more concrete, signifying a specific counted or measured item, rather than the abstract idea of measure. English translations often obscure this nuance, sometimes rendering the word as 'garments,' 'robes,' 'measure,' or, in unusual contexts, 'carpet.' The term never refers to judicial 'judgment' (a possible error in older lexicons), and 'armour' is an interpretive rendering based on context. In Aramaic and later periods, similar terminology persisted but developed additional senses (cf. Daniel 3:21).
Translation Consistency
מַד most often denotes an article of clothing (robe, tunic, vestment) and 'garment' is the natural, neutral English noun that covers that full range. It reads naturally in translation, is broad enough to include tunics, robes, and measured cloth, and avoids overly specific senses like 'robe' or 'tunic'.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
or מֵד; from מָדַד; properly, extent, i.e. height; also a measure; by implication, a vesture (as measured); also a carpet; armour, clothes, garment, judgment, measure, raiment, stature.
Bantu Hebrew
No Bantu Hebrew comparisons have been recorded for this word yet.
Root Family
מדד (mad) — to measure, to stretch, to extend
| Strong's | Lemma | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|
| H4060 | מִדָּה | in the measure |
| H4061 | מִדָּה | apportioned tribute of |
| H4063 | מֶדֶו | their measured-length robes |
| H4461 | מֵמַד | her dimensions |
Word Forms
8 distinct forms
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | SIBI-P2 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H4055-02 |
לְ/מַדָּ֜י/ו | lemadayv | HR/Ncmpc/Sp3ms |
his armor | his measured garments | his garments | 2 |
H4055-07 |
מִדּ֣/וֹ | mido | HNcmsc/Sp3ms |
his garment | his measured garment | his measured garment | 2 |
H4055-08 |
וּ/מַדָּ֣י/ו | umadayv | HC/Ncmpc/Sp3ms |
and his clothes | and his measured garments | and his garments | 2 |
H4055-01 |
כְּ/מַ֫דּ֥/וֹ | kemado | HR/Ncmsc/Sp3ms |
like his garment | like his measured garment | like his garment | 1 |
H4055-03 |
מַדָּ֔י/ו | madayv | HNcmpc/Sp3ms |
his armor | his measured garments | his armor | 1 |
H4055-04 |
מִדָּ֑/הּ | midah | HNcmsc/Sp3fs |
than its measure | measured portion | than its measure | 1 |
H4055-05 |
מִדַּ֛יִ/ךְ | midayikhe | HNcmpc/Sp2fs |
of your measures | your measured garments | your measured garment | 1 |
H4055-06 |
מִדִּ֛ין | midin | HNcmpa |
rich carpets | measured garments | measured garments | 1 |
Occurrences in Scripture
11 occurrences
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | SIBI-P2 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H4055-07 |
Leviticus 6:3 | מִדּ֣/וֹ | mido | HNcmsc/Sp3ms |
his tunic | his measured garment | his tunic |
H4055-02 |
Judges 3:16 | לְ/מַדָּ֔י/ו | lemadayv | HR/Ncmpc/Sp3ms |
his clothes | his measured garments | his garments |
H4055-06 |
Judges 5:10 | מִדִּ֛ין | midin | HNcmpa |
rich carpets | measured garments | measured garments |
H4055-08 |
1 Samuel 4:12 | וּ/מַדָּ֣י/ו | umadayv | HC/Ncmpc/Sp3ms |
and his clothes | and his measured garments | and his garments |
H4055-03 |
1 Samuel 17:38 | מַדָּ֔י/ו | madayv | HNcmpc/Sp3ms |
his armor | his measured garments | his armor |
H4055-02 |
1 Samuel 17:39 | לְ/מַדָּ֜י/ו | lemadayv | HR/Ncmpc/Sp3ms |
his armor | his measured garments | his garments |
H4055-08 |
1 Samuel 18:4 | וּ/מַדָּ֕י/ו | umadayv | HC/Ncmpc/Sp3ms |
and his garments | and his measured garments | and his garments |
H4055-07 |
2 Samuel 20:8 | מִדּ֣/וֹ | mido | HNcmsc/Sp3ms |
his garment | his measured garment | his measured garment |
H4055-05 |
Jeremiah 13:25 | מִדַּ֛יִ/ךְ | midayikhe | HNcmpc/Sp2fs |
of your measures | your measured garments | your measured garment |
H4055-01 |
Psalms 109:18 | כְּ/מַ֫דּ֥/וֹ | kemado | HR/Ncmsc/Sp3ms |
like his garment | like his measured garment | like his garment |
H4055-04 |
Job 11:9 | מִדָּ֑/הּ | midah | HNcmsc/Sp3fs |
than its measure | measured portion | than its measure |