What does מְעִיל (mĕʿiyl) mean in the Bible?
A robe is an outer garment that can appear in appointed clothing, ordinary care, a gift or mourning. Exodus gives instructions for the blue robe of the ephod.
Hebrew · H4598
מְעִיל
A robe is an outer garment that can appear in appointed clothing, ordinary care, a gift or mourning. Exodus gives instructions for the blue robe of the ephod.
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מְעִילH4598
Pronunciationmĕʿiyl
What does מְעִיל (mĕʿiyl) mean in the Bible?
Reader summary
Full entry for מְעִיל (H4598) · Open the biblical lexicon
Questions this entry answers
How does the BSB render H4598?
The BSB source-word alignment has 28 aligned rows for this entry. Common renderings include of the robe (4), the robe (4), . . . (2), a robe (2), and cloak (2).
Where does מְעִיל (mĕʿiyl) appear in Scripture?
The source-word alignment first shows this entry at Exodus 28:4. Its strongest book concentrations include Exodus (9), 1 Samuel (7), Job (3), Ezra (2).
What This Word Actually Means
A robe is an outer garment that can appear in appointed clothing, ordinary care, a gift or mourning. Exodus gives instructions for the blue robe of the ephod. First Samuel describes Hannah making a little robe for Samuel and bringing it during the annual visit. Job tears his robe after hearing that his children have died, then falls down and worships. The garment is real in each account, but the activity involving it changes.
It does not confer spiritual office upon everyone who wears one or make one grieving gesture compulsory. Readers should notice who wears, makes, gives or tears the robe and what the surrounding story states. Hannah's care and Job's grief can be honored without turning their garments into objects of power or their experiences into promises of identical outcomes.
How the Bible Uses It
The appointed blue robe, Hannah's annual gift and Job's torn robe appear in distinct actions. The garment's significance comes from priestly instruction, parental care or narrated mourning.
- Exod.28.31
You are to make the robe of the ephod entirely of blue cloth,
The blue robe belongs to detailed ephod instructions, with its opening, woven collar and hem described in the following verses.
- 1Sam.2.19
Each year his mother would make him a little robe and bring it to him when she went with her husband to offer the annual sacrifice.
Hannah makes and brings a little robe each year while Samuel ministers before the Lord, preserving an ongoing act of parental care.
- Job.1.20
Then Job stood up, tore his robe, and shaved his head. He fell to the ground and worshiped,
Job tears his robe after the reported deaths of his children and worships, so real grief and his stated response occur together.
Source Word Evidence
BSB source-word alignment connects this entry to exact verse rows, English rendering, source form, transliteration, and parsing.
How English Renders Itof the robe4×Exodus 28:34, Exodus 39:23, Exodus 39:24, Exodus 39:26
the robe4×Exodus 28:31, Exodus 29:5, Exodus 39:22, 1 Samuel 18:4
. . .2×1 Samuel 24:11, 2 Samuel 13:18
a robe2×Exodus 28:4, 1 Samuel 28:14
and cloak2×Ezra 9:3, Ezra 9:5
his robe2×Job 1:20, Job 2:12
in a robe2×1 Chronicles 15:27, Isaiah 61:10
robe2×1 Samuel 2:19, 1 Samuel 24:4
-1×Exodus 39:25
in a cloak1×Isaiah 59:17
like a robe1×Psalms 109:29
of his robe1×1 Samuel 15:27
of your robe1×1 Samuel 24:11
their robes1×Ezekiel 26:16
was my robe1×Job 29:14
with the robe1×Leviticus 8:7
Show sample aligned rows
Exodus 28:4וּמְעִ֔ילtoa robeConjunctive waw | Noun - masculine singularExodus 28:31מְעִ֥ילtothe robeNoun - masculine singular constructExodus 28:34הַמְּעִ֖ילtoof the robeArticle | Noun - masculine singularExodus 29:5מְעִ֣ילtothe robeNoun - masculine singular constructExodus 39:22מְעִ֥ילtothe robeNoun - masculine singular constructExodus 39:23הַמְּעִ֥ילtoof the robeArticle | Noun - masculine singularExodus 39:24הַמְּעִ֔ילtoof the robeArticle | Noun - masculine singularExodus 39:25הַמְּעִיל֙to-Article | Noun - masculine singularExodus 39:26הַמְּעִ֖ילtoof the robeArticle | Noun - masculine singularLeviticus 8:7הַמְּעִ֔ילtowith the robeArticle | Noun - masculine singular
Usage map
A compact distribution from source-word alignment before the full evidence tables.
First aligned rowExodus 28:4
Aligned rows28
Books represented10
Exodus9Leviticus11 Samuel72 Samuel11 Chronicles1Ezra2Job3Psalms1Isaiah2Ezekiel1
Source forms
מְעִ֥יל3xmə·‘îlExodus 28:31, Exodus 39:22, Isaiah 61:10
הַמְּעִ֖יל2xham·mə·‘îlExodus 28:34, Exodus 39:26
הַמְּעִ֥יל2xham·mə·‘îlExodus 39:23, 1 Samuel 24:4
הַמְּעִ֔יל2xham·mə·‘îlExodus 39:24, Leviticus 8:7
הַמְּעִיל֙2xham·mə·‘îlExodus 39:25, 1 Samuel 18:4
וּמְעִילִ֑י2xū·mə·‘î·lîEzra 9:3, Ezra 9:5
מְעִל֔וֹ2xmə·‘i·lōwJob 1:20, Job 2:12
בִּמְעִ֣יל1xbim·‘îl1 Chronicles 15:27
Parsing patterns
Article | Noun - masculine singular8xExodus 28:34, Exodus 39:23, Exodus 39:24, Exodus 39:25
Noun - masculine singular construct4xExodus 28:31, Exodus 29:5, Exodus 39:22, Isaiah 61:10
Noun - masculine singular construct | third person masculine singular3x1 Samuel 15:27, Job 1:20, Job 2:12
Conjunctive waw | Noun - masculine singular2xExodus 28:4, 1 Samuel 2:19
Conjunctive waw | Noun - masculine singular construct | first person common singular2xEzra 9:3, Ezra 9:5
Noun - masculine singular construct | second person masculine singular2x1 Samuel 24:11
Preposition-k, Article | Noun - masculine singular2xPsalms 109:29, Isaiah 59:17
Noun - masculine plural1x2 Samuel 13:18
Using This Word Well
Be careful not to...
- Value practical care without promising fertility, office or divine favor from supplying clothing.
- Allow grieving people truthful sorrow without measuring their faith by copied gestures.
Avoid claiming...
- The robe noun does not automatically establish authority, holiness or ritual power.
- Job's response does not prohibit lament or prescribe one universal grieving method.
Evidence Summary
Hebrew word. Outer ceremonial garment signifying status and authority; worn by priests, kings, and the wealthy.
Source Gloss
a robe (i.e. upper and outer garment)
Extended definitionSource: Open Scriptures Hebrew Lexicon + Brown-Driver-Briggs
Outer ceremonial garment signifying status and authority; worn by priests, kings, and the wealthy.
a robe (i.e. upper and outer garment) BDB: robe Usage: cloke, coat, mantle, robe.
Grammatical Forms
How this word appears across different grammatical cases and numbers.
Selected Scripture Witness
Selected passage-level study witnesses for this word. This section is not the full occurrence list.
Biblical Witnesses
Garment of righteousness and salvation, worn as priestly or festive attire
Showing 1 selected witness from 28 lexical occurrence verses.
Word Origins
מְעִיל is built from this root:
Part of These Phrases
Compound and idiomatic phrases that include this word. Follow a link to study the phrase and how its parts work together.
For the Preacher and Teacher
Hannah's little robe is a recurring act of care within Samuel's service. The account names a mother making and bringing clothing, rather than an object that produces a spiritual calling. Exodus gives another robe specific instructions within priestly clothing. Job uses the same kind of garment in a profoundly different action: he tears it after devastating news and then worships.
The noun itself cannot flatten those scenes into one lesson about status or power. Teaching can honor practical care, appointed service and grief without turning clothing into a means of controlling God or judging mourners. Job's response is narrated amid loss, not prescribed as the only acceptable expression of sorrow. The surrounding story determines what the robe helps readers see.
Anchor passage
1Sam.2.19
Doctrinal connections
- Exodus 28:31-34 specifies the robe's material and construction within priestly clothing.
- First Samuel 2:18-19 connects Samuel's ministry with Hannah's continuing practical care.
- Job 1:18-22 narrates torn clothing and worship after the deaths of his children.
- First Samuel 18:3-4 places Jonathan's gift of a robe beside his covenant with David.
- First Samuel 24:4-7 describes David cutting Saul's robe and his subsequent stricken conscience.
- Isaiah 61:10 uses a robe of righteousness within rejoicing in God's clothing provision.
The licensed Hebrew record names an outer or upper robe. A priestly specification, a small garment for a child and a torn garment in mourning require distinct contextual explanations, without status or ritual power encoded by the noun.
From Old to New Testament
Luke 15:20-24 gives the best robe a place in the father's welcome and celebration within Jesus' parable. The connection is thematic clothing in a stated relational action, not a shared Hebrew identity or a claim that every robe confers the same standing or authority.