What does מָעַל (māʿal) mean in the Bible?
מָעַל (māʿal): Treachery through hidden action; covenant-breaking unfaithfulness that conceals its true nature from the injured party
Hebrew · H4603
מָעַל
Properly, to cover up ; used only figuratively, to act covertly , i.e. treacherously
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מָעַל H4603
Pronunciation māʿal
What does מָעַל (māʿal) mean in the Bible?
מָעַל (māʿal): Treachery through hidden action; covenant-breaking unfaithfulness that conceals its true nature from the injured party
Full entry for מָעַל (H4603) · Open the biblical lexicon
Questions this entry answers
How does the BSB render H4603?
The BSB source-word alignment has 35 aligned rows for this entry. Common renderings include acts (2), have been unfaithful (2), unfaithful (2), were unfaithful (2), . . . (1).
Where does מָעַל (māʿal) appear in Scripture?
The source-word alignment first shows this entry at Leviticus 5:15. Its strongest book concentrations include 2 Chronicles (8), Ezekiel (7), Joshua (4), 1 Chronicles (3).
Source Word Evidence
BSB source-word alignment connects this entry to exact verse rows, English rendering, source form, transliteration, and parsing.
How English Renders It acts 2× Leviticus 5:15, Numbers 5:6
have been unfaithful 2× Ezra 10:2, Ezra 10:10
unfaithful 2× Joshua 22:20, 2 Chronicles 28:22
were unfaithful 2× 2 Chronicles 29:6, 2 Chronicles 30:7
. . . 1× 1 Chronicles 10:13
acted 1× Joshua 7:1
against 1× Ezekiel 20:27
and acting unfaithfully 1× Nehemiah 13:27
and acts 1× Leviticus 6:2
and been unfaithful 1× Numbers 5:27
and had been most unfaithful 1× 2 Chronicles 28:19
and is unfaithful 1× Numbers 5:12
are unfaithful 1× Nehemiah 1:8
Because of the unfaithfulness 1× Ezekiel 18:24
betray 1× Proverbs 16:10
both of you broke faith 1× Deuteronomy 32:51
breach of faith 1× Joshua 22:16
But they were unfaithful 1× 1 Chronicles 5:25
by acting unfaithfully 1× Ezekiel 14:13
by violating 1× 1 Chronicles 2:7
committed 1× Joshua 22:31
for the treason 1× Ezekiel 17:20
He was unfaithful 1× 2 Chronicles 26:16
the treachery 1× Ezekiel 39:26
their unfaithful deeds 1× 2 Chronicles 36:14
they had been unfaithful 1× 2 Chronicles 12:2
they have acted unfaithfully 1× Ezekiel 15:8
they practiced 1× Leviticus 26:40
they were unfaithful 1× Ezekiel 39:23
you have acted unfaithfully 1× 2 Chronicles 26:18
Show sample aligned rows
Leviticus 5:15 תִמְעֹ֣ל to acts Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person feminine singular Leviticus 6:2 וּמָעֲלָ֥ה to and acts Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - third person feminine singular Leviticus 26:40 מָֽעֲלוּ־ to they practiced Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person common plural Numbers 5:6 לִמְעֹ֥ל to acts Preposition-l | Verb - Qal - Infinitive construct Numbers 5:12 וּמָעֲלָ֥ה to and is unfaithful Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - third person feminine singular Numbers 5:27 וַתִּמְעֹ֣ל to and been unfaithful Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person feminine singular Deuteronomy 32:51 מְעַלְתֶּ֜ם to both of you broke faith Verb - Qal - Perfect - second person masculine plural Joshua 7:1 וַיִּמְעֲל֧וּ to acted Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine plural Joshua 22:16 מְעַלְתֶּם֙ to breach of faith Verb - Qal - Perfect - second person masculine plural Joshua 22:20 מָ֤עַל to unfaithful Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person masculine singular
Usage map
A compact distribution from source-word alignment before the full evidence tables.
First aligned row Leviticus 5:15
Aligned rows 35
Books represented 11
Leviticus 3 Numbers 3 Deuteronomy 1 Joshua 4 1 Chronicles 3 2 Chronicles 8 Ezra 2 Nehemiah 2 Proverbs 1 Ezekiel 7 Daniel 1
Source forms
מָֽעֲלוּ־ 3x mā·‘ă·lū- Leviticus 26:40, Ezekiel 39:23, Daniel 9:7
וּמָעֲלָ֥ה 2x ū·mā·‘ă·lāh Leviticus 6:2, Numbers 5:12
בְּמַעֲלָ֥ם 1x bə·ma·‘ă·lām Ezekiel 20:27
וַיִּמְעַ֖ל 1x way·yim·‘al 2 Chronicles 26:16
וַיִּמְעֲל֧וּ 1x way·yim·‘ă·lū Joshua 7:1
וַיִּֽמְעֲל֔וּ 1x way·yim·‘ă·lū 1 Chronicles 5:25
וּמָע֥וֹל 1x ū·mā·‘ō·wl 2 Chronicles 28:19
וַתִּמְעֹ֣ל 1x wat·tim·‘ōl Numbers 5:27
Parsing patterns
Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person common plural 8x Leviticus 26:40, 2 Chronicles 12:2, 2 Chronicles 29:6, 2 Chronicles 30:7
Preposition-l | Verb - Qal - Infinitive construct 5x Numbers 5:6, 2 Chronicles 28:22, 2 Chronicles 36:14, Nehemiah 13:27
Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person masculine singular 5x Joshua 22:20, 1 Chronicles 2:7, 1 Chronicles 10:13, Ezekiel 17:20
Verb - Qal - Perfect - second person masculine plural 4x Deuteronomy 32:51, Joshua 22:16, Joshua 22:31, Ezra 10:10
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - third person feminine singular 2x Leviticus 6:2, Numbers 5:12
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine plural 2x Joshua 7:1, 1 Chronicles 5:25
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person feminine singular 1x Numbers 5:27
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular 1x 2 Chronicles 26:16
Evidence Summary
Hebrew word. Treachery through hidden action; covenant-breaking unfaithfulness that conceals its true nature from the injured party
Strong's H4603
Lexical occurrences 36 verses Word forms 1 form 23 references Verse guides 0 guides
Study link Leviticus 5:14-19 Source Gloss
properly, to cover up ; used only figuratively, to act covertly , i.e. treacherously
Extended definition Source: Open Scriptures Hebrew Lexicon + Brown-Driver-Briggs
Treachery through hidden action; covenant-breaking unfaithfulness that conceals its true nature from the injured party
properly, to cover up; used only figuratively, to act covertly, i.e. treacherously BDB: act unfaithfully Usage: transgress, (commit, do a) trespass(-ing).
Grammatical Forms
How the stem changes the meaning of this verb across the biblical text.
This verb appears through different tense, voice, mood, or stem patterns. Those forms help readers see how the action is presented in context.
Form groups 1 Aligned forms 23
Qal basic active stem — the word in its most common, direct sense 22×
Perfect 2Chr 12:2 · 2Chr 29:6 · 2Chr 30:7 · Dan 9:7 · Ezek 15:8 · Ezek 39:23 · Ezek 39:26 · Lev 26:40 · 1Chr 2:7 · 1Chr 10:13 · Ezek 17:20 · Ezek 18:24 · Josh 22:20 · Deut 32:51 · Ezra 10:10 · Josh 22:16 19×
Imperfect Lev 5:15 · Neh 1:8 · Prov 16:10 3×
Selected Scripture Witnesses
Selected passage-level study witnesses for this word. This section is not the full occurrence list.
Biblical Witnesses
Unintentional transgression against holy things requiring guilt offering
Treacherous unfaithfulness in covenant relationships, deliberate deception
Showing 2 selected witnesses from 36 lexical occurrence verses.
Word Origins
מָעַל is a primitive root - no further derivation.
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.
Sources
MorphGNT Strong's Dictionary XML — CC0 1.0 Public Domain
Open Scriptures Hebrew Bible (morphhb/OSHB) — CC BY 4.0
Open Scriptures Hebrew Lexicon — CC BY 4.0
Berean Standard Bible (BSB) source-word alignment - CC0 Public Domain