What does מְעִיל (mĕʿiyl) mean in the Bible?
מְעִיל (mĕʿiyl): Outer ceremonial garment signifying status and authority; worn by priests, kings, and the wealthy.
Hebrew · H4598
מְעִיל
A robe (i.e. upper and outer garment)
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מְעִילH4598
Pronunciationmĕʿiyl
What does מְעִיל (mĕʿiyl) mean in the Bible?
מְעִיל (mĕʿiyl): Outer ceremonial garment signifying status and authority; worn by priests, kings, and the wealthy.
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).
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
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.