אַדֶּ֫רֶת (ad.de.ret)
ad.de.ret
clothing
H:N-FQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 11 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- H:N-F
Word Overview
The Hebrew noun aderet primarily denotes a cloak or outer garment, but it carries a specific weight regarding quality and status. It is not merely any piece of clothing; rather, it refers to a mantle made of fine material or fur, often associated with dignity and honor. In the Old Testament, this word appears in contexts that highlight both the physical reality of wearing such a robe and its symbolic value as an item of glory or magnificence.
A key distinction lies in how the sources describe its use for prophets. When Elijah throws his aderet over Elisha (2 Kings 2:13), it is not just a change of clothes but a transfer of prophetic authority and identity. The garment serves as a visible sign of office, linking the wearer to a lineage of spiritual leadership. This usage suggests that the aderet was a distinctive item, setting apart those who wore it for specific divine roles.
The word also appears in poetic or descriptive passages where it conveys splendor. For instance, in Zechariah 3:4, the high priest Joshua is clothed with clean garments, and while the text uses various terms for clothing, the concept of aderet as a garment of glory resonates in these ritual contexts. It represents a state of honor before God, contrasting with shame or poverty. Translators often render it simply as "cloak" or "robe," but the underlying sense is one of respectable, perhaps even royal, attire that commands respect.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The word aderet refers to a specific kind of outer garment, often made of fine material or fur, that signified dignity and honor in ancient Israel. It was not merely clothing for warmth but a visible marker of status and office. When we encounter this term in Scripture, we see it used in moments where identity is established or transferred. For instance, when Elijah casts his aderet over Elisha, the act signifies more than a change of attire; it marks the passing of prophetic authority and divine calling.
This understanding invites us to consider how God uses tangible signs to anchor spiritual realities. The garment represents a state of honor before God, contrasting with shame or poverty. In our own lives, we may not wear ceremonial cloaks, but we are called to embody the dignity of being chosen by God. Just as the aderet set apart prophets for specific roles, your faith equips you to walk in purpose and respect within your community.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 11 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- cloak/ his3×
- [the] cloak of2×
- the/ cloak1×
- splendor/ their1×
- in/ cloak/ his1×
- a cloak of1×
- [was] like/ a cloak of1×
- <the> cloak of1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- אַדַּרְתּ֖/וֹ2×
- אַדֶּ֣רֶת2×
- כְּ/אַדֶּ֣רֶת1×
- הָ/אַדֶּ֣רֶת1×
- בְּ/אַדַּרְתּ֔/וֹ1×
- אַדַּרְתָּ֑/ם1×
- אַדַּרְתּ֤/וֹ1×
- אַדֶּ֨רֶת1×
- אַדֶּ֥רֶת1×
Key Verses
-
I Kings 19:19
So he departed from there and found Elisha the son of Shaphat, who was plowing with twelve yoke of oxen before him, and he with the twelfth. Elijah went over to him and put his mantle on him.
This verse captures the pivotal moment where Elijah transfers his prophetic authority to Elisha through the physical act of placing the mantle upon him.
-
II Kings 2:13
He also took up Elijah’s mantle that fell from him, and went back and stood by the bank of the Jordan.
Elisha’s retrieval of the fallen mantle demonstrates his acceptance of the prophetic lineage and continuity of Elijah’s mission.
-
Genesis 25:25
The first came out red all over, like a hairy garment. They named him Esau.
The description of Esau as red like a hairy garment uses the term to highlight his physical nature and immediate identity as the firstborn.