מַד (mad)
mad
garment
H:N-MQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 10 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- H:N-M
Word Overview
The noun mad refers to a specific type of outer garment or covering in ancient Israel. It appears ten times in the Hebrew Bible, with notable occurrences in Judges and Psalms. Lexical sources distinguish between its use as a measure of cloth and its primary sense as a physical item of clothing, often described as an outer cloak or carpet-like textile.
In Judges 5:30, the poem celebrates the spoils of war, mentioning "a mad or two" among the captives. This usage highlights its value as a substantial piece of fabric, likely woven from wool or linen, suitable for warmth or display. In Psalms, such as Psalm 109:18, it serves as a metaphor for covering one’s shame or suffering, illustrating how clothing functioned as both protection and social identity.
The word’s root may relate to measuring or cutting cloth, suggesting its origin in the preparation of textiles. Translators often render it simply as "garment" or "cloak," though this can obscure its specific texture or size. Its repeated appearance in poetic texts underscores the cultural importance of clothing as a symbol of status, provision, and divine care.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The Hebrew word mad refers to a substantial outer garment or cloak, often woven from wool or linen. In ancient Israel, this was not merely a piece of fabric but a vital item for warmth, protection, and social identity. It appears in texts that highlight both its practical value as a measure of cloth and its deeper symbolic weight as a covering for the body.
For your faith life, this word reminds us that God provides for our basic needs while also attending to our dignity. When Psalm 109:18 uses clothing as a metaphor for cursing, it shows how deeply our external state reflects our internal condition. We can trust that the Creator who made these garments also cares for the person wearing them, offering comfort in times of hardship and shame.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 10 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- and/ garments/ his2×
- to/ garments/ his1×
- robe/ his1×
- measure<s>/ your1×
- measure/ its1×
- like/ garment/ his1×
- garments/ his1×
- cloth garments1×
- <to>/ garments/ his1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- מַדָּ֔י/ו1×
- מִדָּ֑/הּ1×
- מִדַּ֛יִ/ךְ1×
- מִדִּ֛ין1×
- מִדּ֣/וֹ1×
- לְ/מַדָּ֜י/ו1×
- לְ/מַדָּ֔י/ו1×
- כְּ/מַ֫דּ֥/וֹ1×
- וּ/מַדָּ֣י/ו1×
- וּ/מַדָּ֕י/ו1×
Key Verses
-
Psalms 109:18
He clothed himself also with cursing as with his garment. It came into his inward parts like water, like oil into his bones.
This verse uses the garment as a powerful metaphor for how internal bitterness can consume a person from the inside out.
-
Judges 5:10
“Speak, you who ride on white donkeys, you who sit on rich carpets, and you who walk by the way.
The mention of rich carpets here highlights the social status and comfort associated with fine textiles in ancient Israel.
-
Job 11:9
Its measure is longer than the earth, and broader than the sea.
This reference to measure connects the physical dimensions of the earth with the concept of a large, covering textile.