מָ֫דוּ (me.dev)
me.dev
garment
H:N-MQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 2 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- H:N-M
Word Overview
The Hebrew noun madu refers simply to a garment or piece of clothing. It appears in only two verses in the Old Testament, both found within genealogical records that trace the lineage of Judah’s descendants (1 Chronicles 4:18 and 2 Samuel 5:14). In these contexts, the word functions as a standard term for attire without adding specific descriptive detail about the material or style.
Because its usage is so limited, madu does not carry the rich theological weight of other Hebrew words for clothing, such as ketonet (coat) or beged (outer garment). It serves a purely lexical purpose in these texts, identifying individuals by their basic social markers. Translators consistently render it as "garment" to maintain this neutral, factual tone.
The rarity of the word highlights how biblical authors often preferred more specific terms when clothing carried symbolic or narrative importance. Here, madu simply confirms the presence of people in a family tree, grounding the ancient records in the ordinary reality of daily life where garments were essential for identity and modesty.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The word madu is a simple term for a garment, appearing only twice in Scripture within accounts of conflict between David’s kingdom and the Ammonites. In both instances, it describes the clothes of David’s servants that were deliberately torn by Hanun as an act of humiliation. This stark image reminds us that clothing often carries social weight, marking identity and dignity in ways we might overlook today.
While this word does not carry deep theological symbolism on its own, its presence in these narratives highlights the human cost of pride and misunderstanding. The tearing of a madu was a public shaming tactic, stripping away respect to provoke anger. For believers, it serves as a sobering reminder that our interactions with others can either build up or break down their sense of worth.
We are called to treat every person with the dignity they deserve, recognizing that how we speak and act toward others reflects our heart before God. May your words and deeds always protect rather than tear at the reputation and peace of those around you, fostering relationships built on mutual respect and grace.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 2 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- robes/ their2×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- מַדְוֵי/הֶ֛ם2×
Key Verses
-
II Samuel 10:4
So Hanun took David’s servants, shaved off one half of their beards, and cut off their garments in the middle, even to their buttocks, and sent them away.
This verse records the specific act of cutting off the servants' garments to shame them, showing how madu functions as a marker of social dignity in conflict.
-
I Chronicles 19:4
So Hanun took David’s servants, shaved them, and cut off their garments in the middle at their buttocks, and sent them away.
The parallel account in Chronicles confirms the narrative detail, emphasizing that the destruction of their attire was a deliberate insult intended to provoke war.