מְעִיל (me.il)
me.il
robe
H:N-MQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 24 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- H:N-M
Word Overview
The Hebrew noun me’il refers to a long, sleeveless outer robe worn by men and women in ancient Israel. Unlike a simple tunic, this garment reached to the ankles and served as a visible marker of social standing. It was common attire for kings, such as Saul who gave his me’il to David (1 Samuel 18:4), and for high priests, whose sacred vestments included a specific robe adorned with pomegranates (Exodus 28:31).
The word’s root is linked to the idea of covering or concealing. This etymology gives rise to its figurative use in Scripture, where clothing oneself with an attribute becomes a powerful metaphor. In Psalm 109:29, enemies are described as putting on the me’il like a garment, suggesting that shame has become their permanent identity. Similarly, Isaiah 59:17 depicts God clothing Himself with righteousness and vengeance, using the robe to illustrate how divine justice envelops His actions.
Translators render me’il variously as "robe," "mantle," or "cloak" depending on context. The distinction matters because the garment’s physical presence in the narrative often carries theological weight. When David cuts a corner of Saul’s robe, it is not merely an act of violence but a symbolic gesture with serious consequences (1 Samuel 24:5). The me’il thus functions as both a practical item of clothing and a symbol of authority or status.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The Hebrew word me’il describes more than just fabric; it signifies a visible covering that defines identity. In ancient Israel, this long, sleeveless robe marked social standing and sacred duty. When we read about high priests wearing specific robes adorned with bells and pomegranates, we see how physical garments were used to signify a person’s role before God. This tangible reality helps us understand that our spiritual standing is not abstract but has real, visible expression in how we live.
Scripture often uses this garment as a metaphor for inner qualities becoming outer realities. In Psalm 109, shame is described as a robe one wears, suggesting that disgrace can feel like a permanent part of one’s identity. Conversely, Isaiah 61 speaks of being clothed with the robe of righteousness, pointing to a divine gift that changes how we are seen. This imagery invites us to consider what covers us: does our life display the weight of shame, or the dignity of God’s grace?
Understanding this word reminds us that clothing in the Bible often carries theological weight. It is not merely about modesty or fashion but about who we belong to and how we stand before others. Whether reflecting on David’s respect for Saul’s torn robe or the prophet’s hope in righteousness, the me’il teaches us that our outward appearance should reflect an inward truth granted by God.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 24 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- the/ robe7×
- robe/ his3×
- [the] robe of3×
- like <the>/ robe2×
- and/ robe/ my2×
- and/ a robe2×
- robes1×
- in/ a robe of1×
- a robe of1×
- a robe1×
- [was] like/ a robe1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- מְעִ֥יל3×
- מְעִל֔/וֹ2×
- וּ/מְעִילִ֑/י2×
- הַ/מְּעִיל֙2×
- הַ/מְּעִ֖יל2×
- הַ/מְּעִ֔יל2×
- מְעִילִ֑ים1×
- מְעִיל֖/וֹ1×
- מְעִ֣יל1×
- מְעִ֑יל1×
- כַּ/מְעִ֖יל1×
- כִּֽ/מְעִ֥יל1×
Key Verses
-
Exodus 28:31
“You shall make the robe of the ephod all of blue.
This verse establishes the specific blue robe of the high priest, linking the garment directly to sacred service and divine command.
-
I Samuel 15:27
As Samuel turned around to go away, Saul grabbed the skirt of his robe, and it tore.
The tearing of Saul’s robe serves as a physical symbol of God rejecting his kingship, showing how the garment represents authority.
-
Psalms 109:29
Let my adversaries be clothed with dishonor. Let them cover themselves with their own shame as with a robe.
Here the robe becomes a metaphor for shame, illustrating how disgrace can envelop a person like a permanent garment.
-
Isaiah 61:10
I will greatly rejoice in Yahweh! My soul will be joyful in my God, for he has clothed me with the garments of salvation. He has covered me with the robe of righteousness, as a bridegroom decks himself with a garland and as a bride adorns herself with her jewels.
This verse uses the robe of righteousness to depict God’s gift of salvation as a covering that brings joy and dignity.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does me’il mean in the Bible?
Why is the robe important in Exodus 28?
How is me’il used metaphorically in Psalms?
What is the difference between me’il and ketonet?
Every Occurrence (24 verses across 9 books)
Exodus 9 verses
These are the garments which they shall make: a breastplate, an ephod, a robe, a fitted tunic, a turban, and a sash.…
Exodus 28:31“You shall make the robe of the ephod all of blue.
Exodus 28:34a golden bell and a pomegranate, a golden bell and a pomegranate, around the hem of the robe.
Exodus 29:5You shall take the garments, and put on Aaron the tunic, the robe of the ephod, the ephod, and the breastplate, and…
Exodus 39:22He made the robe of the ephod of woven work, all of blue.
Exodus 39:23The opening of the robe in the middle of it was like the opening of a coat of mail, with a binding around its opening,…
Exodus 39:24They made on the skirts of the robe pomegranates of blue, purple, scarlet, and twined linen.
Exodus 39:25They made bells of pure gold, and put the bells between the pomegranates around the skirts of the robe, between the…
Exodus 39:26a bell and a pomegranate, a bell and a pomegranate, around the skirts of the robe, to minister in, as Yahweh commanded…