מַ֫עַל (ma.al)
ma.al
unfaithfulness
H:N-MQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 21 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- H:N-M
Word Overview
The noun ma‘al refers to a treacherous act or unfaithful breach of trust. It describes a serious violation, whether directed against another person or against God. The word carries the weight of betrayal, marking a failure to remain loyal to a covenant relationship.
Its usage highlights two distinct contexts. In legal settings like Leviticus 5:15, it denotes a specific trespass involving property or restitution. In historical and prophetic books such as Joshua and Chronicles, it describes collective rebellion against the Lord. For instance, 1 Chronicles 10:13 attributes King Saul’s death to this unfaithfulness toward Jehovah.
Translators often render ma‘al as "trespass" or "transgression." This choice captures the idea of stepping over a boundary in a way that breaks faith. The term emphasizes the relational rupture caused by deceit or disobedience, rather than mere accidental error.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The Hebrew word ma‘al describes a serious breach of trust, often translated as unfaithfulness or trespass. It is not merely an accidental mistake but a deliberate turning away from a covenant relationship. In ancient Israel, this term carried heavy weight because it signified a rupture in loyalty to God and community.
Understanding this word helps us see the gravity of sin in Scripture. It reminds us that faithfulness is central to our walk with God. When we reflect on passages like Joshua 7 or 1 Chronicles 10, we see how such actions affected entire nations. Yet these texts also point toward confession and restoration.
For your daily life, this word invites honesty about where you might have drifted from trust. It encourages you to seek reconciliation rather than hiding behind excuses. The biblical narrative shows that while unfaithfulness has consequences, God’s mercy remains available to those who turn back.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 21 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- unfaithfulness9×
- in/ unfaithfulness/ their2×
- in/ unfaithfulness/ his2×
- [the] unfaithfulness of2×
- the/ unfaithfulness1×
- in/ unfaithfulness1×
- in the/ unfaithfulness1×
- by/ unfaithfulness/ their1×
- and/ unfaithfulness/ his1×
- [is] the/ unfaithfulness1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- מַ֥עַל2×
- מַ֣עַל2×
- מַ֖עַל2×
- מַ֔עַל2×
- בְּ/מַעֲלָ֖/ם2×
- מָֽעַל\׃\ \ס1×
- מָֽעַל\׃1×
- מַ֙עַל֙1×
- וּ/מַעְל/וֹ֒1×
- הַ/מַּ֤עַל1×
- הַ/מַּ֣עַל1×
- בַּ/מַּ֥עַל1×
Key Verses
-
Joshua 7:1
But the children of Israel committed a trespass in the devoted things; for Achan, the son of Carmi, the son of Zabdi, the son of Zerah, of the tribe of Judah, took some of the devoted things. Therefore Yahweh’s anger burned against the children of Israel.
This verse identifies the root cause of Israel’s defeat at Ai as a specific act of taking devoted things, showing how individual unfaithfulness impacts the whole community.
-
Leviticus 5:15
“If anyone commits a trespass, and sins unwittingly regarding Yahweh’s holy things, then he shall bring his trespass offering to Yahweh: a ram without defect from the flock, according to your estimation in silver by shekels, according to the shekel of the sanctuary, for a trespass offering.
This law establishes that even unintentional violations regarding holy things require restitution, emphasizing the seriousness of treating sacred matters lightly.
-
Daniel 9:7
“Lord, righteousness belongs to you, but to us confusion of face, as it is today; to the men of Judah, and to the inhabitants of Jerusalem, and to all Israel, who are near and who are far off, through all the countries where you have driven them, because of their trespass that they have trespassed against you.
The prophet uses this term to describe the collective guilt of Israel, acknowledging that their exile was a direct result of breaking faith with God.