שִׂמְלָה (sim.lah)
sim.lah
mantle
H:N-FQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 25 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- H:N-F
Word Overview
The Hebrew noun simlah refers to a mantle or outer garment, typically a large square piece of cloth worn as a wrapper. It appears twenty-five times in the Old Testament, with significant occurrences in Genesis and Deuteronomy. The word denotes both a specific item of clothing and general attire, serving as a primary covering for the body.
A distinctive feature of this term is its use in legal and narrative contexts regarding personal dignity and survival. For instance, Exodus 22:26–27 prohibits retaining a poor person’s simlah overnight, recognizing it as essential warmth during sleep. Similarly, Genesis 37:34 describes Jacob tearing his simlah in mourning for Joseph, highlighting its role as a visible marker of emotional state.
Etymologically, the word may derive from a root meaning to cover or assume shape, suggesting a garment that conforms to the wearer. Translators often render it as "garment," "raiment," or "clothes" depending on context. This flexibility reflects its central place in ancient Near Eastern daily life, where such a cloak provided both protection and identity.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The word simlah refers to the outer mantle or cloak worn in ancient Israel. It was more than just fabric; it provided essential warmth and marked a person’s social standing. In daily life, this garment was often the first thing removed at night for sleep and the last thing put on in the morning. Its value lay in its practicality and its role as a visible sign of one’s identity.
Scripture uses this ordinary item to teach profound lessons about dignity and care. The Law protected the poor by forbidding creditors from keeping a neighbor’s cloak overnight, recognizing it as vital for survival. Conversely, tearing one’s mantle became a public signal of deep grief or shame, showing how closely clothing was tied to the human heart. This word reminds us that God cares about our physical needs and our emotional states.
For your faith life, simlah invites you to see the sacred in the simple. Just as God provided clothing for Israel in the wilderness, He provides for your daily needs. It encourages a posture of generosity, where we protect the vulnerable and honor the dignity of others. May you find comfort in knowing that your Creator attends to both your spiritual walk and your earthly covering.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 25 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- the/ garment3×
- clothes/ their3×
- clothes/ his3×
- clothes2×
- and/ clothes2×
- [the] clothing of2×
- in/ clothes/ their1×
- in <the>/ cloak1×
- garments/ your1×
- garments/ his1×
- for/ clothing/ his1×
- clothing/ your1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- שִׂמְלֹתָ֔י/ו3×
- שִׂמְלֹתָֽ/ם\׃2×
- הַ/שִּׂמְלָ֔ה2×
- שִׂמְלֹתָ֗י/ו1×
- שִׂמְלֹתָ֑/ם1×
- שִׂמְלֹתַ֛יִ/ךְ1×
- שִׂמְלֹתֵי/כֶֽם\׃1×
- שִׂמְלָ֨תְ/ךָ֜1×
- שִׂמְלָ֣ה1×
- שִׂמְלָ֑ה1×
- שִׂמְלַ֨ת1×
- שִׂמְלַ֣ת1×
Key Verses
-
Genesis 37:34
Jacob tore his clothes, and put sackcloth on his waist, and mourned for his son many days.
Jacob tears his simlah in mourning, demonstrating how the garment served as a visible marker of intense emotional grief.
-
Deuteronomy 10:18
He executes justice for the fatherless and widow and loves the foreigner in giving him food and clothing.
God is described as loving the foreigner by providing food and clothing, linking simlah to divine justice and care for the marginalized.
-
Genesis 9:23
Shem and Japheth took a garment, and laid it on both their shoulders, went in backwards, and covered the nakedness of their father. Their faces were backwards, and they didn’t see their father’s nakedness.
Shem and Japheth use a garment to cover their father’s nakedness, highlighting its role in preserving family dignity and respect.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does the Hebrew word simlah mean?
Why is simlah significant in the Old Testament law?
How is simlah used to express emotion?
What is the difference between simlah and other clothing words?
Every Occurrence (25 verses across 9 books)
Genesis 6 verses
Shem and Japheth took a garment, and laid it on both their shoulders, went in backwards, and covered the nakedness of…
Genesis 35:2Then Jacob said to his household, and to all who were with him, “Put away the foreign gods that are among you, purify…
Genesis 37:34Jacob tore his clothes, and put sackcloth on his waist, and mourned for his son many days.
Genesis 41:14Then Pharaoh sent and called Joseph, and they brought him hastily out of the dungeon. He shaved himself, changed his…
Genesis 44:13Then they tore their clothes, and each man loaded his donkey, and returned to the city.
Genesis 45:22He gave each one of them changes of clothing, but to Benjamin he gave three hundred pieces of silver and five changes…