Lexical Summary maateh: Staff, rod, tribe Original Word: מַעֲטֶה Strong's Exhaustive Concordance garment From atah; a vestment -- garment. see HEBREW atah NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Originfrom atah Definition a wrap, mantle NASB Translation mantle (1). Brown-Driver-Briggs [מַעֲטֶה] noun [masculine] wrap, mantle; — only construct figurative מַעֲטֵה תְהִלָּה Isaiah 61:3 a mantle of praise. Topical Lexicon Root Meaning and Semantic RangeThough the term appears only once in the Hebrew canon, its meaning as a “wrap” or “outer garment” places it among the rich biblical imagery of clothing that signifies status, character, and transformation (Genesis 3:21; Zechariah 3:4). As a movable, visible covering, it serves as the outward sign of an inward condition bestowed by God. Canonical Context: Isaiah 61:3 “...to bestow on them a crown of beauty instead of ashes, the oil of joy instead of mourning, and a garment of praise instead of a spirit of despair.” (Isaiah 61:3) Isaiah prophesies the joyous reversal accomplished by God’s anointed Servant. In the immediate setting, the garment replaces sackcloth (Isaiah 3:24), signaling an end to exile-sorrow and the dawn of covenant restoration. The single occurrence thus carries concentrated theological weight: the Lord Himself exchanges human desolation for celebratory worship. Theological Significance 1. Divine Initiative: The verse underscores salvation as God’s act. The mourners do not tailor their own praise; they receive it. Historical and Cultural Background In ancient Israel, clothing habits communicated social realities: mourning attire (ashes, sackcloth) publicly displayed grief. Replacing such garb with festive garments marked community transitions such as weddings (Isaiah 61:10) or royal enthronements (2 Samuel 6:14). Isaiah employs that well-known cultural code to assure exiles of a coming age when lament rituals would be obsolete. Ministry Application Pastors and teachers find in this verse a paradigm for gospel counseling: believers need not remain clothed in shame. Proclaiming Christ’s finished work provides the “garment of praise” that reorients identity and fosters worship. Congregational singing, testimony services, and corporate prayer consciously enact this exchange. Christological Reflection Luke 4:18-19 records Jesus reading Isaiah 61:1-2 and announcing its fulfillment. By implication, He also supplies verse 3’s garment. His righteous life, atoning death, and resurrection clothe repentant sinners (Romans 13:14). The single Hebrew noun thus directs readers to the Messianic wardrobe of salvation. Eschatological Implications Revelation 19:8 describes the Bride’s “fine linen, bright and pure,” echoing Isaiah’s nuptial imagery (Isaiah 61:10). The garment of praise is therefore both present possession and future glory, bridging inaugurated and consummated redemption. Intertextual Echoes and New Testament Connections • Psalm 30:11 – “You turned my mourning into dancing; You removed my sackcloth and clothed me with joy.” These passages share the motif of divine clothing that effects moral and emotional transformation, revealing coherence between Old and New Covenants. Devotional Considerations Believers are invited daily to “put on” praise by recalling God’s acts, rehearsing His promises, and refusing to inhabit the old attire of despair. Personal worship and mutual encouragement emulate the exchange hinted at by מַעֲטֶה, making Isaiah’s vision a lived reality in the life of the Church. Forms and Transliterations מַעֲטֵ֣ה מעטה ma‘ăṭêh ma·‘ă·ṭêh maaTehLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance Isaiah 61:3 HEB: תַּ֣חַת אֵ֔בֶל מַעֲטֵ֣ה תְהִלָּ֔ה תַּ֖חַת NAS: of mourning, The mantle of praise KJV: for mourning, the garment of praise INT: instead of mourning the mantle of praise instead 1 Occurrence |
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