Lexical Summary simlah: Garment, clothing, robe, outer garment Original Word: שִׂמְלָה Strong's Exhaustive Concordance apparel, clothes garment, raiment Perhaps by permutation for the feminine of cemel (through the idea of a cover assuming the shape of the object beneath); a dress, especially a mantle -- apparel, cloth(-es, -ing), garment, raiment. Compare salmah. see HEBREW cemel see HEBREW salmah NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Originfrom an unused word Definition a wrapper, mantle NASB Translation cloak (4), cloth (1), clothes (9), clothing (5), garment (5), garments (5). Brown-Driver-Briggs שִׂמְלָה noun feminine wrapper, mantle; — absolute ׳שׂ Genesis 9:23 +, construct שִׂמְלַת Deuteronomy 21:13; Deuteronomy 22:5; suffix שִׂמְלָֽתְךָ Deuteronomy 8:4, etc.; plural שְׂמָלֹת Genesis 45:22 (twice in verse) +, suffix שִׂמְלֹתָם Genesis 44:13 +, etc.; — wrapper, mantle (of man or [Ruth 3:3 +] woman), usually square piece of cloth worn as outer garment (see MackieHast. DB. i. 625; BenzEncy. Bib. iii. 2932), Genesis 35:2; Exodus 22:26 (both E), Deuteronomy 8:4; Deuteronomy 10:18; Deuteronomy 21:13; Deuteronomy 22:3; Isaiah 3:6,7; Isaiah 9:4; 2 Samuel 12:20 Kt, Ruth 3:3 Kt (Qr in both plural); as covering in sleep Genesis 9:23 (J; compare Exodus 22:26), bed-covering Deuteronomy 22:17; covering or receptacle for articles Exodus 12:34 (E), Judges 8:25; 1 Samuel 21:10, compare Proverbs 30:4; more Generally garment, Deuteronomy 22:5, clothes (plural) Genesis 37:34; Genesis 44:13 (J), Genesis 41:14; Exodus 19:10,14 (all E), Joshua 7:6 (JE); as costly gifts Genesis 45:22 (twice in verse); Exodus 3:22; Exodus 12:35 (all E). Topical Lexicon Overview שִׂמְלָה (simlah) denotes an outer garment, mantle, or cloak. Worn by men and women alike, it functioned as a means of warmth, modesty, social identity, and—even more importantly in Scripture—an object lesson in covenant faithfulness, mercy, and redemption. Roughly twenty-nine Old Testament verses employ the word, spanning narrative, law, poetry, and prophecy. Everyday Clothing and Provision The simlah appears first in domestic scenes that highlight God’s common grace. In the wilderness the LORD told Israel, “Your clothing has not worn out on you” (Deuteronomy 8:4; 29:5). For forty years an ordinary cloak became a tangible testimony of extraordinary preservation. Likewise, He “gives… food and clothing” to the vulnerable (Deuteronomy 10:18), revealing a Father who meets material needs. Covering Shame Garments were vital whenever human shame was exposed. After Noah’s drunkenness, “Shem and Japheth… covered their father’s nakedness” (Genesis 9:23). The simlah shielded dishonor without ridiculing the sinner—an early portrait of gracious covering that foreshadows the atonement. Similar imagery appears when Jacob instructs his household to “change your garments” while purging foreign gods (Genesis 35:2); the external change mirrors inward repentance. Change of Status and Commission New assignments often came with fresh garments. Joseph “shaved, changed his clothes, and came before Pharaoh” (Genesis 41:14), a transition from prisoner to prime minister. Before Sinai, Israel washed their garments (Exodus 19:10, 14) to meet the Holy One. Such acts dramatize sanctification: the LORD outfits His servants for new roles. Legal and Social Justice The simlah frequently surfaces in Israel’s civil law as collateral for loans. “If you take your neighbor’s cloak as a pledge, return it to him by sunset” (Exodus 22:26). To withhold a cloak overnight was to endanger a poor man’s warmth and life. Moses repeats the principle (Deuteronomy 24:13, 17), extending it to widows and sojourners. The garment becomes a test case for compassion; righteous people value persons above possessions. Tokens in Marriage and Family Law Deuteronomy 22:17 requires that, if a husband accuses his new bride of impropriety, the elders examine “the cloth” (simlah) for evidence of virginity. The common cloak thus guards a woman’s honor and the covenant integrity of marriage. When an Israelite soldier wished to marry a captive woman, she must first “discard the clothing of her captivity” (Deuteronomy 21:13), marking a respectful break with her past. Acts of Sorrow and Supplication Tearing a simlah expresses grief and penitence. Joshua “tore his clothes and fell facedown before the ark” after Israel’s defeat at Ai (Joshua 7:6). Later, Job laments, “You would plunge me into the pit, and my own clothes would abhor me” (Job 9:31). The garment becomes almost animate, reflecting the sufferer’s agony before God. Hospitality and Redemption in Ruth At the threshing floor Ruth is told, “Wash, put on perfume, and put on your best clothes” (Ruth 3:3). When Boaz fills her cloak with barley (Ruth 3:15), the simlah turns into a vessel of provision and a pledge of redemption. The narrative anticipates the Kinsman-Redeemer who will one day clothe His people with righteousness. Prophetic Imagery Prophets press the symbol further. Isaiah warns of social chaos when people plead, “You have a cloak—you be our leader!” (Isaiah 3:6). The simlah, once a pledge of warmth, becomes a desperate badge of authority amid judgment. Conversely, Isaiah pictures salvation using clothing motifs, though a different term is often employed; the foundation laid by simlah imagery allows readers to grasp God’s promise of a renewed covering. Foreshadowing Messianic Fulfillment While the Hebrew term itself is absent from the New Testament, its themes echo strongly. The Gospels present Jesus’ garments divided by lot (John 19:24 citing Psalm 22:18), and believers are commanded to “clothe yourselves with the Lord Jesus Christ” (Romans 13:14). The simlah’s Old Testament testimony prepares hearts to understand the robe of righteousness provided through the Messiah. Ministry Applications 1. Compassionate Lending: Churches can embody Exodus 22:26 by refusing to exploit the vulnerable, ensuring that any benevolence policies protect dignity. Summary שִׂמְלָה threads through Scripture as more than fabric. It covers shame, signifies new beginnings, safeguards justice, and resonates with covenant grace. From Noah’s tent to Ruth’s threshing floor, from Sinai’s foot to Isaiah’s warnings, the humble cloak consistently directs attention to the God who clothes His people—temporally in compassion and eternally in salvation. Forms and Transliterations בְּשִׂמְלֹתָ֖ם בַּשִּׂמְלָ֗ה בַשִּׂמְלָה֮ בשמלה בשמלתם הַשִּׂמְלָ֔ה הַשִּׂמְלָ֗ה השמלה וְשִׂמְלָ֖ה וְשִׂמְלָֽה׃ וְשִׂמְלָתֵ֖נוּ וּשְׂמָלֹ֑ת וּשְׂמָלֹֽת׃ ושמלה ושמלה׃ ושמלת ושמלת׃ ושמלתנו לְשִׂמְלָתוֹ֒ לשמלתו שְׂמָלֹ֑ת שְׂמָלֹֽת׃ שִׂמְלַ֣ת שִׂמְלַ֨ת שִׂמְלָ֑ה שִׂמְלָ֣ה שִׂמְלָ֨תְךָ֜ שִׂמְלָת֖וֹ שִׂמְלֹתֵיכֶֽם׃ שִׂמְלֹתָ֑ם שִׂמְלֹתָ֔יו שִׂמְלֹתָ֗יו שִׂמְלֹתָֽם׃ שִׂמְלֹתַ֛יִךְ שִׂמְלֹתָ֔יו שמלה שמלת שמלת׃ שמלתו שמלתיו שמלתיך שמלתיכם׃ שמלתך שמלתם שמלתם׃ baś·śim·lāh ḇaś·śim·lāh bassimLah baśśimlāh ḇaśśimlāh bə·śim·lō·ṯām besimloTam bəśimlōṯām haś·śim·lāh hassimLah haśśimlāh lə·śim·lā·ṯōw lesimlaTo ləśimlāṯōw śə·mā·lōṯ semaLot śəmālōṯ śim·lā·ṯə·ḵā śim·lā·ṯōw śim·lāh śim·laṯ śim·lō·ṯa·yiḵ śim·lō·ṯām śim·lō·ṯāw śim·lō·ṯê·ḵem simLah śimlāh simLat śimlaṯ simLatecha śimlāṯəḵā simlaTo śimlāṯōw simloTam śimlōṯām simloTav śimlōṯāw simloTayich śimlōṯayiḵ simloteiChem śimlōṯêḵem ū·śə·mā·lōṯ usemaLot ūśəmālōṯ vassimLah vesimLah vesimlaTenu wə·śim·lā·ṯê·nū wə·śim·lāh wəśimlāh wəśimlāṯênūLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance Genesis 9:23 HEB: וָיֶ֜פֶת אֶת־ הַשִּׂמְלָ֗ה וַיָּשִׂ֙ימוּ֙ עַל־ NAS: took a garment and laid KJV: took a garment, and laid INT: Shem and Japheth A garment and laid and Genesis 35:2 Genesis 37:34 Genesis 41:14 Genesis 44:13 Genesis 45:22 Genesis 45:22 Exodus 3:22 Exodus 12:34 Exodus 12:35 Exodus 19:10 Exodus 19:14 Exodus 22:27 Deuteronomy 8:4 Deuteronomy 10:18 Deuteronomy 21:13 Deuteronomy 22:3 Deuteronomy 22:5 Deuteronomy 22:17 Joshua 7:6 Judges 8:25 Ruth 3:3 1 Samuel 21:10 2 Samuel 12:20 Proverbs 30:4 29 Occurrences |
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