Lexical Summary
maal: To act unfaithfully, to trespass, to commit a violation
Original Word:מָעַל
Part of Speech:Verb
Transliteration:ma`al
Pronunciation:mah-ahl
Phonetic Spelling:(maw-al')
KJV: transgress, (commit, do a) trespass(-ing)
NASB:committed, been unfaithful, unfaithful, acted, acted treacherously, acts, act
Word Origin:[a primitive root]
1. (properly) to cover up
2. used only figuratively, to act covertly, i.e. treacherously
Strong's Exhaustive Concordance
transgress, commit, do a trespassing
A primitive root; properly, to cover up; used only figuratively, to act covertly, i.e. Treacherously -- transgress, (commit, do a) trespass(-ing).
NAS Exhaustive Concordance
Word Origina prim. root
Definitionto act unfaithfully or treacherously
NASB Translationact (1), acted (2), acted treacherously (2), acting (1), acting treacherously (1), acting unfaithfully (1), acts (2), became...unfaithful (1), been (1), been unfaithful (5), broke faith (1), committed (6), committing unfaithfulness (1), err (1), perpetrated (1), unfaithful (3), unfaithfulness they committed (1), violated (1).
Brown-Driver-Briggs
, a priestly word (P Ezra, Chronicles), chiefly late (Late Hebrew
id., act unfaithfully; Arabic
whisper, backbite,
perfidy, fraud); —
Perfect3masculine singularJoshua 22:20 4t.; 3 feminine singularLeviticus 5:21;Numbers 5:12 13t. Perfect;ImperfectProverbs 16:10; 2Chronicles 26:16; 3 feminine singularLeviticus 5:15;Numbers 5:27; 3masculine pluralJoshua 7:1,1 Chronicles 5:25; 2masculine pluralNehemiah 1:8;Infinitive construct , so read for HCTNumbers 31:16 Thes Di; —act unfaithfully, treacherously, usually
:
in the matter of the devoted thing (the sin of Achan)Joshua 7:1 (JE),Joshua 22:20 (P), compareLeviticus 5:15 (P), 2 Chronicles 36:14;Ezekiel 14:13;Ezekiel 15:8;Ezekiel 18:24.
() husbandNumbers 5:12,27 (P; marital infidelity).
elsewhere against () God,Leviticus 26:40 (H),Leviticus 5:21;Numbers 5:6;Numbers 31:16 (?)Joshua 22:16,31 (all P),1 Chronicles 10:13;1 Chronicles 28:19;Ezekiel 17:20;Ezekiel 20:27;Ezekiel 39:26;Daniel 9:7.
(only late):
Proverbs 16:10let not his (the king's)mouth act treacherously against justice (RVin judgment).
,Deuteronomy 32:51 (P),1 Chronicles 5:25;1 Chronicles 12:2;1 Chronicles 26:22; 1Chron 30:7;Ezra 10:2;Nehemiah 13:27;Ezekiel 39:23; without , 2 Chronicles 26:18; 29:6;Ezra 10:10;Nehemiah 1:8;1 Chronicles 2:7.
Topical Lexicon
Meaning and Scopeמָעַל describes a breach of trust that violates an established relationship. Whether directed toward the LORD, one’s spouse, the covenant community, or a political ally, the act is always treated as a willful betrayal, not a mere mistake. The term occurs about thirty-six times and is consistently moral and relational in nature, stressing treachery rather than simple rule-breaking.
Covenant Treachery against God
The first and primary sphere of מָעַל is toward the LORD Himself. “If someone acts unfaithfully and sins unintentionally regarding any of the LORD’s holy things…” (Leviticus 5:15). Here the offense is cultic—an encroachment upon what is set apart for God.Joshua 7:1 declares that Israel “acted unfaithfully regarding the things devoted to destruction,” showing that even communal disobedience is treated as personal treachery against God. The prophets repeatedly echo this verdict: “They have acted treacherously against Me” (Hosea 7:13) and “they dealt unfaithfully with Me” (Ezekiel 20:27).
Unfaithfulness within the Community
מָעַל also names a crime against one’s neighbor and thus against God, because it damages the covenant society. “If someone sins and acts unfaithfully against the LORD by deceiving his neighbor…” (Leviticus 6:2). Social wrongs—fraud, theft, false witness—are simultaneously spiritual infidelities. Nehemiah confronts leaders who have “acted unfaithfully” (Nehemiah 1:8; 13:27), reminding the restored community that holiness cannot be compartmentalized.
Marital Unfaithfulness
Numbers 5 applies the word to suspected adultery: “If a man’s wife goes astray and acts unfaithfully against him…” (Numbers 5:12). Marriage imagery therefore becomes a dominant prophetic metaphor; Israel’s idolatry is painted as spiritual adultery (Ezekiel 16;Hosea 1–3), each instance stamped with the concept of מָעַל.
National Apostasy and Political Betrayal
Kings and nations commit מָעַל when breaking oaths sworn in the LORD’s name. King Saul died “for his unfaithfulness to the LORD” (1 Chronicles 10:13), and King Zedekiah’s revolt against Babylon is labeled “treachery” (Ezekiel 17:16, 19–20). Such usage stresses that political treaties, when ratified before God, become sacred trusts.
Ritual Infraction and Sacrilege
Violations of holy space or holy things are classed as מָעַל. The “ram of the guilt offering” (Leviticus 5:16) and restitution in silver teach that sacred desecration demands both propitiation and repayment. Chronicles recounts priests who “became increasingly unfaithful, following all the abominations of the nations” (2 Chronicles 36:14), directly linking liturgical impurity with national downfall.
Consequences: Guilt, Judgment, Exile
Each unfaithfulness incurs culpability (אָשָׁם).Joshua 7 ends with Achan’s death;2 Chronicles 28 shows Judah’s military defeat under Ahaz;Ezekiel 39:23–24 explains the Babylonian exile as the result of continuing מָעַל. Divine retribution is never arbitrary—betrayal ruptures relationship and invites covenant curses (Leviticus 26:40).
Provision for Atonement
Despite the severity, God made atonement possible. The guilt offering (Leviticus 5–6) points forward to the ultimate Sacrifice. Daniel appeals to this mercy: “To the Lord our God belong compassion and forgiveness, though we have rebelled against Him” (Daniel 9:9). Confession and substitutionary blood are the ordained remedy for treachery.
Confession and Restoration
Ezra leads returning exiles in corporate confession: “We have forsaken Your commandments and have been unfaithful” (Ezra 9:10, 15). Genuine repentance includes separation from sin and restitution where possible (Numbers 5:7). The Chronicler records that when the people “humbled themselves, the wrath of the LORD turned away” (2 Chronicles 12:12).
Prophetic Usage and Future Hope
While prophets charge Israel with מָעַל, they also foresee restoration. “They will forget their disgrace and all their unfaithfulness” (Ezekiel 39:26). The new covenant promises a transformed heart, securing fidelity from within (Jeremiah 31:31–34;Ezekiel 36:25–27).
Christological Perspective
Jesus Christ embodies perfect covenant faithfulness—“He committed no sin, and no deceit was found in His mouth” (1 Peter 2:22). By bearing the guilt offering foretold in Leviticus, He secures forgiveness for every act of treachery and grants a righteousness that cannot betray (2 Corinthians 5:21). Believers are therefore called “the bride of Christ,” empowered by the Spirit to be presented “without stain or wrinkle” (Ephesians 5:27).
Ministry Implications
1. Preach betrayal as relational sin: מָעַל frames transgression as breaking trust, not merely violating rules.
2. Stress restitution and reconciliation: biblical repentance seeks to repair both vertical and horizontal breaches.
3. Guard covenant faithfulness in marriage and church: scripture treats spiritual adultery and marital infidelity with the same seriousness.
4. Model integrity in leadership: political or ecclesial oaths taken before God are sacred.
5. Offer the gospel’s guilt offering: point offenders to Christ, the ram without blemish who makes full restitution.
Forms and Transliterations
בְּמַֽעֲלוֹ֙ בְּמַעֲל֧וֹ במעלו הַמַּ֤עַל המעל וַיִּֽמְעֲל֔וּ וַיִּמְעֲל֧וּ וַיִּמְעַ֖ל וַתִּמְעֹ֣ל וּמָע֥וֹל וּמָעֲלָ֥ה וימעל וימעלו ומעול ומעלה ותמעל יִמְעַל־ ימעל־ לִמְע֣וֹל לִמְעָל־ לִמְעֹ֖ל לִמְעֹ֥ל למעול למעל למעל־ מְעַלְתֶּ֔ם מְעַלְתֶּ֜ם מְעַלְתֶּ֥ם מְעַלְתֶּם֙ מַ֔עַל מַעֲל֖וֹ מַעֲלָ֖ם מָ֣עֲלוּ מָ֤עַל מָֽעֲלוּ־ מָֽעַל׃ מָעֲל֔וּ מָעֲל֖וּ מָעֲל֣וּ מָעַ֔לְתָּ מָעַ֖ל מָעַ֣לְנוּ מעל מעל׃ מעלו מעלו־ מעלם מעלנו מעלת מעלתם תִּמְעָ֔לוּ תִמְעֹ֣ל תמעל תמעלו bə·ma·‘ă·lōw bəma‘ălōw bemaaLo ham·ma·‘al hamma‘al hamMaal lim‘āl- lim‘ōl lim‘ōwl lim·‘āl- lim·‘ō·wl lim·‘ōl limOl ma‘al mā‘al ma‘ălām mā‘alnū ma‘ălōw mā‘altā mā‘ălū mā‘ălū- ma·‘ă·lām ma·‘ă·lōw mā·‘ă·lū mā·‘ă·lū- ma·‘al mā·‘al mā·‘al·nū mā·‘al·tā Maal maaLam maAlnu maaLo maAlta maaLu mə‘altem mə·‘al·tem mealTem tim‘ālū ṯim‘ōl tim·‘ā·lū ṯim·‘ōl timAlu timOl ū·mā·‘ă·lāh ū·mā·‘ō·wl ūmā‘ălāh ūmā‘ōwl umaaLah umaol vaiyimAl vaiyimaLu vattimOl wat·tim·‘ōl wattim‘ōl way·yim·‘ă·lū way·yim·‘al wayyim‘al wayyim‘ălū yim‘al- yim·‘al- yimal
Links
Interlinear Greek •
Interlinear Hebrew •
Strong's Numbers •
Englishman's Greek Concordance •
Englishman's Hebrew Concordance •
Parallel Texts
