Topical Encyclopedia
The term "mantle" in the Bible refers to a type of outer garment or cloak that holds significant symbolic and practical importance throughout the Scriptures. It is often associated with authority, prophetic office, and divine calling.
Old Testament UsageIn the Old Testament, the mantle is frequently mentioned in connection with prophets and leaders. One of the most notable references is the mantle of Elijah. In
1 Kings 19:19, Elijah casts his mantle upon Elisha, symbolizing the transfer of prophetic authority and the calling of Elisha to succeed him. The Berean Standard Bible states, "So Elijah went from there and found Elisha son of Shaphat. He was plowing with twelve yoke of oxen, and he himself was driving the twelfth pair. Elijah passed by him and threw his cloak around him."
The mantle also appears in the account of Elijah's ascension to heaven. In
2 Kings 2:13-14 , after Elijah is taken up by a whirlwind, Elisha picks up Elijah's mantle that had fallen from him. This act signifies the continuation of Elijah's prophetic ministry through Elisha: "Elisha also picked up the cloak that had fallen from Elijah, and he went back and stood on the bank of the Jordan. Then he took the cloak of Elijah that had fallen from him and struck the waters, saying, 'Where now is the LORD, the God of Elijah?' And when he had struck the waters, they parted to the right and to the left, and Elisha crossed over."
The mantle is not only a symbol of prophetic authority but also a practical garment for protection against the elements. In the ancient Near East, a mantle would have been a valuable piece of clothing, providing warmth and serving as a blanket at night.
Symbolism and SignificanceThe mantle's symbolic significance extends beyond its physical use. It represents the calling and empowerment of God upon an individual. The act of passing a mantle, as seen with Elijah and Elisha, is a powerful image of the transfer of spiritual authority and responsibility. It signifies God's choice and anointing of a person for a specific purpose or mission.
In the broader biblical narrative, the mantle can also symbolize righteousness and divine protection.
Isaiah 61:10 uses the imagery of a garment to describe salvation and righteousness: "I will rejoice greatly in the LORD; my soul will exult in my God. For He has clothed me with garments of salvation and wrapped me in a robe of righteousness, as a bridegroom wears a priestly headdress, as a bride adorns herself with her jewels."
New Testament ContextWhile the specific term "mantle" is not as prevalent in the New Testament, the concept of clothing as a metaphor for spiritual truths continues. Believers are encouraged to "put on" virtues and the character of Christ, akin to wearing a garment.
Colossians 3:12 exhorts, "Therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, clothe yourselves with hearts of compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience."
ConclusionThe mantle in biblical literature serves as a multifaceted symbol of authority, divine calling, and spiritual empowerment. Its presence in key narratives underscores the importance of God's anointing and the continuity of His work through chosen individuals.
Easton's Bible Dictionary
(1.) Hebrews `addereth, a large over-garment. This word is used of Elijah's mantle (1 Kings 19:13, 19;2 Kings 2:8, 13, etc.), which was probably a sheepskin. It appears to have been his only garment, a strip of skin or leather binding it to his loins. 'Addereth twice occurs with the epithet "hairy" (Genesis 25:25;Zechariah 13:4, R.V.). It is the word denoting the "goodly Babylonish garment" which Achan coveted (Joshua 7:21).
(2.) Hebrews me'il, frequently applied to the "robe of the ephod" (Exodus 28:4, 31;Leviticus 8:7), which was a splendid under tunic wholly of blue, reaching to below the knees. It was woven without seam, and was put on by being drawn over the head. It was worn not only by priests but by kings (1 Samuel 24:4), prophets (15:27), and rich men (Job 1:20;2:12). This was the "little coat" which Samuel's mother brought to him from year to year to Shiloh (1 Samuel 2:19), a miniature of the official priestly robe.
(3.) Semikah, "a rug," the garment which Jael threw as a covering over Sisera (Judges 4:18). The Hebrew word occurs nowhere else in Scripture.
(4.) Maataphoth, plural, only inIsaiah 3:22, denoting a large exterior tunic worn by females. (seeDRESS.)
Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary
1. (
n.) A loose garment to be worn over other garments; an enveloping robe; a cloak. Hence, figuratively, a covering or concealing envelope.
2. (n.) Same as Mantling.
3. (n.) The external fold, or folds, of the soft, exterior membrane of the body of a mollusk. It usually forms a cavity inclosing the gills. See
4. (n.) Any free, outer membrane.
5. (n.) The back of a bird together with the folded wings.
6. (n.) A mantel. See Mantel.
7. (n.) The outer wall and casing of a blast furnace, above the hearth.
8. (n.) A penstock for a water wheel.
9. (v. t.) To cover or envelop, as with a mantle; to cloak; to hide; to disguise.
10. (v. i.) To unfold and spread out the wings, like a mantle; -- said of hawks. Also used figuratively.
11. (v. i.) To spread out; -- said of wings.
12. (v. i.) To spread over the surface as a covering; to overspread; as, the scum mantled on the pool.
13. (v. i.) To gather, assume, or take on, a covering, as froth, scum, etc.
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia
BABYLONISH MANTLEman'-tl (the King James Version Babylonish Garment): One of the articles taken by Achan from the spoil of Jericho (Joshua 7:21). In the Hebrew "a mantle of Shinar." Entirely gratuitous is the suggested correction of Shinar to se`ar, making "a hairy mantle." The Greek has psilen poikilen, which Josephus apparently understood to mean "a royal garment all woven out of gold" (Ant., V, i, 10). The Vulgate (Jerome's Latin Bible, 390-405 A.D.) calls it a "scarlet pallium," and some of the rabbinical traditions make it a purple robe. Such classical writers as Pliny and Martial speak of the weaving of embroidered stuffs as a famous industry of Babylonia. Many tablets that have been deciphered indicate that the industry was indeed widely extended, that its costly products were of great variety and that some of them were exported to distant markets; in fine, that the account in Joshua is characterized by great verisimilitude.
Willis J. Beecher
MANTLE
man'-t'-l: Used 5 times of Elijah's mantle ('addereth,1 Kings 19:18, 192 Kings 2:8, 13, 14), which was probably of hair. Found in plural once (Isaiah 3:22), where it (ma`ataphoth) is an upper wide tunic with sleeves (kethoneth).
SeeDRESS;KERCHIEF.
Greek
4018. peribolaion -- that which is thrown around, a covering... a covering. Part of Speech: Noun, Neuter Transliteration: peribolaion Phonetic Spelling:
(per-ib-ol'-ah-yon) Short Definition: a wrapper,
mantle, veil Definition
...5341. phelones -- cloak.
... Part of Speech: Noun, Masculine Transliteration: phelones Phonetic Spelling:
(fel-on'-ace) Short Definition: amantle, cloak Definition: amantle, cloak....
Strong's Hebrew
4594. maateh -- a wrap,mantle... 4593, 4594. maateh. 4595 . a wrap,
mantle. Transliteration: maateh Phonetic
Spelling: (mah-at-eh') Short Definition:
mantle. Word
...8071. simlah -- a wrapper,mantle
... 8070, 8071. simlah. 8072 . a wrapper,mantle. Transliteration: simlah
Phonetic Spelling: (sim-law') Short Definition: clothes. Word...
145. eder -- glory, magnificence, amantle, cloak
... 144, 145. eder. 146 . glory, magnificence, amantle, cloak. Transliteration:
eder Phonetic Spelling: (eh'-der) Short Definition: magnificent....
8008. salmah -- a wrapper,mantle
... 8007, 8008. salmah. 8009 . a wrapper,mantle. Transliteration: salmah
Phonetic Spelling: (sal-maw') Short Definition: clothes. Word...
5622. sarbal -- probably amantle
... 5621, 5622. sarbal. 5623 . probably amantle. Transliteration: sarbal
Phonetic Spelling: (sar-bal') Short Definition: trousers....
155. addereth -- glory, a cloak
... addereth. 156 . glory, a cloak. Transliteration: addereth Phonetic Spelling:
(ad-deh'-reth) Short Definition:mantle.... garment, glory, goodly,mantle, robe....
4598. meil -- a robe
... robe. Word Origin from maal Definition a robe NASB Word Usagemantle (1),
robe (23), robes (2). cloak, coat,mantle, robe. From ma...
4595. maataphah -- an overtunic
... Word Origin from ataph Definition an overtunic NASB Word Usage outer tunics (1).
mantle. From ataph; a cloak --mantle. see HEBREW ataph. 4594, 4595....
8063. semikah -- perhaps rug, thick coverlet
...mantle. From camak; a run (as sustaining the Oriental sitter) --mantle. see HEBREW
camak. 8062, 8063. semikah. 8064 . Strong's Numbers.
4254. machalatsah -- robe of state
... changeable suit of apparel, change of raiment. From chalats; amantle (as easily
drawn off) -- changeable suit of apparel, change of raiment. see HEBREW chalats...
Library
Elijah'sMantle. 2Ki 51:11-14
... HYMNS before annual Sermons to young people, on new-years evenings. Hymn 19 ELIJAH's
mantle. 2Ki 51:11-14. John Newton 8,8,8,8. ELIJAH'smantle. 2Ki 51:11-14....
TheMantle of Elijah
... THE OLD TESTAMENT THEMANTLE OF ELIJAH. When Jehovah took up... tore them in
two. Then he took up themantle that had fallen from Elijah....
Virtues of theMantle. It Pleads in Its Own Defence.
... Chapter V."Virtues of theMantle.... "Still," say you, "must we thus change from
gown [61] toMantle?" Why, what if from diadem and sceptre?...
The Seventh Chapter: Grace must be Hidden under theMantle of...
... BOOK THREE. INTERNAL CONSOLATION The Seventh Chapter: Grace Must Be Hidden
Under theMantle of Humility. The Voice of Christ IT IS...
Gentleness Succeeding Strength
... 'He took up also themantle of Elijah that fell from him, and went back,
and stood by the bank of Jordan; 14. And he took themantle...
Further Distinctions, and Crowning Glory, of the Pallium.
... Grand is the benefit conferred by theMantle, at the thought whereof moral
improbity absolutely blushes.... Joy,Mantle, and exult!...
Time Changes Nations' Dresses --And Fortunes.
... The garment of themantle extrinsically"itself too quadrangular"thrown back on either
shoulder, and meeting closely round the neck in the gripe of the...
Elijah and the Widow's Son.
... So the wild prophet Elijah, with his sheepskin cape ormantle on his shoulders,
fled away to the lonely country of rocks and bushes, wild beasts and robbers....
The Story of St. Ursula
... earth ever saw. She came into the world wrapped in a hairymantle, and all
men wondered greatly what this might mean. Then the King...
Change not Always Improvement.
... thievishly? A prodigy it is, that all this should be done without theMantle!
To theMantle appertains this whole Asiatic practice!...
Thesaurus
Mantle (35 Occurrences)... This word is used of Elijah's
mantle (1 Kings 19:13, 19; 2 Kings 2:8, 13, etc.),
which was probably a sheepskin.
... Standard Bible Encyclopedia. BABYLONISH
MANTLE.
...Veil (67 Occurrences)
... Easton's Bible Dictionary (1.) Hebrews mitpahath (Ruth 3:15; marg., "sheet" or
"apron;" RV, "mantle").... (6.) Radhidh (Cant. 5:7, RV "mantle;Isaiah 3:23)....
Babylonish (1 Occurrence)
... BABYLONISH GARMENT. bab-i-lo'-nish gar'ment: In the King James Version, Joshua
7:21, for BABYLONISHMANTLE, which see. BABYLONISHMANTLE....
Cloak (73 Occurrences)
... The word so rendered is elsewhere rendered "robe" or "mantle." It was worn by the
high priest under the ephod (Exodus 28:31), by kings and others of rank (1...
Rent (76 Occurrences)
... (KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS YLT RSV). 1 Samuel 15:27 And as Samuel turned about to go
away, he laid hold upon the skirt of hismantle, and it rent....
Vail (44 Occurrences)
... Easton's Bible Dictionary (1.) Hebrews mitpahath (Ruth 3:15; marg., "sheet" or
"apron;" RV, "mantle").... (6.) Radhidh (Cant. 5:7, RV "mantle;Isaiah 3:23)....
Eli'sha (52 Occurrences)
... the son of Shaphat, who was plowing, with twelve yoke of oxen before him, and he
with the twelfth; and Elijah passed over unto him, and cast hismantle upon him...
Pearl (5 Occurrences)
... 3. (n.) A shelly concretion, usually rounded, and having a brilliant luster, with
varying tints, found in themantle, or between themantle and shell, of...
Breeches (6 Occurrences)
... In both these senses the word may be originally Persian: in that ofmantle, meaning
properly (according to Andreas) a "head-covering" (sarabara), for which in...
Cloke (7 Occurrences)
... In size and material the "cloak" differed according to age and sex, class and
occupation, but in shape it was like ourmantle or shawl....
Resources
What is a mantle in the Bible? | GotQuestions.orgWhat is grave sucking / grave soaking / mantle grabbing? | GotQuestions.orgWho is the Lady of Guadalupe? Were the apparitions of Mary at Guadalupe real? | GotQuestions.orgMantle: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.comBible Concordance •
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Bible Encyclopedia •
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