Mantle

See GARMENTS.\par

Mantle. The word employed, in the Authorized Version, to translate no less than four Hebrew terms, entirely distinct and independent in both derivation and meaning.

1. Jdg 4:18. The garment with which Jael covered Sisera.

2. Rendered "mantle" in 1Sa 15:27; 1Sa 28:14; Ezr 9:3; Ezr 9:5; etc. This word is, in other passages of the Authorized Version, rendered "coat," "cloak" and "robe."

3. Isa 3:22 only. Apparently some article of a lady’s dress.

1Ki 19:13; 1Ki 19:19; 2Ki 2:8; 2Ki 2:13-14. The sole garment of the prophet Elijah. It was probably of sheepskin, such as is worn by the modern dervishes.

(1) Semikah, the thick plaid or rug wherewith Jael covered Sisera (Jdg 4:18).

(2) The meil, the priestly robe which the child Samuel’s mother made for him, a miniature of his robe in later life (1Sa 2:19; 1Sa 15:27; 1Sa 28:14).

(3) Mataphah (Isa 3:22), a lady’s outer full tunic, with sleeves, reaching to the feet.

(4) ’addereth, Elijah the prophet’s sole mantle except the leather girdle about his loins (1Ki 19:13; 1Ki 19:19); the Septuagint render it "sheepskin." The recognized dress of a prophet (Zec 13:4, "a rough garment" of prophets).

See GARMENTS.

MANTLE.—See Dress, § 4 (c).

man´t’l: Used 5 times of Elijah’s mantle (אדּרת, ’addereth, 1Ki 19:18, 1Ki 19:19; 2Ki 2:8, 2Ki 2:13, 2Ki 2:14), which was probably of hair. Found in plural once (Isa 3:22), where it (ma‛aṭāphōth) is an upper wide tunic with sleeves (k^ethōneth). See DRESS; KERCHIEF.

The word ‘mantle’ occurs in the Revised Version in Heb_1:12, replacing ‘vesture’ of the Authorized Version . The passage is a quotation from Psa_102:26 (27); cf. Psa_104:6. In both places the Septuagint ðåñéâüëáéïí is a translation of Heb. ìְáåּùׁ, ‘clothing.’ The term is appropriate to certain over-garments of ancient peoples, which were literally cast around the body, in contrast to the under-garments, which were put on. In a more restricted sense the same term is employed in 1Co_11:15 to denote ‘veil.’

A description of the only specific mantle occurring in the relevant section of Scripture will be found under article Cloke. See also article Clothes.

W. Cruickshank.

2Ki 2:14 (c) This is an emblem of authority. Elijah, who was the master of Elisha, left this garment for Elisha, so that all would know that Elisha now was the successor to Elijah, and could and would exercise all the powers of Elijah. It may be understood as a type of spiritual power conveyed from the greater to the lesser.