כַּרְבֵּל
𐤊𐤓𐤁𐤋
karbêl
H3736 verb
SILEX Entry
Definition
A garment, specifically a long outer robe or mantle used as an item of clothing, with emphasis on its function as a formal or distinguishing item of apparel. In context, the term indicates a notable cloak or mantle, typically worn for ceremonial, official, or visually distinctive purposes.
Semantic Range
outer garment, mantle; distinctive, ceremonial, or official robe; item of formal apparel
Root / Etymology
From the root כבל, which generally means 'to bind, connect, tie'. The noun כַּרְבֵּל (karbêl) is likely formed by extension to indicate a garment that is 'bound' or 'wrapped around' the body, reflecting its method of wear. The word itself does not directly carry the root's meaning of 'binding', but rather denotes an article of clothing related by the act of wrapping.
Historical & Contextual Notes
The term כַּרְבֵּל (karbêl) appears only in Daniel 3:21, a text from the exilic or early post-exilic period and part of a narrative set in the Neo-Babylonian court. It refers to a specific type of formal robe worn by officials or courtiers, paired there with other Babylonian clothing terms. This suggests a distinctive or high-ranking article of clothing, possibly borrowed or modeled after foreign dress in the Achaemenid or late Babylonian court context. Unlike more common Hebrew words for garments (beged, me'il, simlah), karbêl denotes a special type of attire, likely unfamiliar to pre-exilic Israelites. English translations vary (e.g., 'mantle', 'cloak'), and the Septuagint renders with Greek ὑποδήματα ('footwear'), illustrating difficulties in precise identification. The word does not recur elsewhere in the Tanakh; its meaning and usage are shaped by context, closely linked to the multi-layered, courtly dress described in Daniel.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
from the same as כֶּבֶל; to gird or clothe; clothed.
Bantu Hebrew
No Bantu Hebrew comparisons have been submitted for this word yet.
+ Add Bantu Hebrew WordRoot Family
כבל (k-b-l) — bind, connect, tie
Word Forms
1 distinct form
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H3736-01 |
מְכֻרְבָּ֣ל | mekhurebal | HVPsmsa |
was clothed | mantled | 1 |
Occurrences in Scripture
1 total occurrence
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H3736-01 |
1 Chronicles 15:27 | מְכֻרְבָּ֣ל | mekhurebal | HVPsmsa |
was clothed | mantled |