מְכַסֶּה
𐤌𐤊𐤎𐤄
mᵉkaççeh
H4374 noun
SILEX Entry
Definition
A physical object used for covering, with the primary sense of something that conceals or shelters another thing. Refers most often to a garment or fabric used as clothing or bedding (coverlet, blanket), but can denote any form of covering, including architectural (awning, canopy), or anatomical (the omentum, as a membrane covering internal organs). Broadly, it encompasses any structured item whose function is to enclose, conceal, or protect by covering.
Semantic Range
covering, garment, blanket, coverlet, awning, canopy, omentum (anatomical covering), cloth for wrapping, any object used for covering or concealment
Root / Etymology
Derived from the Hebrew root כסה, which means 'to cover, conceal, hide.' The noun מְכַסֶּה is a derived form denoting an entity or object that fulfils the function of covering, based on the verbal action of concealing or overlaying.
Historical & Contextual Notes
In biblical Hebrew, מְכַסֶּה is used to denote a wide range of coverings—from everyday garments or blankets to specific ritual or architectural items, or to anatomical membranes. For example, Numbers 4:12 describes a cloth covering for sanctuary objects, while Job 24:7 uses it in the sense of a covering garment to protect from cold. In Leviticus 3:4 it refers to the omentum (fatty membrane over the intestines) in sacrificial contexts, demonstrating a specialized anatomical use. The term did not designate specific styles or culturally unique garments, but focused on the functional aspect—anything serving as a cover. English translations sometimes obscure this breadth, rendering it as 'garment,' 'covering,' 'blanket,' or 'omentum' contextually. Its semantic range may overlap with related nouns such as כְּסוּי (kesuy, 'covering'), though מְכַסֶּה emphasizes the result or the article itself. In later periods, as clothing vocabulary diversified, more specific terms for garments appeared, but the general function-oriented use of מְכַסֶּה persisted for objects whose chief identity was as a cover.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
from כָּסָה; a covering, i.e. garment; specifically, a coverlet (for a bed), an awning (from the sun); also the omentum (as covering the intestines); clothing, to cover, that which covereth.
Bantu Hebrew
No Bantu Hebrew comparisons have been submitted for this word yet.
+ Add Bantu Hebrew WordRoot Family
כסה (k-s-h) — to cover, conceal, hide
| Strong's | Lemma | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|
| H3677 | כֶּסֶא | full moon |
| H3678 | כִּסֵּא | the throne |
| H3680 | כָּסָה | I will fully cover |
| H3681 | כָּסוּי | covering-of |
| H3682 | כְּסוּת | covering-of |
Word Forms
4 distinct forms
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H4374-02 |
וּ/מְכַסֶּ֖י/ךָ | umekhaseykha | HC/Ncmsc/Sp2ms |
and your covering | and your covering | 1 |
H4374-01 |
מְכַסֵּֽ/ךְ | mekhasekhe | HNcmsc/Sp2fs |
your covering | your covering | 1 |
H4374-04 |
וְ/לִ/מְכַסֶּ֥ה | velimekhaseh | HC/R/Ncmsa |
and for covering | and for a covering | 1 |
H4374-03 |
וְ/הַֽ/מְכַסֶּה֙ | vehamekhaseh | HC/Td/Ncmsa |
and the covering | and the covering | 1 |
Occurrences in Scripture
4 total occurrences
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H4374-03 |
Leviticus 9:19 | וְ/הַֽ/מְכַסֶּה֙ | vehamekhaseh | HC/Td/Ncmsa |
and the covering | and the covering |
H4374-02 |
Isaiah 14:11 | וּ/מְכַסֶּ֖י/ךָ | umekhaseykha | HC/Ncmsc/Sp2ms |
and your covering | and your covering |
H4374-04 |
Isaiah 23:18 | וְ/לִ/מְכַסֶּ֥ה | velimekhaseh | HC/R/Ncmsa |
and for covering | and for a covering |
H4374-01 |
Ezekiel 27:7 | מְכַסֵּֽ/ךְ | mekhasekhe | HNcmsc/Sp2fs |
your covering | your covering |