סַרְבַּל
𐤎𐤓𐤁𐤋
çarbal
H5622 noun
SILEX Entry
Definition
An outer garment, specifically a robe or cloak of quality, worn as a mark of status. In biblical Aramaic contexts, it refers to a formal or official garment, often associated with high rank or special investiture. The term denotes a mantle or coat, typically worn over regular clothing, sometimes distinctive in official settings.
Semantic Range
ceremonial robe, official garment, cloak, coat of status; outer garment (especially in Aramaic and Persian-influenced contexts)
Root / Etymology
Root: uncertain. The term סַרְבַּל is of Aramaic origin with no clear Hebrew root. Some have suggested possible derivation from an Iranian (Old Persian) source, with similar words attested in later Aramaic and Persian for 'garment' or 'robe.' The word entered Biblical Aramaic likely through contact with Persian administrative and court culture.
Historical & Contextual Notes
סַרְבַּל appears exclusively in the Aramaic portions of the Hebrew Bible (notably Daniel 3:21, 27), referring to a formal garment worn by high officials at the Babylonian court. Its context suggests prestige and formality, and it likely signifies a robe of status or office rather than common outerwear. Later translations sometimes render the term as 'coat' or 'cloak,' but these may understate its ceremonial or official character. In the Mishnaic period and later Jewish Aramaic, similar terms refer to an outer garment, often elaborate. The use reflects Persian influence in both fashion and terminology during the exile and post-exilic periods. English translations vary, at times using 'mantle,' 'tunic,' 'robe,' or 'coat,' but the connotation in Aramaic sources points toward a more formal or ceremonial piece than these modern terms may suggest. The word is distinct from Hebrew terms like מְעִיל (meʿil, 'mantle') and אַדֶּרֶת (ʾadderet, 'cloak'), carrying its own Aramaic and Persian flavor.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
(Aramaic) of uncertain derivation; a cloak; coat.
Bantu Hebrew
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סרבל (s-r-b-l) — outer garment, formal robe, cloak of status
Word Forms
2 distinct forms
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H5622-02 |
וְ/סָרְבָּלֵי/ה֖וֹן | vesarebaleyhon | AC/Ncmpc/Sp3mp |
and their trousers | and their ceremonial robes | 1 |
H5622-01 |
בְּ/סַרְבָּלֵי/הוֹן֙ | besarebaleyhon | AR/Ncmpc/Sp3mp |
in their trousers | in their official robes | 1 |
Occurrences in Scripture
2 total occurrences
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H5622-01 |
Daniel 3:21 | בְּ/סַרְבָּלֵי/הוֹן֙ | besarebaleyhon | AR/Ncmpc/Sp3mp |
in their trousers | in their official robes |
H5622-02 |
Daniel 3:27 | וְ/סָרְבָּלֵי/ה֖וֹן | vesarebaleyhon | AC/Ncmpc/Sp3mp |
and their trousers | and their ceremonial robes |