← H7478 H7480 →

רַעֲלָה

𐤓𐤏𐤋𐤄

raʻălâh

H7479 noun

SILEX Entry

Root רעל to quiver, shake, tremble, be moved

Definition

A type of long, loose, fluttering veil or head covering worn by women, likely extending over the face or shoulders. The term emphasizes both the covering and its flowing or fluttering quality. Semantic range includes 'veil,' 'mantle,' 'head covering,' specifically one characterized by movement or fluttering when worn.

Semantic Range

veil, mantle, fluttering headdress, long scarf, decorative head covering

Root / Etymology

From the root רעל, which means 'to quiver, shake, tremble, be moved.' The noun רַעֲלָה forms as a feminine derivative and denotes something that flutters or moves, hence, a garment that does so. The root's basic meaning relates to movement, not directly to garments.

Historical & Contextual Notes

רַעֲלָה occurs in Isaiah 3:19 as a garment item among women's adornments in the Hebrew Bible, generally regarded as a signifier of status or ornamentation, possibly for festive or ceremonial use. The motion-suggestive root underlines the material's lightness or the way it moves with the wearer, distinguishing it from other types of veils or mantles. English translations such as 'muffler' or 'veil' often flatten the semantic range, omitting the specific focus on the fluttering or moving aspect of the cloth. The term appears only once (hapax legomenon), leaving its precise shape and usage somewhat interpretive based on context and root associations. Notably, the object described would have signified both modesty and fashion in ancient Israelite society, differentiating it from more utilitarian coverings. In the later Jewish translation tradition, it has sometimes been rendered as 'shawl' or 'mantle,' but the biblical usage is best understood as a decorative, fluttering veil of feminine attire.

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

feminine of רַעַל; a long veil (as fluttering); muffler.

Bantu Hebrew

No Bantu Hebrew comparisons have been submitted for this word yet.

+ Add Bantu Hebrew Word

Root Family

רעל (r-ʿ-l) — quivering, shaking, trembling, being moved

Strong's Lemma SIBI-P1
H4831 מַרְעֲלָה and Maralah
H7477 רָעַל they were caused to stagger
H7478 רַעַל reeling state
H7480 רְעֵלָיָה Yahweh Has Shaken
H8634 תַּרְאֲלָה and Taralah

Word Forms

1 distinct form

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 Occurrences
H7479-01 וְ/הָֽ/רְעָלֽוֹת veharealot HC/Td/Ncfpa and the mufflers and the fluttering veils 1

Occurrences in Scripture

1 total occurrence

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1
H7479-01 Isaiah 3:19 וְ/הָֽ/רְעָלֽוֹת veharealot HC/Td/Ncfpa and the mufflers and the fluttering veils
← H7478 Hebrew Lexicon H7480 →