מַד H4055
A measure or allotted portion; a garment or outer robe; by extension a cloth spread or carpet
Derived from the root idea of extending or stretching out, this noun covers several concrete meanings unified by the concept of measured extent. Most frequently it denotes a garment or military tunic — the robe Ehud concealed his dagger beneath (Judg 3:16) or the armor Saul dressed David in (1 Sam 17:38). Spanish 'túnica' and German 'Gewand' both capture the formal outer-garment sense. In Jeremiah 13:25 it means an allotted measure or portion, while in Judges 5:10 it likely refers to richly dyed saddle-blankets or carpets spread for sitting.
Senses
1. garment, robe, clothing — The most common use, denoting an article of clothing — typically a tunic or outer robe. The priestly vestments of Leviticus 6:10 and the military garb of 1 Samuel 17:38–39 both employ this sense. Multilingual evidence converges strongly: English 'garments,' Spanish 'túnica/ropa,' French 'vêtement,' and German 'Gewand/Mantel' all point to a wearable outer garment rather than underclothing. 8×
AR["بِ-ثَوْبِهِ", "ثِيَابَهُ", "رِدَاءَهُ", "كَ-ثَوبِهِ", "لِ-ثِيابِهِ", "لِـ-ثِيَابِهِ", "وَ-ثِيَابَهُ", "وَ-ثِيَابُهُ"]·ben["এবং-তাঁর-পোশাক", "এবং-তার-পোশাক", "তাঁর-পোশাক", "তাঁর-পোশাকের", "তার-পরিমাপ", "তার-পোশাক", "তার-পোশাকের", "তার-বস্ত্রের-মতো"]·DE["Kleider-sein", "sein-Gewand", "sein-Mantel", "und-Kleider-sein", "und-sein-clothes", "wie-sein-robe"]·EN["and-garments-his", "and-his-clothes", "garments-his", "his-garment", "his-robe", "like-his-robe"]·FR["comme-vêtement", "et-son-vêtements", "et-vêtements-son", "son-manteau", "son-vêtement", "vêtements-son"]·heb["ו-מדי-ו", "ו-מדיו", "כ-מדו", "ל-מדי-ו", "ל-מדיו", "מד-ו", "מדי-ו", "מידו"]·HI["अपना-वस्त्र", "अपने-वस्त्र", "अपने-वस्त्रों-के", "उस्के-वस्त्रोम-के", "और-अपने-वस्त्र", "और-कपड़े-उसके", "वस्त्र-अपना", "वस्त्र-की-तरह"]·ID["dan-pakaiannya", "jubahnya", "pakaiannya", "seperti-pakaian-nya"]·IT["[כמדו]", "e-suo-vesti", "e-vesti-suo", "suo-manto", "suo-veste", "vesti-suo"]·jav["ageman-ipun", "jubahipun", "kados-agemanipun", "kanggé-ageman-ipun", "lan-ageman-ipun", "lan-pangagemipun", "rasukan", "rasukan-piyambakipun"]·KO["그-의-옷-같이", "그-의-옷을", "그리고-그의-옷을", "그리고-그의-옷이", "그의-옷", "그의-옷에", "그의-옷을", "그의-외투"]·PT["como-sua-roupa", "e-suas-vestes", "e-vestes-dele", "sua-veste", "sua-veste-de", "suas-vestes"]·RU["и-одежда-его", "и-одежды-свои", "как-одеждой-своей", "одежд-его", "одеждами-своими", "одеждой-его", "одеждой-своей", "одежду-его"]·ES["como-su-vestido", "su-ropa", "su-túnica", "vestidura-suya-de", "vestiduras-suyas", "y-sus-vestidos", "y-vestiduras-suyas"]·SW["joho-lake", "juu-ya-mavazi-yake", "kama-vazi-lake", "mavazi-yake", "na-mavazi-yake", "nguo-yake", "vazi-lake"]·TR["giysi-gibi", "giysilerini", "giysilerinin", "giysisinin", "ve-giysileri", "ve-giysilerini", "ölçüsünü"]·urd["اور-اپنا-لباس", "اور-کپڑے", "اُس-کے-لباس-کے", "اپنا-لباس", "اپنے-کپڑوں-کے", "لباس-اپنا", "کپڑے-کی-طرح"]
2. stature, tallness — A rare use in 2 Samuel 21:20 (Kethib), where the word appears to denote bodily stature or great physical size, describing a man of extraordinary height. The Qere reads differently (מָדוֹן), and the parallel in 1 Chronicles 20:6 uses מִדָּה 'measure,' suggesting this sense borders on textual uncertainty. 2×
AR["عِمْلاقٌ"]·ben["(কেতিব)", "বিবাদী"]·DE["[k]"]·EN["[k]", "strife"]·FR["[k]", "strife"]·heb["מדון", "מדין"]·HI["लंबा"]·ID["(perawakan)", "[pertikaian]"]·IT["[k]", "strife"]·jav["(ageng)", "[ageng]"]·KO["(싸움의)", "[싸움의]"]·PT["(contenda)", "[contenda]"]·RU["[кетив]", "высокого-роста"]·ES["(de-contención)", "[de-contención]"]·SW["mrefu"]·TR["(kavga)", "[kavga]"]·urd["(لڑاکا)", "[جنگجو]"]
3. measure, dimension — The abstract sense of measure, dimension, or apportioned quantity. In Job 11:9 it describes the immeasurable extent of God's wisdom, and in Jeremiah 13:25 the 'portion of your measures' — the allotted share assigned to unfaithful Judah. Spanish 'medidas' and English 'measure' confirm this quantitative reading. 2×
AR["قِيَاسَاتِكِ", "مِقْياسُها"]·ben["তার-মাপ", "মাপার-তোমার"]·DE["[מדה]", "[מדיך]"]·EN["measure-its", "your-measure"]·FR["[מדיך]", "sa-מדה-elle"]·heb["מידיך", "מידתה"]·HI["उसका-माप", "तेरे-मापों-का"]·ID["ukuranmu", "ukurannya"]·IT["[מדיך]", "measure-its-sua"]·jav["ukuran-panjenengan", "ukuranipun"]·KO["그것의-치수-가", "네-치수의"]·PT["de-tuas-medidas", "sua-medida"]·RU["мер-твоих", "мера-её"]·ES["es-su-medida,", "medidas-tuyas"]·SW["kipimo-chake", "lako-la-kipimo"]·TR["ölçülerinin", "ölçüsü"]·urd["اُس-کی-پیمائش", "تیرا-ناپا"]
4. carpet, spread, saddle-blanket — A hapax use in Judges 5:10, where it likely refers to richly dyed cloths, carpets, or saddle-blankets spread on donkeys for riding. The context of Deborah's song, addressing those who sit on white donkeys upon 'middîn,' supports this as a luxury textile. Spanish 'tapices' (tapestries) captures the nuance well. 1×
AR["بُسُطٍ"]·ben["কম্বলের"]·DE["-saddle-blankets"]·EN["-saddle-blankets"]·FR["-saddle-blankets"]·heb["מדין"]·HI["बिछौने"]·ID["pelana"]·IT["-saddle-blankets"]·jav["karpet"]·KO["깔개들"]·PT["tapetes"]·RU["коврах"]·ES["tapices"]·SW["tandiko"]·TR["örtüler"]·urd["چادروں"]
Related Senses
G0846 1. third-person pronoun reference (5552×)H3605 1. all, every, whole (5352×)H???? 1. (4670×)H6213a 1. do, perform, act (2383×)H0259 1. one (cardinal numeral) (940×)H8033 1. There (locative adverb) (835×)H8147 1. cardinal number two (666×)G3956 1. all (collective plural) (616×)H3967 1. cardinal numeral hundred (550×)H1419a 1. great, large (general quality) (486×)G4160 1. do, act, perform (473×)H7760a 1. put, place, set physically (444×)H7969 1. cardinal number three (431×)H0505 1. cardinal number thousand (427×)H7651 1. seven (cardinal number) (393×)H5221 1. Hifil: to strike in battle, smite enemies (362×)G1520 1. cardinal number one (339×)H6240 1. ten (cardinal number) (334×)H8064 1. heavens / sky (329×)H5439 1. around, all around (spatial) (319×)
BDB / Lexicon Reference
[מַד] n.m. 1 S 4:12 measure, also cloth garment (as extended, wide);—sf. מַדּוֹ ψ 109:18; מִדּוֹ Lv 6:3 2 S 20:8 (מִדָּהּ Jb 11:9, v. sub מִדָּה); pl. מִדִּין Ju 5:10 (v. infr.), 2 S 21:20 Kt (Qr מָדוֹן; read perhaps מִדָּה, v. 1 Ch 20:6, cf. Dr); sf. מִדַּיִךְ Je 13:25; מַדָּיו 1 S 4:12 + 4 times;— 1. measure (only pl.) = apportionment Je 13:25, מְנָֽת־מִדַּיִךְ (of lot of Judah, ‖ גּוֹרָל); cf.…