Original Word: מַד
Part of Speech: Noun Masculine
Transliteration: mad
Pronunciation: mad / mayd
Phonetic Spelling: (mad)
KJV: armour, clothes, garment, judgment, measure, raiment, stature
NASB: armor, carpets, cloak, clothes, garment, garments, measure
Word Origin: [from H4058 (מָדַד - measured)]

1. (properly) extent, i.e. height
2. (also) a measure
3. (by implication) a vesture (as measured)
4. (also) a carpet

armour, clothes, garment, judgment, measure, raiment, stature

Or med {made}; from madad; properly, extent, i.e. Height; also a measure; by implication, a vesture (as measured); also a carpet -- armour, clothes, garment, judgment, measure, raiment, stature.

see HEBREW madad

Word Origin
from madad
Definition
a measure, cloth garment
NASB Translation
armor (2), attire* (1), carpets (1), cloak (1), clothes (1), garment (1), garments (1), measure (1), measured (1), robe (1), stature (1).

[מַד] noun masculine^{1Samuel 4:12} measure, also cloth garment (as extended, wide); — suffix מַדּוֺ Psalm 109:18; מִדּוֺ Leviticus 6:3; 2 Samuel 20:8 (מִדָּהּ Job 11:9, see below מִדָּה); plural מִדִּין Judges 5:10 (see below), 2 Samuel 21:20 Kt (Qr מָדוֺן; read perhaps מִדָּה, see 1 Chronicles 20:6, compare Dr); suffix מִדַּיִךְ Jeremiah 13:25; מַדָּיו 1 Samuel 4:12 4t.; —

1 measure (only plural) = apportionment Jeremiah 13:25, מְנָָֽתמִֿדַּיִךְ (of lot of Judah, "" גּוֺרָל); compare literally 2 Samuel 21:20 Kt (but see מִדָּה).

2 perhaps cloth, carpet (for sitting on), Judges 5:10 (so most, conjecture from context; on plural in ן, see Ges^{§ 87}, l. a).

3 garment, outer garment Judges 3:16; 1 Samuel 4:12, compare (simile) Psalm 109:18; of fighting-attire 1 Samuel 17:38 (with verb הִלְבִּשׁ), 1 Samuel 17:39; 1 Samuel 18:4; 2 Samuel 20:8 ("" לְבוּשׁ); of priest's garment וְלָבַשׁ הַכֹּהֵן מִדּוֺ בַד Leviticus 6:3; compare [מָדוּ, מַדְוֶה] below מדה.

Physical Garments and Clothing

Most occurrences refer simply to the clothing worn on the body. The term is broad enough to describe the priest’s “linen garment” (Leviticus 6:10), the travel attire of the affluent (Judges 5:10), or the torn clothes of the Benjamite messenger (1 Samuel 4:12). It can denote under-garments or an outer tunic but is distinct from more formal robes such as the מְעִיל.

Military Equipment

Israel’s warriors are frequently pictured in their מַד. Ehud secures his dagger “under his clothing” (Judges 3:16). Saul outfits David: “Then Saul dressed David in his own tunic” (1 Samuel 17:38–39). Joab confronts Amasa “wearing his military tunic” (2 Samuel 20:8). Garment and weapon work together, highlighting readiness for battle.

Priestly Ministry

“The priest shall put on his linen garment” (Leviticus 6:10). Acceptable service required an approved covering, pointing to holiness and prefiguring the perfect righteousness of the final High Priest, Jesus Christ.

Symbol of Office and Covenant

Jonathan removes “his garments and gave them to David” (1 Samuel 18:4), surrendering royal privilege and sealing covenant loyalty. Saul’s act of clothing David unwittingly points to David’s destined kingship, though David rejects dependence on human armor, trusting instead in the LORD.

Garment of Blessing or Curse

Psalm 109:18 uses the noun figuratively: “He wore cursing like a garment.” Habitual sin, like clothing, saturates life until it penetrates one’s very bones. Conversely, believers are exhorted to “put on the Lord Jesus Christ.”

Measure and Allotment

Linked etymologically to measuring, the word retains that nuance: “Its measure is longer than the earth and wider than the sea” (Job 11:9). In judgment the LORD declares, “This is your lot, the portion I have measured for you” (Jeremiah 13:25). The God who clothes His servants also determines their destiny.

Practical Ministry Applications

1. Holiness: ministry must proceed from God-provided righteousness, not self-made efforts.
2. Covenant Loyalty: Jonathan’s gift models sacrificial commitment to God’s anointed purposes.
3. Spiritual Warfare: just as weapons rested upon the warrior’s מַד, spiritual armor rests upon the believer’s new identity in Christ.
4. Vigilance: what we “wear” in thought and speech will eventually saturate our inner being.
5. Trust: God’s measured allotments, whether blessing or discipline, are precise and purposeful.

Spiritual Insights and Messianic Foreshadowing

Garments signify identity. The priest’s linen מַד anticipates Christ’s sinless humanity; Jonathan’s transferred garment prefigures the great exchange in which He clothes believers with His righteousness (Isaiah 61:10). The curse-laden garment of Psalm 109 anticipates the curse borne by Christ so that His people might be arrayed in spotless robes. Thus every use of מַד ultimately directs attention to the God who measures, clothes, and redeems His people.

וּמַדָּ֕יו וּמַדָּ֣יו ומדיו כְּמַ֫דּ֥וֹ כמדו לְמַדָּ֔יו לְמַדָּ֜יו למדיו מִדִּ֛ין מִדַּ֛יִךְ מִדָּ֑הּ מִדּ֣וֹ מַדָּ֔יו מדה מדו מדיו מדיך מדין kə·mad·dōw keMadDo kəmaddōw lə·mad·dāw lemadDav ləmaddāw mad·dāw madDav maddāw mid·da·yiḵ mid·dāh mid·dîn mid·dōw midDah middāh midDayich middayiḵ midDin middîn midDo middōw ū·mad·dāw umadDav ūmaddāwInterlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel Texts