Original Word: מַכְבָּר
Part of Speech: Noun Masculine
Transliteration: makbar
Pronunciation: mik-BAHR
Phonetic Spelling: (mak-bawr')
KJV: thick cloth
NASB: grating
Word Origin: [from H3527 (כָּבַר - abundance) in the sense of covering]

1. a cloth (as netted)

thick cloth

From kabar in the sense of covering; a cloth (as netted (compare makber)) -- thick cloth.

see HEBREW kabar

see HEBREW makber

Word Origin
from the same as kabir
Definition
grating, lattice-work
NASB Translation
grating (6).

מִכְבָּר noun masculine grating or lattice-work, construct מִכְבַּר; — Exodus 27:4 and thou shalt make for it (the altar of burnt-offering in the tabernacle) מִכְבָּר מַעֲשֵׂה רֶשֶׁת נְהשֶׁת a grating, (even) a network of bronze, which surrounded the lower half of the altar (Exodus 27:5 b): so Exodus 38:4; מִכְבַּר הַנְּחשֶׁת Exodus 35:16; Exodus 38:5,30; Exodus 39:39.

Overview

מַכְבָּר (Strong’s Hebrew 4346) is translated in the Berean Standard Bible as “thick cloth” in the sole passage where it appears (2 Kings 8:15). While the more common cognate form (Strong’s 4345) denotes the metal “network” of the altar, this form describes a woven fabric heavy enough to be used as a suffocating cover.

Historical Setting in 2 Kings 8:15

The narrative unfolds in Aram-Damascus during the reign of Ben-Hadad II. The prophet Elisha has just foretold that the court official Hazael will succeed the king (2 Kings 8:10-13). The next day, “Hazael took a thick cloth, dipped it in water, and spread it over the king’s face. So Ben-hadad died, and Hazael reigned in his place” (2 Kings 8:15). The מַכְבָּר thus becomes the instrument of a politically motivated assassination that fulfills Elisha’s prophecy and advances God’s wider purposes in judging both Aram and, eventually, wayward Israel (2 Kings 10:32-33).

Material Culture: Thick Cloths and Heavy Coverings

1. Composition: Likely a densely woven wool or linen pad, sometimes soaked to cool fevered patients. Wetting it would also obstruct breathing, making it a subtle yet lethal weapon.
2. Domestic Use: Thick pads served as cushions, bed-covers, and poultices (compare Judges 4:18; Proverbs 31:22).
3. Ritual Contrast: The bronze “network” of the altar allowed fire to pass through (Exodus 27:4), whereas this fabric cover blocked life-giving air—an ironic reversal of the altar’s life-preserving sacrifices.

Symbolism and Theological Themes

• Betrayal and Ambition: The soft texture of the cloth masks the hard reality of murder. Scripture often exposes sin hidden beneath an appearance of gentleness (Psalm 55:21; Matthew 23:28).
• Prophetic Certainty: Elisha’s word proves trustworthy despite human schemes. The episode echoes Samuel’s anointing of David (1 Samuel 16:13) and anticipates Christ’s assertion that “Scripture cannot be broken” (John 10:35).
• Divine Sovereignty over Nations: The rise of Hazael, though wicked, becomes a rod of discipline for Israel (2 Kings 13:3-7), illustrating how God governs even hostile powers (Isaiah 10:5-7; Acts 4:27-28).

Ministry Implications

1. Discernment in Leadership: The passage warns against superficial assessments of character. Hazael appeared loyal, yet harbored murderous ambition. Churches must heed Paul’s counsel: “Do not be hasty in the laying on of hands” (1 Timothy 5:22).
2. Trust in Prophetic Scripture: Elisha’s accurate foresight encourages believers to rely on the more sure word of prophecy contained in the canonical Scriptures (2 Peter 1:19).
3. The Subtlety of Sin: The seemingly innocuous cloth reminds preachers to expose the deceptive nature of sin that “conceives and gives birth to death” (James 1:15).

Related Biblical Parallels

• Judges 4:18 – Jael’s rug conceals Sisera before his death.
• 1 Samuel 19:13 – Michal’s household idol, cushioned with goat hair, masks David’s escape.
• Isaiah 25:7 – The Lord promises to remove “the shroud that enfolds all peoples,” contrasting His liberating veil with the suffocating מַכְבָּר.
• 2 Corinthians 3:15-16 – The veil over hearts is lifted in Christ, highlighting the gospel’s power to replace deadly coverings with life-giving revelation.

Key Points for Teaching and Preaching

• God’s word stands unmoved even when fulfilled through human treachery.
• Personal ambition, left unchecked, can weaponize ordinary blessings.
• Divine judgment may arrive through unexpected means, underscoring the urgency of repentance and faith.

הַמַּכְבֵּר֙ המכבר ham·maḵ·bêr hammachBer hammaḵbêrInterlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel Texts