8008. salmah
Lexical Summary
salmah: Garment, cloak, robe

Original Word: שַׂלְמָה
Part of Speech: Noun Feminine
Transliteration: salmah
Pronunciation: sal-MAH
Phonetic Spelling: (sal-maw')
KJV: clothes, garment, raiment
NASB: clothes, cloak, garments, clothing, garment
Word Origin: [transp. for H8071 (שִׂמלָה - clothes)]

1. a dress

Strong's Exhaustive Concordance
clothes, garment, raiment

Transp. For simlah; a dress -- clothes, garment, raiment.

see HEBREW simlah

NAS Exhaustive Concordance
Word Origin
from simlah (by transposition)
Definition
a wrapper, mantle
NASB Translation
cloak (5), clothes (6), clothing (1), garment (1), garments (3), robe* (1).

Brown-Driver-Briggs
II. שַׂלְמָה noun feminine id. (transposed from שִׂמְלָה); — absolute ׳שׂ Exodus 22:8 +, construct שַׂלְמַת Exodus 22:25; suffix שַׂלְמָתוֺ Deuteronomy 24:13; plural שְׂלָמוֺת Joshua 9:5 +, suffix שַׂלְמֹתֵיהֶם Joshua 9:13, etc.; — garment (of man or [Song of Solomon 4:11] woman): outer garment Exodus 22:8; Exodus 22:25 (E), Joshua 9:5,13 (JE), Deuteronomy 24:13; 1 Kings 11:29,30; Psalm 104:2 (figurative); in General clothes (plural) Deuteronomy 29:4; Nehemiah 9:21; Job 9:31; Songs 4:11; as costly gifts 1 Kings 10:25 2Chronicles 9:24; as booty Joshua 22:8 (late). — Micah 2:8 read probably שֹׁלְמֹה) Roo, RSProph. vii. N. 4), or שֹׁלְמִים (We Now GASm), him (those) at peace (with him), compare ᵐ5 ᵑ6.

Topical Lexicon
Definition and Scope

שַׂלְמָה designates the common outer cloak of ancient Israel—an ample piece of cloth that served as daytime attire, blanket by night, collateral for loans, royal gift, prophetic object lesson, and poetic symbol.

Everyday Function in Ancient Israel

The cloak was a person’s portable shelter. Because the poor often owned little else, losing it meant exposure to cold and danger. Its indispensability underlies every legal, ethical, and symbolic use.

Legal and Compassionate Dimensions

Exodus 22:26 commands, “If you take your neighbor’s cloak as collateral, return it to him by sunset”.
Deuteronomy 24:13 adds, “You must surely return the pledge at sunset, so that he may sleep in his cloak and bless you.”

These statutes preserve personal dignity and teach lenders to subjugate profit to mercy—principles still vital for Christian stewardship and benevolence.

Divine Provision and Faithfulness

Deuteronomy 29:5 and Nehemiah 9:21 recall forty wilderness years during which “Your clothes did not wear out.” The cloak became testimony that Israel’s survival rested on God, not material resources—a reminder to trust divine care in ministry rather than human reserves.

Vehicle of Deception and Discernment

Joshua 9:5, 13 narrates the Gibeonites’ stratagem: “Worn-out sacks and old wineskins… old garments.” Their cloaks disguised proximity as distance, prompting Israel’s leaders to make a hasty treaty. The episode underscores the need for prayerful discernment when appearances mislead.

Instrument of Royal Generosity

Visitors to Solomon “brought… garments” (1 Kings 10:25; 2 Chronicles 9:24). Joshua 22:8 lists “an abundance of garments” among the spoils shared with the Transjordan tribes. Fine cloaks functioned as currency, tribute, and celebration of covenant fellowship.

Prophetic Sign-Act and National Division

Ahijah met Jeroboam wearing a new cloak, “tore it into twelve pieces,” and delivered ten to the rebel (1 Kings 11:29-30). The act transformed clothing into a living prophecy that the kingdom would split for Solomon’s apostasy, yet Judah would remain for David’s sake. Scripture binds historical events to God’s unbreakable word.

Poetry and Worship Imagery

Psalm 104:2 exalts the Creator “covering Yourself with light as with a garment,” using the cloak to express divine transcendence.
• Job laments, “My own clothes will abhor me” (Job 9:31), externalizing inner defilement.
• Song of Songs 4:11 praises the bride, “The fragrance of your garments is like the scent of Lebanon,” portraying intimacy and delight.

Ethical Warnings Against Oppression

Micah 2:8 rebukes oppressors who “strip off the robe along with the garment from those who pass by,” equating theft of a cloak with personal violence. The prophet demands social justice rooted in covenant love.

Theological and Ministry Reflections

From Sinai’s law to Micah’s lament, the cloak illustrates God’s concern for both physical need and moral integrity. For believers:
• Meet tangible needs—return the cloak, clothe the poor, embody compassion (cf. Matthew 25:36).
• Trust divine provision—He who preserved Israel’s garments sustains His servants.
• Guard against outward deception—test every spirit and circumstance by Scripture.
• Rejoice in the greater garment—Christ clothes His people “with garments of salvation” (Isaiah 61:10), foreshadowed by every שַׂלְמָה in the canon.

Forms and Transliterations
בְּשַׂלְמָ֣ה בְּשַׂלְמָת֖וֹ בַּשַּׂלְמָ֥ה בשלמה בשלמתו וּבִשְׂלָמ֖וֹת וּשְׂלָמ֥וֹת וּשְׂלָמוֹת֙ ובשלמות ושלמות כַּשַּׂלְמָ֑ה כשלמה שַׂלְמַ֣ת שַׂלְמָ֔ה שַׂלְמָ֜ה שַׂלְמֹֽתֵיהֶם֙ שַׂלְמֹֽתֵיכֶם֙ שַׂלְמֹתַ֖יִךְ שַׂלְמוֹתֵ֙ינוּ֙ שַׂלְמוֹתָֽי׃ שלמה שלמותי׃ שלמותינו שלמת שלמתיהם שלמתיך שלמתיכם baś·śal·māh bassalMah baśśalmāh bə·śal·mā·ṯōw bə·śal·māh besalMah bəśalmāh besalmaTo bəśalmāṯōw kaś·śal·māh kassalMah kaśśalmāh śal·māh śal·maṯ śal·mō·ṯa·yiḵ śal·mō·ṯê·hem śal·mō·ṯê·ḵem śal·mō·w·ṯāy śal·mō·w·ṯê·nū salMah śalmāh salMat śalmaṯ salmoTai salmoTayich śalmōṯayiḵ śalmōṯêhem salmoteiChem salmoteiHem salmoTeinu śalmōṯêḵem śalmōwṯāy śalmōwṯênū ū·ḇiś·lā·mō·wṯ ū·śə·lā·mō·wṯ ūḇiślāmōwṯ uselaMot ūśəlāmōwṯ uvislaMot
Links
Interlinear GreekInterlinear HebrewStrong's NumbersEnglishman's Greek ConcordanceEnglishman's Hebrew ConcordanceParallel Texts
Englishman's Concordance
Exodus 22:9
HEB: שֶׂ֨ה עַל־ שַׂלְמָ֜ה עַל־ כָּל־
NAS: for sheep, for clothing, [or] for any
KJV: for sheep, for raiment, [or] for any manner of lost thing,
INT: sheep for clothing for any

Exodus 22:26
HEB: חָבֹ֥ל תַּחְבֹּ֖ל שַׂלְמַ֣ת רֵעֶ֑ךָ עַד־
NAS: your neighbor's cloak as a pledge,
KJV: thy neighbour's raiment to pledge,
INT: ever take cloak your neighbor's before

Deuteronomy 24:13
HEB: הַשֶּׁ֔מֶשׁ וְשָׁכַ֥ב בְּשַׂלְמָת֖וֹ וּבֵֽרֲכֶ֑ךָּ וּלְךָ֙
NAS: to him, that he may sleep in his cloak and bless
KJV: that he may sleep in his own raiment, and bless
INT: the sun may sleep his cloak and bless become

Deuteronomy 29:5
HEB: לֹֽא־ בָל֤וּ שַׂלְמֹֽתֵיכֶם֙ מֵעֲלֵיכֶ֔ם וְנַֽעַלְךָ֥
NAS: in the wilderness; your clothes have not worn
KJV: in the wilderness: your clothes are not waxen old
INT: have not worn your clothes on and your sandal

Joshua 9:5
HEB: וּמְטֻלָּאוֹת֙ בְּרַגְלֵיהֶ֔ם וּשְׂלָמ֥וֹת בָּל֖וֹת עֲלֵיהֶ֑ם
NAS: and worn-out clothes on themselves; and all
KJV: and old garments upon them; and all the bread
INT: and patched their feet clothes and worn-out on

Joshua 9:13
HEB: הִתְבַּקָּ֑עוּ וְאֵ֤לֶּה שַׂלְמוֹתֵ֙ינוּ֙ וּנְעָלֵ֔ינוּ בָּל֕וּ
NAS: and these our clothes and our sandals
KJV: and, behold, they be rent: and these our garments and our shoes
INT: are torn and these our clothes and our sandals are worn

Joshua 22:8
HEB: וּבִנְחֹ֧שֶׁת וּבְבַרְזֶ֛ל וּבִשְׂלָמ֖וֹת הַרְבֵּ֣ה מְאֹ֑ד
NAS: many clothes; divide
KJV: much raiment: divide
INT: bronze iron clothes many very

1 Kings 10:25
HEB: וּכְלֵ֨י זָהָ֤ב וּשְׂלָמוֹת֙ וְנֵ֣שֶׁק וּבְשָׂמִ֔ים
NAS: and gold, garments, weapons,
KJV: of gold, and garments, and armour,
INT: articles and gold garments weapons spices

1 Kings 11:29
HEB: וְה֤וּא מִתְכַּסֶּה֙ בְּשַׂלְמָ֣ה חֲדָשָׁ֔ה וּשְׁנֵיהֶ֥ם
NAS: himself with a new cloak; and both
KJV: himself with a new garment; and they two
INT: now Ahijah had clothed cloak A new and both

1 Kings 11:30
HEB: וַיִּתְפֹּ֣שׂ אֲחִיָּ֔ה בַּשַּׂלְמָ֥ה הַחֲדָשָׁ֖ה אֲשֶׁ֣ר
NAS: of the new cloak which
KJV: the new garment that [was] on him, and rent
INT: took Ahijah cloak of the new which

2 Chronicles 9:24
HEB: וּכְלֵ֨י זָהָ֤ב וּשְׂלָמוֹת֙ נֵ֣שֶׁק וּבְשָׂמִ֔ים
NAS: and gold, garments, weapons,
KJV: of gold, and raiment, harness,
INT: articles and gold garments weapons spices

Nehemiah 9:21
HEB: לֹ֣א חָסֵ֑רוּ שַׂלְמֹֽתֵיהֶם֙ לֹ֣א בָל֔וּ
NAS: [and] they were not in want; Their clothes did not wear
KJV: [so that] they lacked nothing; their clothes waxed not old,
INT: nor want their clothes nor wear

Job 9:31
HEB: תִּטְבְּלֵ֑נִי וְ֝תִֽעֲב֗וּנִי שַׂלְמוֹתָֽי׃ כִּי־ לֹא־
NAS: me into the pit, And my own clothes would abhor
KJV: me in the ditch, and mine own clothes shall abhor
INT: plunge abhor clothes for not

Psalm 104:2
HEB: עֹֽטֶה־ א֭וֹר כַּשַּׂלְמָ֑ה נוֹטֶ֥ה שָׁ֝מַ֗יִם
NAS: Yourself with light as with a cloak, Stretching
KJV: [thyself] with light as [with] a garment: who stretchest out
INT: Covering light A cloak Stretching heaven

Songs 4:11
HEB: לְשׁוֹנֵ֔ךְ וְרֵ֥יחַ שַׂלְמֹתַ֖יִךְ כְּרֵ֥יחַ לְבָנֽוֹן׃
NAS: And the fragrance of your garments is like the fragrance
KJV: and the smell of thy garments [is] like the smell
INT: your tongue and the fragrance of your garments the fragrance of Lebanon

Micah 2:8
HEB: יְקוֹמֵ֔ם מִמּ֣וּל שַׂלְמָ֔ה אֶ֖דֶר תַּפְשִׁט֑וּן
KJV: with the garment from them that pass
INT: have arisen with the garment the robe off

16 Occurrences

Strong's Hebrew 8008
16 Occurrences


baś·śal·māh — 1 Occ.
bə·śal·māh — 1 Occ.
bə·śal·mā·ṯōw — 1 Occ.
kaś·śal·māh — 1 Occ.
śal·māh — 2 Occ.
śal·maṯ — 1 Occ.
śal·mō·w·ṯāy — 1 Occ.
śal·mō·ṯa·yiḵ — 1 Occ.
śal·mō·ṯê·ḵem — 1 Occ.
śal·mō·ṯê·hem — 1 Occ.
śal·mō·w·ṯê·nū — 1 Occ.
ū·śə·lā·mō·wṯ — 3 Occ.
ū·ḇiś·lā·mō·wṯ — 1 Occ.

8007
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