Maal means to act unfaithfully, to commit a trespass, or to violate sacred trust — particularly in the context of covenant relationship. It appears about 35 times as a verb (plus the noun maal for "unfaithfulness"). The concept encompasses embezzlement of sacred property, marital unfaithfulness, and most critically, Israel's unfaithfulness to God.
Maal is the word used when Israel commits sacrilege against God — taking what belongs to Him, violating His holiness, or betraying covenant loyalty. Achan's sin (Joshua 7:1) is called maal. The unfaithful husband or wife is described as committing maal (Numbers 5:12). Chronicles repeatedly uses this word to explain Israel's exile: persistent maal led to the Babylonian captivity (2 Chronicles 36:14). The gravity of maal lies in its relational dimension — it is not merely sin but the betrayal of someone's trust.