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Apparel

Easton's Bible Dictionary

1

In Old Testament times the distinction between male and female attire was not very marked. The statute forbidding men to wear female apparel (Deut 22:5) referred especially to ornaments and head-dresses. Both men and women wore (1) an under garment or tunic, which was bound by a girdle. One who had only this tunic on was spoken of as “naked” (1 Sam 19:24; Job 24:10; Isa 20:2). Those in high stations sometimes wore two tunics, the outer being called the “upper garment” (1 Sam 15:27; 18:4; 24:5; Job 1:20).

2

They wore in common an over-garment (“mantle,” Isa 3:22; 1 Kgs 19:13; 2 Kgs 2:13), a loose and flowing robe. The folds of this upper garment could be formed into a lap (Ruth 3:15; Ps 79:12; Prov 17:23; Luke 6:38). Generals of armies usually wore scarlet robes (Judg 8:26; Nah 2:3). A form of conspicuous raiment is mentioned in Luke 20:46; comp. Matt 23:5.

Priests alone wore trousers. Both men and women wore turbans. Kings and nobles usually had a store of costly garments for festive occasions (Isa 3:22; Zech 3:4) and for presents (Gen 45:22; Esth 4:4; 6:8, 11; 1 Sam 18:4; 2 Kgs 5:5; 10:22). Prophets and ascetics wore coarse garments (Isa 20:2; Zech 13:4; Matt 3:4).

International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

a-par'-el: The English equivalent of six Hebrew and three Greek words, variously signifying all kinds of raiment, chiefly garments costly and beautiful: ornamental (2 Sam 1:24); royal, as of Ahasuerus (Esth 6:8), of Herod (Acts 12:21, esthes); of kings' daughters (2 Sam 13:18); priestly (Ezra 3:10); also mourning (2 Sam 14:2). In 1 Sam 17:38; 1 Sam 17:39 "apparel" replaces "armor" of King James Version: "Saul clad David with his apparel," probably some close-fitting garment worn under the armor, or sometimes without it. Severe judgment was pronounced on Jewish princes who clothed themselves with "strange" (the King James Version), i.e. "with foreign apparel" (Ze 1:8; compare Isa 2:6-8). "Modest apparel" as against "costly raiment" is commended as suited to Christians (1 Tim 2:9; himatismos, and katastole). Angels are robed in white apparel (Acts 1:10; compare Luke 24:4, "dazzling"). Fig. of the glorious and red (suggestive of the wine-press) apparel of the Messiah (Isa 63:1; Isa 63:2), and of "a meek and quiet spirit" (1 Pet 3:4).

Dwight M. Pratt

Kilde: Easton's Bible Dictionary (M.G. Easton, 1897) og International Standard Bible Encyclopedia (red. James Orr, 1915/1939), public domain. Translated into Danish with AI and not yet proofread (fully or partially). Links to people and places: Theographic Bible Metadata (CC BY-SA 4.0).