Clothes
CLOTHES
See GARMENTS.
Fuente: American Tract Society Bible Dictionary
Clothes
Many words of general meaning relating to clothing are used in the Acts, Epistles, and especially in the Apocalypse. In a number of instances these are metaphorical, particularly in the case of verbs, e.g. putting on, putting off, encircled, etc. (2Co 5:3-4, Eph 4:24; Eph 6:11, Col 3:9-10). The clothing of the angels and visionary figures is indeterminate, except as to aspect and colour, e.g. white, shining, pure, purple, scarlet, sprinkled (or dipped). Even with regard to luxury in dress, kingly or otherwise, there is little or no mention of particular garments (cf. Act 12:21, 1Ti 2:9, 1Pe 3:3). In a passage quoted from the OT (Heb 1:11-12) another indefinite term (; cf. 1Co 11:15) is employed. Little is said to indicate the condition of poverty (except Jam 2:3); naked, nakedness, occur mostly in connexion with persecutions, which were also marked by the wearing of sheepskins and goatskins (Heb 11:37)-this, however, in pre-Christian times. The restricted meaning of naked is probably found in Act 19:16 (cf. Act 7:58). The minimum in respect of clothes is hinted at in the of 1Ti 6:6 (where some have found shelter implied as well), and enjoined in the () of 1Ti 2:9, where a contrast is made between modest apparel and the other extreme, which is also vividly pictured in one of the parties entering the synagogue, and having favour shown by the rulers (Jam 2:2-3). The moth-eaten garments (5:2) of the rich also tell an evident story.
1. Under-garments.-The , or under-garment, is expressly mentioned in few places. We find that Dorcas made coats () and garments (), the two chief categories of dress (Act 9:39). In Jud 1:23 the garment () spotted by the flesh may be understood literally, the being brought into immediate contact with the body. But it would not warrant the conclusion that there was no other under-garment known or worn at this time. The may also be inferred from Act 12:8, where the girdle is evidently implied (see Girdle). Sackcloth is mentioned only in the imagery of Rev. (Rev 6:12; Rev 11:3). See Coat.
2. Outer covering (or coverings)- (, pl. [Note: plural.] ), while no doubt generically employed, is also the specific word for the outer garment, equivalent to Heb. and Latin pallium (see Mat 5:40, cloke). . robe, appears only in Rev. (sing. [Note: singular.] and pl. [Note: plural.] ), and the compound in 1Ti 2:9 (accus. of ), in Rev 1:13, a garment reaching to the feet, appears to combine the notions of dignity and priestly sanctity. The outer garment (mostly in pl. [Note: plural.] ) figures in the Acts in connexion with certain activities, viz. the stoning of Stephen (Act 7:53); preparation for going forth (Act 12:8); rending, as a token of grief (Act 14:14); rending, as an act of violence (Act 16:22); shaking out, to indicate being done with (Act 18:6); throwing off, as a sign of rage (Act 22:23). For outer coverings see further Cloke, Mantle.
3. Head-dress-No distinctive head-covering for men is mentioned, but in view of the treatment of the head by shearing and shaving some protection must have been worn (Act 18:18; Act 21:24), and may be deduced from 1Co 11:4. The difficult paragraph (1Co 11:4-16) need be regarded here only in so far as it evidences a practice of veiling of women (not indeed of the face), indoors and out-of-doors, as a sign of authority (Revised Version ), which authority is either anothers, and this is the usual interpretation, or her own (sec W. M. Ramsay, Luke the Physician, London, 1908, p. 175). St. Paul makes use of the face-veil (cf. Exo 34:33-35) for spiritual purposes in 2Co 3:12-18. The crown (), frequently mentioned in St. Pauls Epistles and in Rev., is either part of gala-attire (cf. , Act 14:13), or distinctive of saints and allegorical figures seen in vision. Such word-pictures may, however, have had a basis of fact in the fillets, chaplets, and other head-gear of the Greeks and Romans. For the influence of Asia Minor on the dress of Rev. (e.g. 7:9ff.) see A. Deissmann, Bibelstudien, Marburg, 1895, p. 285ff. (Eng. translation , Bible Studies, Edinburgh, 1901, pp. 368-370).
4. Footwear.-See article Shoe, Sandal.
5. Handkerchief, Apron.-See separate articles under these titles.
6. Articles of military wear are treated under Armour.
7. Clothes relating to marriage and burial.-Rev 21:2 contains the only mention of the bride adorned, and details are equally lacking as to burial customs. Act 5:6, referring to Ananias ( , they wrapped him round), does not convey much.
8. Ornaments.-The single reference to bag gage (Act 21:15) is significant of the absence of superfluous articles of wear in the equipment of St. Paul and his companions in travel. But many of those who remained at home were not so indifferent to luxury. To the indications already given may be added the mention of a mirror (1Co 13:12, 2Co 3:18, Jam 1:23), in actual practice doubtless as much for ornament as for use. Plaiting the hair (1Ti 2:9, 1Pe 3:3) is open to censure, and anointing likewise seems to have been carried to excess in these times (ointment, Rev 18:13). The of Jam 2:2 paves the way for the wider domain of female ornamentation, as given in the gold, pearls, costly raiment of 1Ti 2:9, and the jewels of gold and putting on of apparel of 1Pe 3:3. This culminates in the royal apparel of Act 12:21 (cf. Jos. Ant. XIX. viii. 2), and the great pomp of Agrippa and Bernice (Act 25:23). The city-life of the age certainly afforded scope for the practice of the luxurious and extravagant in dress, as can be gathered from the indictment of Revelation 18 (cf. Rev 17:3-4), in which is to be found a storehouse of materials falling under this head. The purple (cf. Act 16:14) and scarlet, the fine linen and silk (or rather, mixture containing silk), are the last word in luxury of materials, and to them must be added embroidery (Rev 19:16 [?]) and in working of gold and silver, precious stones and pearls. The or of Rev 15:6, and the fine linen, bright and pure (Rev 19:8), white and pure (Rev 19:14), etc., have transcendent value.
9. Washing of clothes.-() (Rev 3:4), (Rev 7:14; cf. Rev 22:14), (Rev 7:14), although used allegorically, are indicative of processes connected with the fulling and washing of clothes. The kindred process of dyeing underlies the imagery of Rev 19:13 (if be read). See also purple and scarlet above, 8.
Literature.-Article Dress in Hasting’s Dictionary of the Bible (5 vols) (G. M. Mackie), Hastings Single-vol. Dictionary of the Bible (A. R. S. Kennedy), Encyclopaedia Biblica (I. Abrahams and S. A. Cook), Dict. of Christ and the Gospels (E. W. G. Masterman); article Costume, Jewish Encyclopedia (W. Nowack); see further I. Benzinger, Heb. Archologie2, Tbingen, 1907, pp. 73-87, and especially S. Krauss, Talmud. Archologie, vol. i. [Leipzig, 1910] pp. 127-207 (preceded by a very important list of dictionary articles and books); G. M. Mackie, Bible Manners and customs, 1898.
W. Cruickshank.
Fuente: Dictionary of the Apostolic Church
Clothes
CLOTHES.See Dress.
Fuente: A Dictionary Of Christ And The Gospels
Clothes
Clothes. Gen 37:29. See Garments.