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Easton's Bible Dictionary

 

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Dress
        (1.) Materials used. The earliest and simplest an apron of
        fig-leaves sewed together (Gen. 3:7); then skins of animals
        (3:21). Elijah's dress was probably the skin of a sheep (2 Kings
        1:8). The Hebrews were early acquainted with the art of weaving
        hair into cloth (Ex. 26:7; 35:6), which formed the sackcloth of
        mourners. This was the material of John the Baptist's robe
        (Matt. 3:4). Wool was also woven into garments (Lev. 13:47;
        Deut. 22:11; Ezek. 34:3; Job 31:20; Prov. 27:26). The Israelites
        probably learned the art of weaving linen when they were in
        Egypt (1 Chr. 4:21). Fine linen was used in the vestments of the
        high priest (Ex. 28:5), as well as by the rich (Gen. 41:42;
        Prov. 31:22; Luke 16:19). The use of mixed material, as wool and
        flax, was forbidden (Lev. 19:19; Deut. 22:11).
        (2.) Colour. The prevailing colour was the natural white of
        the material used, which was sometimes rendered purer by the
        fuller's art (Ps. 104:1, 2; Isa. 63:3; Mark 9:3). The Hebrews
        were acquainted with the art of dyeing (Gen. 37:3, 23). Various
        modes of ornamentation were adopted in the process of weaving
        (Ex. 28:6; 26:1, 31; 35:25), and by needle-work (Judg. 5:30; Ps.
        45:13). Dyed robes were imported from foreign countries,
        particularly from Phoenicia (Zeph. 1:8). Purple and scarlet
        robes were the marks of the wealthy (Luke 16:19; 2 Sam. 1:24).
        (3.) Form. The robes of men and women were not very much
        different in form from each other.
        (a) The "coat" (kethoneth), of wool, cotton, or linen, was
        worn by both sexes. It was a closely-fitting garment, resembling
        in use and form our shirt (John 19:23). It was kept close to the
        body by a girdle (John 21:7). A person wearing this "coat" alone
        was described as naked (1 Sam. 19:24; Isa. 20:2; 2 Kings 6:30;
        John 21:7); deprived of it he would be absolutely naked.
        (b) A linen cloth or wrapper (sadin) of fine linen, used
        somewhat as a night-shirt (Mark 14:51). It is mentioned in Judg.
        14:12, 13, and rendered there "sheets."
        (c) An upper tunic (meil), longer than the "coat" (1 Sam.
        2:19; 24:4; 28:14). In 1 Sam. 28:14 it is the mantle in which
        Samuel was enveloped; in 1 Sam. 24:4 it is the "robe" under
        which Saul slept. The disciples were forbidden to wear two
        "coats" (Matt. 10:10; Luke 9:3).
        (d) The usual outer garment consisted of a piece of woollen
        cloth like a Scotch plaid, either wrapped round the body or
        thrown over the shoulders like a shawl, with the ends hanging
        down in front, or it might be thrown over the head so as to
        conceal the face (2 Sam. 15:30; Esther 6:12). It was confined to
        the waist by a girdle, and the fold formed by the overlapping of
        the robe served as a pocket (2 Kings 4:39; Ps. 79:12; Hag. 2:12;
        Prov. 17:23; 21:14).
        Female dress. The "coat" was common to both sexes (Cant. 5:3).
        But peculiar to females were (1) the "veil" or "wimple," a kind
        of shawl (Ruth 3:15; rendered "mantle," R.V., Isa. 3:22); (2)
        the "mantle," also a species of shawl (Isa. 3:22); (3) a "veil,"
        probably a light summer dress (Gen. 24:65); (4) a "stomacher," a
        holiday dress (Isa. 3:24). The outer garment terminated in an
        ample fringe or border, which concealed the feet (Isa. 47:2;
        Jer. 13:22).
        The dress of the Persians is described in Dan. 3:21.
        The reference to the art of sewing are few, inasmuch as the
        garments generally came forth from the loom ready for being
        worn, and all that was required in the making of clothes
        devolved on the women of a family (Prov. 31:22; Acts 9:39).
        Extravagance in dress is referred to in Jer. 4:30; Ezek.
        16:10; Zeph. 1:8 (R.V., "foreign apparel"); 1 Tim. 2:9; 1 Pet.
        3:3. Rending the robes was expressive of grief (Gen. 37:29, 34),
        fear (1 Kings 21:27), indignation (2 Kings 5:7), or despair
        (Judg. 11:35; Esther 4:1).
        Shaking the garments, or shaking the dust from off them, was a
        sign of renunciation (Acts 18:6); wrapping them round the head,
        of awe (1 Kings 19:13) or grief (2 Sam. 15:30; casting them off,
        of excitement (Acts 22:23); laying hold of them, of supplication
        (1 Sam. 15:27). In the case of travelling, the outer garments
        were girded up (1 Kings 18:46). They were thrown aside also when
        they would impede action (Mark 10:50; John 13:4; Acts 7:58).
Bibliography Information
Easton, Matthew George. M.A., D.D., "Biblical Meaning for 'Dress' Eastons Bible Dictionary".
bible-history.com - Eastons; 1897.

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