About…
apparel in the Bible

also known as: clothes, clothing

Also see: Dress and Clothing in Biblical times

In Old Testament times, the distinction between male and female attire was often not very great. The Hebrew statute forbidding men to wear female apparel (Deuteronomy 22:5) referred especially to ornaments and head-dresses.

1. Under-garments

   This was often a tunic, which was bound by a girdle.

   One who had only this tunic on was spoken of as “naked” (1 Samuel 19:24; Job 24:10; Isaiah 20:2).

   People with high positions sometimes wore two tunics, the outer one was called the “upper garment” (1 Samuel 15:27; 18:4; 24:5; Job 1:20).

2. Over-garments

   • mantle

     Both men and women wore an over-garment (“mantle,” Isaiah 3:22; 1 Kings 19:13; 2 Kings 2:13), a loose and flowing robe. The folds of this upper garment could be formed into a lap (Ruth 3:15; Psalm 79:12; Proverbs 17:23; Luke 6:38).

   • cloak
   • Only priests wore trousers.

   • THE ELITE— Kings and nobles usually had many expensive garments for festive occasions (Isaiah 3:22; Zechariah 3:4) and for presents (Genesis 45:22; Esther 4:4; 6:8, 11; 1 Samuel 18:4; 2 Kings 5:5; 10:22).

     • changes of raiment

   • Coarse clothing

     • sackcloth

     • Prophets and ascetics wore coarse garments (Isaiah 20:2; Zechariah 13:4; Matthew 3:4). An ascetic is a person who lives an austere life of self-denial for religious reasons.

   • The haughty

     A conspicuous form of clothing is mentioned by Christ.

     Beware of the scribes, which desire to walk in long robes… —Luke 20:46 KJV excerpt

     But all their works they do for to be seen of men: they make broad their phylacteries, and enlarge the borders of their garments —Matthew 23:5

     • What does the Bible say about HUMILITY?
     • How and why did Jesus greatly humble himself for us? Answer

3. Head coverings

   • turbans — both men and women wore them
   • hat
   • headbands
   • headdress
   • hood
   • crown
   • diadem
   • mitre
   • bonnet
   • cauls
   • covering of the eyes
   • veil
   • tires

4. Footwear

   • About shoes in the Bible
   • About sandals in the Bible
   • What is a latchet?
   • barefoot

5. Bed-clothing

   The only material for bedclothes (coverings for a bed) is mentioned in 1 Samuel 19:13—“a pillow of goats’ hair for his bolster”. Sleeping in the open air was not uncommon, the sleeper wrapping himself in his outer garment (Exodus 22:26-27; Deuteronomy 24:12-13).

6. Priestly clothing

   • ephod
   • high priest

7. Military clothing

   • Generals of armies usually wore scarlet robes (Judges 8:26; Nahum 2:3).
   • coat of mail
   • habergeon
   • armor
   • helmet

More information

• Dress and Clothing in Biblical times
• Nudity—Why are humans supposed to wear clothes?
• apron
• closet
• coat
• color
• earrings
• frontlets
• garland
• girdle
• About hair in the Bible
• handkerchief
• napkin
• What are hosen?
• leather
• linen
• linen yarn
• mufflers
• nose-jewels
• stomacher
• tinkling ornaments
• tunic
• turbans
• weaving
• wimple
• wool