Lexical Summary esthés: Clothing, apparel, garment Original Word: ἐσθής Strong's Exhaustive Concordance apparel, clothing, raiment, robe. From hennumi (to clothe); dress -- apparel, clothing, raiment, robe. NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Originfrom hennumi (to clothe) Definition clothing NASB Translation apparel (1), clothes (3), clothing (1), garments (1), robe (1). Thayer's Greek Lexicon STRONGS NT 2066: ἐσθήςἐσθής, ἐσθητος, ἡ (from ἕννυμι, ἕσθην, hence, it would be more correctly written ἐσθής (so Rec.elz in Luke), cf. Kühner, i., p. 217, 3), formerly Φεσθης (cf. Latinvestis, German Weste, English vest, etc.), clothing, raiment, apparel: Luke 23:11; Luke 24:4 L T Tr WH; Acts 1:10 R G; Topical Lexicon Word Group OverviewStrong’s Greek 2066 (ἐσθής, with the inflected forms ἐσθῆτα, ἐσθῆτι, ἐσθήσεσι) designates visible outer clothing, often carrying theological freight beyond mere fabric. Although an ordinary noun for “garment,” Scripture employs it to spotlight glory or vanity, heavenly majesty or earthly partiality, thereby turning attire into a mirror of the wearer’s standing before God and men. New Testament Distribution Luke 23:11 – Herod’s soldiers drape Jesus in “a splendid robe,” mocking His kingship. Luke 24:4 – Two angels at the empty tomb appear “in dazzling apparel.” Acts 1:10 – At the ascension, angels again stand “dressed in white.” Acts 10:30 – Cornelius sees an angel “in dazzling clothing.” Acts 12:21 – Herod dons “royal robes” before his fatal self-exaltation. James 2:2-3 – Three references juxtapose “fine clothes” and “filthy clothes,” condemning favoritism. Every setting contrasts heavenly brightness or royal pomp with human folly or social discrimination. Heavenly Manifestations Luke 24:4; Acts 1:10; Acts 10:30 Whenever angels appear, ἐσθής is paired with “dazzling” or “white.” The whiteness evokes purity (cf. Daniel 7:9) and victory (Revelation 19:14). The ascension scene underscores continuity with the resurrection: the same apparel that marked the tomb now marks the cloud-borne enthronement. In mission, believers are assured that divine messengers remain clothed in holiness, reinforcing the reliability of the heavenly witness. Royal Pretension and Divine Judgment Herod Antipas clothes the suffering Christ in mock regalia; Herod Agrippa dresses himself in authentic regalia. The first episode exposes the world’s scorn for true kingship; the second shows God’s swift judgment on counterfeit glory (Acts 12:23). Both Herodian uses of ἐσθής bookend the public ministry of Jesus and the early Church, warning rulers who seek honor without submission to the King of kings. Social Partiality in the Assembly James transports ἐσθής from palaces to pews. By pairing “fine clothing” with “filthy clothing,” he unmasks class prejudice even among believers: “Have you not discriminated among yourselves and become judges with evil thoughts?” (James 2:4). The word thus becomes a diagnostic tool for spiritual integrity. Earthly fashion must not dictate kingdom fellowship. Symbolic Trajectory 1. Purity and Glory – Bright garments typify the holiness that surrounds God’s presence. Historical and Cultural Background In the Greco-Roman world, clothing signified status. A purple-edged toga or a silver-threaded robe signaled wealth and power. Luke, a meticulous historian, notes Herod Agrippa’s shimmering Tyrian-purple garment that reportedly sparkled in the sun (Josephus, Antiquities 19.8.2), matching Luke’s “royal robes.” Conversely, first-century itinerant laborers owned a single outer garment. James’s portrait of a “poor man in filthy clothes” reflects the grime of day labor, not moral inferiority. Theological Threads 1. Christological Irony – Jesus, robed in scorn, is the legitimate King. His humiliation anticipates His exaltation, where He now wears garments of glory (Revelation 1:13). Ministry Implications • Preaching – Highlight the contrast between counterfeit glory and genuine righteousness. Practical Lessons 1. Honor Christ, not costumes. Conclusion Strong’s 2066 weaves a fabric of revelation: angels, kings, martyrs, and ordinary saints are all assessed by the One who “does not look at the outward appearance” (1 Samuel 16:7). Whether dazzling white or stained by toil, clothing in Scripture calls attention to the deeper attire of the heart—righteousness received through the risen Christ. Forms and Transliterations εσθησεσι ἐσθήσεσι εσθητα εσθήτα ἐσθῆτα εσθητι εσθήτι ἐσθῆτι esthesesi esthēsesi esthḗsesi estheta esthêta esthēta esthē̂ta estheti esthêti esthēti esthē̂tiLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance Luke 23:11 N-AFSGRK: ἐμπαίξας περιβαλὼν ἐσθῆτα λαμπρὰν ἀνέπεμψεν NAS: Him in a gorgeous robe and sent Him back KJV: him in a gorgeous robe, and sent him INT: having mocked [him] having put on apparel splendid he sent back Luke 24:4 N-DFS Acts 1:10 N-DFP Acts 10:30 N-DFS Acts 12:21 N-AFS James 2:2 N-DFS James 2:2 N-DFS James 2:3 N-AFS Strong's Greek 2066 |
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