Lexical Summary podérés: Reaching to the feet, full-length, long robe Original Word: ποδήρης Strong's Exhaustive Concordance long robe, dressFrom pous and another element of uncertain affinity; a dress (esthes implied) reaching the ankles -- garment down to the foot. see GREEK pous see GREEK esthes NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Originfrom pous and an uncertain root or suff. Definition reaching to the feet NASB Translation robe reaching (1), robe reaching to the feet (1). Thayer's Greek Lexicon STRONGS NT 4158: ποδήρηςποδήρης, ποδηρες, accusative ποδηρην, Lachmann's stereotyped edition; Tdf. edition 7 in Revelation 1:13; see ἄρσην (πούς, and ἀρῶ 'to join together,' 'fasten'), reaching to the feet (Aeschylus, Euripides, Xenophon, Plutarch, others): ὁ ποδήρης (namely, χιτών, Exodus 25:6; Exodus 28:4; Exodus 35:8; Ezekiel 9:3) or ἡ ποδήρης (namely, ἐσθής), a garment reaching to the ankles, coming down to the feet, Revelation 1:13 (Sir. 27:8 Sir. 45:8; χιτών ποδήρης, Xenophon, Cyril 6, 4, 2; Pausanias, 5, 19, 6; ὑποδύτης ποδήρης, Exodus 28:27; ἔνδυμα ποδήρης, Wis. 18:24; (Josephus, b. j. 5, 5, 7)). (Cf. Trench, § l. under the end.) Topical Lexicon Definition and Biblical Context Strong’s Greek 4158 (ποδήρης, podērēs) denotes a garment that falls all the way to the feet. Its lone New Testament appearance is in Revelation 1:13: “and among the lampstands was One like the Son of Man, dressed in a robe reaching down to His feet and with a golden sash around His chest.” Here it functions not merely as a sartorial detail but as a theological portrait, framing the risen Christ in terms of royal, priestly, and prophetic authority. Old Testament Background Although the precise term ποδήρης does not appear in the Hebrew Scriptures, long, flowing robes consistently marked persons of high status: When John describes the glorified Christ in a ποδήρης, he draws together these strands, presenting Jesus as Priest, Prophet, and King in a single, vivid image. Priestly and Prophetic Imagery 1. Priesthood: The robe “reaching down to His feet” evokes the high priest on the Day of Atonement, who alone could enter the Most Holy Place (Leviticus 16:4). Revelation 1 transports that imagery into the heavenly sanctuary, declaring that Jesus now ministers perpetually before the Father (Hebrews 7:24–27). Christological Significance in Revelation 1:13 The vision occurs amid seven golden lampstands, representing the churches (Revelation 1:20). Christ walks among them in priestly robes, indicating His present, active oversight of His people. The garment’s full length may hint at completeness—nothing of His priestly work is truncated. The golden sash around the chest (not merely the waist) conveys dignified readiness; He is both at rest in accomplished redemption and prepared for forthcoming judgment. Theological Implications • Mediation: The long robe speaks of continual intercession. “Therefore He is able to save completely those who draw near to God through Him” (Hebrews 7:25). Application for Ministry and Worship 1. Assurance: Congregations may take comfort that their Great High Priest walks among the lampstands; no local church labors unseen. Related Biblical Themes • Garments of Salvation: Isaiah 61:10—anticipating the believers’ own “robes of righteousness.” The solitary use of ποδήρης in the New Testament is thus richly pregnant with biblical theology. One word, one verse, yet an entire panorama of redemption and glory is unfurled before the eyes of faith. Forms and Transliterations ποδηρη ποδήρη ποδήρην podere podērē podḗre podḗrēLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel Texts |
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