Lexical Summary chitón: Tunic, garment, inner garment Original Word: χιτών Strong's Exhaustive Concordance tunic, coatOf foreign origin (kthoneth); a tunic or shirt -- clothes, coat, garment. see HEBREW kthoneth HELPS Word-studies 5509 xitṓn – a tunic (under-garment) worn next to the skin. 5509 /xitṓn ("an undershirt, tunic") was worn under a 2440 /himátion ("cloak, robe"). NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Originof Semitic origin, cf. kethoneth Definition a tunic NASB Translation clothes (1), coats (1), garment (1), shirt (2), tunic (2), tunics (4). Thayer's Greek Lexicon STRONGS NT 5509: χιτώνχιτών, χιτῶνος, ὁ, from Homer down, the Sept. for כֻּתֹּנֶת and כְּתֹנֶת, a tunic, an undergarment, usually worn next the skin: Matthew 10:10; Mark 6:9; Luke 3:11; Luke 9:3; Jude 1:23; it is distinguished from τό ἱμάτιον (which see 2) or τά ἱμάτια in Matthew 5:40; Luke 6:29; John 19:23; Acts 9:39; universally, a garment, vestment (Aeschylus suppl. 903), plural (Plutarch, Tib. Gracch. 19), Mark 14:63. (Cf. Rich, Dict. of Antiq. under the word Tunica; and references under the word ἱμάτιον, as above.) Topical Lexicon Definition and Cultural Background The tunic was the basic inner garment worn next to the skin, reaching to the knees or ankles and often made of linen or wool. A quality tunic could be woven as a single piece, signifying value and dignity. In everyday life it was the first layer of clothing; losing it left a person virtually naked. Because it lay closest to the body, it readily became a metaphor for the person himself, his purity, and his provision. Occurrences in the New Testament • Generosity: Luke 3:11 Compassion and Generosity John the Baptist called the crowds to practical repentance: “Anyone who has two tunics should share with the one who has none” (Luke 3:11). The inner garment becomes a picture of meeting essential needs rather than giving leftovers. Dorcas of Joppa embodied this spirit; the widows displayed “the tunics and other garments that Dorcas had made” (Acts 9:39). The church is thus urged to clothe the vulnerable, mirroring God’s own covering of sinners (Genesis 3:21). Radical Discipleship and Mission When Jesus sent the Twelve, He forbade extra clothing: “Take no bag for the road, or second tunic” (Matthew 10:10). The same command appears in Mark 6:9 and Luke 9:3. Lack of a spare tunic pressed the missionaries to trust daily provision and to travel light for the gospel’s sake. Their dependence on hospitality foreshadowed the church’s mutual care and God’s faithful supply. Non-Retaliation and Love for Enemies In the Sermon on the Mount Jesus taught, “If someone wants to sue you and take your tunic, let him have your cloak as well” (Matthew 5:40). Luke records the parallel: “If someone takes your cloak, do not withhold your tunic as well” (Luke 6:29). The tunic here marks the threshold of personal security; relinquishing it demonstrates a grace that overcomes evil with good (Romans 12:21). Christ’s Crucifixion and the Seamless Tunic John highlights a final, profound use. “When the soldiers had crucified Jesus, they divided His garments into four parts… with the tunic remaining. Now this tunic was seamless, woven in one piece from top to bottom” (John 19:23). The soldiers refused to tear it, gambling instead to keep it whole—unknowingly fulfilling Psalm 22:18. The garment’s unity has long symbolized the wholeness of Christ’s righteousness, later applied to His body, the church (John 17:21). Purity and Holiness Jude warns believers to show mercy while “hating even the clothing stained by the flesh” (Jude 1:23). Defiled garments stand for compromised character. The imagery urges vigilance against sin’s contagion, contrasting sharply with the spotless tunic of the crucified Lord. Priestly Authority Challenged At Jesus’ trial “the high priest tore his clothes” (Mark 14:63), a dramatic sign of alleged blasphemy. In contrast to the seamless tunic not torn at the cross, the priest’s rending of his own garments foreshadows the passing of the old covenant priesthood and the inauguration of a better one in Christ (Hebrews 7:23-28). Theological Threads 1. Provision: God clothes both body and soul; believers extend the same grace. Conclusion From acts of charity to the drama of Calvary, the humble tunic threads through Scripture as a witness to God’s provision, Christ’s perfect righteousness, and the believer’s call to generous, holy living. Forms and Transliterations χιτων χιτών χιτὼν χιτωνα χιτώνα χιτώνά χιτῶνα χιτῶνά χιτωνας χιτώνας χιτῶνας χιτώνος χιτώνός χιτώνων χιτώσιν chiton chitōn chitṑn chitona chitôna chitôná chitōna chitō̂na chitō̂ná chitonas chitônas chitōnas chitō̂nasLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance Matthew 5:40 N-AMSGRK: καὶ τὸν χιτῶνά σου λαβεῖν NAS: you and take your shirt, let him have KJV: take away thy coat, let him INT: and the tunic of you take Matthew 10:10 N-AMP Mark 6:9 N-AMP Mark 14:63 N-AMP Luke 3:11 N-AMP Luke 6:29 N-AMS Luke 9:3 N-AMP John 19:23 N-AMS John 19:23 N-NMS Acts 9:39 N-AMP Jude 1:23 N-AMS Strong's Greek 5509 |
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