Lexical Summary pas: Tunic, coat, piece, part Original Word: פַס Strong's Exhaustive Concordance divers colors From pacac; properly, the palm (of the hand) or sole (of the foot) (compare pac); by implication (plural) a long and sleeved tunic (perhaps simply a wide one; from the original sense of the root, i.e. Of many breadths) -- (divers) colours. see HEBREW pacac see HEBREW pac NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Originfrom an unused word Definition flat (of the hand or foot) NASB Translation long-sleeved (2), varicolored (3). Brown-Driver-Briggs [מַּס] noun [masculine] flat of hand or foot (palm, sole); — only כְּתֹנֶת מַּסִּים tunic reaching to palms and soles (see ׳כ) Genesis 37:3,23,32; 2 Samuel 13:18,19 (compare Dr). פסס (√of following; see Biblical Hebrew I. פסס, [מַּס]). Topical Lexicon Occurrences in Scripture פַּס (pas) appears five times, each referring to a distinctive robe: Genesis 37:3, Genesis 37:23, Genesis 37:32, 2 Samuel 13:18, and 2 Samuel 13:19. English renderings vary (“robe of many colors,” “tunic with long sleeves,” “ornate robe”), but every context points to a costly, honor-laden garment. Cultural and Historical Background In the ancient Near East, long-sleeved or many-colored robes were not everyday wear. Hand-woven cloth dyed with imported pigments or embroidered with intricate patterns demanded wealth and leisure. Such robes signified rank, innocence, or special favor—markers readily recognized by those who first heard the accounts of Joseph and Tamar. Symbol of Paternal Favor and Future Authority (Joseph) “Now Israel loved Joseph more than any of his other sons … and he made him a robe of many colors.” (Genesis 37:3) Jacob’s gift placed Joseph visually above his brothers, foreshadowing the leadership role God would later confirm through dreams and providence. Their act of stripping and bloodying the robe (Genesis 37:31-32) dramatized their rejection of both Joseph and the divine choice behind him. Yet the very garment that provoked their envy became the instrument by which God redirected Joseph’s path to Egypt and ultimately to salvation for the family line through famine. For ministry reflection, the pas calls believers to steward God-given favor humbly and to trust that even malicious attempts to “take the robe” cannot thwart His purposes. Badge of Royal Virginity and Innocence (Tamar) “Now she was wearing a robe of many colors, for this was the kind of garment the virgin daughters of the king wore.” (2 Samuel 13:18) David’s daughter Tamar wore the pas as a public witness to her purity and royal identity. After Amnon’s assault, “Tamar put ashes on her head, and tore the robe of many colors she was wearing” (2 Samuel 13:19), a prophetic act revealing that innocence had been violated and honor lost. Her torn pas confronts every generation with the reality of sexual sin’s devastation and the responsibility of covenant communities to guard the vulnerable and seek justice. Prophetic and Typological Resonances 1. Rejection of the Favored Son: Joseph’s stripped robe anticipates Israel’s later rejection of the greater Son, Jesus Christ, whose garment was likewise taken and divided (John 19:23-24). Lessons for Ministry Today • Favor Invites Stewardship: Spiritual gifts and positions of honor must be worn with humility, mindful that they can provoke jealousy in immature hearts. Conclusion Though פַּס appears only five times, its thematic weight spans Scripture—honor bestowed, innocence violated, favor resisted, and ultimately redemption secured. In every passage the pas points beyond fabric to the larger tapestry of God’s sovereign design, culminating in the unfading garment granted to all who trust His Son. Forms and Transliterations הַפַּסִּ֖ים הַפַּסִּ֗ים הַפַּסִּ֛ים הפסים פַּסִּ֔ים פַּסִּֽים׃ פסים פסים׃ hap·pas·sîm happasSim happassîm pas·sîm pasSim passîmLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance Genesis 37:3 HEB: ל֖וֹ כְּתֹ֥נֶת פַּסִּֽים׃ NAS: and he made him a varicolored tunic. KJV: him a coat of [many] colours. INT: made tunic A varicolored Genesis 37:23 Genesis 37:32 2 Samuel 13:18 2 Samuel 13:19 5 Occurrences |
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