Topical Encyclopedia In the biblical context, attire is often more than just clothing; it reflects cultural, spiritual, and moral dimensions. The Bible provides numerous references to attire, illustrating its significance in various aspects of life, including worship, identity, and morality.Old Testament References 1. Priestly Garments: In the Old Testament, specific instructions were given for the attire of the priests. Exodus 28 details the garments of Aaron and his sons, emphasizing their sacred purpose. The ephod, breastplate, robe, tunic, turban, and sash were designed "for glory and for beauty" (Exodus 28:2). These garments symbolized holiness and the distinct role of the priesthood. 2. Modesty and Distinction: Deuteronomy 22:5 addresses the importance of maintaining gender distinctions in clothing: "A woman shall not wear a man’s clothing, nor shall a man put on a woman’s clothing, for whoever does these things is an abomination to the LORD your God" . This command underscores the value placed on modesty and the preservation of God-ordained roles. 3. Sackcloth and Mourning: Sackcloth, a coarse material, was worn as a sign of mourning or repentance. In Genesis 37:34, Jacob tore his clothes and put on sackcloth to mourn for his son Joseph. This attire was a physical manifestation of inner grief and humility before God. New Testament References 1. Adornment and Modesty: The New Testament continues the theme of modesty in attire. In 1 Timothy 2:9-10, Paul instructs women to dress modestly and with self-control, "not with braided hair or gold or pearls or expensive clothes, but with good deeds, appropriate for women who profess to worship God" . This passage highlights the importance of inner beauty and godliness over outward adornment. 2. Spiritual Attire: The concept of spiritual attire is introduced in passages like Ephesians 6:11, where believers are encouraged to "put on the full armor of God" . This metaphorical attire includes truth, righteousness, the gospel of peace, faith, salvation, and the word of God, signifying the spiritual readiness and protection needed for the Christian life. 3. The Wedding Garment: In the parable of the wedding banquet (Matthew 22:11-14), Jesus speaks of a man who is cast out for not wearing wedding clothes. This parable illustrates the necessity of being spiritually prepared and clothed in righteousness to enter the kingdom of heaven. Cultural and Symbolic Significance Attire in biblical times was often indicative of one's social status, occupation, or religious devotion. For instance, the fine linen and purple garments worn by the wealthy (Luke 16:19) contrasted with the simple clothing of the common people. Clothing could also symbolize transformation or divine favor, as seen in Joseph's coat of many colors (Genesis 37:3) and the new garments given to Joshua the high priest in Zechariah 3:4. Moral and Ethical Implications The Bible frequently associates attire with moral and ethical behavior. Proverbs 31:25 describes the virtuous woman as being "clothed with strength and dignity" , suggesting that her character is her true adornment. Conversely, attire can also be used to convey immorality, as in Proverbs 7:10, where the attire of a harlot is mentioned as a warning against temptation. In summary, attire in the Bible serves as a multifaceted symbol, reflecting cultural norms, spiritual truths, and moral values. It is a means by which individuals express their identity, devotion, and ethical stance before God and others. Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary 1. (v. t.) To dress; to array; to adorn; esp., to clothe with elegant or splendid garments.2. (n.) Dress; clothes; headdress; anything which dresses or adorns; esp., ornamental clothing. 3. (n.) The antlers, or antlers and scalp, of a stag or buck. 4. (n.) The internal parts of a flower, included within the calyx and the corolla. International Standard Bible Encyclopedia ATTIRE; DYED ATTIREa-tir': "Can a virgin forget her ornaments, or a bride her attire?" asks the prophet Jeremiah in hot remonstrance against Israel's unfaithfulness. "Yet," saith Yahweh, "my people have forgotten me" (2:32). "And I saw that she was defiled," cries Ezekiel against Jerusalem; "she saw men. girded with girdles upon their loins, with flowing turbans [AV exceeding in dyed attire] upon their heads,... after the likeness of the Babylonians in Chaldea,. and. she doted upon them. "(Ezekiel 23:13-16). "And, behold, there met him," says the author of Proverbs (Proverbs 7:10) in his description of the "strange woman," that "lieth in wait at every street corner," "a woman with the attire of a harlot, and wily of heart," whose "house is the way to Sheol" (Proverbs 7:27). These passages show how diversely and elastically the term "attire" was used among the Hebrews. The numerous synonyms for "dress," "attire," "apparel," "clothes," "raiment," "garment," etc., found in English Versions of the Bible, reflect a similar wealth of nomenclature in the original Hebrew and Greek; but the lack of exactness and consistency in the renderings of translators makes the identification of the various articles of dress referred to very difficult, sometimes impossible. See DRESS. Greek 2689. katastole -- a garment ... a garment. Part of Speech: Noun, Feminine Transliteration: katastole Phonetic Spelling: (kat-as-tol-ay') Short Definition: garb, dress, attire Definition: garb ... //strongsnumbers.com/greek2/2689.htm - 6k Strong's Hebrew 4403. malbush -- raiment, attire... 4402, 4403. malbush or malbush. 4404 . raiment, attire. Transliteration: malbush or malbush Phonetic Spelling: (mal-boosh') Short Definition: attire. ... /hebrew/4403.htm - 6k 4358. miklol -- perfection, gorgeous attire 7196. qishshurim -- bands, sashes 2871. tebul -- a turban 7897. shith -- a garment 3830. lebush -- a garment, clothing, raiment 1927a. hadarah -- adornment, glory 4374. mekasseh -- a covering 4055. mad -- a measure, cloth garment Library As Many, However, as Went up in Mourning Attire and Sat Down and ... Whether it is Lawful for Religious to Wear Coarser Clothes than ... Whether There Can be virtue and vice in Connection with Outward ... Whether the Adornment of Women is Devoid of Mortal Sin? If any Woman, under Pretence of Asceticism, Shall Change Her ... Jesus Only Illustrations Christian Women, Further, have not the Same Causes for Appearing ... On the Sinful Woman. Of the Union of Man's Will with God's in those Inspirations which ... Thesaurus Attire (11 Occurrences)... Standard Bible Encyclopedia. ATTIRE; DYED ATTIRE. ... girded with girdles upon their loins, with flowing turbans [AV exceeding in dyed attire] upon their heads,... ... /a/attire.htm - 11k Dyed (10 Occurrences) Ornament (23 Occurrences) Dyeing Dye (1 Occurrence) Tire (5 Occurrences) Attired (5 Occurrences) Apparel (38 Occurrences) Nativity (9 Occurrences) Leg (24 Occurrences) Resources What does the Bible say about clothing? | GotQuestions.orgWhy does the Bible speak against braided hair? | GotQuestions.org What does the Bible say about nose rings / getting a nose ring? | GotQuestions.org Attire: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.com Bible Concordance • Bible Dictionary • Bible Encyclopedia • Topical Bible • Bible Thesuarus Concordance Attire (11 Occurrences)1 Timothy 2:9 2 Samuel 20:8 1 Kings 10:5 2 Chronicles 9:4 2 Chronicles 20:21 Psalms 96:9 Proverbs 7:10 Isaiah 23:18 Jeremiah 2:32 Ezekiel 23:15 Zephaniah 1:8 Subtopics Related Terms |
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