In the Bible, the concept of disguise is often associated with deception, concealment, and the altering of one's appearance or identity for various purposes. The use of disguise is depicted in several narratives, illustrating both the cunning of individuals and the sovereignty of God in revealing truth.

Old Testament Instances

1. Jacob and Esau: One of the earliest instances of disguise in the Bible is found in the account of Jacob and Esau. Jacob, with the help of his mother Rebekah, disguises himself as his brother Esau to receive the blessing from their father Isaac. Genesis 27:15-16 states, "Then Rebekah took the finest clothes of her older son Esau, which she had in the house, and put them on her younger son Jacob. She also put the skins of the young goats on his hands and on the smooth part of his neck." This act of deception leads to significant familial conflict and fulfills God's prophecy regarding the two brothers.

2. Tamar and Judah: In Genesis 38, Tamar disguises herself as a prostitute to seduce her father-in-law Judah, ensuring her place in the lineage of Judah after he fails to fulfill his duty to her as a widow. Her disguise leads to the birth of Perez and Zerah, who become part of the genealogy of Jesus Christ.

3. Saul and the Witch of Endor: King Saul, in desperation, disguises himself to consult a medium at Endor, seeking guidance from the spirit of the prophet Samuel. 1 Samuel 28:8 records, "So Saul disguised himself by putting on different clothes, and he set out with two of his men. They came to the woman by night, and Saul said, 'Consult a spirit for me. Bring up for me the one I name.'" This act of disguise underscores Saul's departure from God's guidance and his ultimate downfall.

4. Ahab's Disguise in Battle: King Ahab of Israel attempts to avoid his prophesied death by disguising himself in battle. 1 Kings 22:30 states, "The king of Israel said to Jehoshaphat, 'I will enter the battle in disguise, but you wear your royal attire.' So the king of Israel disguised himself and went into battle." Despite his efforts, Ahab is struck by a random arrow and dies, fulfilling the prophecy of the prophet Micaiah.

New Testament Reference

1. Paul's Escape from Damascus: In the New Testament, disguise is used for protection rather than deception. The Apostle Paul, after his conversion, faces threats to his life in Damascus. Acts 9:25 describes how "his disciples took him by night and lowered him in a basket through an opening in the wall." While not a disguise in the traditional sense, this act of concealment allows Paul to escape and continue his ministry.

Theological Implications

The use of disguise in the Bible often highlights human attempts to control or alter circumstances through deception. However, these narratives consistently reveal God's ultimate authority and the futility of human schemes against His divine will. Disguise, while sometimes used for protection or survival, often leads to unintended consequences and serves as a reminder of the importance of truth and integrity in the lives of believers.1. (v. t.) To change the guise or appearance of; especially, to conceal by an unusual dress, or one intended to mislead or deceive.

2. (v. t.) To hide by a counterfeit appearance; to cloak by a false show; to mask; as, to disguise anger; to disguise one's sentiments, character, or intentions.

3. (v. t.) To affect or change by liquor; to intoxicate.

4. (n.) A dress or exterior put on for purposes of concealment or of deception; as, persons doing unlawful acts in disguise are subject to heavy penalties.

5. (n.) Artificial language or manner assumed for deception; false appearance; counterfeit semblance or show.

6. (n.) Change of manner by drink; intoxication.

7. (n.) A masque or masquerade.

3345. metaschematizo -- to change in fashion or appearance
... Origin from meta and schematizo (to give a certain form to something) Definition
to change in fashion or appearance NASB Word Usage disguise (1), disguises (1 ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/3345.htm - 7k5235a. nakar -- to act or treat as foreign or strange, to disguise
... 5235, 5235a. nakar. 5235b . to act or treat as foreign or strange, to
disguise. Transliteration: nakar Short Definition: woman. ...
/hebrew/5235a.htm - 5k

5235. neker -- to act or treat as foreign or strange, to disguise
... neker. 5235a . to act or treat as foreign or strange, to disguise. Transliteration:
neker Phonetic Spelling: (neh'-ker) Short Definition: strange. strange ...
/hebrew/5235.htm - 5k

8138. shanah -- to repeat, do again
... do speak, strike again, alter, double, be given to change, disguise, be
diverse, pervert,. A primitive root; to fold, ie Duplicate ...
/hebrew/8138.htm - 6k

2664. chaphas -- to search
... root Definition to search NASB Word Usage devise (1), disguise (2), disguised (5),
distorted (1), examine (1), hide (1), ponders (1), ransacked (1), search (6 ...
/hebrew/2664.htm - 6k

5643. cether -- a covering, hiding place, secrecy
... Definition: backbiting. backbiting, covering, covert, disguise, hiding place,
protection, secretly, Or (feminine) cithrah (Deut. 32 ...
/hebrew/5643.htm - 5k

8132. shana -- to change
... root Definition to change NASB Word Usage alter (1), beam (1), change (2), changed
(4), changing (1), different (1), disguise (1), disguised (1), given to ...
/hebrew/8132.htm - 6k

7760. sum -- to put, place, set
... and elliptically) -- X any wise, appoint, bring, call (a name), care, cast in, change,
charge, commit, consider, convey, determine, + disguise, dispose, do, get ...
/hebrew/7760.htm - 7k

That Maximin, who had Persecuted the Christians, was Compelled to ...
... Book I. Chapter LVIII."That Maximin, who had persecuted the Christians, was compelled
to fly, and conceal himself in the Disguise of a Slave. ...
/.../pamphilius/the life of constantine/chapter lviii that maximin who had.htm

The Life of Faith.
... What else could be expected? It is natural to this state. God has His plans for
souls, and under this disguise He carries them out very successfully. ...
/.../de caussade/abandonment to divine providence/section v the life of faith.htm

How the Word Has Been in all Men.
... For I myself, when I discovered the wicked disguise which the evil spirits had thrown
around the divine doctrines of the Christians, to turn aside others from ...
/.../chapter xiii how the word has.htm

Comparisons Between Christ and the Antichrist
... When the Son of Perdition appears he will pose as the Christ of God, and so perfect
will be his disguise, the very elect would be deceived, were it not that ...
/.../pink/the antichrist/comparisons between christ and the.htm

The Eleventh Book Shows that the Title of "Good" is Due, not to ...
... But now that he has stripped his falsehood of every mask that could disguise it,
and publishes his profanity aloud in categorical terms, I think it superfluous ...
/.../gregory/gregory of nyssa dogmatic treatises etc/section 1 the eleventh book.htm

Nevertheless one who Regards Only the Dissolution of the Body is ...
... A doctrine such as this is set before us by Moses under the disguise of an
historical manner [1962] . And yet this disguise of history ...
/.../gregory of nyssa dogmatic treatises etc/chapter viii nevertheless one who.htm

Spiritualism.
... Thus under a new disguise the great rebel still carries on his warfare against God,
begun in heaven, and for nearly six thousand years continued upon the earth ...
/.../white/the great controversy between christ and satan /34 spiritualism.htm

His Murdered Father's Head
... Walamir could not travel with him in his Gothic dress, but if he will condescend
to wear a disguise for three days, till he is well beyond the immediate ...
/.../chapter xxxvi his murdered fathers.htm

Can Our Dead Speak to Us?
... Thus under a new disguise the great rebel still carries on his warfare against God,
begun in heaven and for nearly six thousand years continued upon the earth. ...
/...//christianbookshelf.org/white/the great controversy/chapter 34 can our dead.htm

The Appeal to Parliament, 1742-1749.
... the Universal Spectator of kidnapping young women for Moravian convents; and the
alarming rumour spread on all sides that the Brethren were Papists in disguise ...
/.../hutton/history of the moravian church/chapter xii the appeal to.htm

Disguise (7 Occurrences)
... 2. (vt) To hide by a counterfeit appearance; to cloak by a false show; to mask;
as, to disguise anger; to disguise one's sentiments, character, or intentions. ...
/d/disguise.htm - 9k

Disguised (7 Occurrences)
... (imp. & pp) of Disguise. ... 2 Chronicles 18:29 The king of Israel said to Jehoshaphat,
I will disguise myself, and go into the battle; but you put on your robes. ...
/d/disguised.htm - 9k

Masquerade (1 Occurrence)
... Noah Webster's Dictionary 1. (n.) A costume party of persons wearing masks; a disguise
or false outward appearance. ... 7. (vt) To conceal with masks; to disguise. ...
/m/masquerade.htm - 7k

Disguiseth (5 Occurrences)
... 1 Kings 22:30 And the king of Israel saith unto Jehoshaphat to disguise himself,
and to go into battle, 'And thou, put on thy garments.' And the king of Israel ...
/d/disguiseth.htm - 8k

Dissemble (2 Occurrences)
... 1. (vt) To disguise or conceal one's true nature; to hide under a false semblance
or seeming; to feign (something) not to be what it really is; to put an ...
/d/dissemble.htm - 7k

Mask (3 Occurrences)
... 1. (n.) A cover, or partial cover, for the face, used for disguise or protection;
as, a dancer's mask; a fencer's mask; a ball player's mask. ...
/m/mask.htm - 8k

Jehosh'aphat (75 Occurrences)
... 1 Kings 22:30 And the king of Israel said unto Jehoshaphat: 'I will disguise myself,
and go into the battle; but put thou on thy robes.' And the king of Israel ...
/j/jehosh'aphat.htm - 27k

Wear (56 Occurrences)
... 1 Kings 22:30 The king of Israel said to Jehoshaphat, "I will disguise myself, and
go into the battle; but you put on your robes." The king of Israel disguised ...
/w/wear.htm - 25k

Robes (124 Occurrences)
... 1 Kings 22:30 The king of Israel said to Jehoshaphat, "I will disguise myself, and
go into the battle; but you put on your robes." The king of Israel disguised ...
/r/robes.htm - 39k

Veil (67 Occurrences)
... hide or protect the face. 2. (n.) A cover; disguise; a mask; a pretense. 3.
(n.) The calyptra of mosses. 4. (n.) A membrane connecting ...
/v/veil.htm - 35k

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