In biblical times, the term "skirt" often referred to the hem or edge of a garment, which held significant cultural and symbolic meaning. The Hebrew word often translated as "skirt" is "kanaf," which can also mean "wing" or "corner." This term appears in various contexts throughout the Bible, illustrating both literal and metaphorical uses.

Symbol of Authority and Protection

The skirt or hem of a garment was often associated with authority and protection. In 1 Samuel 24:4-5, David secretly cuts off the corner of Saul's robe, symbolizing his potential to usurp Saul's authority. The act troubled David's conscience, indicating the deep respect and significance attached to the garment's hem: "Afterward, David’s conscience was stricken because he had cut off the corner of Saul’s robe" (1 Samuel 24:5).

Covenantal Imagery

The skirt also appears in covenantal imagery, representing God's relationship with His people. In Ezekiel 16:8, God describes His covenant with Israel using the metaphor of spreading His garment over her: "Then I passed by and saw you, and you were indeed old enough for love. So I spread the corner of My garment over you and covered your nakedness. I pledged Myself to you, entered into a covenant with you, declares the Lord GOD, and you became Mine" (Ezekiel 16:8). This act signifies protection, commitment, and the establishment of a covenant relationship.

Healing and Faith

In the New Testament, the hem of a garment is associated with healing and faith. In Matthew 9:20-22, a woman suffering from a bleeding disorder touches the fringe of Jesus' cloak, believing it will heal her: "Just then a woman who had suffered from bleeding for twelve years came up behind Him and touched the fringe of His cloak. She said to herself, 'If only I touch His cloak, I will be healed.' Jesus turned and saw her. 'Take courage, daughter,' He said, 'your faith has healed you.' And the woman was cured from that very hour" (Matthew 9:20-22). This passage highlights the power of faith and the significance of the garment's fringe as a point of contact for divine healing.

Modesty and Distinction

The skirt or hem of a garment also played a role in distinguishing the Israelites from other nations. In Numbers 15:38-39, God commands the Israelites to make tassels on the corners of their garments as a reminder of His commandments: "Speak to the Israelites and tell them to make tassels for the corners of their garments throughout their generations. And put a blue cord on the tassel at each corner. You will have these tassels to look at so that you will remember all the commandments of the LORD, that you may obey them and not prostitute yourselves by following your own hearts and eyes" (Numbers 15:38-39). This practice served as a visual reminder of their covenant with God and their call to holiness.

Judgment and Shame

Conversely, the removal or uncovering of a skirt could symbolize judgment and shame. In Lamentations 1:8-9, Jerusalem's sin is depicted as her nakedness being exposed: "Jerusalem has sinned greatly; therefore she has become an object of scorn. All who honored her now despise her, for they have seen her nakedness. She herself groans and turns away. Her uncleanness clings to her skirts; she did not consider her end. Her downfall was astounding; there was no one to comfort her" (Lamentations 1:8-9). This imagery conveys the disgrace and vulnerability resulting from sin and disobedience.

In summary, the concept of the skirt in the Bible encompasses themes of authority, covenant, faith, modesty, and judgment. Its various uses throughout Scripture reflect the cultural and spiritual significance of garments in the biblical narrative.1. (n.) The lower and loose part of a coat, dress, or other like garment; the part below the waist; as, the skirt of a coat, a dress, or a mantle.

2. (n.) A loose edging to any part of a dress.

3. (n.) Border; edge; margin; extreme part of anything

4. (n.) A petticoat.

5. (n.) The diaphragm, or midriff, in animals.

6. (v. t.) To cover with a skirt; to surround.

7. (v. t.) To border; to form the border or edge of; to run along the edge of; as, the plain was skirted by rows of trees.

8. (v. t.) To be on the border; to live near the border, or extremity.

SKIRT

skurt:

(1) kanaph, "wing" "extremity" (Ruth 3:9, etc.), is the usual word. But in 1 Samuel 24:4; perhaps "corner" is the best translation.

(2) shul, "loose hanging" (Exodus 28:33, etc.; in the King James Version often rendered "hem").

(3) peh, "mouth," "opening" (Psalm 133:2, "the precious oil.... that came down upon the skirt"). But the "opening" is that for is that for the head, so that the Revised Version margin "collar" is the correct translation.

"Skirt" is frequently used in a euphemistic sense, for which the commentaries must be consulted.

See DRESS; TRAIN.

7757. shul -- skirt (of a robe)
... 7756, 7757. shul. 7758 . skirt (of a robe). Transliteration: shul Phonetic
Spelling: (shool) Short Definition: hem. ... hem, skirt, train. ...
/hebrew/7757.htm - 6k

7640. shobel -- flowing skirt, train
... 7639, 7640. shobel. 7641 . flowing skirt, train. Transliteration: shobel
Phonetic Spelling: (show'-bel) Short Definition: skirt. ...
/hebrew/7640.htm - 5k

3671. kanaph -- wing, extremity
... Word Usage bird* (1), corner (1), corners (4), covering (1), each other (1), edge
(5), edges (1), ends (3), fold (2), garment (1), kind (3), skirt (3), skirts ...
/hebrew/3671.htm - 6k

6310. peh -- mouth
... assent, collar, command(-ment), X eat, edge, end, entry, + file, hole, X in, mind,
mouth, part, portion, X (should) say(-ing), sentence, skirt, sound, speech ...
/hebrew/6310.htm - 7k

Love for Hate, the True Quid Pro Quo
... Then David arose, and cut off the skirt of Saul's robe privily.5. And it came to
pass afterward, that David's heart smote him, because he had out off Saul's ...
/.../maclaren/expositions of holy scripture f/love for hate the true.htm

We Hear Much of the Human Error which Accepts what is Sham and ...
... we are talking here chiefly in types and symbols, perhaps as good an embodiment
as any of the idea may be found in the mere fact of a woman wearing a skirt. ...
/.../chesterton/whats wrong with the world/chapter 20 we hear much.htm

Petilianus Said: "But He Thus Praises the Ointment of Concord ...
... From this skirt of the garment is woven together the whole fabric of unity
throughout all nations. By this the Head entered into ...
/.../chapter 105 238 petilianus.htm

How David, when He had Twice the Opportunity of Killing Saul did ...
... cut off his head, and so deliver himself out of that tedious, wandering condition,
and the distress he was in; he rose up, and only cut off the skirt of that ...
/.../josephus/the antiquities of the jews/chapter 13 how david when.htm

Concerted Prayer
... As they skirt a perilous precipice he cannot pray, Lord, hold up my goings in a
safe path, that my footsteps slip not, but as to my guide and companions, they ...
/...//christianbookshelf.org/bounds/the essentials of prayer/xi concerted prayer.htm

Off Duty
... a blue felt for winter. These she wore, with her uniform blue serge skirt
and 'three-quarter' jacket. When on holiday, she often ...
/.../carpenter/the angel adjutant of twice born men/xiv off duty.htm

The Unmistakable Honesty of the Writers of the Bible Attests to ...
... Heavenly Origin. The title of this chapter suggests a wide field of study
the limits of which we can now only skirt here and there. To ...
/.../the divine inspiration of the bible/chapter three the unmistakable honesty.htm

Experience the Value of Testimony.
... How she carried her proud, stubborn boy on her heart, and how she held onto God's
skirt and tugged away until He answered. THE STRIVING OF THE SPIRIT. ...
/.../rees/the heart-cry of jesus/experience the value of testimony.htm

Preaching the Gospel, Healing the Sick
... The room is furnished in conventional Chinese style"a square table with scarlet
embroidered table-skirt, and backed by an ornate arrangement of banner ...
/.../the fulfilment of a dream of pastor hsis/chapter xxii preaching the gospel.htm

The Foundation of the Church.
... LESSON XXI. THE FOUNDATION OF THE CHURCH. "Ten men shall take hold, out of all language
of all nations, even shall take hold of the skirt of him that is a Jew ...
/.../christianbookshelf.org/yonge/the chosen people/lesson xxi the foundation of.htm

Skirt (16 Occurrences)
... 1. (n.) The lower and loose part of a coat, dress, or other like garment; the part
below the waist; as, the skirt of a coat, a dress, or a mantle. ...SKIRT. ...
/s/skirt.htm - 13k

Upper (99 Occurrences)
... (See RSV). 1 Samuel 15:27 And Samuel turneth round to go, and he layeth hold
on the skirt of his upper robe -- and it is rent! (YLT). ...
/u/upper.htm - 39k

Corner (60 Occurrences)
... Ruth 3:9 He said, "Who are you?" She answered, "I am Ruth your handmaid. Therefore
spread your skirt over your handmaid; for you are a near kinsman." (See NIV). ...
/c/corner.htm - 33k

Robe (142 Occurrences)
... (WEB JPS ASV BBE NAS RSV NIV). 1 Samuel 15:27 As Samuel turned about to
go away, Saul grabbed the skirt of his robe, and it tore. ...
/r/robe.htm - 37k

Layest (10 Occurrences)
... 1 Samuel 24:11 Moreover, my father, see, yea, see the skirt of thy robe in my hand;
for in that I cut off the skirt of thy robe, and killed thee not, know thou ...
/l/layest.htm - 9k

Liest (13 Occurrences)
... (KJV DBY WBS). 1 Samuel 24:11 And see, my father, yes, see the skirt of
thy robe in my hand. For in that I cut off the skirt of thy ...
/l/liest.htm - 10k

Wronged (22 Occurrences)
... 1 Samuel 24:11 And see, my father, see the skirt of your robe in my hand: for the
fact that I took off the skirt of your robe and did not put you to death is ...
/w/wronged.htm - 13k

Treason (6 Occurrences)
... 1 Samuel 24:11 Moreover, my father, behold, yes, see the skirt of your robe in my
hand; for in that I cut off the skirt of your robe, and didn't kill you, know ...
/t/treason.htm - 9k

Folded (19 Occurrences)
... Haggai 2:12 If anyone has some holy flesh folded in the skirt of his robe, will
bread or soup or wine or oil or any other food be made holy if touched by his ...
/f/folded.htm - 12k

Pottage (7 Occurrences)
... Haggai 2:12 If one bear holy flesh in the skirt of his garment, and with his skirt
do touch bread, or pottage, or wine, or oil, or any meat, shall it be holy? ...
/p/pottage.htm - 9k

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