In biblical times, clothing held significant cultural and religious importance, and undergarments were no exception. The term "undergarment" in the Bible often refers to a basic piece of clothing worn next to the skin, beneath the outer garments. These garments were typically simple in design and served both practical and modesty purposes.

Old Testament References

The Hebrew word often translated as "undergarment" is "kethoneth," which can also mean tunic or robe. In the Old Testament, undergarments were part of the priestly attire as prescribed by God. In Exodus 28:42, God commands Moses regarding the priestly garments: "Make linen undergarments to cover their bare flesh, extending from waist to thigh." . These linen undergarments were essential for maintaining the sanctity and purity required of those serving in the Tabernacle.

The undergarment also appears in the context of everyday life. For instance, in the account of Joseph, his "coat of many colors" (Genesis 37:3) is believed by some scholars to have been a type of tunic or undergarment that signified his father's favor.

New Testament References

In the New Testament, the Greek word "chiton" is used to describe a tunic or undergarment. Jesus refers to this garment in Matthew 5:40: "If someone wants to sue you and take your tunic, let him have your cloak as well." . This passage highlights the tunic as a basic and essential piece of clothing, emphasizing the call to radical generosity and non-retaliation.

The crucifixion of Jesus also involves a reference to undergarments. In John 19:23, the soldiers divide Jesus' garments, but His tunic is left intact: "When the soldiers had crucified Jesus, they took His garments and divided them into four parts, one for each soldier, with the tunic remaining. It was seamless, woven in one piece from top to bottom." . This seamless tunic, likely an undergarment, signifies the unity and wholeness of Christ's ministry and person.

Cultural and Symbolic Significance

Undergarments in biblical times were not only practical but also carried symbolic meanings. They represented modesty, purity, and the inner life of a person. The requirement for priests to wear linen undergarments underscored the need for holiness and separation from impurity when approaching God.

In a broader cultural context, clothing, including undergarments, was a sign of one's status and role within society. The seamless tunic of Jesus, for example, may symbolize His role as the High Priest and the perfect, unbroken nature of His sacrifice.

Conclusion

The biblical references to undergarments, while few, provide insight into the cultural, religious, and symbolic aspects of clothing in ancient times. They remind believers of the importance of purity, modesty, and the inner life, as well as the call to live out these values in their daily walk with God.(n.) A garment to be worn under the ordinary outer garments. 5509. chiton -- a tunic
... a tunic. Part of Speech: Noun, Masculine Transliteration: chiton Phonetic Spelling:
(khee-tone') Short Definition: a tunic, garment, undergarment Definition: a ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/5509.htm - 7k4370. miknas -- an undergarment
... 4369, 4370. miknas. 4371 . an undergarment. Transliteration: miknas Phonetic
Spelling: (mik-nawce') Short Definition: undergarments. ...
/hebrew/4370.htm - 6k

Chapter xix.
... also. And if any man will sue thee at the law, and take away thy coat
[tunic, undergarment], let him have thy cloak [168] also. ...
/...//christianbookshelf.org/augustine/our lords sermon on the mount/chapter xix.htm

Non-Resistance
... of anger and a returning stroke; the second of which refers to assaults on property,
such as an attempt at legal robbery of a man's undergarment; the third of ...
/.../maclaren/expositions of holy scripture a/non-resistance.htm

The Crucifixion.
... woven from the top throughout. [This was the tunic or undergarment. It reached
from the shoulders to the knees. Ordinarily it was in ...
/.../mcgarvey/the four-fold gospel/cxxxiii the crucifixion 2.htm

The Death of the Blessed virgin Mary at Ephesus
... scarf. It was fastened round the waist by a girdle and fell from under her
arms to the feet on each side of the brown undergarment. ...
/.../emmerich/the life of the blessed virgin mary/xviii the death of the.htm

Marriage of the Blessed virgin to Joseph
... I saw Mary in her wedding-dress very distinctly. [Please refer to Figure 7.] She
wore a white woolen undergarment without sleeves: her arms were wrapped round ...
/.../emmerich/the life of the blessed virgin mary/vii marriage of the blessed.htm

The visitation
... On the journey she wore a brown woolen undergarment, and over this a gray dress
with a girdle. Her head-covering was yellowish in color. ...
/.../emmerich/the life of the blessed virgin mary/ix the visitation.htm

Chapter xxxvii
... keth??neth passim. The keth??neth is the undergarment or tunic, which
usually was sleeveless"a thing of about knee-length. But ...
/.../leupold/exposition of genesis volume 1/chapter xxxvii.htm

Of the Fourth Consideration of the Sacred, Holy Stigmata
... The first was that, having obtained permission to wash his undergarment, which St
Francis wore very loose, that by wrapping it well around him he might conceal ...
/.../the little flowers of st francis of assisi/of the fourth consideration of.htm

Ancestors of the Blessed virgin
... downwards. This front part had large openings, E, on the breast and below
it, through which the stole and undergarment could be seen. ...
/.../emmerich/the life of the blessed virgin mary/i ancestors of the blessed.htm

The Baptism of Jesus: Its Higher Meaning.
... At present the Tsitsith are worn as a special undergarment (the {hebrew}) or on
the Tallith or prayer-mantle, but anciently they seem to have been worn on the ...
/.../the life and times of jesus the messiah/chapter xii the baptism of.htm

Undergarment (1 Occurrence)
... Noah Webster's Dictionary (n.) A garment to be worn under the ordinary outer garments.
Multi-Version Concordance Undergarment (1 Occurrence). ...
/u/undergarment.htm - 6k

Undergarments (6 Occurrences)

/u/undergarments.htm - 8k

Underfoot (14 Occurrences)

/u/underfoot.htm - 11k

Fringes (4 Occurrences)
... to use two extra four-cornered fringed garments: the large Tallith while at prayer,
and the small Tallith, or 'arba` kanephoth, as an undergarment during the ...
/f/fringes.htm - 10k

Hose (1 Occurrence)
... Easton's Bible Dictionary (Dan. 3:21), a tunic or undergarment. Noah Webster's
Dictionary. 1. (n.) Plural of Hose. 2. (n.) Close-fitting ...
/h/hose.htm - 7k

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