The Life of Jesus in Harmony | Index

tunic

The Dress of Men. Among the Israelites these were a tunic or coat (Heb. kuttonet, (Ex 28:4,39; 29:5; 2 Sam 15:32); Gk. chiton, (Mt 5:40; Mk 6:9; Lk 3:11; 6:29; etc.).

This was the simplest of all the garments worn, like an ordinary shirt or nightgown. It was probably made of two pieces sewn together at the sides, or else formed of one piece, with a place cut for the head to pass through. It afforded so slight a covering that persons who had on nothing else were called naked (1 Sam 19:24; 2 Sam 6:20; Jn 21:7).

Another kind reached to the wrists and ankles. It was in either case fastened around the loins with a girdle, and the fold formed by the overlapping of the robe served as an inner pocket. Such a garment was worn by the priests and probably by Joseph (Gen 37:3,23) and Tamar (2 Sam 13:18).

Outer Tunic (Heb. me`il). This was a looser and a longer sort of a tunic reaching to near the ankles; open at the top also as to be drawn over the head, and having holes for the insertion of the arms. As an article of ordinary dress it was worn by kings (1 Sam 24:4), prophets (28:14), nobles (Job 1:20), and youths (1 Sam 2:19). It may, however, be doubted whether the term is used in its specific sense in these passages and not rather for any robe that chanced to be worn over the kuttonet.

Where two tunics are mentioned (Lk 3:11) as being worn at the same time, the second would be a me`il; travelers generally wore two, but the practice was forbidden to the disciples (Mt 10:10; Lk 9:3).