Apparel

Apparel - (Easton's Bible Dictionary)

In Old Testament times the distinction between male and female attire was not very marked. The statute forbidding men to wear female apparel (Deut. 22:5) referred especially to ornaments and head-dresses. Both men and women wore (1) an under garment or tunic, which was bound by a girdle. One who had only this tunic on was spoken of as "naked" (1 Sam. 19:24; Job 24:10; Isa. 20:2). Those in high stations sometimes wore two tunics, the outer being called the "upper garment" (1 Sam. 15:27; 18:4; 24:5; Job 1:20). (2.) They wore in common an over-garment ("mantle," Isa. 3:22; 1 Kings 19:13; 2 Kings 2:13), a loose and flowing robe. The folds of this upper garment could be formed into a lap (Ruth 3:15; Ps. 79:12; Prov. 17:23; Luke 6:38). Generals of armies usually wore scarlet robes (Judg. 8:26; Nah. 2:3). A form of conspicuous raiment is mentioned in Luke 20:46; comp. Matt. 23:5.

Priests alone wore trousers. Both men and women wore turbans. Kings and nobles usually had a store of costly garments for festive occasions (Isa. 3:22; Zech. 3:4) and for presents (Gen. 45:22; Esther 4:4; 6:8, 11; 1 Sam. 18:4; 2 Kings 5:5; 10:22). Prophets and ascetics wore coarse garments (Isa. 20:2; Zech. 13:4; Matt. 3:4).

Apparel - (Webster's 1828 Dictionary)

APPAR'EL, n. [L. paro, apparo, to prepare; Heb. bara]

1. Clothing; vesture; garments; dress.

2. External habiliments or decorations; appearance; as, religion appears in the natural apparel of simplicity.

Glorious in apparel. Isa 63.

3. The furniture of a ship, as sails, rigging, anchors, _c.

APPAR'EL, v.t.

1. To dress or clothe.

They who are gorgeously appareled are in kings court.

Luke 7.

2. To adorn with dress.

She did apparel her apparel.

3. To dress with external ornaments; to cover with something ornamental; to cover, as with garments; as, trees appareled with flowers; or a garden with verdure.

4. To furnish with external apparatus; as ships appareled for sea.

a-par'-el: The English equivalent of six Hebrew and three Greek words, variously signifying all kinds of raiment, chiefly garments costly and beautiful: ornamental (2Sa 1:24); royal, as of Ahasuerus (Es 6:8), of Herod (Ac 12:21, esthes); of kings' daughters (2Sa 13:18); priestly (Ezr 3:10); also mourning (2Sa 14:2). In 1Sa 17:38,39 "apparel" replaces "armor" of King James Version: "Saul clad David with his apparel," probably some close-fitting garment worn under the armor, or sometimes without it. Severe judgment was pronounced on Jewish princes who clothed themselves with "strange" (the King James Version), i.e. "with foreign apparel" (Ze 1:8; compare Isa 2:6-8). "Modest apparel" as against "costly raiment" is commended as suited to Christians (1Ti 2:9; himatismos, and katastole). Angels are robed in white apparel (Ac 1:10; compare Lu 24:4, "dazzling"). Fig. of the glorious and red (suggestive of the wine-press) apparel of the Messiah (Isa 63:1,2), and of "a meek and quiet spirit" (1Pe 3:4).

Dwight M. Pratt