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Topical Encyclopedia

In the Bible, cloth and textiles hold significant cultural, religious, and symbolic meanings. The use of cloth is mentioned throughout the Scriptures, reflecting its importance in daily life, religious practices, and as a metaphor for spiritual truths.

Materials and Types of Cloth

The Bible references various materials used for making cloth, including wool, linen, and more luxurious fabrics like silk. Wool, derived from sheep, was a common material for clothing and blankets. Linen, made from flax, was highly valued for its quality and was often used for priestly garments and sacred purposes. InProverbs 31:13, the virtuous woman is described as seeking "wool and flax and working with willing hands."

Clothing and Garments

Clothing in biblical times was not only functional but also carried social and religious significance. Garments could indicate one's status, profession, or role within the community. For instance, Joseph's "robe of many colors" (Genesis 37:3) symbolized his father's special favor and set him apart from his brothers.

Priestly garments were particularly significant, as described inExodus 28. The high priest's attire included a breastplate, ephod, robe, tunic, turban, and sash, all made from fine linen and adorned with gold, blue, purple, and scarlet yarns. These garments were designed "for glory and for beauty" (Exodus 28:2) and symbolized the holiness and service of the priesthood.

Symbolism and Metaphors

Cloth and garments are often used metaphorically in the Bible to convey spiritual truths.Isaiah 64:6 compares human righteousness to "filthy rags," illustrating the inadequacy of self-righteousness before God. Conversely, inIsaiah 61:10, the prophet rejoices in being clothed with "garments of salvation" and "a robe of righteousness," symbolizing divine grace and redemption.

The New Testament continues this metaphorical use of clothing. Believers are encouraged to "put on the new self" (Ephesians 4:24) and to "clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience" (Colossians 3:12). These exhortations highlight the transformation and renewal that come through faith in Christ.

Religious and Ceremonial Uses

Cloth also played a role in religious and ceremonial contexts. The Tabernacle, as described in Exodus, was constructed with curtains of fine twisted linen and blue, purple, and scarlet yarns (Exodus 26:1). These materials underscored the sacredness of the space where God would dwell among His people.

In the New Testament, the tearing of the temple veil at the moment of Jesus' death (Matthew 27:51) holds profound theological significance. The veil, made of fine linen, separated the Holy of Holies from the rest of the temple. Its tearing symbolizes the new access to God made possible through Christ's atoning sacrifice.

Economic and Social Aspects

The production and trade of cloth were vital aspects of the ancient economy.Proverbs 31:24 mentions the industrious woman who "makes linen garments and sells them." The exchange of textiles was a common practice, and fine garments were often considered valuable possessions.

InActs 16:14, Lydia, a seller of purple cloth, is introduced as a prominent and influential figure in the early Christian community. Her trade in purple cloth, a luxury item, indicates her wealth and status.

Overall, cloth in the Bible serves as a multifaceted symbol, representing everything from daily life and economic activity to profound spiritual truths and divine interactions.

Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary

1. (n.) A fabric made of fibrous material (or sometimes of wire, as in wire cloth); commonly, a woven fabric of cotton, woolen, or linen, adapted to be made into garments; specifically, woolen fabrics, as distinguished from all others.

2. (n.) The dress; raiment. [Obs.] See Clothes.

3. (n.) The distinctive dress of any profession, especially of the clergy; hence, the clerical profession.

International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

CLOTH; CLOTHING

kloth, kloth'-ing.

SeeDRESS.

Greek

4616. sindon -- fine linencloth
... fine linencloth. Part of Speech: Noun, Feminine Transliteration: sindon Phonetic
Spelling: (sin-done') Short Definition: a linencloth Definition: fine linen...

1102. gnapheus -- one who cleans woolencloth
... one who cleans woolencloth. Part of Speech: Noun, Masculine Transliteration: gnapheus
Phonetic Spelling: (gnaf-yuce') Short Definition: a fuller,cloth-dresser...

4676. soudarion -- a handkerchief, a headcloth (for the dead)
... a handkerchief, a headcloth (for the dead). Part of Speech: Noun, Neuter
Transliteration: soudarion Phonetic Spelling: (soo-dar'-ee-on) Short Definition:...

3012. lention -- a linencloth, a towel
... a linencloth, a towel. Part of Speech: Noun, Neuter Transliteration: lention Phonetic
Spelling: (len'-tee-on) Short Definition: a towel, apron Definition: a...

4209. porphura -- purple fish, purple dye, purplecloth
... purple fish, purple dye, purplecloth. Part of Speech: Noun, Feminine Transliteration:
porphura Phonetic Spelling: (por-foo'-rah) Short Definition: a purple...

4470. rhakos -- a rag
... a rag. Part of Speech: Noun, Neuter Transliteration: rhakos Phonetic Spelling:
(hrak'-os) Short Definition: a piece ofcloth Definition: a piece ofcloth, a...

4211. porphuropolis -- a seller of purple fabrics
... Speech: Noun, Feminine Transliteration: porphuropolis Phonetic Spelling:
(por-foo-rop'-o-lis) Short Definition: a female seller of purplecloth Definition:...

3607. othone -- fine linen, hence a sheet or sail
... hence a sheet or sail. Part of Speech: Noun, Feminine Transliteration: othone Phonetic
Spelling: (oth-on'-ay) Short Definition: a linencloth, sheet Definition...

4526. sakkos -- sackcloth
... sackcloth. Part of Speech: Noun, Masculine Transliteration: sakkos Phonetic Spelling:
(sak'-kos) Short Definition: sack-cloth Definition: sack-cloth, a sign of...

4210. porphurous -- purple
... Cognate: 4210 -- a purple (reddish-purple)cloth or dye. See 4209 (). (Jn
19:5) It was customary in ancient times for a to dress in ....

Strong's Hebrew

1264. berom -- variegatedcloth
... 1263, 1264. berom. 1265 . variegatedcloth. Transliteration: berom Phonetic
Spelling: (ber-ome') Short Definition: colors. Word...

232. ezor -- a waistcloth
... 231, 232. ezor. 233 . a waistcloth. Transliteration: ezor Phonetic Spelling:
(ay-zore') Short Definition: waistband. Word Origin...

4055. mad -- a measure,cloth garment
mad or med. 4054, 4055. mad or med. 4056 . a measure,cloth garment.
Transliteration: mad or med Phonetic Spelling: (mad) Short Definition: armor....

4345. makber -- a nettedcloth, coverlet
... 4344, 4345. makber. 4346 . a nettedcloth, coverlet. Transliteration: makber
Phonetic Spelling: (mak-bare') Short Definition: cover....

4346. mikbar -- grating, lattice-work
... thickcloth. From kabar in the sense of covering; acloth (as netted (compare makber))
-- thickcloth. see HEBREW kabar. see HEBREW makber. 4345, 4346....

2360a. choray -- white stuff
... white stuff. Transliteration: choray Short Definition:cloth. Word Origin from chavar
Definition white stuff NASB Word Usage whitecloth (1). 2360, 2360a....

1739. daveh -- faint, unwell
... ill (1). faint, menstruouscloth, she that is sick, having sickness. From davah;
sick (especially in menstruation) -- faint, menstruous...

8071. simlah -- a wrapper, mantle
... Word Origin from an unused word Definition a wrapper, mantle NASB Word Usage cloak
(4),cloth (1), clothes (9), clothing (5), garment (5), garments (5)....

6844. tsaphith -- a rug, carpet
... 6843, 6844. tsaphith. 6845 . a rug, carpet. Transliteration: tsaphith
Phonetic Spelling: (tsaw-feeth') Short Definition:cloth....

8242. saq -- sack, sackcloth
... From shaqaq; properly, a mesh (as allowing a liquid to run through), ie Coarse loose
cloth or sacking (used in mourning and for bagging); hence, a bag (for...

Library

"Grief, Like a Garment,Cloth'd Me Round, "And Sackcloth was My...
... 7 "Grief, like a garment,cloth'd me round, "And sackcloth was my dress,
"While I procur'd for naked souls "A robe of righteousness....

O Thou whoCloth'st Thyself Complete
... O Thou whocloth'st Thyself complete. tr., John Brownlie 8,8,8,8.... I. O Thou who
cloth'st Thyself complete. With light as with a garment fair,....

Faustus Maintains that to Hold to the Old Testament after the...
... Book VIII. Faustus maintains that to hold to the Old Testament after the
giving of the New is putting newcloth on an old garment....

Salvation Army Publications
... Illustrated.Cloth, Gilt Edges, 2s.6d.;Cloth, 1s.6d.; Paper, 1s. The General's
Letters.... Half Calf, 5s.;Cloth, 2s.; Paper, 1s. The Training of Children....

Works by G Campbell Morgan
... DR. MORGAN'S MOST COMPREHENSIVE WORK. 8vo,cloth, [USD]1.50 net.... ADDRESSES UPON
"THE SEVEN CHURCHES OF ASIA."Cloth, net [USD]1.00. THE SPIRIT OF GOD....

Easter Even. And Joseph Wrapped the Body in a Clean LinenCloth...
... Easter Even. And Joseph wrapped the body in a clean linencloth, and laid
it in his own new tomb, which he had hewn out in the rock....

Society for Promoting Christian Knowledge.
... Post 8vo.Cloth boards 1 6. Argument from Prophecy (The). By the =Rev.... Post 8vo.
Cloth boards 1 6. Scepticism and Faith. By the =Rev. Brownlow Maitland=....

Publications
... Post 8vo.Cloth boards, 10s. 6d.... By the Rev. CANON TRISTRAM, Author of "Bible Places,"
"The Land of Israel," &c.4to.Cloth, bevelled boards, gilt edges, 6s....

By Grenville Kleiser
... the mind. Octacloth, [USD]3.00, net; by mail, [USD]3.16. HOW... and others.
Cloth, 543 pages, [USD]1.50. net; by mail, [USD]1.615. HOW...

Fordington Pulpit:
... THE EPISTLE TO THE ROMANS.7s.6d. COLOSSIAN STUDIES. Crown 8vo.,cloth, 5s.... Crown
8vo, 5s.,cloth. LIFE IN CHRIST AND FOR CHRIST.32mo, 1s.,cloth....

Thesaurus

Cloth (57 Occurrences)
... 1. (n.) A fabric made of fibrous material (or sometimes of wire, as in wirecloth);
commonly, a woven fabric of cotton, woolen, or linen, adapted to be made...

Cloth-working (1 Occurrence)
Cloth-working.Cloth-worker's,Cloth-working. Clots . Multi-Version
ConcordanceCloth-working (1 Occurrence). Proverbs...

Face-cloth (1 Occurrence)
Face-cloth. Face-bones, Face-cloth. Faced . Multi-Version Concordance
Face-cloth (1 Occurrence). John 20:7 and thecloth...

Cloth-worker's (4 Occurrences)
Cloth-worker's. Cloths,Cloth-worker's.Cloth-working .
Multi-Version ConcordanceCloth-worker's (4 Occurrences). 1...

Fuller (5 Occurrences)
... Easton's Bible Dictionary The word "full" is from the Anglo-Saxon fullian, meaning
"to whiten." To full is to press or scourcloth in a mill....

Wrapped (40 Occurrences)
... Wrapped (40 Occurrences). Matthew 27:59 Joseph took the body, and wrapped it in
a clean linencloth, (WEB KJV WEY ASV DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)....

Clout
... Noah Webster's Dictionary 1. (n.) Acloth; a piece ofcloth or leather; a patch;
a rag. 2. (n.) A swaddingcloth. 3. (n.) A piece; a fragment....

List (17 Occurrences)
... 9. (n.) A strip forming the woven border or selvedge ofcloth, particularly of
broadcloth, and serving to strengthen it; hence, a strip ofcloth; a fillet. 10....

Leather (34 Occurrences)
... Leviticus 13:49 If there are red or green marks on the clothing, or on the leather,
or in the threads of thecloth, or in anything made of skin, it is the...

Patch (5 Occurrences)
... Noah Webster's Dictionary 1. (n.) A piece ofcloth, or other suitable material,
sewed or otherwise fixed upon a garment to repair or strengthen it, esp....

Resources

What is a prayer cloth? | GotQuestions.org

What is the meaning of the parables of fasting at the wedding feast, the old cloth, and the wineskins? | GotQuestions.org

Is the Shroud of Turin authentic? | GotQuestions.org

Cloth: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.com

Bible Concordance •Bible Dictionary •Bible Encyclopedia •Topical Bible •Bible Thesuarus

Concordance

Cloth (57 Occurrences)

Matthew 9:16
No one puts a piece of unshrunkcloth on an old garment; for the patch would tear away from the garment, and a worse hole is made.
(WEB KJV WEY ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)

Matthew 27:59
Joseph took the body, and wrapped it in a clean linencloth,
(WEB KJV ASV DBY WBS NAS NIV)

Mark 2:21
No one sews a piece of unshrunkcloth on an old garment, or else the patch shrinks and the new tears away from the old, and a worse hole is made.
(WEB KJV WEY ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)

Mark 14:51
A certain young man followed him, having a linencloth thrown around himself, over his naked body. The young men grabbed him,
(WEB KJV WEY ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT RSV)

Mark 14:52
but he left the linencloth, and fled from them naked.
(WEB KJV WEY ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT RSV)

Mark 15:46
He bought a linencloth, and taking him down, wound him in the linen cloth, and laid him in a tomb which had been cut out of a rock. He rolled a stone against the door of the tomb.
(WEB ASV BBE NAS NIV)

Luke 2:7
She brought forth her firstborn son, and she wrapped him in bands ofcloth, and laid him in a feeding trough, because there was no room for them in the inn.
(WEB KJV ASV DBY WBS NAS RSV NIV)

Luke 2:12
This is the sign to you: you will find a baby wrapped in strips ofcloth, lying in a feeding trough."
(WEB KJV WEY ASV DBY WBS NAS RSV NIV)

Luke 5:36
And he said to them, in a story, No man takes a bit ofcloth from a new coat and puts it on to an old coat, for so the new coat would be damaged and the bit from the new would not go well with the old.
(BBE YLT NAS)

Luke 19:20
"The next came. "'Sir,' he said, 'here is your pound, which I have kept wrapt up in acloth.
(WEY BBE NIV)

Luke 23:53
He took it down, and wrapped it in a linencloth, and laid him in a tomb that was cut in stone, where no one had ever been laid.
(WEB ASV BBE NAS NIV)

John 11:44
He who was dead came out, bound hand and foot with wrappings, and his face was wrapped around with acloth. Jesus said to them, "Free him, and let him go."
(WEB KJV WEY ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)

John 13:4
Got up from table, put off his robe and took acloth and put it round him.
(BBE NIV)

John 13:5
Then he put water into a basin and was washing the feet of the disciples and drying them with thecloth which was round him.
(BBE)

John 19:23
And when Jesus was nailed to the cross, the men of the army took his clothing, and made a division of it into four parts, to every man a part, and they took his coat: now the coat was without a join, made out of one bit of cloth.
(Root in BBE DBY NIV)

John 20:7
and thecloth that had been on his head, not lying with the linen cloths, but rolled up in a place by itself.
(WEB KJV WEY ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)

Acts 10:11
And he saw the heavens opening, and a vessel coming down, like a greatcloth let down on the earth,
(BBE)

Acts 11:5
I was in the town of Joppa, at prayer: and falling into a deep sleep, I saw in a vision a vessel like a greatcloth let down from heaven, and it came down to me:
(BBE)

Acts 16:14
And a certain woman named Lydia, a trader in purplecloth of the town of Thyatira, and a God-fearing woman, gave ear to us: whose heart the Lord made open to give attention to the things which Paul was saying.
(BBE NIV)

Hebrews 1:12
They will be rolled up like acloth, even like a robe, and they will be changed: but you are the same and your years will have no end.
(BBE)

Revelation 18:12
merchandise of gold, silver, precious stones, pearls, fine linen, purple, silk, scarlet, all expensive wood, every vessel of ivory, every vessel made of most precious wood, and of brass, and iron, and marble;
(See NIV)

Exodus 28:31
"You shall make the robe of the ephod all of blue.
(See NIV)

Exodus 35:25
And all the women who were expert with their hands, madecloth, and gave the work of their hands, blue and purple and red and the best linen.
(BBE)

Exodus 35:26
And those women who had the knowledge, made the goats' hair intocloth.
(BBE)

Exodus 35:35
To them he has given knowledge of all the arts of the handworker, of the designer, and the expert workman; of the maker of needlework in blue and purple and red and the best linen, and of the maker ofcloth; in all the arts of the designer and the trained workman they are expert.
(BBE)

Exodus 39:22
He made the robe of the ephod of woven work, all of blue.
(See NIV)

Leviticus 11:32
On whatever any of them falls when they are dead, it shall be unclean; whether it is any vessel of wood, or clothing, or skin, or sack, whatever vessel it is, with which any work is done, it must be put into water, and it shall be unclean until the evening; then it will be clean.
(Root in WEB BBE NAS NIV)

Leviticus 13:49
If there are red or green marks on the clothing, or on the leather, or in the threads of the cloth, or in anything made of skin, it is the leper's disease: let the priest see it.
(Root in BBE NIV)

Numbers 4:6
and shall put a covering of sealskin on it, and shall spread over it acloth all of blue, and shall put in its poles.
(WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS NAS RSV NIV)

Numbers 4:7
"On the table of show bread they shall spread a bluecloth, and put on it the dishes, the spoons, the bowls, and the cups with which to pour out; and the continual bread shall be on it.
(WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS NAS RSV NIV)

Numbers 4:8
They shall spread on them a scarletcloth, and cover the same with a covering of sealskin, and shall put in its poles.
(WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS NAS RSV NIV)

Numbers 4:9
"They shall take a bluecloth, and cover the lampstand of the light, and its lamps, and its snuffers, and its snuff dishes, and all its oil vessels, with which they minister to it.
(WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS NAS RSV NIV)

Numbers 4:11
"On the golden altar they shall spread a bluecloth, and cover it with a covering of sealskin, and shall put in its poles.
(WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS NAS RSV NIV)

Numbers 4:12
"They shall take all the vessels of ministry, with which they minister in the sanctuary, and put them in a bluecloth, and cover them with a covering of sealskin, and shall put them on the frame.
(WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS NAS RSV NIV)

Numbers 4:13
"They shall take away the ashes from the altar, and spread a purplecloth on it.
(WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS NAS RSV NIV)

Numbers 4:14
Placing on thecloth all its vessels, the fire-baskets, the meat-hooks, the spades, and the basins; all the vessels of the altar; they are to put a leather cover over all these, and put its rods in their places.
(BBE)

Deuteronomy 22:11
Do not have clothing made of two sorts of thread, wool and linen together.
(Root in BBE YLT NIV)

Deuteronomy 22:17
and behold, he has accused her of shameful things, saying,'I didn't find in your daughter the tokens of virginity;' and yet these are the tokens of my daughter's virginity." They shall spread thecloth before the elders of the city.
(WEB KJV BBE DBY WBS NIV)

Judges 16:14
So while he was sleeping she got the seven twists of his hair worked into hercloth and fixed with the pin, and said to him, The Philistines are on you, Samson. Then awaking from his sleep, he got up quickly, pulling up cloth and machine together.
(BBE)

1 Samuel 15:27
And when Samuel was turning round to go away, Saul took the skirt of his robe in his hand, and thecloth came away.
(BBE)

1 Samuel 19:13
Michal took the teraphim, and laid it in the bed, and put a pillow of goats' hair at its head, and covered it with the clothes.
(Root in WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE WBS NAS RSV)

1 Samuel 21:9
The priest said, "The sword of Goliath the Philistine, whom you killed in the valley of Elah, behold, it is here wrapped in acloth behind the ephod. If you will take that, take it; for there is no other except that here." David said, "There is none like that. Give it to me."
(WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS NAS RSV NIV)

2 Kings 8:15
It happened on the next day, that he took a thickcloth, dipped it in water, and spread it on his face, so that he died. Then Hazael reigned in his place.
(WEB KJV WBS YLT NIV)

Esther 1:6
There were hangings of' white 'cloth', 'of' green, and 'of' blue, fastened with cords of fine linen and purple to silver rings and pillars of marble: the couches were of gold and silver, upon a pavement of red, and white, and yellow, and black marble.
(ASV)

Esther 7:8
Then the king came back from the garden into the room where they had been drinking; and Haman was stretched out on the seat where Esther was. Then the king said, Is he taking the queen by force before my eyes in my house? And while the words were on the king's lips, they put acloth over Haman's face.
(BBE)

Proverbs 31:24
She makes linen robes and gets a price for them, and traders take hercloth bands for a price.
(BBE)

Isaiah 19:9
Moreover those who work in combed flax, and those who weave whitecloth, will be confounded.
(WEB ASV BBE NAS)

Isaiah 19:10
And the makers of twisted thread will be crushed, and those who ... will be sad in heart.
(See NIV)

Isaiah 21:5
They make ready the table, they put down the covers, they take food and drink. Up! you captains; put oil on your breastplates.
(See NAS)

Isaiah 22:21
and I will clothe him with your robe, and strengthen him with your belt. I will commit your government into his hand; and he will be a father to the inhabitants of Jerusalem, and to the house of Judah.
(Root in WEB KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)

Isaiah 30:22
Ye shall defile also the covering of thy graven images of silver, and the ornament of thy molten images of gold: thou shalt cast them away as a menstruouscloth; thou shalt say unto it, Get thee hence.
(KJV DBY WBS NIV)

Isaiah 38:12
My resting-place is pulled up and taken away from me like a herdsman's tent: my life is rolled up like a linen-worker's thread; I am cut off from thecloth on the frame: from day even to night you give me up to pain.
(BBE)

Jeremiah 38:11
So Ebed-melech took the men with him and went into the house of the king, to the place where the clothing was kept, and got from there old clothing and bits of old cloth, and let them down by cords into the water-hole where Jeremiah was.
(Root in BBE DBY NAS RSV NIV)

Jeremiah 38:12
And Ebed-melech the Ethiopian said to Jeremiah, Put these bits of oldcloth under your arms under the cords. And Jeremiah did so.
(BBE NAS RSV NIV)

Ezekiel 16:10
I clothed you also with embroidered work, and shod you with sealskin, and I girded you about with fine linen, and covered you with silk.
(Root in WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)

Ezekiel 16:13
Thus you were decked with gold and silver; and your clothing was of fine linen, and silk, and embroidered work; you ate fine flour, and honey, and oil; and you were exceeding beautiful, and you prospered to royal estate.
(Root in WEB BBE YLT NAS RSV NIV)

Ezekiel 16:18
And you took your robes of needlework for their clothing, and put my oil and my perfume before them.
(Root in BBE NAS NIV)

Subtopics

Cloth

Related Terms

Vest (11 Occurrences)

Deck (8 Occurrences)

Naked (56 Occurrences)

Rather (176 Occurrences)

Ourselves (129 Occurrences)

Vests (6 Occurrences)

Nakedness (50 Occurrences)

Oven (22 Occurrences)