Topical Encyclopedia
In biblical times, clothing served not only as a practical necessity but also as a symbol of cultural and religious identity. The term "drawers" refers to a type of undergarment worn in ancient Near Eastern cultures, including those mentioned in the Bible. While the Bible does not frequently mention undergarments explicitly, there are references that provide insight into their use and significance.
Biblical References and ContextThe most direct reference to a garment resembling "drawers" is found in the instructions given to the priests in the Old Testament. In
Exodus 28:42, God commands Moses regarding the attire of the priests: "Make linen undergarments to cover their naked bodies; they must extend from the waist to the thighs." . These linen undergarments, often interpreted as a form of drawers, were part of the priestly garments designed to maintain modesty and purity during their service in the Tabernacle.
The Hebrew word used in this context is "miknac," which is often translated as "breeches" or "linen undergarments." These garments were essential for the priests, as they were required to approach the holy presence of God with reverence and modesty. The emphasis on covering nakedness underscores the importance of holiness and the separation from anything that might be considered profane or indecent.
Cultural and Religious SignificanceIn the ancient Near East, clothing was a significant marker of social status and religious function. The specific instructions for priestly garments, including the linen drawers, highlight the distinct role of the priests as mediators between God and the people. The requirement for these undergarments reflects a broader biblical theme of modesty and the covering of nakedness, which is first introduced in
Genesis 3:21 when God made garments of skin for Adam and Eve after the Fall.
The concept of modesty in dress is further reinforced in other parts of Scripture. For example, in
1 Timothy 2:9, Paul advises women to dress modestly and with propriety, which aligns with the broader biblical principle of humility and respect for oneself and others.
Symbolism and Theological ImplicationsThe use of drawers or undergarments in the biblical context can also be seen as a symbol of spiritual preparedness and purity. Just as the priests were required to wear specific garments to serve in the presence of God, believers are called to clothe themselves with righteousness and holiness. This is echoed in passages such as
Ephesians 6:14, where Paul speaks of the "belt of truth" and the "breastplate of righteousness" as part of the spiritual armor of God.
Moreover, the emphasis on covering and modesty can be understood as a reflection of the human condition post-Fall, where shame and the need for covering became part of the human experience. The provision of garments by God in Genesis and the detailed instructions for priestly attire in Exodus both point to God's concern for the dignity and sanctity of His people.
In summary, while the Bible does not extensively detail the use of drawers or undergarments, the references that do exist highlight important themes of modesty, purity, and the distinct role of the priesthood. These garments served not only a practical purpose but also carried deep symbolic and theological significance within the biblical narrative.
Strong's Hebrew
7579. shaab -- to draw (water)... Word Origin a prim. root Definition to draw (water) NASB Word Usage draw (9), draw
water (1),
drawers (3), draws (1), drew (5). to bale up water.
...2542. chammuq -- curving, curve
... Word Origin from chamaq Definition curving, curve NASB Word Usage curves (1). joints.
From chamaq; a wrapping, ieDrawers -- joints. see HEBREW chamaq....
4370. miknas -- an undergarment
... breeches. From kamac in the sense of hiding; (only in dual)drawers (from concealing
the private parts) -- breeches. see HEBREW kamac. 4369, 4370....
Library
The Draw-Net.
... word. If the net is the Church, and itsdrawers the Church's ministers,
the whole question of discipline is immediately raised....
Of the Nakedness of Our First Parents, which they Saw after their...
... Campestria is, indeed, a Latin word, but it is used of thedrawers or aprons used
for a similar purpose by the young men who stripped for exercise in the campus...
Conflicts with Giant Mistake
... Really he is not a true Anakim, but a Gibeonite, who are foes until they are conquered,
and then they become hewers of wood anddrawers of water for us"they...
Behaviour in the Baths.
... The ancient athletes, [1629] ashamed to exhibit a man naked, preserved their modesty
by going through the contest indrawers; but these women, divesting...
Crucifixion of Self.
... Of course, the earthliness may not be manifest as before; "hewers of wood anddrawers
of water" they become, yet they are there and live there....
Letter iv. Personal Habits.
... Thedrawers of bureau and wash-stand, as I happened to have opportunity to observe
them, were as sweet and clean and orderly as the rest of the room....
Home-Education.
... It is not, as Locke declares, like a blank sheet of paper or a chest ofdrawers;
but has an intuitional as well as a logical consciousness, innate ideas as...
The Changed Life
... living by code was Franklin's method; and I suppose thousands more could tell how
they had hung up in their bed-rooms, or hid in lock-fastdrawers, the rules...
Five Kings in a Cave
... And Joshua said, "We will make them hewers of wood anddrawers of water,"
and they were saved from death but they served in bondage....
Diamond Managed with Many Blunders to Read this Rhyme to his...
... the level of the street, and covered with mud, while over the grating which kept
people from falling into the area, stood a chest ofdrawers, placed there by a...
Thesaurus
Drawers (4 Occurrences)... Multi-Version Concordance
Drawers (4 Occurrences). Hebrews 10:39 But we are not
drawers back to perdition, but of faith to saving the soul. (DBY).
...Drawer (1 Occurrence)
... In the case of deep wells, the rope, attached to a larger bucket, is run over a
pulley so that the water may be raised by thedrawers walking away from the...
Woodcutters (4 Occurrences)
... Joshua 9:21 And the princes said concerning them: 'Let them live'; so they became
hewers of wood anddrawers of water unto all the congregation, as the princes...
Cutters (14 Occurrences)
... Joshua 9:21 The princes said to them, "Let them live, so they became wood cutters
anddrawers of water for all the congregation, as the princes had spoken to...
Carriers (7 Occurrences)
... Joshua 9:21 The princes said to them, "Let them live, so they became wood cutters
anddrawers of water for all the congregation, as the princes had spoken to...
Hewers (13 Occurrences)
... Joshua 9:21 And the princes said unto them, Let them live; but let them be hewers
of wood anddrawers of water unto all the congregation; as the princes had...
Water (4571 Occurrences)
... In the case of deep wells, the rope, attached to a larger bucket, is run over a
pulley so that the water may be raised by thedrawers walking away from the...
Wood (226 Occurrences)
... Joshua 9:21 The princes said to them, "Let them live, so they became wood cutters
anddrawers of water for all the congregation, as the princes had spoken to...
Keepers (78 Occurrences)
... Similarly, after the deception of Joshua by the Gibeonites, "Joshua made them that
day hewers of wood anddrawers of water for the congregation, and for the...
Nethinim (16 Occurrences)
... tribe to servitude, and declared, "Now therefore ye are cursed, and there shall
never fail to be of you bondsmen, both hewers of wood anddrawers of water for...
Resources
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