Apparel

In Old Testament times. the distinction between male and female attire was often not very great. The Hebrew 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). People with high positions sometimes wore two tunics, the outer one was called the "upper garment" (1 Sam. 15:27; 18:4; 24:5; Job 1:20).

2. Both men and women wore 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).

Only priests wore trousers. Both men and women wore turbans. Kings and nobles usually had a many expensive 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). An ascetic is a person who lives an austere life of self-denial for religious reasons.

A conspicuous form of clothing is mentioned in Luke 20:46; compare Matt. 23:5.