Clothing - Berry's New Testament Synonyms

Clothing

ἱμάτιον, χιτών, ἱματισμός, χλαμύς, στολή, ποδήρης.

ἱμάτιον is used in a general sense to mean clothing, and may thus be applied to any garment when it is not desired to express its exact nature. In a more specific use, however, it denotes the large loose outer garment, a cloak, which ordinarily was worn, but in working was laid aside. χιτών best expressed by the word tunic. It was a closely fitting under-garment, usually worn next the skin. At times, especially in working, it was the only garment worn. A person clothed only in the χιτών was often called γυμνός (Jn. xxi. 7). ἱμάτιον and χιτών are often found associated as the upper and under garment respectively. ἱματισμός does not denote a specific garment, but means clothing, being used, however, ordinarily only of garments more or less stately or costly. χλαμύς a robe or cloak, it is a technical expression for a garment of dignity or office. στολή is any stately robe, ordinarily long, reaching to the feet or sweeping the ground, often worn by women. ποδήρης was originally an adjective meaning reaching to the feet. It can hardly be distinguished in use from στολή. It occurs only in Rev. i. 13.