The term "long-sleeved" in the context of the Bible often refers to garments that are distinct and carry significant meaning. The most notable mention of a long-sleeved garment is found in the account of Joseph, the son of Jacob, in the Book of Genesis.

Joseph's Coat:

In Genesis 37:3, the Berean Standard Bible states, "Now Israel loved Joseph more than his other sons because he had been born to him in his old age, and he made him a robe of many colors." The phrase "robe of many colors" is sometimes translated as a "long-sleeved robe" or "a richly ornamented robe." This garment symbolized Jacob's special affection for Joseph, setting him apart from his brothers and indicating a position of favor and possibly authority within the family.

The long-sleeved robe is significant because it was not typical attire for laborers or shepherds, who would wear shorter garments for practicality. Thus, Joseph's robe indicated a status that exempted him from the manual labor expected of his brothers. This favoritism fueled the jealousy and animosity of his brothers, ultimately leading to Joseph's sale into slavery.

Tamar's Garment:

Another mention of a long-sleeved garment is found in the account of Tamar, the daughter of King David. In 2 Samuel 13:18-19 , it is written, "Now she was wearing a robe of many colors, for this is what the king’s virgin daughters wore. So Amnon’s attendant put her out and bolted the door behind her. And Tamar put ashes on her head and tore the robe of many colors she was wearing. She put her hand on her head and went away, weeping aloud as she went."

In this passage, the long-sleeved robe, described as a "robe of many colors," signifies Tamar's status as a virgin daughter of the king, a symbol of purity and royal privilege. The tearing of this garment by Tamar after her assault by Amnon is a powerful act of mourning and a public declaration of her violated state.

Symbolism and Cultural Context:

In both instances, the long-sleeved garment is a symbol of status, favor, and identity. In the ancient Near Eastern context, clothing was a significant indicator of one's social position and role within the family or society. The long sleeves, often associated with nobility or those not engaged in manual labor, marked the wearer as someone of importance or special standing.

The use of such garments in these biblical narratives underscores themes of favoritism, identity, and the consequences of sin and betrayal. The accounts of Joseph and Tamar highlight the complexities of family dynamics and the impact of outward symbols of favor and purity on personal and communal relationships.

In summary, the long-sleeved garment in the Bible serves as a powerful symbol of distinction and identity, reflecting deeper themes of favor, purity, and the human condition within the biblical narrative.6446. pas -- flat (of the hand or foot)
... Word Origin from an unused word Definition flat (of the hand or foot) NASB
Word Usage long-sleeved (2), varicolored (3). divers colors. ...
/hebrew/6446.htm - 6k

Chapter xxxvii
... 3, 4. Now Israel had come to love Joseph most of all his sons, because he was
the son of his old age and he made him a long-sleeved cloak. ...
/.../leupold/exposition of genesis volume 1/chapter xxxvii.htm

A Successful Man of Affairs.
... The Hebrew word rendered in the older translations, "coat of many colors," means
literally, "long-sleeved tunic." This garment, like those worn by wealthy ...
/.../kent/the making of a nation/study vii a successful man.htm

Man's Passions and God's Purpose
... The long- sleeved garment which he gave to the lad probably meant to indicate his
purpose to bestow on him the right of the first-born forfeited by Reuben, and ...
/.../maclaren/expositions of holy scripture k/mans passions and gods purpose.htm

Under Ban of the Ritual
... The kilt was not visible, for the kamis had become a robe, long-sleeved, high-necked
and belted with a broad band of linen, encompassing the body twice, before ...
//christianbookshelf.org/miller/the yoke/chapter ii under ban of.htm

Long-sleeved (2 Occurrences)
Long-sleeved. Longs, Long-sleeved. Longsuffering . Multi-Version
Concordance Long-sleeved (2 Occurrences). 2 Samuel ...
/l/long-sleeved.htm - 7k

Longs (11 Occurrences)

/l/longs.htm - 9k

Longsuffering (17 Occurrences)

/l/longsuffering.htm - 16k

Dress (38 Occurrences)
... the ones most mentioned in the Scriptures, are cadjin, a rather long "under garment"
provided with sleeves; kethoneth (Greek chiton), a long-sleeved tunic worn ...
/d/dress.htm - 53k

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