The turban is a head covering that appears in various contexts throughout the Bible, primarily in the Old Testament. It is often associated with priestly garments and signifies holiness, authority, and dignity. The Hebrew word for turban is "mitznefet," which is typically translated as "turban" or "headdress" in English versions of the Bible.

Priestly Garments:

The most notable mention of the turban is in the context of the priestly garments worn by Aaron and his descendants. In Exodus 28, God provides Moses with detailed instructions for the garments of the high priest, which include a turban. Exodus 28:4 states, "These are the garments they are to make: a breastpiece, an ephod, a robe, a woven tunic, a turban, and a sash. They are to make these sacred garments for your brother Aaron and his sons, so that they may serve Me as priests."

The turban of the high priest was distinct, as it included a gold plate inscribed with "Holy to the LORD" (Exodus 28:36-37). This plate was fastened to the front of the turban, symbolizing the consecration of the high priest to God and his role as an intermediary between God and the people of Israel.

Symbol of Authority and Dignity:

The turban also appears as a symbol of authority and dignity in other biblical passages. In the book of Job, the turban is mentioned as part of the attire of a person of high status. Job 29:14 states, "I put on righteousness, and it clothed me; justice was my robe and turban." Here, the turban is metaphorically linked to righteousness and justice, underscoring its association with honor and respect.

Prophetic Imagery:

In the prophetic literature, the turban is used symbolically to convey messages of restoration and divine favor. In Zechariah 3, the prophet Zechariah has a vision of Joshua the high priest standing before the angel of the LORD. Joshua is initially clothed in filthy garments, representing the sin of the people. However, the angel commands that his filthy garments be removed and replaced with clean ones, including a clean turban. Zechariah 3:5 records, "Then I said, 'Let them put a clean turban on his head.' So they put a clean turban on his head and clothed him, as the angel of the LORD stood by." This act symbolizes the removal of iniquity and the restoration of the priesthood.

Cultural and Historical Context:

In the ancient Near East, turbans were common head coverings worn by various peoples, including the Israelites. They served practical purposes, such as protection from the sun, and were also indicators of social status and identity. The biblical references to turbans reflect these cultural practices while imbuing them with theological significance.

Conclusion:

The turban in the Bible is a multifaceted symbol, representing holiness, authority, and divine favor. Its use in priestly attire underscores the sacred role of the priesthood, while its appearance in prophetic visions highlights themes of purification and restoration. Through these references, the turban serves as a powerful emblem of God's covenant relationship with His people.1. (n.) A headdress worn by men in the Levant and by most Mohammedans of the male sex, consisting of a cap, and a sash, scarf, or shawl, usually of cotton or linen, wound about the cap, and sometimes hanging down the neck.

2. (n.) A kind of headdress worn by women.

3. (n.) The whole set of whorls of a spiral shell.

TURBAN

tur'-ban (Leviticus 16:4 margin).

See DRESS, V.

4701. mitsnepheth -- turban (of the high priest)
... 4700, 4701. mitsnepheth. 4702 . turban (of the high priest). Transliteration:
mitsnepheth Phonetic Spelling: (mits-neh'-feth) Short Definition: turban. ...
/hebrew/4701.htm - 6k

6797. tsaniph -- a turban
... 6796, 6797. tsaniph. 6798 . a turban. Transliteration: tsaniph Phonetic
Spelling: (tsaw-neef') Short Definition: turban. Word Origin ...
/hebrew/6797.htm - 6k

2871. tebul -- a turban
... 2870b, 2871. tebul. 2872 . a turban. Transliteration: tebul Phonetic
Spelling: (taw-bool') Short Definition: turbans. Word Origin ...
/hebrew/2871.htm - 6k

6287b. peer -- headdress, turban
... 6287a, 6287b. peer. 6288 . headdress, turban. Transliteration: peer
Short Definition: garland. Word Origin from paar Definition ...
/hebrew/6287b.htm - 5k

4021. migbaoth -- headgear, a turban
... 4020, 4021. migbaoth. 4022 . headgear, a turban. Transliteration: migbaoth
Phonetic Spelling: (mig-baw-aw') Short Definition: caps. ...
/hebrew/4021.htm - 6k

666. apher -- a covering, bandage
... ashes. From the same as 'epher (in the sense of covering); a turban -- ashes.
see HEBREW 'epher. 665, 666. apher. 667 . Strong's Numbers.
/hebrew/666.htm - 6k

2280. chabash -- to bind, bind on, bind up
... A primitive root; to wrap firmly (especially a turban, compress, or saddle);
figuratively, to stop, to rule -- bind (up), gird about, govern, healer, put ...
/hebrew/2280.htm - 6k

Three Afternoons Off the Track
... "She isn'ta man!" "He is!" "She isn't!" "He has got a man's turban!" "But look at
her seeley!" (Tamil dress.) A woman, and white"it staggered them till the ...
/.../wilson-carmichael/things as they are/chapter ii three afternoons off.htm

The Gods of the Different Nations Varro's Gentile Class. Their ...
... thenceforth administer its government. They called him Serapis, from the
turban [914] which adorned his head. The peck-like [915 ...
/...//christianbookshelf.org/tertullian/ad nationes/chapter viii the gods of the.htm

The Young Titus
... Thus shall the children of God overthrow the heathen in battle!". But one of the
Jews on the wall thrust his fingers under his turban and seized his hair. ...
/.../miller/the city of delight/chapter ix the young titus.htm

Smerdis the Magian.
... The marks of the mutilation could, indeed, on public occasions, be concealed by
the turban, or helmet, or other head-dress which he wore; but in private there ...
/.../abbott/darius the great/chapter iii smerdis the magian.htm

The Christian Race.
... cloth or silk, with buttons and loopes; over this an ALHAGA or white woolen mantle,
so large as to wrap both head and body; a shash or small turban; naked legg ...
/...//christianbookshelf.org/bunyan/the riches of bunyan/xiii the christian race.htm

The Tangled Web
... walls under a flag of truce an imposing Jew of middle-age, with a superb beard and
a veritable mantle of rich black hair escaping from his turban and falling ...
/.../miller/the city of delight/chapter xvii the tangled web.htm

Conclusion. Clue to the Error of the Jews.
... In the next place, He was stripped of His former sordid raiment, and adorned with
a garment down to the foot, and with a turban and a clean mitre, that is ...
/.../tertullian/an answer to the jews/chapter xiv conclusion clue to the.htm

The Crucifixion.
... The soldiers parted the garments of Jesus among them, each of the four taking what
he needed or fancied"turban, shoes, girdle, or under-coat; while for the ...
/.../dods/the expositors bible the gospel of st john vol ii/xxi the crucifixion.htm

To the Rev. Andrew Brandram
... If they wore the turban, or barret, they could scarcely be distinguished from the
Moors in dress, but in lieu thereof they wear the sombrero or broad slouching ...
/.../borrow/letters of george borrow/to the rev andrew brandram 2.htm

The Healing of the Woman - Christ's Personal Appearance - the ...
... 2954] by with uncovered head' [2955] The ordinary covering of the head was the
so-called Sudar (or Sudarimn), a kerchief twisted into a turban, and which might ...
/.../the life and times of jesus the messiah/chapter xxvi the healing of.htm

Turban (13 Occurrences)
... Int. Standard Bible Encyclopedia. TURBAN. tur'-ban (Leviticus 16:4 margin). See
DRESS, V. Multi-Version Concordance Turban (13 Occurrences). ...
/t/turban.htm - 11k

Diadem (9 Occurrences)
... Easton's Bible Dictionary The tiara of a king (Ezek. 21:26; Isaiah 28:5;
62:3); the turban (Job 29:14). In the New Testament a careful ...
/d/diadem.htm - 11k

Bonnet (1 Occurrence)
... 44:18 (RV, "tires"), denotes properly a turban worn by priests, and in Isaiah
3:20 (RV, "head-tires") a head-dress or tiara worn by females. ...
/b/bonnet.htm - 10k

Sacred (140 Occurrences)
... Exodus 28:4 These are the garments which they shall make: a breastplate, and an
ephod, and a robe, and a coat of checker work, a turban, and a sash: and they ...
/s/sacred.htm - 36k

Fasten (28 Occurrences)
... ephod; (See NIV). Exodus 29:6 And thou shalt put the turban upon his head,
and fasten the holy diadem to the turban, (DBY). Exodus 36:13 ...
/f/fasten.htm - 14k

Breeches (6 Occurrences)
... These priestly linen breeches, mikhnece bhadh, were worn along with the linen coat,
the linen girdle and the linen turban by Aaron on the Day of Atonement ...
/b/breeches.htm - 12k

Attach (12 Occurrences)
... shall be. (See NIV). Exodus 29:6 and you shall set the turban on his head,
and put the holy crown on the turban. (See NIV). Exodus ...
/a/attach.htm - 11k

Sash (16 Occurrences)
... Exodus 28:4 These are the garments which they shall make: a breastplate, and an
ephod, and a robe, and a coat of checker work, a turban, and a sash: and they ...
/s/sash.htm - 12k

Headdress (1 Occurrence)
... It was used especially for purposes of ornament (Job 29:14; Isaiah 3:23; 62:3).
The Hebrew word here used, tsaniph, properly means a turban, folds of linen ...
/h/headdress.htm - 8k

Head-dress (22 Occurrences)
... It was used especially for purposes of ornament (Job 29:14; Isaiah 3:23; 62:3).
The Hebrew word here used, tsaniph, properly means a turban, folds of linen ...
/h/head-dress.htm - 14k

What was the significance of the priestly garments? | GotQuestions.org

What does diadem mean in the Bible? | GotQuestions.org

What is the origin of baptism? | GotQuestions.org

Turban: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.com

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