Coat

[Dress]

The tunic worn like the shirt next the skin (Lev. 16:4; Cant. 5:3; 2 Sam. 15:32; Ex. 28:4; 29:5). The “coats of skins” prepared by God for Adam and Eve were probably nothing more than aprons (Gen. 3:21). This tunic was sometimes woven entire without a seam (John 19:23); it was also sometimes of “many colours” (Gen. 37:3; R.V. marg., “a long garment with sleeves”). The “fisher’s coat” of John 21:7 was obviously an outer garment or cloak, as was also the “coat” made by Hannah for Samuel (1 Sam. 2:19). (See DRESS.)

The rendering of a Hebrew word meaning “glittering” (1 Sam. 17:5, 38). The same word in the plural form is translated “habergeons” in 2 Chr. 26:14 and Neh. 4:16. The “harness” (1 Kings 22:34), “breastplate” (Isa. 59:17), and “brigandine” (Jer. 46:4), were probably also corselets or coats of mail. (See ARMOUR.)