ROBE (מְעִיל, H5077, כֻּתֹּ֫נֶת, H4189; στολή, ἱμάτιον). A robe is a long loose outer garment, elegantly rich in texture, color and style. It is therefore the dress of royalty and stately rank, ecclesiastical eminence, and social distinction. The numerous references in the Bible are derived from ten or more Heb. and Gr. words, the most prominent of which are me’il and stole, respectively. Examples of the royal robe (me’il) are those of King Saul (1 Sam 24:11), of Jonathan (1 Sam 18:4), and of Tamar (2 Sam 13:18). Other examples of royal use are by Ahab and Jehoshaphat (1 Kings 22:10); by those in the royal court of Persia (Esth 5:1; 6:8ff.; 8:15); and by King Herod (Acts 12:21). The robe for religious rank was prescribed by Moses, particularly for the priests (Exod 28:4, 31, 34), a precedent that was followed by Samuel (1 Sam 28:14), and by the scribes and priests in Jesus’ time (Mark 12:38; Luke 20:46). A robe (stole) was the garment of the angel at the empty tomb (Mark 16:5), and that of the angels at the ascension (Acts 1:10). It was also that of Jesus in John’s vision (Rev 1:13) and that given the martyrs (6:11). The “purple robe” (himation) put on Jesus was a cape or cloak such as worn by a king or general (John 19:2; cf. Matt 27:28, chlamys). The robe they stripped from Jesus (Matt 27:31) and His “robe dipped in blood” (Rev 19:13) were the himation. Nobility is reflected in “the long robe with sleeves” (kethoneth) which Jacob gave Joseph (Gen 37:3ff.). Similarly, “the best robe” (stole) put on the prodigal son was a symbol of dignity (Luke 15:22). See Dress.

Bibliography SHERK (1958), I, 285, IV, 3; ISBE (1960), II, 660, 875ff.; IDB (1962), 102.