How did the coats God made for Adam and Eve differ from the aprons that they had made for themselves?
How did the coats God made for Adam and Eve differ from the aprons that they had made for themselves? The word translated “aprons” (Genesis 3:7 KJV) or “coverings” (NKJV) means “a belt (for the waist): apron, armour, gird” (Strong’s), “something worn around the waist or hips” (UBS) or “girdle …sash” (Theological Wordbook). Essentially, Adam and Eve fashioned for themselves loin cloths from fig leaves.
God, on the other hand, fashioned for Adam and Eve “coats” (Genesis 3:21 KJV) or “tunics” (NKJV). “Garments [NIV] translates a word referring to a knee-length or longer covering, probably without sleeves. It is referred to in English sometimes as a ‘tunic,’ but ‘a long shirt’ may give a better picture. Of skins means made of animal hides and not of cloth made from the hair or wool of those skins” (UBS). Theological Wordbook of the Old Testament defines the original as meaning “tunic, a long shirtlike garment, usually of linen.”
Whereas Adam and Eve merely covered their genitals with inconvenient, not so durable fig leaves, God instead covered them from their shoulders to their knees with more durable animal hides. God defined modesty for both men and women in the process of clothing Adam and Eve. Much of the so-called fashionable clothing today falls far short of conforming to God’s definition of modesty. Incidentally, modesty is a biblical subject for both women and men. Remember, God clothed both Eve and Adam with modest attire.
Works Cited
Biblesoft’s New Exhaustive Strong’s Numbers and Concordance with Expanded Greek-Hebrew Dictionary. CD-ROM. Seattle: Biblesoft and International Bible Translators, 2006.
Theological Wordbook of the Old Testament. CD-ROM. Chicago: Moody, 1980.
UBS Old Testament Handbook Series. CD-ROM. New York: United Bible Societies, 2004.
