ἱματίζω
himatízō
G2439 verb
SILEX Entry
Definition
To clothe, to put clothing on, to dress (someone or oneself) in garments—typically ordinary outer clothing, as opposed to specialized attire. The primary sense is the act of providing or covering with clothes; contextually, may include figurative use, such as being clothed in a particular state or attribute.
Semantic Range
to clothe, to dress (oneself or another), to provide with clothing, to be clothed (passive), to cover, to adorn (rare, in a clothing sense only)
Root / Etymology
Derived from ἱμάτιον (garment), with the verbal suffix -ίζω indicating the act of doing or causing the root sense. Thus, ἱματίζω means 'to put a garment on.'
Historical & Contextual Notes
In Koine Greek, ἱματίζω is a straightforward denominative verb meaning 'to put clothing on.' Its usage is relatively rare and largely limited to biblical and ecclesiastical texts, notably in the New Testament and Septuagint, where it frequently denotes a physical action—such as clothing someone after healing or restoring dignity. In the Septuagint, it also translates Hebrew verbs meaning 'to clothe.' Occasionally, it may carry a figurative nuance—e.g., 'clothed with power'—but this is context-dependent and not its primary meaning. The verb is never used of ceremonial or priestly vesting in the technical sense, which other verbs (e.g., ἐνδύω) can cover; rather, it refers to the general act of dressing or covering with garments. English Bible translations often render it simply as 'clothe' or 'dress,' which captures the literal sense but may mask nuance in contexts where being clothed represents restoration or transformation. There is little semantic development or broadening outside biblical contexts.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
from ἱμάτιον; to dress:--clothe.
Root Family
ἱματίζω (himatizō) — to clothe, to dress, to cover with garments
Word Forms
1 distinct form
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | SIBI-P2 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
G2439-01 |
ἱματισμένον | imatismenon | V PRF PASS PTCP ACC M SG |
clothed | having been clothed | clothed | 2 |
Occurrences in Scripture
2 occurrences