Bible Dictionaries
Cloak

Easton's Bible Dictionary

An upper garment, "an exterior tunic, wide and long, reaching to the ankles, but without sleeves" (Isaiah 59:17 ). The word so rendered is elsewhere rendered "robe" or "mantle." It was worn by the high priest under the ephod (Exodus 28:31 ), by kings and others of rank (1 Samuel 15:27; Job 1:20; 2:12 ), and by women (2 Samuel 13:18 ).

The word translated "cloke", i.e., outer garment, in Matthew 5:40 is in its plural form used of garments in general ( Matthew 17:2; 26:65 ). The cloak mentioned here and in Luke 6:29 was the Greek himation, Latin pallium, and consisted of a large square piece of wollen cloth fastened round the shoulders, like the abba of the Arabs. This could be taken by a creditor ( Exodus 22:26,27 ), but the coat or tunic (Gr. chiton) mentioned in Matthew 5:40 could not.

The cloak which Paul "left at Troas" ( 2 Timothy 4:13 ) was the Roman paenula, a thick upper garment used chiefly in travelling as a protection from the weather. Some, however, have supposed that what Paul meant was a travelling-bag. In the Syriac version the word used means a bookcase. (See DRESS .)