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χιτών

chitṓn

G5509 noun

SILEX Entry

Definition

A basic garment worn next to the skin, usually long and sleeveless, reaching to the knees or ankles; an inner tunic used as the principal item of clothing for men and women in Greek and Judean society. In various contexts, may denote an undergarment or, when specified, the only garment worn. The word can refer generally to the basic clothing layer, with further specification by adjectives or context as to its length, style, or fabric.

Semantic Range

tunic (inner garment), shirt, basic clothing layer, undergarment, long shirt-like attire, everyday clothes

Root / Etymology

From Hebrew כְּתֹנֶת (ketonet), referring to a similar garment worn in ancient Israelite society. The Greek χιτών is a direct transliteration, likely adopted into Greek via Eastern Mediterranean cultural contact. Its morphological pattern is consistent with loanwords.

Historical & Contextual Notes

In classical Greek, χιτών was a widespread term for an undergarment, distinguishing it from the outer himation (cloak). In Hellenistic and Roman-period Judea, χιτών referred to the standard inner tunic for both men and women, echoing its Hebrew background (ketonet). In the Septuagint, χιτών translates כְּתֹנֶת, closely mirroring Hebrew clothing practice; in the New Testament, χιτών refers to the common undergarment worn by all classes, sometimes specified as being single or multiple (e.g., having only one tunic as a sign of poverty or asceticism, Mark 6:9). In Roman and Judean culture, the χιτών's absence was a sign of extreme poverty or exposure. Standard English translations as 'coat' or 'garment' often obscure the distinction between χιτών (inner garment) and ἱμάτιον (outer garment/cloak).

Translation Consistency

primary "tunic" 11 occurrences

“Tunic” is the natural, common English word that best captures the typical sense of χιτών as the basic inner garment or long shirt-like attire. It is concise, widely used in translations, and easily inflected (tunic/tunics) to reflect number and context while covering the full SILEX range (undergarment, long shirt, basic clothing layer).

✓ All renderings match approved senses

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

of foreign origin (כְּתֹנֶת); a tunic or shirt:--clothes, coat, garment.

Root Family

χιτών (chitōn) — tunic, undergarment, basic garment

Root χιτών- tunic, undergarment, basic garment

Word Forms

3 distinct forms

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 SIBI-P2 Occurrences
G5509-03 χιτῶνας chitonas N ACC M PL tunics tunics tunics 6
G5509-02 χιτῶνά chitona N ACC M SG tunic tunic tunic 4
G5509-01 χιτὼν chiton N NOM M SG tunic inner tunic tunic 1

Occurrences in Scripture

11 occurrences

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 SIBI-P2
G5509-02 Matthew 5:40 χιτῶνά chitona N ACC M SG tunic tunic tunic
G5509-03 Matthew 10:10 χιτῶνας chitonas N ACC M PL coats tunics tunics
G5509-03 Mark 6:9 χιτῶνας chitonas N ACC M PL tunics tunics tunics
G5509-03 Mark 14:63 χιτῶνας chitonas N ACC M PL garments tunics tunics
G5509-03 Luke 3:11 χιτῶνας chitonas N ACC M PL tunics tunics tunics
G5509-02 Luke 6:29 χιτῶνα chitona N ACC M SG tunic tunic tunic
G5509-03 Luke 9:3 χιτῶνας chitonas N ACC M PL tunics tunics tunics
G5509-02 John 19:23 χιτῶνα chitona N ACC M SG tunic tunic tunic
G5509-01 John 19:23 χιτὼν chiton N NOM M SG tunic inner tunic tunic
G5509-03 Acts 9:39 χιτῶνας chitonas N ACC M PL tunics tunics tunics
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