δερμάτινος (dermatinos)
dermatinos
made of leather
Quick Reference
- Language
- Koine Greek
- Testament
- New Testament
- Occurrences
- 2 verses
- Root
- —
Word Overview
The adjective dermatinos describes something made from animal hide or leather. It derives directly from the noun for skin, dermatos, and serves as a precise material descriptor in the New Testament. With only two occurrences, its usage is highly specific rather than general.
Both instances appear in the Synoptic Gospels to identify John the Baptist’s clothing. Matthew 3:4 and Mark 1:6 describe him wearing a garment of this tough, durable material, echoing the attire of Elijah in 2 Kings 1:8. The word highlights the rugged, ascetic nature of his dress, setting him apart from the refined fabrics of urban society.
Translators consistently render dermatinos as "leathern" or "made of leather." This choice preserves the concrete reality of John’s lifestyle. The term does not carry metaphorical weight but anchors the reader in the physical harshness of the wilderness prophet’s appearance.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The word dermatinos describes something made from animal hide or leather. In the New Testament, it appears only twice to describe John the Baptist’s belt. This small detail anchors us in the physical reality of his life in the wilderness. He did not wear soft, refined fabrics but tough materials that could withstand the harsh environment.
John’s clothing was a visible sign of his separation from urban comfort and religious establishment. By wearing leather and camel’s hair, he echoed the prophet Elijah and signaled a call to repentance. His simple dress reminded people that the message of God is more important than outward appearance or social status.
For your faith, this word invites you to consider what truly matters. It reminds us that God often uses humble, ordinary things to convey profound truth. You do not need fine clothes or impressive titles to be used by God. Your heart’s posture and willingness to follow Him are what He values most.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 2 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- of leather2×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- δερματίνην2×
Key Verses
-
Matthew 3:4
Now John himself wore clothing made of camel’s hair with a leather belt around his waist. His food was locusts and wild honey.
This verse identifies John’s leather belt as part of his distinctive wilderness attire, marking him as a prophet set apart from societal norms.
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Mark 1:6
John was clothed with camel’s hair and a leather belt around his waist. He ate locusts and wild honey.
Here the leather belt reinforces John’s ascetic lifestyle and connects him to the prophetic tradition of Elijah, emphasizing durability and simplicity.