ἱματίζω (himatizō)
himatizō
to dress
Quick Reference
- Language
- Koine Greek
- Testament
- New Testament
- Occurrences
- 2 verses
- Root
- —
Word Overview
The verb himatizō means to dress or clothe someone in garments. It is a rare word in the New Testament, appearing only twice, both in the Synoptic Gospels where it describes the restoration of a man possessed by demons (Mark 5:15; Luke 8:35). In these narratives, the healed individual is found sitting at Jesus’ feet, fully clothed and in his right mind, highlighting the completeness of his deliverance.
Derived from himation, a common term for an outer cloak or mantle, the word focuses on the act of providing clothing rather than the garment itself. While most New Testament passages use more general verbs like enduo or ambeō for dressing, Matthew uses himatizō in the Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 6:25, 28, 30) when discussing God’s care for lilies and birds. Here, it emphasizes divine provision of basic needs, reinforcing the theme that God attends to physical appearance as part of His sustenance.
Translators typically render himatizō simply as "clothed" or "dressed," which captures its straightforward meaning without adding theological nuance. Its scarcity in Scripture suggests the authors reserved it for specific contexts where the visual detail of clothing carried symbolic weight, such as demonstrating peace, wholeness, or divine favor.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The word himatizō appears only twice in the New Testament, both times describing a man who had been freed from demonic oppression. In Mark and Luke, we see this individual sitting calmly at Jesus’ feet, fully clothed and in his right mind. The detail of being dressed is not just about physical appearance; it signals a return to dignity, peace, and wholeness after chaos.
Matthew also uses this rare verb when Jesus speaks about God’s care for the lilies of the field. Here, it reminds us that the Creator who clothes flowers with beauty also attends to our basic needs. This word invites trust in God’s provision, showing that He values our well-being and restores what has been broken.
When we face seasons of confusion or loss, this imagery offers hope. Just as the man was restored to a state of order and respect, God can bring clarity and peace to our lives. His care extends to every part of who we are, offering comfort and restoration in ways we might not expect.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 2 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- clothed2×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- ἱματισμένον2×
Key Verses
-
Mark 5:15
They came to Jesus, and saw him who had been possessed by demons sitting, clothed, and in his right mind, even him who had the legion; and they were afraid.
This verse highlights the man's restored dignity and mental clarity after deliverance, with 'clothed' serving as a visible sign of his complete healing.
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Luke 8:35
People went out to see what had happened. They came to Jesus and found the man from whom the demons had gone out, sitting at Jesus’ feet, clothed and in his right mind; and they were afraid.
Here, the detail of being clothed emphasizes the man's peaceful state at Jesus’ feet, contrasting sharply with his previous tormented condition.