Royal Attire: χλαμύς (Strong’s G5511: chlamus) – The Military Cloak of Mockery

Strong’s G5511: A military cloak or robe of distinction, particularly worn by Roman military commanders and officials, derived from Greek culture; became a symbol of authority and, in the Messiah’s passion narrative, of cruel mockery.

U- Unveiling the Word

The χλαμύς was a distinctive outer garment that symbolized military authority and royal status in both Greek and Roman cultures. Originally a Macedonian military cloak, it evolved into a symbol of command and imperial authority. In the New Testament, this garment takes on profound theological significance during the Messiah’s passion, where it becomes an instrument of mockery. The soldiers’ act of placing this military cloak on Jesus represents both the ironic truth of His kingship and humanity’s rejection of it. The early church saw deep meaning in this detail, recognizing how the very symbol of earthly authority was used to mock the King of Kings, yet ultimately testified to His true identity.

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N – Necessary Information

• Greek Word: χλαμύς, chlamus, /klam-oos/
• Pronounced: KLAM-oos (emphasis on first syllable)
• Part of Speech: Noun

Etymology:

• Root: χλαμύς (possibly related to χλαῖνα, a warm outer garment)
• No prefixes or suffixes
• Believed to be of Macedonian origin

D – Defining Meanings

• A short military cloak
• An outer garment worn by officers and officials
• A symbol of authority or military rank

For compound words: Not a compound word

Translation Options:

• Military cloak – Best captures its official and military associations
• Royal robe – Emphasizes its connection to authority
• State cloak – Reflects its ceremonial nature

E – Exploring Similar Words

• ἱμάτιον (himation, /him-at-ee-on/) – general outer garment See G2440
• στολή (stolē, /stol-ay/) – long robe, formal dress See G4749
• πορφύρα (porphura, /por-foo’-rah/) – purple garment See G4209

R – Reviewing the Word’s Morphology

Noun Features:

• Case: Nominative, Accusative, Genitive, Dative
• Number: Singular, Plural
• Gender: Feminine
• Declension: Third declension

Example morphological forms:

• Nominative singular: χλαμύς
• Genitive singular: χλαμύδος
• Accusative plural: χλαμύδας

S – Studying Lexicon Insights

The χλαμύς holds a unique place in lexical studies as a specialized military and ceremonial garment. BDAG emphasizes its association with military officials and royal authority. Thayer’s highlights its Macedonian origins and subsequent adoption by Romans. LSJ provides extensive classical references showing its evolution from military wear to ceremonial dress. Vine’s notes its singular New Testament usage in the passion narrative. Moulton and Milligan cite papyri evidence showing its continued use as a distinctive military garment in the first century. The combined lexical evidence suggests this was a well-known symbol of authority whose use in the passion narrative would have carried immediate significance for ancient readers.

T – Tracing the Scriptures

First appearance:
Matthew 27:28: “They stripped him and put a scarlet robe [χλαμύδα] on him”

Additional References:
Matthew 27:31

A – Analyzing Classical Usage

N – Noteworthy Summary

The χλαμύς represents a powerful theological irony in the passion narrative. As a symbol of military and political authority, it was used to mock Jesus, yet unknowingly proclaimed His true identity as King. This military cloak, meant to humiliate, actually testified to His kingdom authority. The good news shines through this detail: even in His moment of deepest humiliation, Jesus remained the true King, transforming a symbol of earthly power into a testimony of His heavenly authority. The mockery of the soldiers unwittingly proclaimed a truth greater than they could imagine.

D – Did You Know?

• The χλαμύς was originally Macedonian in design and was adopted by the Romans
• Its scarlet color in the passion narrative may have been achieved using kermes dye
• Archaeological evidence shows the χλαμύς was typically fastened at the right shoulder with a fibula (brooch)

Strong’s G5511: A military cloak or robe of distinction, particularly worn by Roman military commanders and officials, derived from Greek culture; became a symbol of authority and, in the Messiah’s passion narrative, of cruel mockery.

Part of speech: Noun

Tags: military clothing, passion narrative, Roman culture, royal garments, symbolism, authority, mockery, crucifixion, Greek culture, Macedonian influence​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​