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G1737 · Greek · New Testament
ἐνδιδύσκω
endidyskō
Verb
to dress in, to clothe oneself with, to put on

Definition

Endidyskō (ἐνδιδύσκω) means to clothe, to dress in — a compound of en (in) and didyskō (to put on). It appears in the description of the rich man in Luke 16 who dressed luxuriously, and in Mark 15's account of Jesus being dressed in a purple robe during the mockery.

Usage & Theological Significance

Clothing in Scripture is identity-language. What one wears declares status, role, and allegiance. The rich man's purple linen (endidyskō in Luke 16:19) signals empire-wealth, worn daily, extravagantly. Lazarus at his gate wears only sores. The reversal at death is total. Jesus is dressed in purple mockingly (Mark 15:17) — the soldiers unwittingly dressing the King of Kings in royal color, a grotesque coronation that becomes the truest one. The NT's culminating clothing language is Revelation 19:8: "Fine linen, bright and clean, was given [to the bride] to wear" — the righteousness of saints as wedding garments.

Key Verses

Luke 16:19 There was a rich man who was dressed [endidyskō] in purple and fine linen and lived in luxury every day.
Mark 15:17 They put a purple robe on him [endidyskō], then twisted together a crown of thorns and set it on him.
Galatians 3:27 For all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ.
Revelation 19:8 Fine linen, bright and clean, was given her to wear [periballō]. (Fine linen stands for the righteous acts of God's holy people.)
Colossians 3:12 Therefore, as God's chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience.

Word Study

Clothing vocabulary in the NT includes endyō (H1746, to put on), endidyskō (more vivid, to dress up in), periballō (to throw around, drape), and himatismos (garments). Paul's "clothe yourselves with Christ" (Gal. 3:27; Rom. 13:14) uses clothing as conversion metaphor — putting on a new identity. The mockery clothing of Mark 15 is the dark mirror: Jesus stripped and dressed as a fake king, then stripped again at the cross. The resurrection reversal: stripped of grave clothes, robed in glory.

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