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What the Bible Says About Rending of Garments

Overview

The Bible addresses rending of garments across 30 verses, drawn from both the Old and New Testaments. These passages cluster most in 2 Kings, 2 Samuel and Genesis. Closely related themes include Sackcloth, Repentance, Ishmaelites and Tamar. Figures whose stories touch this theme include David, Hezekiah, Samuel and Elisha.

Key Bible verses about rending of garments

Old Testament

2 Samuel

2 Samuel 1:2

It came even to pass on the third day, that, behold, a man came out of the camp from Saul with his clothes rent, and earth upon his head: and so it was, when he came to David, that he fell to the earth, and did obeisance.

2 Samuel 1:11

Then David took hold on his clothes, and rent them; and likewise all the men that were with him:

2 Samuel 3:31

And David said to Joab, and to all the people that were with him, Rend your clothes, and gird you with sackcloth, and mourn before Abner. And king David himself followed the bier. bier: Heb. bed

2 Samuel 13:19

And Tamar put ashes on her head, and rent her garment of divers colours that was on her, and laid her hand on her head, and went on crying.

2 Samuel 13:31

Then the king arose, and tare his garments, and lay on the earth; and all his servants stood by with their clothes rent.

2 Samuel 15:32

And it came to pass, that when David was come to the top of the mount, where he worshipped God, behold, Hushai the Archite came to meet him with his coat rent, and earth upon his head:

2 Kings

2 Kings 2:12

And Elisha saw it, and he cried, My father, my father, the chariot of Israel, and the horsemen thereof. And he saw him no more: and he took hold of his own clothes, and rent them in two pieces.

2 Kings 5:8

And it was so, when Elisha the man of God had heard that the king of Israel had rent his clothes, that he sent to the king, saying, Wherefore hast thou rent thy clothes? let him come now to me, and he shall know that there is a prophet in Israel.

2 Kings 6:30

And it came to pass, when the king heard the words of the woman, that he rent his clothes; and he passed by upon the wall, and the people looked, and, behold, he had sackcloth within upon his flesh.

2 Kings 11:14

And when she looked, behold, the king stood by a pillar, as the manner was, and the princes and the trumpeters by the king, and all the people of the land rejoiced, and blew with trumpets: and Athaliah rent her clothes, and cried, Treason, Treason.

2 Kings 19:1

And it came to pass, when king Hezekiah heard it, that he rent his clothes, and covered himself with sackcloth, and went into the house of the LORD.

2 Kings 22:11

And it came to pass, when the king had heard the words of the book of the law, that he rent his clothes.

2 Kings 22:19

Because thine heart was tender, and thou hast humbled thyself before the LORD, when thou heardest what I spake against this place, and against the inhabitants thereof, that they should become a desolation and a curse, and hast rent thy clothes, and wept before me; I also have heard thee, saith the LORD.

People in the Bible and rending of garments

Biblical figures whose stories intersect with this theme.

In the Bible dictionary

Studying rending of garments for yourself

  • Begin with Genesis 37:29, then read the passages below in canonical order.
  • Compare how 2 Kings, 2 Samuel and Genesis each treat the theme.
  • Consider the lives of David, Hezekiah and Samuel and how their stories intersect with it.
  • Widen the study to related themes: Sackcloth, Repentance, Ishmaelites and Tamar.

Frequently asked questions

What does the Bible say about rending of garments?

The Bible addresses rending of garments across 30 verses, drawn from both the Old and New Testaments. These passages cluster most in 2 Kings, 2 Samuel and Genesis. Closely related themes include Sackcloth, Repentance, Ishmaelites and Tamar. Figures whose stories touch this theme include David, Hezekiah, Samuel and Elisha.

How many Bible verses are about rending of garments?

The Bible references rending of garments in 30 verses (King James Version).

Where does the Bible first mention rending of garments?

In canonical order, the first of these passages is Genesis 37:29: “And Reuben returned unto the pit; and, behold, Joseph was not in the pit; and he rent his clothes.”

Which people in the Bible are associated with rending of garments?

David, Hezekiah, Samuel, Elisha and Joseph.

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