Bible Dictionary
CLOTHED UPON
“Clothed upon” describes being covered with an additional garment. In 2 Corinthians 5 it expresses Paul’s longing for the mortal body to be enveloped and transformed by heavenly life, in connection with incorruption and immortality.
Definition
“Clothed upon” means to put one garment over another. The expression may describe being enveloped and transformed by heavenly life rather than remaining in a merely mortal condition.
Biblical Usage
In 2 Corinthians 5:2,4, Paul contrasts being clothed upon with being unclothed and connects the image with incorruption and immortality. The figure suggests the mortal body being covered and transformed by a heavenly body.
Historical Background
The expression uses a Greek verb meaning to put on over another garment. An outer robe is used elsewhere in the Septuagint for an upper garment.
Related Figures
Historical Bible Dictionaries
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia (ISBE)
<p>klothd, (ependuo, "to put on over" another garment): Used only in 2Co 5:2,4. In 5:4 in contrast with unclothed, compare 1Co 15:53 f, in which the idea of putting on, as a garment, is expressed of incorruption and immortality. The meaning here is very subtle and difficult of interpretation. In all probability Paul thinks of a certain envelopment of his physical mortal body even in this life ("in this we groan," i.e. in this present body), hence, the force of the prefixed preposition. The body itself was regarded by the philosophers of his day as a covering of the soul, and hence, it was to be clothed upon and at the same time transformed by the superimposed heavenly body. Ependutes, an outer garment, is used several times in Septuagint for me`il, an upper garment or robe (compare Joh 21:7).</p><p>Walter G. Clippinger</p>