Priestly Undergarments - Hebrew Bible

Hebrew Bible

The biblical commandment instituting their use is found in the Book of Exodus 28:42

You shall also make for them linen breeches to cover their nakedness; they shall extend from the hips to the thighs.

Unlike the other priestly vestments which were "for glory and for beauty" (Exodus 28:2), the purpose of the michnasayin was for modesty, "to hide their nakedness". In the Book of Leviticus when Moses consecrates Aaron and his sons as High Priest and priests, respectively, the linen undergarments are not mentioned (Leviticus 8:7, 8:13), though their use is obviously presumed.

There were four holy garments worn by both the priests and the High Priest alike:

• linen breeches to cover their nakedness when they enter the Tent of Meeting or approach the altar to officiate in the sanctuary.
• Priestly tunic, a fringed tunic made of fine linen, covering the entire body from the neck to the feet, with sleeves reaching to the wrists. That of the High Priest was embroidered (Exodus 28:39).
• Priestly sash of the High Priest was of linen with "embroidered work" (Exodus 28:39); sashes were made for other priests also.
• Priestly turban, according to Rabbinic literature that of the High Priest was much larger than that of the priests and wound so that it formed a broad, flat-topped turban; that for priests was wound so that it formed a cone-shaped turban, called a migbahat.