Hood
The Biblical Head-Covering
The word "hood" in the King James Version translates the Hebrew "tsanif" or "tsanifoth," derived from the verb "tsanaf" meaning "to wrap around." Despite the modern English connotations of the word, the biblical hood was not a pulled-over garment but rather a wrapped turban or head-covering. Modern translations more accurately render it as "turban" or "headdress," clarifying the nature of this ancient garment.
Hoods in Isaiah's Catalog of Luxury
In Isaiah 3:23, hoods appear in a lengthy list of luxury items that the women of Jerusalem would lose as part of God's judgment on the nation's pride and excess. The prophet catalogs an extensive array of finery including anklets, headbands, crescents, earrings, bracelets, veils, headdresses, armlets, sashes, perfume boxes, and amulets (Isaiah 3:18-24). The turban or hood represented one element of the elaborate dress that characterized wealthy women in the capital city. Isaiah's point was that God would strip away these marks of privilege and replace them with signs of mourning and captivity.
The High Priest's Turban in Zechariah
The same Hebrew root appears in Zechariah 3:5, where a clean turban is placed on the head of Joshua the high priest in a visionary scene of spiritual cleansing. Joshua had been standing before the angel of the Lord in filthy garments, representing the sin and shame of the nation. When God commanded that his filthy clothes be removed and replaced with clean ones, a clean turban was placed on his head, symbolizing the restoration of his priestly dignity and authority. This scene represents one of the most powerful images of divine forgiveness in the Old Testament.
Headwear in Ancient Israelite Culture
Head-coverings in the ancient Near East served both practical and symbolic purposes. They protected against the intense sun, but they also indicated social status, religious office, and personal dignity. The priestly turban was a required element of the high priest's vestments (Exodus 28:4), and royal head-coverings symbolized authority and power. The removal of a head-covering could signify mourning, shame, or loss of status.
Biblical Context
The hood or turban appears in Isaiah 3:23 among luxury items of Jerusalem's women and in Zechariah 3:5 as part of the high priest Joshua's cleansing. The priestly turban is described in Exodus 28:4, 39 as part of the sacred vestments.
Theological Significance
The turban carries dual theological significance. In Isaiah, it represents human pride and luxury that will be stripped away in judgment. In Zechariah, the clean turban symbolizes divine restoration and forgiveness, as God replaces the marks of sin with garments of righteousness. Together, these passages illustrate God's pattern of humbling the proud and exalting the repentant.
Historical Background
Turbans and head-wrappings were standard attire throughout the ancient Near East. Archaeological reliefs from Assyria, Babylon, and Egypt depict various styles of wrapped head-coverings for both men and women. In Israel, the high priestly turban was a distinctive piece of religious regalia, often bearing a gold plate inscribed with 'Holy to the Lord.' The elaborate women's attire described in Isaiah 3 reflects the wealth flowing into Jerusalem during the prosperous eighth century BC.