Greek word · G2689

καταστολή

katastolē

attire/behaviour

From καταστέλλω, "to let down, put in order, restrain, calm." The noun can mean (1) a garment or dress, a robe let down, and (2) deportment, outward bearing, a composed manner. BDAG gives both and judges that clothing is probably meant here, perhaps with a wider sense of outward appearance.

Appears once in the Greek New Testament. ·

What it means

κατα-στολή, -ῆς, ἡ

(καταστέλλω), [in LXX: Isaiah 61:3 (מַעֲטֶה)* ;]

1. a letting down, checking.

2. steadiness, quietness in demeanour.

3. LXX and NT (cf. Plut., ii, 65 D; -ίζω = vestire), a garment, dress, attire: 1 Timothy 2:9 (but see Ellic., in l).†

(AS)

From G. Abbott-Smith, A Manual Greek Lexicon of the New Testament (1922), via STEPBible.org (CC BY 4.0).

In depth

From the study of 1 Timothy 2:9

Range of meaning

From καταστέλλω, "to let down, put in order, restrain, calm." The noun can mean (1) a garment or dress, a robe let down, and (2) deportment, outward bearing, a composed manner. BDAG gives both and judges that clothing is probably meant here, perhaps with a wider sense of outward appearance.

Against the English

Every major English version renders it as clothing ("apparel," "clothing"). That is defensible, but it can hide the possibility that Paul means the whole outward presentation: dress and bearing.

Used elsewhere in the period

LXX Isaiah 61:3: καταστολὴν δόξης, "a garment of glory" instead of a spirit of weariness. Josephus (Jewish War 2.126) uses it of the Essenes' outward bearing, like children disciplined with fear, which points to demeanor. The related verb is used in Acts 19:35 of the Ephesian town clerk calming the crowd.

Where it appears

1 Timothy · 1

  1. 1 Timothy 2:9 καταστολῇ apparel

    Likewise, I want the women to adorn themselves with respectable apparel, with modesty, and with self-control, not with braided hair or gold or pearls or expensive clothes,

    Here: A rare word that can mean a garment or a person's whole outward bearing. Here it most likely means attire together with the way one carries oneself.

Word data: STEPBible.org (CC BY 4.0), main text only.