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Why did people tear their clothes in the Bible?
Great question! Here's the answer:
Tearing clothes in the Bible was a way to express grief and sorrow.
The first person in the Bible who tore their clothes was Reuben (Genesis 37:29). When he saw that his brother, Joseph, was not there at the cistern, he tore his clothes. He tore his clothes because of the sorrow and grief he felt. He believed Joseph was dead, and as the firstborn, it was Reuben's responsibility to keep him safe. Tearing one's clothing was an ancient practice of the Jews, symbolizing grief, sorrow, and loss. A person would only tear their clothes if they were going through much sorrow.
Jacob also tore his clothes after he had learned of Joseph's state (Genesis 37:34). Although Joseph was still alive and had been sold to Egypt, his father thought Joseph was dead. Other people in the Bible who tore their clothes were David when Saul and Jonathan had been killed (2 Samuel 1:11–12) and Elisha when Elijah was leaving this world and going into heaven (2 Kings 2:11–12). Job (Job 1:20), Jephthah (Judges 11:34–35), and Mordecai (Esther 4:1) are additional examples of individuals who tore their clothes out of great sorrow.
The high priests were not allowed to tear their clothes (Leviticus 21:10). Since their priestly office was above an everyday individual, they were not allowed to bring any harm to their garments. Although common people were allowed to tear their clothing during mourning, the high priests could not. In the modern day, we don't normally tear our clothes to mourn, but if you need to mourn, you can always turn to God, and He will wipe every tear from your eyes. There are other ways to show your sadness and sorrow to the Lord.
Bible Truth
“When Ahab heard what Elijah had said, he tore his clothes. He put on the rough clothing people wear when they’re sad. He went without eating. He even slept in his clothes. He went around looking sad” (1 Kings 21:27).
“But the apostles Barnabas and Paul heard about this. So they tore their clothes. They rushed out into the crowd. They shouted, ‘Friends, why are you doing this? We are only human, just like you. We are bringing you good news. Turn away from these worthless things. Turn to the living God. He is the one who made the heavens and the earth and the sea. He made everything in them’” (Acts 14:14–15).
“Don’t just tear your clothes to show how sad you are. Let your hearts be broken. Return to the Lord your God. He is gracious. He is tender and kind. He is slow to get angry. He is full of love. He won’t bring his judgment. He won’t destroy you” (Joel 2:13).
