Various objects were given an outer coating to fit them for their particular purpose.
An outer coating given to various objects
An outer coat of pitch made wood and papyrus waterproof
Genesis 6:14 See also Exodus 2:3
Make for yourself an ark of gopher wood; make rooms in the ark and coat it with pitch inside and out.
An outer coat of plaster made stone suitable for writing on
And on the day you cross the Jordan into the land that the LORD your God is giving you, set up large stones and coat them with plaster. Write on them all the words of this law when you have crossed over to enter the land that the LORD your God is giving you, a land flowing with milk and honey, just as the LORD, the God of your fathers, has promised you. And when you have crossed the Jordan, you are to set up these stones on Mount Ebal, as I am commanding you today, and you are to coat them with plaster.
An outer coat of glaze rendered earthenware suitable for food use
Like glaze covering an earthen vessel are burning lips and a wicked heart.
Coats of armour for protection
2 Chronicles 26:14 See also 1 Samuel 17:4–7, 1 Samuel 17:38
Uzziah supplied the entire army with shields, spears, helmets, armor, bows, and slingstones.
Coat used metaphorically
Who can strip off his outer coat? Who can approach him with a bridle? Who can open his jaws, ringed by his fearsome teeth? His rows of scales are his pride, tightly sealed together. One scale is so near to another that no air can pass between them. They are joined to one another; they clasp and cannot be separated.
Related themes
Dictionary of Bible Themes © 1999 Martin Manser, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0, via Bible Aquifer. Formatted for this site, with Scripture from the Berean Standard Bible.