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To rend or tear the garments was from the earliest period an action expressive of the highest grief (Gen_37:29). Jacob and David did it on various occasions; and so did Joshua, Hezekiah, and Ezra (2Sa_13:31; Jos_7:6; 2Ki_19:1; Ezr_9:3). The high-priest was forbidden to rend his clothes (Lev_10:6; Lev_21:10), prob. ably meaning his sacred garments: perhaps those referred to in Mat_26:65, were such as were ordinarily worn, or merely judicial, and not pontificial garments. Sometimes it denoted anger, or indignation mingled with sorrow (Isa_36:22; Isa_37:1; Act_14:14). SEE RENDING.