Lev 16:4 | NETfull | STEP | He must put on a holy linen tunic, linen leggings are to cover his body, and he is to wrap himself with a linen sash and wrap his head with a linen turban. They are holy garments, so he must bathe his body in water and put them on.

Leviticus 16:4

4 He must put on a holy linen tunic, ^{▼▼ The term “tunic” refers to a shirt-like garment worn next to the skin and, therefore, put on first (cf. Exod 28:4, 39–40; 29:5, 8; 39:27). It covered the upper body only. For detailed remarks on the terminology for the priestly clothing in this verse (except the “linen leggings”) see the notes on Lev 8:7–9 and the literature cited there.} linen leggings are to cover his body, ^{▼▼ Heb “shall be on his flesh.” As in many instances in Lev 15, the term “flesh” or “body” here is euphemistic for the male genitals (J. Milgrom, Leviticus [AB], 1:1017, and J. E. Hartley, Leviticus [WBC], 222; cf. the note on Lev 15:2), which the priest must be careful not to expose during such ritual procedures (see Exod 20:26 with 28:42–43).} and he is to wrap himself with a linen sash ^{▼▼ The sash fastened the tunic around the waist (Exod 28:4, 39; 29:9; 39:29).} and wrap his head with a linen turban. ^{▼▼ Heb “and in a turban of linen he shall wrap.”} ^{▼▼ The turban consisted of wound up linen (cf. Exod 28:4, 37, 39; 29:6; 39:31; Lev 16:4). It is usually thought to be a “turban,” but it might be only a “turban-like headband” wound around the forehead area (HALOT 624 s.v. מִצְנֶפֶת).} They are holy garments, so he must bathe ^{▼▼ Heb “and he shall bathe….”} his body in water and put them on.