That’s a very sharp and interesting observation. Let’s dig into the language and context a bit.
The Verse
Revelation 1:13 (KJV):
“...and in the midst of the seven candlesticks one like unto the Son of man, clothed with a garment down to the foot, and girt about the paps with a golden girdle.”
Greek:
καὶ ἐν μέσῳ τῶν λυχνιῶν ὅμοιον υἱὸν ἀνθρώπου, ἐνδεδυμένον ποδήρη καὶ περιεζωσμένον πρὸς τοῖς μαστοῖς ζώνην χρυσᾶν.
1. The Word μαστός
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In Classical Greek: μαστός = “breast” (usually female, especially of a nursing mother).
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In the LXX and NT: overwhelmingly “female breast.”
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e.g. Luke 11:27 “μακαρία ἡ κοιλία ἡ βαστάσασά σε καὶ μαστοὶ οὓς ἐθήλασας.”
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Revelation 1:13 is the only place it is used for Christ.
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The normal male chest word is στῆθος.
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John 13:25: “ὁ δὲ ἐπιπεσὼν ἐπὶ τὸ στῆθος τοῦ Ἰησοῦ...” So yes, John deliberately used the “female-coded” word μαστός, not the generic στῆθος. That is unusual.
2. The Clothing
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ποδήρης = long robe “down to the feet.”
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In the LXX, this often describes priestly garments (cf. Exodus 28:4, Sirach 45:8).
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The ζώνη χρυσᾶ “golden sash” is placed πρὸς τοῖς μαστοῖς, not around the waist.
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In antiquity, men typically girded at the waist for work or movement.
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Being girded at the chest could suggest dignity, priestly vestments, or even feminine attire.
3. Possible Symbolism
- Priestly – The high priest in Exodus wore a long robe with a sash across the chest. John may be evoking this.
- Regal/Dignified – A chest-girdle signified leisure, not work. The glorified Christ is enthroned, not laboring.
- Nurturing/Androgynous – Using μαστός rather than στῆθος could imply Christ embodies both masculine and feminine qualities. Early Christian and mystical writers often spoke of Christ as a mother who nourishes the faithful with milk (cf. Clement of Alexandria, Anselm later).
- Androgynous Imagery – Apocalyptic and mystical texts often portray divine figures as androgynes (both male and female in one), symbolizing fullness or completeness (cf. Gnostic texts, Philo on Adam before Eve’s separation). John’s choice of μαστός could resonate with that symbolic register.
4. Conclusion
- Grammatically, μαστός is striking: John could have used στῆθος but chose the more “feminine” word.
- The image of Christ “girt at the breasts with a golden sash” therefore blends priestly vestments with nurturing, almost maternal imagery.
- It doesn’t necessarily mean John literally imagined Christ wearing a “woman’s dress,” but it does suggest a deliberate symbolic choice: Christ as the complete, nurturing High Priest — embodying both strength and tenderness, authority and nourishment.