### Core Meaning & Semantic Range
The Greek noun ἐπίβλημα (epíblēma, `{{G1915}}`) is derived from the verb ἐπιβάλλω (epiballō, `{{G1911}}`), which means "to throw upon," "to lay upon," or "to cast upon." Consequently, ἐπίβλημα carries the core meaning of "that which is thrown or laid upon something." In its specific usage within the New Testament, its semantic range is narrow, referring exclusively to a "patch" or a "piece" of cloth used for mending. The term implies a foreign piece applied to an existing object, often with the intent of repair or covering.
### Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis
The term ἐπίβλημα appears only three times in the New Testament, all within the Synoptic Gospels, in parallel accounts of a single parable taught by Jesus. These occurrences are:
* [[Matthew 9:16]]: "No one puts a patch of unshrunk cloth on an old garment; for the patch pulls away from the garment, and a worse tear results."
* [[Mark 2:21]]: "No one sews a patch of unshrunk cloth on an old garment; otherwise the new patch pulls away from the old, and a worse tear results."
* [[Luke 5:36]]: "He also told them a parable: 'No one tears a piece from a new garment and puts it on an old garment; otherwise he will both tear the new, and the piece from the new will not match the old.'" (While Luke uses a slightly different phrasing, the underlying concept of a new piece of cloth applied to an old garment is identical).
In each instance, ἐπίβλημα refers to a "patch" of cloth, specifically described as "unshrunk" (ἄγναφος, agnaphos) or "from a new garment." The context of these verses is Jesus' response to questions about why His disciples do not fast, contrasting His ministry with the traditional practices of the Pharisees and John the Baptist's disciples. The parable illustrates the incompatibility of the "new" (Jesus' teaching and the Kingdom of God) with the "old" (the Mosaic Law and established religious traditions). A new, unshrunk patch would contract when washed, tearing the fragile, old fabric it was meant to mend, resulting in a worse tear. This literal observation serves as a powerful metaphor for the spiritual incompatibility Jesus sought to convey.
### Related Words & Concepts
The meaning of ἐπίβλημα is illuminated by its relationship to several other key terms and concepts:
* ἐπιβάλλω (epiballō, `{{G1911}}`): The verbal root from which ἐπίβλημα is derived, emphasizing the action of "casting upon" or "applying" the patch.
* ῥάκος (rhakos, `{{G4470}}`): Used in [[Matthew 9:16]] and [[Mark 2:21]] to denote the "cloth" or "rag" of the old garment, highlighting its worn-out state.
* ἱμάτιον (himátion, `{{G2440}}`): The general term for a "garment" or "cloak," which is the object being patched.
* παλαιός (palaios, `{{G3820}}`): "Old," describing the garment, signifying its worn condition and its inability to accommodate the new.
* καινός (kainos, `{{G2537}}`): "New," used in contrast to "old," referring to the patch itself and, more broadly, the "new wine" and "new wineskins" in the parallel parable. This word signifies a newness in kind, quality, and freshness, not merely a newness in time.
* The concept of "new wine in old wineskins" ([[Matthew 9:17]], [[Mark 2:22]], [[Luke 5:37-38]]) is directly linked to the ἐπίβλημα parable. Both parables convey the same theological truth: Jesus' ministry and the Kingdom of God are not mere reforms or additions to the Old Covenant but represent a radically new reality that requires new forms and structures.
### Theological Significance
The ἐπίβλημα parable, though brief, carries profound theological implications. It serves as a powerful illustration of the discontinuity between the Old Covenant and the New Covenant inaugurated by Jesus Christ.
Jesus' teaching here is not about minor adjustments to existing religious practices but about a fundamental shift. The "new patch" of ἐπίβλημα symbolizes the dynamic, life-giving truth of the Gospel and the Kingdom of God. The "old garment" represents the Mosaic Law, its traditional interpretations, and the legalistic framework of Judaism that had become rigid and unable to contain the vibrancy of Christ's message.
The parable teaches that attempting to simply "patch" the old system with the new revelation would be futile and destructive. The new truth, with its emphasis on grace, faith, and inner transformation, cannot be confined within the external rituals and legalistic demands of the old. To try to do so would not only damage the "old" (by tearing its fabric) but also distort and diminish the "new" (by forcing it into an incompatible mold).
This parable underscores the radical nature of the Gospel, which calls for a complete transformation, a "new creation" ([[2 Corinthians 5:17]]), rather than a superficial repair of what is decaying. It highlights the truth that salvation is not achieved by works of the Law but through the unmerited favor of God, a concept that fundamentally breaks with the framework of the Old Covenant. The ἐπίβλημα thus signifies the incompatibility of attempting to blend two distinct dispensations, emphasizing the unique and superior nature of Christ's new covenant.
### Summary
ἐπίβλημα (epíblēma, `{{G1915}}`) is a Greek noun meaning "patch" or "piece of cloth," specifically an unshrunk new piece. Its three occurrences in the Synoptic Gospels ([[Matthew 9:16]], [[Mark 2:21]], [[Luke 5:36]]) are central to Jesus' parable illustrating the incompatibility of a new patch with an old garment. This simple, tangible image conveys a profound theological truth: the radical, transformative message and reality of the New Covenant, ushered in by Jesus Christ, cannot be merely appended to or seamlessly integrated with the Old Covenant or traditional religious forms. Such an attempt would lead to the destruction of both, signifying the fundamental discontinuity between the old dispensation of the Law and the new dispensation of grace. The ἐπίβλημα parable, in conjunction with the "new wine in old wineskins" parable, powerfully emphasizes the unique and revolutionary nature of Christ's ministry and the Kingdom of God, which demands a complete spiritual renewal rather than a mere mending of the past.
TRV