Original Word: סַרְבַּל
Part of Speech: Noun Masculine
Transliteration: carbal
Pronunciation: sar-BAHL
Phonetic Spelling: (sar-bal')
KJV: coat
NASB: trousers
Word Origin: [(Aramaic) of uncertain derivation]

1. a cloak

coat

(Aramaic) of uncertain derivation; a cloak -- coat.

Word Origin
(Aramaic) probably of foreign origin
Definition
probably a mantle
NASB Translation
trousers (2).

[סַרְבָּל] noun [masculine] probably mantle (see especially SAC^{JPhil. xxvi (1899), 307 f.}, compare Andr^{M 74*}, with conjecture as to original Persian form; > trousers; Late Hebrew; Jewish-Aramaic id., with both meanings, also shoes; Arabic mantle is loan-word Frä⁴⁷; Egyptian Arabic shoe is Greek loan-word according to Vollers^{ZMG li (1897), 298,} compare Krauss^{ii. 412}); — plural suffix סַרְבָּלֵיהוֺן Daniel 3:21,27.

Overview

The Hebrew term סַרְבַּל (sarbal) designates a prominent outer garment—somewhere between a long tunic and loose trousers—worn by officials in the Neo-Babylonian period. In the narrative of Daniel, it is singled out to highlight both the dignity of the wearers and the miracle that befell them.

Cultural and Historical Setting

Archaeological depictions from Mesopotamia, together with cognate Persian and Aramaic usage, show such garments draping from the shoulders to the ankles, often richly embroidered and associated with indoor court service. They functioned as status markers: state administrators, sages, and other dignitaries wore them while attending royal functions or cultic ceremonies. Hence, to appear publicly without a sarbal would have signaled dishonor; conversely, to damage one’s sarbal invited both shame and potential censure.

Occurrences in Scripture

Daniel 3:21 and Daniel 3:27 are the sole biblical attestations. When Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego are bound, Scripture notes they were cast into the furnace “wearing robes, trousers, turbans, and other clothes” (Daniel 3:21). After their deliverance, the court officials “saw that the fire had no effect on the bodies of these men; … their robes were unaffected” (Daniel 3:27). By repeating the term at both entry and exit, the text underscores God’s preservation down to the last thread of official attire.

Theological and Symbolic Significance

1. Divine Sovereignty in the Public Sphere: Because the sarbal represented state authority, its survival in the flames demonstrated that earthly power cannot consume those kept by the Most High.
2. Integrity of Witness: The young Hebrews did not cast off their courtly garb in a bid to escape scrutiny. Clothed in the very symbols of their Babylonian office, they bore testimony before a watching empire that fidelity to God supersedes political allegiance.
3. Holistic Preservation: The Spirit-inspired detail that “no smell of fire” clung to the garments affirms God’s capacity to keep His people unscathed—body, soul, and social standing—when they entrust themselves to Him (compare Isaiah 43:2).
4. Foreshadowing Christ’s Incorruptible Righteousness: Just as the sarbal emerged untouched, so the righteousness imputed to believers through Christ remains inviolable despite fiery trials (2 Corinthians 5:21; 1 Peter 1:7).

Lessons for Faith and Ministry

• Courage to Resist Cultural Idolatry: Leaders and laity alike are called to stand firm even when institutional structures demand compromise.
• Visible Holiness in Vocational Contexts: Wearing their sarbal, the Hebrews modeled how believers can serve secular authorities without surrendering spiritual convictions (Romans 13:1; Acts 5:29).
• Assurance amid Persecution: The unburned garment attests that God’s protection is not merely theoretical; it can manifest tangibly in circumstances that appear hopeless.
• Teaching Illustrations: The sarbal episode offers an apt metaphor when preaching on topics such as sanctification, spiritual armor (Ephesians 6:13-17), or the perseverance of the saints.

Related Scriptures

Isaiah 61:10 – “He has wrapped me with a robe of righteousness” echoes the protective imagery of preserved garments.

Zechariah 3:1-5 – Joshua’s change of soiled clothes portrays deliverance from accusation parallel to Daniel’s scene of vindication.

Revelation 3:18 – Counsel to acquire “white garments” links present faithfulness to future reward.

Concluding Thoughts

Though mentioned only twice, the sarbal stands as a testament to God’s meticulous care and the indestructibility of the believer’s testimony. A single article of clothing becomes a canvas on which Scripture paints the triumph of faith over imperial fire, inviting every generation to trust the same faithful Deliverer.

בְּסַרְבָּלֵיהוֹן֙ בסרבליהון וְסָרְבָּלֵיה֖וֹן וסרבליהון bə·sar·bā·lê·hō·wn bəsarbālêhōwn besarbaleihOn vesarebaleiHon wə·sā·rə·bā·lê·hō·wn wəsārəbālêhōwnInterlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel Texts