The garment was worn by the prophet (see v. 29). The English word “caught” almost implies that the prophet seized hold of Jeroboam’s garment, but the Hebrew simply says, “laid hold of.” The new garment represented the new kingdom so recently established, but which was about to be rent in pieces. Symbolical acts are frequent in prophecy (Jer. 13:1-11; 19:1; 27:2; Eze. 4:1-14, 9; 12:3-7; 24:3-12, 15-24), and were an effective means for bringing home in a forceful way the messages of the Lord.