The Greek that is translated as “tear clothes” or similar in English is translated in the German New Testament translation by Berger / Nord (publ. 1999) with reißen sich die Kleider vom Leib or “tear clothes off themselves.”

They explain (p. 25): “In Jewish mourning rituals, clothes are torn to show solidarity with the deceased and to show that one no longer wishes to live on; the dress symbolizes social existence. Whoever tears the clothes from his body annuls participation and community. Our translation therefore makes it clear that the tearing of clothes in these cases is directly related to the idolatry of people described in the context, which is considered the worst atrocity. Here, ‘mourning’ encompasses more than sadness, but rather lamentation, protest, renunciation and repentance all in one.”