Linen, Linen cloth, fine Linen
Linen, Linen cloth, fine Linen
was “a fine linen cloth, an article of domestic manufacture” (Pro 31:24) used (a) as a garment or wrap, the “linen cloth” of Mar 14:51-52; (b) as shrouds or winding sheets, Mat 27:59; Mar 15:46, RV, “linen cloth,” for AV, “linen;” Luk 23:53 (ditto). In the Sept., Jdg 14:12, “(thirty) sheets;” Pro 31:24 (see above). The Mishna (the Great Collection of legal decisions by the ancient Rabbis) records that the material was sometimes used for curtains.
denotes (a) “flax,” Mat 12:20; (b) “linen,” in Rev 15:6, AV; the best texts have lithos, “stone,” RV. See FLAX.
“a piece of fine linen,” is used in the plural, of the strips of cloth with which the body of the Lord was bound, after being wrapped in the sindon, Luk 24:12; Joh 19:40; Joh 20:5-7. In the Sept., Jdg 14:13, “changes of raiment;” Hos 2:5, Hos 2:9. The word is a diminutive of othone, “a sheet” (see SHEET).
“fine linen,” made from a special species of flax, a word of Aramean origin, used especially for the Syrian byssus (Arab. bus is still used for native “linen”). Cp. Heb. bus, in all OT passages quoted here, except Eze 27:7; Syriac busa in Luk 16:19. It is the material mentioned in 1Ch 4:21, wrought by the house of Ashbea; 1Ch 15:27, bussinos, No. 5 (David’s robe); 2Ch 3:14, bussos (the veil of the Temple); 2Ch 5:12, bussinos (the clothing of the Levite singers); Est 1:6 (the cords of the hangings in the king’s garden); Est 8:15 (Mordecai’s dress); Eze 27:7 (bussos, in Syrian trade with Tyre). In the NT, Luk 16:19, the clothing of the “rich man.”
an adjective formed from No. 4, denoting “made of fine linen.” This is used of the clothing of the mystic Babylon, Rev 18:12, Rev 18:16, and of the suitable attire of the Lamb’s wife, Rev 19:8, Rev 19:14, figuratively describing “the righteous acts of the saints.” The presumption of Babylon is conspicuous in that she arrays herself in that which alone befits the bride of Christ. For examples of the use in the Sept. see No. 4.