Lexical Summary sindón: Linen cloth, shroud Original Word: σινδών Strong's Exhaustive Concordance fine linen. Of uncertain (perhaps foreign) origin; byssos, i.e. Bleached linen (the cloth or a garment of it) -- (fine) linen (cloth). NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Originof uncertain derivation Definition fine linen cloth NASB Translation linen cloth (4), linen sheet (2). Thayer's Greek Lexicon STRONGS NT 4616: σινδώνσινδών, σινδονος, ἡ (of uncertain origin; Sanskritsindhu (Egyptian,sehenti or 'sent'; cf. Vanicek, Fremdwörter under the word); the Sept. for סָדִין, Judges 14:12; Proverbs 29:42 1. linen cloth, especially that which was fine and costly, in which the bodies of the dead were wrapped: Matthew 27:59; Mark 15:46; Luke 23:53 (cf. Herodotus 2, 86 who says of the Egyptians, κατειλισσουσι πᾶν τό σῶμα σινδονος βυσσινης (see Wilkinson's note in Rawlinson's Herod. 3rd edition, the passage cited)). 2. thing made of fine cloth: so of a light and loose garment worn at night over the naked body, Mark 14:51f (others suppose a sheet rather than a shirt to be referred to; A. V. linen cloth; cf. B. D. American edition, under the word Sheets). (Besides Herodotus, the writers Sophocles, Thucydides, Strabo, Lucian, others use the word.) Strong’s Greek 4616 (σινδών) designates a fine linen sheet large enough to drape the body. In Scripture it appears at critical junctures—Gethsemane and Calvary—marking moments of flight, death, and reverent care. Though a simple cloth, it frames weighty themes of discipleship, prophetic fulfillment, and the hope of resurrection. Occurrences in the New Testament • Mark 14:51–52 records an unnamed young man “wearing a linen cloth” who fled when Jesus was arrested, leaving the σινδών behind. First-Century Linen and Burial Customs Flax grown in the Jordan Valley and along the Nile produced linen prized for its coolness, purity, and durability. Jewish burial law (Mishnah Shabbat 23:5) prescribed linen for corpses; the cloth honored the dead and prevented ritual uncleanness to others. A wealthy individual could afford a single seamless sheet large enough to wrap a body—precisely what Joseph provided. Messianic Fulfillment in Jesus’ Burial Isaiah 53:9 foretold that the suffering Servant would be “with a rich man in His death.” Joseph, a respected Sanhedrin member, purchased the σινδών and a new rock-hewn tomb, fulfilling that word. The Berean Standard Bible states, “So Joseph took the body, wrapped it in a clean linen cloth” (Matthew 27:59). The evangelists’ emphasis on the cloth verifies Jesus’ real, physical death; without death, resurrection would be a myth (1 Corinthians 15:3–4). A Lesson from the Anonymous Young Man In stark contrast stands the youth of Mark 14:51–52. Garbed only in a σινδών, he symbolizes a fragile allegiance that fails under pressure. His abandoned linen sheet underscores the shame and vulnerability of disciples who trust in their own resolve rather than the Lord’s strength (cf. Mark 14:29–31). Doctrinal and Practical Insights 1. Certainty of the Burial: Repeated mention of the σινδών roots the gospel in verifiable history. Jesus was laid, not merely imagined, in a tomb. Connections to Old Testament Imagery Linen often connotes purity (Exodus 28:39-43; Revelation 19:8). By wrapping Jesus in linen, the Gospel writers quietly affirm His sinlessness even in death. Moreover, Jonah’s three-day entombment in the fish (Jonah 1:17) prefigures Jesus’ three days in the grave—the σινδών marking the transition between humiliation and exaltation. Pastoral and Liturgical Use At funerals, reading Luke 23:53 reminds mourners that Christ has sanctified the grave. In Communion meditations, the folded linen atop the elements can recall both Joseph’s cloth and the abandoned grave clothes on Resurrection morning, encouraging worshipers to anticipate the day when “death has been swallowed up in victory” (1 Corinthians 15:54). Conclusion The six New Testament occurrences of σινδών weave a tapestry of fear, fidelity, prophecy, and promise. They bid readers to flee not from Christ but to Him, to render Him costly honor now, and to await the moment when every redeemed body, once wrapped in earthly linen, will be clothed with imperishable life. Englishman's Concordance Matthew 27:59 N-DFSGRK: αὐτὸ ἐν σινδόνι καθαρᾷ NAS: and wrapped it in a clean linen cloth, KJV: it in a clean linen cloth, INT: it in a linen cloth clean Mark 14:51 N-AFS Mark 14:52 N-AFS Mark 15:46 N-AFS Mark 15:46 N-DFS Luke 23:53 N-DFS Strong's Greek 4616 |
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