Lexical Summary karpas: Fine linen, cotton Original Word: כַּרְפַּס Strong's Exhaustive Concordance byssus or fine vegetable woolOf foreign origin; byssus or fine vegetable wool: NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Originof foreign origin Definition cotton or fine linen NASB Translation fine and linen (1). Brown-Driver-Briggs כַּרְמַּס noun masculine cotton (or fine linen (loan-word from Sanskrit karpâsa, cotton, Persian  fine linen; hence also κάρπασος, carbasus, Arabic  Talmud כָּרְמְּסָא; compare LagArm. Stud. § 1148); — וּתְכֵלֶת ׳חוּר כ Esther 1:6 (ᵐ5 καρπασίνοις): compare Cels.Hierob. ii. 157 ff. [כָּרַר] verb √ of following (Late Hebrew כִּרְכֵּר use circumlocution; ᵑ7. plural כִּרְכְּרָן dances; Arabic Pilpel, Participle מְכַרְכֵּר dancing (literally whirling) 2 Samuel 6:14,16 ("" מְפַזֵּז). Topical Lexicon Biblical Setting Karpas appears once in the Hebrew Scriptures, within the description of King Ahasuerus’ seven-day banquet in Shushan. “There were curtains of white and violet linen fastened with cords of fine linen and purple material to silver rings on marble pillars” (Esther 1:6). The single reference anchors karpas in a scene of imperial opulence that forms the backdrop for the providential rise of Esther. Historical and Cultural Background The Persian court was renowned for extravagance. Textiles imported from India and Egypt signaled wealth, power, and the global reach of the empire. Karpas, likely a costly white or pale-green fabric, would have contrasted vividly with the royal purple, underscoring an atmosphere of luxury. Archaeological finds from Achaemenid sites reveal marble pillars and silver fixtures much like those mentioned in Esther, confirming the historical accuracy of the account and illustrating the authenticity of Scripture’s portrayal. Literary Function in Esther 1. Scene-Setting: The textile draperies introduce the narrative with sensory detail, immediately immersing the reader in the grandeur of a pagan monarchy. Theological Themes • Providence behind Pageantry – God’s silent governance directs events amid human pomp. The lavish karpas frames a account in which divine purposes override royal excess. Connections with Linen Imagery in Scripture Genesis 41:42; Exodus 39:27–29; Revelation 19:14. Linen garments signal honor, priesthood, and purity. While Esther 1:6 records a secular setting, the same material elsewhere clothes priests and saints. The single thread of karpas thus weaves into the broader biblical tapestry of holiness versus ostentation. Prophetic and Redemptive Foreshadowing The feast of Ahasuerus typifies worldly splendor that ultimately gives way to God’s redemptive plan. Just as Esther risks all within the palace, so Christ later enters the world’s grandeur to secure a greater deliverance. Karpas, though merely ornamental, forms part of the stage on which redemption is dramatized. Jewish Tradition During the Passover Seder, karpas denotes the green vegetable dipped in salt water, symbolizing spring and tears. While post-biblical, the usage preserves a memory of the term and serves as a yearly reminder that deliverance arises in places of bondage—an echo of the Esther narrative. Practical Ministry Insights • Discernment: Modern believers encounter cultural “karpas” in material allure. Ministry must guide saints to test the spirits behind worldly splendor. Devotional Reflection Pause to picture the shimmering karpas under palace lights—then recall that true glory belongs to the One who “wraps Himself in light as with a garment” (Psalm 104:2). Let the fleeting beauty of earthly fabrics draw your heart toward the imperishable righteousness purchased for you in Christ. Select Related References Esther 1:6; Genesis 41:42; Exodus 39:27–29; Proverbs 31:22; Ezekiel 16:10–13; Daniel 5:29; Revelation 19:8, 14 Forms and Transliterations כַּרְפַּ֣ס כרפס kar·pas karpasLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance Esther 1:6 HEB: ח֣וּר ׀ כַּרְפַּ֣ס וּתְכֵ֗לֶת אָחוּז֙ NAS: [There were hangings of] fine white KJV: [Where were] white, green, and blue, INT: white fine and violet held 1 Occurrence |
    |
return, repeat, attack anew, advance and retreat; 
id.; II. whirl about; originally perhaps move around, then surround, enclose, recur, etc.; Ethiopic 
turn a mill, only participle; 
see rotate, revolve, roll, and derivatives Di838f.); — only