3848. lebesh

Lexical Summary

lebesh: clothed

Original Word: לְבַשׁ
Part of Speech: Verb
Transliteration: lbash
Pronunciation: law-bash'
Phonetic Spelling: (leb-ash')
NASB: clothed
Word Origin: [(Aramaic) corresponding to H3847 (לָבַשׁ לָבֵשׁ - clothed)]

1. clothe

Strong's Exhaustive Concordance

clothe

(Aramaic) corresponding to labash -- clothe.

see HEBREW labash

NAS Exhaustive Concordance

Word Origin
(Aramaic) corresponding to labash
Definition
to be clothed
NASB Translation
clothed (3).

Topical Lexicon

Root Idea of Clothing

At its simplest, לְבַשׁ (Strong’s 3848) conveys the act of putting on garments. Scripture often moves quickly from the physical action to deeper layers of status, honor, authority and even salvation. Each Old Testament appearance—concentrated in Daniel 5—shows how clothing can become a public declaration of power and recognition.

Occurrences in Daniel 5

1. Daniel 5:7 – “He who reads this inscription and explains it will be clothed in purple…”.
2. Daniel 5:16 – “You shall be clothed in purple and wear a gold chain around your neck…”.
3. Daniel 5:29 – “Then Belshazzar gave the command, and they clothed Daniel in purple, placed a gold chain around his neck, and proclaimed him the third highest ruler in the kingdom.”.

The triple repetition sharpens the message:

• Promise (verse 7) – the king advertises honor through royal attire.
• Assurance (verse 16) – the offer is restated once Daniel arrives.
• Fulfillment (verse 29) – the garments are actually placed on Daniel, even though the king’s reign ends that very night.

Cultural and Historical Context

Purple dye in the sixth-century Babylonian court was costly, reserved for royalty and senior officials. To be “clothed in purple” signaled entrance into the highest social tier. A gold chain marked delegated authority, comparable to Pharaoh’s treatment of Joseph (Genesis 41:42). Belshazzar’s reward package therefore mirrors Near-Eastern custom: clothing someone is a public investiture.

Symbolism of Clothing in Scripture

The Bible regularly uses clothing imagery to communicate spiritual realities:
• Righteousness – “He has clothed me with garments of salvation” (Isaiah 61:10).
• Authority – “Joshua… standing before the Angel, clothed with filthy garments” (Zechariah 3:3-5) contrasts defilement and cleansing.
• Identity in Christ – “All of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ” (Galatians 3:27).

Daniel’s literal robing foreshadows these broader themes: the faithful servant is recognized and publicly honored, even in a pagan context.

Theological Reflections

1. God vindicates His servants. Daniel neither pursued the reward nor bargained for it; yet when the moment came, divine providence saw him honored before hostile powers (cf. 1 Samuel 2:30).
2. Divine interpretation outweighs human ceremony. The purple robe is given, yet within hours the dynasty collapses (Daniel 5:30-31). Temporal honors prove fragile beside God’s sovereign word.
3. Clothing anticipates eschatological attire. Daniel’s brief royal garment foreshadows the “fine linen, bright and pure” that adorns the saints in Revelation 19:8.

Practical Ministry Implications

• Gospel proclamation should remain unmoved by the lure of prestige; Daniel’s message remained firm regardless of reward.
• Christian leadership bestows honor on faithfulness, not flattery. Recognizing servants publicly (1 Timothy 5:17) echoes the principle of appropriate clothing without succumbing to vanity.
• Believers can use the language of “putting on” (Romans 13:14; Ephesians 4:24) to disciple others into visible holiness—garments of attitude and action.

Summary

לְבַשׁ, though occurring only three times in Daniel 5, opens a window on the biblical theology of clothing. Whether signifying royal authority, divine vindication or spiritual identity, the act of being clothed points beyond fabric to realities of character, position and destiny designed by God for His people.

Forms and Transliterations

וְהַלְבִּ֤ישׁוּ והלבישו יִלְבַּ֗שׁ ילבש תִלְבַּ֗שׁ תלבש ṯil·baš ṯilbaš tilBash vehalBishu wə·hal·bî·šū wəhalbîšū yil·baš yilbaš yilBash

Englishman's Concordance

Daniel 5:7
HEB: יְחַוִּנַּ֔נִי אַרְגְּוָנָ֣א יִלְבַּ֗שׁ [וְהַמֹּונְכָא כ]
NAS: its interpretation to me shall be clothed with purple
KJV: me the interpretation thereof, shall be clothed with scarlet,
INT: and shew purple shall be clothed chain who

Daniel 5:16
HEB: לְהוֹדָ֣עֻתַ֔נִי אַרְגְּוָנָ֣א תִלְבַּ֗שׁ [וְהַמֹּונְכָא כ]
NAS: known to me, you will be clothed with purple
KJV: to me the interpretation thereof, thou shalt be clothed with scarlet,
INT: and make purple will be clothed chain forasmuch

Daniel 5:29
HEB: אֲמַ֣ר בֵּלְשַׁאצַּ֗ר וְהַלְבִּ֤ישׁוּ לְדָֽנִיֵּאל֙ אַרְגְּוָנָ֔א
NAS: gave orders, and they clothed Daniel
KJV: Belshazzar, and they clothed Daniel
INT: gave Belshazzar clothed Daniel purple

3 Occurrences

Strong's Hebrew 3848
3 Occurrences

ṯil·baš — 1 Occ.
wə·hal·bî·šū — 1 Occ.
yil·baš — 1 Occ.