Lexical Summary shesh: Linen Original Word: שֵׁשׁ Strong's Exhaustive Concordance blue, fine twined linen, marble, silk Or (for alliteration with meshiy) shshiy {shesh-ee'}; for shayish; bleached stuff, i.e. White linen or (by analogy) marble -- X blue, fine ((twined)) linen, marble, silk. see HEBREW meshiy see HEBREW shayish NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Originof foreign origin Definition byssus NASB Translation fine linen (16), fine...linen (21), finely...linen (1). Brown-Driver-Briggs II. שֵׁשׁ noun masculine id.; — ׳עַמּוּדֵי שׁ Songs 5:15 (in figurative), Esther 1:6a, material of pavement Esther 1:6b (see בַּ֫הַט). — I. שֵׁשׁ see שׁדשׁ. III. שֵׁשׁ noun masculineExodus 26:1 byssus (loan-word probably from Egyptian šen-suten Reinischap.DHMVOJ viii (1894), 7 Coptic šens, compare Coptic šent, weave; see M'LeanEncy.Bib. LINEN; on spinning, weaving, and wearing of linen in Egypt ErmanAegypten 594 ff.; Eng. Trans. 448 f.); — always absolute ׳שׁ (שׁשׁי Ezekiel 16:13 is error): — byssus, fine Egyptian linen ( בּוּץ, q. v., is later synonym), i.e. the linen thread (spun by women Exodus 35:25), and the material woven from it: used for garments Genesis 41:42 (E), Ezekiel 16:10,13 (שׁשׁי, read שׁשׁ), Proverbs 31:22; for sail (in figurative of Tyre as ship) Ezekiel 27:7 (brought from Egypt); elsewhere P, of priestly vestments Exodus 28:5,39 (twice in verse); Exodus 39:3,27,28 (twice in verse); also מָשְׁזָר ׳שׁ twisted linen Exodus 28:6,8,15; Exodus 39:2,5,8,28,29 + Exodus 39:24 (read ׳וְשֵׁשׁ מ ⅏ ᵐ5 Bae); ׳שׁ of hangings, etc., in tabernacle Exodus 25:4; Exodus 35:6,23,25,35; Exodus 38:23, and so מָשְׁזָר ׳שׁ Exodus 26:1,31,36; Exodus 27:9,16,18; Exodus 36:8,35,37; Exodus 38:9,16,18. Topical Lexicon Strong’s Hebrew 8336 שֵׁשׁ Range of Old Testament Usage The word appears about forty-one times, concentrated in the Exodus narrative but found as late as Ezekiel and Esther. Every occurrence refers to high-quality, white, finely spun linen thread or cloth. Cultic and Priestly Importance 1. Curtaining and Veils. The innermost coverings of the tabernacle were “ten curtains of fine twisted linen” embroidered with cherubim (Exodus 26:1), and the veil that hid the Most Holy Place was woven of the same material (Exodus 26:31). By surrounding the ark with spotless fabric, the architecture itself testified to the holiness of God. Expression of Royal Splendor Genesis 41:42 records that Pharaoh “clothed [Joseph] in garments of fine linen.” Centuries later, the Persian king held a feast amid “hangings of white linen and blue fabric… fastened with cords of fine linen” (Esther 1:6). In both narratives linen marks honor, power, and elevation. Economic and International Value Ezekiel’s oracle over Tyre highlights linen as a prized export: “Of fine embroidered linen from Egypt were your sail to serve as your banner” (Ezekiel 27:7). The prophet’s mention of both Egypt and trade routes shows that the textile was a sought-after commodity, linking Israel’s sanctuary fabric to a larger Mediterranean economy. Symbol of Moral Purity and Righteousness Proverbs contrasts righteous and unrighteous uses of luxury. The adulteress boasts, “I have decked my bed with coverings, with colored linens from Egypt” (Proverbs 7:16), exposing how what is materially pure can be pressed into moral impurity. Song of Solomon reverses the picture, presenting linen imagery within covenant love (Song of Solomon 5:15, implicit). Prophetic and Angelic Resonance Although the Hebrew term for the linen-clad figure in Ezekiel 9:2 is different, the repeated pairing of white linen with heavenly messengers (cf. Daniel 10:5) echoes the priestly ideal. Linen becomes a visual shorthand for holiness that bridges earthly worship and heavenly reality. Foreshadowing New-Covenant Revelation Revelation 19:8 declares, “Fine linen stands for the righteous acts of the saints.” The Greek word differs, yet John’s choice of linen language deliberately recalls the spotless fabric that shrouded the earthly sanctuary and clothed the Levitical priesthood. The continuity reinforces Scripture’s unified testimony: from tabernacle to New Jerusalem, only what is clean may approach God. Ministry Implications • Worship Planning. The material culture of Exodus encourages churches to consider beauty and purity in sanctuary design without confusing aesthetics with holiness. Key References Genesis 41:42; Exodus 25:4; 26:1, 31, 36; 27:9-16; 28:6, 39-42; 35:6, 23, 25, 35; 36:8, 35, 37; 38:9-18; 39:2-29; Proverbs 7:16; Song of Solomon 5:15; Esther 1:6; Ezekiel 16:10, 13; Ezekiel 27:7. Forms and Transliterations בַּשֵּׁ֔שׁ בשש הַשֵּֽׁשׁ׃ הַשֵּׁ֑שׁ השש השש׃ וְשֵׁ֣שׁ וְשֵׁ֥שׁ וָשֵׁ֖שׁ וּבַשֵּֽׁשׁ׃ וּבַשֵּׁ֖שׁ ובשש ובשש׃ ושש שֵׁ֑שׁ שֵׁ֔שׁ שֵׁ֖שׁ שֵׁ֣שׁ שֵׁ֥שׁ שֵׁשׁ־ שֵׁ֤שׁ שש שש־ baš·šêš bashShesh baššêš haš·šêš hashShesh haššêš šêš šêš- Shesh ū·ḇaš·šêš ūḇaššêš uvashShesh vaShesh veShesh wā·šêš wāšêš wə·šêš wəšêšLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance Genesis 41:42 HEB: אֹתוֹ֙ בִּגְדֵי־ שֵׁ֔שׁ וַיָּ֛שֶׂם רְבִ֥ד NAS: him in garments of fine linen and put KJV: him in vestures of fine linen, and put INT: and clothed garments of fine and put necklace Exodus 25:4 Exodus 26:1 Exodus 26:31 Exodus 26:36 Exodus 27:9 Exodus 27:16 Exodus 27:18 Exodus 28:5 Exodus 28:6 Exodus 28:8 Exodus 28:15 Exodus 28:39 Exodus 28:39 Exodus 35:6 Exodus 35:23 Exodus 35:25 Exodus 35:35 Exodus 36:8 Exodus 36:35 Exodus 36:37 Exodus 38:9 Exodus 38:16 Exodus 38:18 Exodus 38:23 41 Occurrences |
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