948. buts

Lexical Summary

buts: Fine linen

Original Word: בּוּץ
Part of Speech: Noun Masculine
Transliteration: buwts
Pronunciation: boots
Phonetic Spelling: (boots)
KJV: fine (white) linen
NASB: fine linen, linen, fine linen
Word Origin: [from an unused root (of the same form) meaning to bleach; (intransitive) be white]

1. probably cotton (of some sort)

Strong's Exhaustive Concordance

fine white linen

From an unused root (of the same form) meaning to bleach, i.e. (intransitive) be white; probably cotton (of some sort) -- fine (white) linen.

NAS Exhaustive Concordance

Word Origin
from an unused word
Definition
byssus
NASB Translation
fine linen (5), fine...linen (1), linen (2).

Brown-Driver-Briggs

בּוּץ, בֻּץ noun [masculine] byssus (late), (Phoenician בוץ, Aramaic בּוּץ, ; √ dubious; Birch, Wilkinson^{Egyptians ii. 158 f.} from Egyptian hbos,, clothe; see Say. Herodot^{ii. 86}; Thes from √ בוץ, but Nö^{ZMG 1875, 650}; Armen., according to Lag^{Semitic i. 72} and others) a fine white Egyptian linen, and cloth made of it, מִשְׁמְּחוֺת בֵּיתעֲֿבֹדַת הַבֻּץ 1 Chronicles 4:21 families of the house of byssus-working; compare 2 Chron 2:13; מְכֻרְבָּל בִּמְעִיל בּוּץ 1 Chronicles 15:27 clothed in a robe of byssus (but read rather as "" 2 Samuel 6:14 מְכַרְכֵּר בְּכָלעֹֿז was dancing with all his might); compare ׳תַּכְרִיךְ בּ Esther 8:15; מְלֻבָּשִׁים בּוּץ2Chronicles 5:12; חַבְלֵי בוּץ Esther 1:6; 2Chronicles 3:14 material of מָּרֹכֶת; article of trade Ezekiel 27:16 (strike out ᵐ5 Co). compare also שֵׁשׁ.

בוק (= בקק).

Topical Lexicon

Overview

The Hebrew term בּוּץ appears eight times in Scripture, denoting a costly, brilliantly white textile woven from exceptionally fine fibers. Its contexts range from temple worship to royal courts and international commerce, each usage underscoring purity, honor, and distinction.

Occurrences and Immediate Settings

1. 1 Chronicles 4:21 – The clan of Shelah is noted as “the families of linen workers at Beth Ashbea,” showing that the production of בּוּץ was an established craft within Judah.
2. 1 Chronicles 15:27 – “David was clothed with a robe of fine linen, as were all the Levites who were carrying the ark …”. Linen attire aligns the king and ministers with the sanctity of the ark procession.
3. 2 Chronicles 2:14 – Huram-abi, the master craftsman from Tyre, is skilled in working with “purple, blue, fine linen, and crimson,” integrating בּוּץ into Solomon’s temple preparations.
4. 2 Chronicles 3:14 – The veil separating Holy Place from Most Holy Place is fashioned of “blue, purple, and crimson yarn and fine linen,” signifying heavenly purity guarding God’s presence.
5. 2 Chronicles 5:12 – At the temple dedication “all the Levitical singers … stood east of the altar, dressed in fine linen,” portraying worship marked by holiness and order.
6. Esther 1:6 – Xerxes’ banquet hall is arrayed with “hangings of white and violet linen … fastened with cords of fine linen,” broadcasting imperial splendor.
7. Esther 8:15 – Mordecai exits the palace “wearing royal purple and white, a large crown of gold, and a robe of fine linen and purple,” publicly identifying him with restored authority.
8. Ezekiel 27:16 – Aram trades Tyre “emeralds, purple, embroidered cloth, fine linen, coral, and rubies,” attesting to linen’s high commercial value in the ancient Near East.

Cultic and Liturgical Significance

Temple passages (2 Chronicles 2–5) consistently link בּוּץ with the presence of God. Garments and draperies of spotless linen visually communicate moral purity (compare Exodus 28:42-43). When David and the Levites don linen robes (1 Chronicles 15:27), the same standard of holiness that applies to priests is extended to the king and musicians, depicting corporate consecration.

Royal and Political Symbolism

In Esther, fine linen marks both the opulence of a pagan empire and God’s providence in exalting His people within it. Mordecai’s linen robe (Esther 8:15) is more than finery; it signals divine reversal, as the once-condemned Jew now wears garments of victory analogous to Joseph’s coat of authority in Genesis 41:42.

Economic and International Dimensions

Ezekiel 27:16 lists בּוּץ among luxury commodities trafficked to Tyre, demonstrating Israel’s participation in a broader Mediterranean economy. Skilled Judean craftsmen (1 Chronicles 4:21) and Tyrian artisans (2 Chronicles 2:14) together show that excellence in textile production can serve both sacred and secular spheres.

Spiritual and Typological Implications

White linen reappears in Revelation 19:8—“Fine linen, bright and clean, was given her to wear.” The bridal garment of the Church is explicitly interpreted as “the righteous acts of the saints,” echoing Old Testament associations between бוץ and holiness. Thus, earthly linen points forward to the imputed and practical righteousness granted through Christ.

Applications for Ministry

• Worship leaders can model purity and reverence, paralleling Levites clothed in fine linen.
• Believers working in crafts or commerce are reminded that skill and beauty may glorify God when surrendered to His purposes, as with Huram-abi.
• The motif of linen in Esther encourages trust that God can robe His people with honor even in hostile cultures.
• Teaching on Revelation’s linen garments reinforces the call to live lives “without stain or wrinkle” (Ephesians 5:27), anticipating the marriage supper of the Lamb.

Summary

בּוּץ embodies themes of holiness, dignity, and costly beauty across worship, governance, and trade. From temple singers to Persian kings, fine linen testifies that God values purity and excellence, ultimately pointing to the spotless righteousness bestowed on all who are in Christ.

Forms and Transliterations

ב֣וּץ בּ֖וּץ בּ֗וּץ בוץ הַבֻּ֖ץ הבץ וּב֑וּץ וּבַבּ֣וּץ וּבוּץ֙ ובבוץ ובוץ būṣ ḇūṣ Butz hab·buṣ habbuṣ habButz ū·ḇab·būṣ ū·ḇūṣ ūḇabbūṣ ūḇūṣ uvabButz uVutz vutz

Englishman's Concordance

1 Chronicles 4:21
HEB: בֵּית־ עֲבֹדַ֥ת הַבֻּ֖ץ לְבֵ֥ית אַשְׁבֵּֽעַ׃
NAS: of the house of the linen workers
KJV: of them that wrought fine linen, of the house
INT: of the house workers of the linen of the house of Ashbea

1 Chronicles 15:27
HEB: מְכֻרְבָּ֣ל ׀ בִּמְעִ֣יל בּ֗וּץ וְכָל־ הַלְוִיִּם֙
NAS: with a robe of fine linen with all
KJV: with a robe of fine linen, and all the Levites
INT: was clothed A robe of fine all the Levites

2 Chronicles 2:14
HEB: בָּאַרְגָּמָ֤ן בַּתְּכֵ֙לֶת֙ וּבַבּ֣וּץ וּבַכַּרְמִ֔יל וּלְפַתֵּ֙חַ֙
NAS: violet, linen and crimson
KJV: in blue, and in fine linen, and in crimson;
INT: purple violet linen and crimson make

2 Chronicles 3:14
HEB: וְאַרְגָּמָ֖ן וְכַרְמִ֣יל וּב֑וּץ וַיַּ֥עַל עָלָ֖יו
NAS: crimson and fine linen, and he worked
KJV: and crimson, and fine linen, and wrought
INT: purple crimson and fine worked and

2 Chronicles 5:12
HEB: וְלַאֲחֵיהֶ֜ם מְלֻבָּשִׁ֣ים בּ֗וּץ בִּמְצִלְתַּ֙יִם֙ וּבִנְבָלִ֣ים
NAS: clothed in fine linen, with cymbals,
KJV: [being] arrayed in white linen, having cymbals
INT: and kinsmen clothed fine cymbals harps

Esther 1:6
HEB: אָחוּז֙ בְּחַבְלֵי־ ב֣וּץ וְאַרְגָּמָ֔ן עַל־
NAS: held by cords of fine purple linen
KJV: with cords of fine linen and purple
INT: held cords of fine purple and

Esther 8:15
HEB: גְּדוֹלָ֔ה וְתַכְרִ֥יךְ בּ֖וּץ וְאַרְגָּמָ֑ן וְהָעִ֣יר
NAS: and a garment of fine linen and purple;
KJV: and with a garment of fine linen and purple:
INT: A large garment of fine and purple and the city

Ezekiel 27:16
HEB: אַרְגָּמָ֨ן וְרִקְמָ֤ה וּבוּץ֙ וְרָאמֹ֣ת וְכַדְכֹּ֔ד
NAS: embroidered work, fine linen, coral
KJV: and broidered work, and fine linen, and coral,
INT: purple embroidered fine coral and rubies

8 Occurrences

Strong's Hebrew 948
8 Occurrences

būṣ — 3 Occ.
hab·buṣ — 1 Occ.
ū·ḇab·būṣ — 1 Occ.
ū·ḇūṣ — 2 Occ.
ḇūṣ — 1 Occ.