Hebrew word · H4701

מִצְנֶ֫פֶת

mitznefet

turban

A wound turban, from tsanaf, "to wrap, wind around" (compare Isaiah 22:18, "he will wind you tightly"). In the Torah it belongs only to the high priest. The rank-and-file priests wear migba'ot, simpler caps (28:40).

Appears 12 times in 9 verses of the Hebrew Old Testament. ·

What it means

turban (of the high priest)

Abridged from Brown, Driver and Briggs, A Hebrew and English Lexicon of the Old Testament (1906), via STEPBible.org (CC BY 4.0).

In depth

From the study of Exodus 28:4

Range of meaning

A wound turban, from tsanaf, "to wrap, wind around" (compare Isaiah 22:18, "he will wind you tightly"). In the Torah it belongs only to the high priest. The rank-and-file priests wear migba'ot, simpler caps (28:40). Ezekiel 21:26 (Hebrew 21:31) uses it for the headgear of Judah's last ruler, alongside the crown.

Against the English

BSB, WEB, ESV, NIV and NASB have "turban". KJV and YLT have "mitre".

How it drifted

English "mitre" came through Latin mitra from Greek mitra (headband, turban), the word the LXX uses for this headdress in 28:37 and elsewhere. Today "mitre" means a bishop's tall pointed cap, which belongs to a much later Christian costume and has a different shape.

Used elsewhere in the period

LXX Exodus 28:4 has kidaris, a Persian-style royal or priestly headdress. Zechariah 3:5 describes a "clean turban" (tsanif, same root) being placed on the high priest Joshua as a sign that he has been restored. Josephus (Antiquities 3.157–158, 172–178) describes layered linen wrappings.

From the study of Leviticus 16:4

Range of meaning

A turban: a length of cloth wound round the head, from the verb tsanaf, 'to wind, wrap' (used right here as yitsnof). In the Torah it is used only for the high priest's headdress (Exod 28:4, 37, 39; 29:6; Lev 8:9; 16:4). Ordinary priests wear migbaʿot, 'caps' or 'headbands' (Exod 28:40). Ezek 21:26 uses it of a royal headdress.

Against the English

KJV 'mitre' makes a modern reader picture a bishop's tall, pointed, two-peaked hat. Every major modern version has 'turban', which is accurate.

How it drifted

Greek and Latin mitra originally meant a headband or headdress. Through the church it came to mean the specific liturgical hat of bishops. That later object sits behind the KJV word for modern readers.

Used elsewhere in the period

In Exod 28:36–38 a gold plate engraved 'Holy to the LORD' is tied to the front of the mitsnefet. Zech 3:5 has the high priest Joshua given a 'clean turban' (tsanif, same root) as a sign of restoration.

Where it appears

Exodus · 8

  1. Exodus 28:4 מִצְנֶ֣פֶת a turban

    These are the garments that they shall make: a breastpiece, an ephod, a robe, a woven tunic, a turban, and a sash. They are to make these holy garments for your brother Aaron and his sons, so that they may serve Me as priests.

    Here: A wound cloth headdress (root tsanaf, "wrap around"). The gold plate inscribed "Holy to the LORD" was tied to it (28:36–38).

  2. Exodus 28:37 הַמִּצְנָ֑פֶת הַמִּצְנֶ֖פֶת the turban

    Fasten to it a blue cord to mount it on the turban; it shall be on the front of the turban.

  3. Exodus 28:39 מִצְנֶ֣פֶת a turban of

    You are to weave the tunic with fine linen, make the turban of fine linen, and fashion an embroidered sash.

  4. Exodus 29:6 הַמִּצְנֶ֖פֶת הַמִּצְנָֽפֶת׃ the turban

    Put the turban on his head and attach the holy diadem to the turban.

  5. Exodus 39:28 הַמִּצְנֶ֣פֶת the turban

    as well as the turban of fine linen, the ornate headbands and undergarments of finely spun linen,

  6. Exodus 39:31 הַמִּצְנֶ֖פֶת the turban

    Then they fastened to it a blue cord to mount it on the turban, just as the LORD had commanded Moses.

Leviticus · 3

  1. Leviticus 8:9 הַמִּצְנֶ֖פֶת הַמִּצְנֶ֜פֶת the turban

    Moses also put the turban on Aaron’s head and set the gold plate, the holy diadem, on the front of the turban, as the LORD had commanded him.

  2. Leviticus 16:4 וּבְמִצְנֶ֥פֶת and with a turban of

    He is to wear the sacred linen tunic, with linen undergarments. He must tie a linen sash around him and put on the linen turban. These are holy garments, and he must bathe himself with water before he wears them.

    Here: "And with a turban of": a length of cloth wound around the head. It is the same word used for the high priest's normal turban (Exod 28:4, 37). Here, though, it is plain linen, with no gold plate tied to it.

Ezekiel · 1

  1. Ezekiel 21:26 הַמִּצְנֶ֔פֶת the turban

    This is what the Lord GOD says: ‘Remove the turban, and take off the crown. Things will not remain as they are: Exalt the lowly and bring low the exalted.

Word data: STEPBible.org (CC BY 4.0), main text only.