Hebrew word · H948

בּוּץ

butz

fine linen

Fine, high-grade linen ('byssus'), a luxury fabric. The word appears only in late biblical books (Chronicles, Esther, Ezekiel 27:16). The older term for priestly linen is shesh (Exod 28), and bad is ordinary linen.

Appears 8 times in 8 verses of the Hebrew Old Testament. ·

What it means

byssus, a costly, fine white linen cloth made in Egypt

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 2 Chronicles 5:12

Range of meaning

Fine, high-grade linen ('byssus'), a luxury fabric. The word appears only in late biblical books (Chronicles, Esther, Ezekiel 27:16). The older term for priestly linen is shesh (Exod 28), and bad is ordinary linen.

Against the English

BSB/WEB/NIV/ESV 'fine linen' is accurate. KJV and YLT 'white linen' adds a color. Bleached linen was often white, but buts names the fabric's quality, not its color.

How it drifted

KJV translators may have been guided by Esther 8:15 and by the general association of linen with whiteness. The color is a fair guess, but it is not in the word.

Used elsewhere in the period

Esther 1:6 and 8:15 (royal Persian luxury). 1 Chr 15:27, where David and the Levite singers wear robes of buts when the ark is brought up. The Septuagint renders it byssinos. Related words for fine linen occur in Aramaic and Akkadian (būṣu), and Greek byssos is probably borrowed from the same Semitic word.

Where it appears

1 Chronicles · 2

  1. 1 Chronicles 4:21 הַבֻּ֖ץ <the> Fine linen

    The sons of Shelah son of Judah: Er the father of Lecah, Laadah the father of Mareshah and the clans of the linen workers at Beth-ashbea,

  2. 1 Chronicles 15:27 בּ֗וּץ fine linen

    Now David was dressed in a robe of fine linen, as were all the Levites who were carrying the ark, as well as the singers and Chenaniah, the director of music for the singers. David also wore a linen ephod.

2 Chronicles · 3

  1. 2 Chronicles 2:14 וּבַבּ֣וּץ and in <the> fine linen

    He is the son of a woman from the daughters of Dan, and his father is a man of Tyre. He is skilled in work with gold and silver, bronze and iron, stone and wood, purple, blue, and crimson yarn, and fine linen. He is experienced in every kind of engraving and can execute any design that is given him. He will work with your craftsmen and with those of my lord, your father David.

  2. 2 Chronicles 3:14 וּב֑וּץ and fine linen

    He made the veil of blue, purple, and crimson yarn and fine linen, with cherubim woven into it.

  3. 2 Chronicles 5:12 בּ֗וּץ fine linen

    all the Levitical singers—Asaph, Heman, Jeduthun, and their sons and relatives—stood on the east side of the altar, dressed in fine linen and playing cymbals, harps, and lyres, accompanied by 120 priests sounding trumpets.

    Here: A late Hebrew word for high-quality linen. It puts the Levite singers in clothing close to priestly dress, the same material David wore when the ark was brought up (1 Chr 15:27).

Esther · 2

  1. Esther 1:6 ב֣וּץ fine linen

    Hangings of white and blue linen were fastened with cords of fine white and purple material to silver rings on the marble pillars. Gold and silver couches were arranged on a mosaic pavement of porphyry, marble, mother-of-pearl, and other costly stones.

  2. Esther 8:15 בּ֖וּץ fine linen

    Mordecai went out from the presence of the king in royal garments of blue and white, with a large gold crown and a purple robe of fine linen. And the city of Susa shouted and rejoiced.

    Here: A very fine, expensive linen. The word is used mostly in late books of the Hebrew Bible (Chronicles, Ezekiel, Esther), where older texts say shesh. It is also the source of the Greek word byssos.

Ezekiel · 1

  1. Ezekiel 27:16 וּבוּץ֙ and fine linen

    Aram was your customer because of your many products; they exchanged turquoise, purple, embroidered work, fine linen, coral, and rubies for your wares.

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