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Ezekiel 16:10 — Word Study

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WLCוָאַלְבִּישֵׁ֣ךְ רִקְמָ֔ה וָאֶנְעֲלֵ֖ךְ תָּ֑חַשׁ וָאֶחְבְּשֵׁ֣ךְ בַּשֵּׁ֔שׁ וַאֲכַסֵּ֖ךְ מֶֽשִׁי׃

BSAI clothedlâbash you in embroidered clothriqmâh [with needlework, broidered work] and gave you sandalsnâʻal of fine leathertachash [badgers' skin, sealskin] I wrappedchâbash you in fine linenshêsh [white linen] and coveredkâçâh you with silkmeshîy [figured silk, expensive garments]

Word
Listen & take awayEzekiel 16
English ↓ Download MP3 The Berean Standard Bible chapter audio already hosted for the site's Bible section — verse 10 is in this chapter.
Hebrew ↓ Download MP3 The Masoretic text of this chapter, read aloud. Read by Abraham Shmuelof, courtesy of Audio Scriptures International. Chapter divisions by the Academy of Ancient Languages..
Say the word Each Hebrew word carries its transliteration (Me.shi) — no per-word recordings of the Hebrew exist to link to.
Take it away
Ezekiel 16:10quick helps
In a sentenceGod describes how He provided beautiful clothing and adornments for His people.
Who is speakingGod, speaking through the prophet Ezekiel.
Where we areIn a poetic description of God's care and provision for Israel.
The hard wordרִקְמָ֔ה
Take awayGod's lavish gifts highlight His love and commitment.
8 commentators on this verse Gill, Jamieson, Poole, Trapp & more — read them › clause The sentence as the grammar sees it Open the tree ›
How rare are these words?in the Old Testament

Every word here is used elsewhere in the Old Testament.

Bars are logarithmic — אֵת, the commonest word in the Hebrew Bible, stands about 11,000 times, so a linear scale would leave everything else invisible. Click a row to open that word.

Deep Study — Ezekiel 16:10

Sections marked generated are written from the data on this page rather than by a named author. Everything else — the lexicon entries, the cross references, the manuscript readings, the counts — is quoted from its source unchanged.

Context — God's Provision for His Peoplegenerated

9Then I bathed you with water, rinsed off your blood, and anointed you with oil.
10I clothed you in embroidered cloth and gave you sandals of fine leather. I wrapped you in fine linen and covered you with silk.
11I adorned you with jewelry, and I put bracelets on your wrists and a chain around your neck.
12I put a ring in your nose, earrings on your ears, and a beautiful crown upon your head.

Ezekiel 16:10 describes how God clothed Israel in beautiful garments, symbolizing His care and love for His people. This passage illustrates the intimate relationship between God and Israel, where He provides not only for their physical needs but also adorns them with beauty. The surrounding verses emphasize God's nurturing actions, such as bathing and anointing, which further reflect His commitment to His people.


Cross References

ReferenceText (BSB)
1Ezekiel 16:7I made you thrive like a plant of the field. You grew up and matured and became very beautiful. Your breasts were formed and your hair grew, but you were naked and bare.
2Psalm 45:13–14All glorious is the princess in her chamber; her gown is embroidered with gold.
3Isaiah 61:3–10to console the mourners in Zion— to give them a crown of beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, and a garment of praise for a spirit of despair. So they will be called oaks of righteousness, the planting of the LORD, that He may be glorified.
4Luke 15:22But the father said to his servants, ‘Quick! Bring the best robe and put it on him. Put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet.
5Revelation 21:2I saw the holy city, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband.

The Key Word רִקְמָ֔ה, rik.Mahgenerated

The Hebrew word רִקְמָה (*rikmah*) refers to multicolored cloth or embroidery, highlighting intricate designs and craftsmanship. It is derived from a root meaning 'to vary in color', which emphasizes the beauty and artistry of the textiles used.

This word appears in contexts related to richly designed garments, such as those worn by priests. In this verse, it signifies the luxurious and detailed clothing that God provided for His people, illustrating His generosity and care.


How Translations Differ — measured against the Berean Standard Biblegenerated

This study reads the verse in the Berean Standard Bible, so the BSB is the wording every comparison below is made against.


Sentence Structuregenerated

The main verb, אַלְבִּישֵׁ֣ךְ, and I clothed you, governs the entire verse, with several phrases detailing what God provided: embroidered cloth, sandals, fine linen, and silk. The structure emphasizes the abundance and variety of gifts.

Each phrase builds upon the last, creating a rich tapestry of God's provision. The order of the verbs and objects highlights the care taken in each aspect of clothing and adornment.


Septuagint Backgroundgenerated

The Septuagint translates רִקְמָ֔ה as ποικίλα, which means 'variegated' or 'multicolored'. This choice aligns with the Hebrew meaning but emphasizes the diversity of colors and patterns in the garments.

The use of ποικίλα suggests a focus on the artistic quality of the clothing, further underscoring the beauty of what God provided for His people.


In plain words — the whole versegenerated

Ezekiel 16:10 describes how God clothed Israel in beautiful garments, including embroidered cloth and fine leather sandals. This verse highlights God's care and love for His people, showing that He provides not only for their needs but also adorns them with beauty.


Frequently Asked Questionsgenerated

What does the embroidered cloth symbolize in this verse?

The embroidered cloth symbolizes God's care and the beauty He provides for His people, reflecting His love and commitment.

Why does God mention sandals made of fine leather?

The mention of fine leather sandals signifies not only practicality but also luxury, indicating the high quality of what God provides.

How does this verse relate to the overall message of Ezekiel?

This verse illustrates God's nurturing relationship with Israel, emphasizing His desire to care for them and provide for their needs.

What can we learn from God's provision in this verse?

We can learn about God's generosity and the importance of recognizing the beauty and care He extends to us in our lives.


Reflection Questionsgenerated

  1. In what ways have I experienced God's provision in my life?
  2. How can I reflect God's love and care for others through my actions?
  3. What does it mean to me to be clothed in beauty by God?
  4. How can I appreciate the gifts that God has given me and use them to bless others?

The early church on this verse — how the Fathers read it

Jerome comments on this verse, noting how it reflects God's provision and the rituals of the law.

JeromeVerse 10. c. 347–420
And you clothed yourself in various colors. LXX: And you adorned yourself with various garments: engaging in the rituals of the law, you abandoned idols.
Early Church Fathers on Ezekiel 16 →

Commentators on this verse — 8 expositors, verse by verse

Each of these wrote on Ezekiel 16:10 itself, not merely on the chapter around it.

John Gill1697–1771Gill's Exposition of the Entire Bible

I clothed thee also, with broidered work,.... Or, "with needle work" (q); with garments of divers colours, like Joseph's coat; perhaps it may refer to the rich raiment borrowed of the Egyptians, when they came out from thence.

Read John Gill on Ezekiel 16 →
Robert Jamieson1802–1880Jamieson, Fausset, and Brown's Commentary

I clothed thee also with broidered work, and shod thee with badgers' skin, and I girded thee about with fine linen, and I covered thee with silk. I clothed thee also with broidered work.

Read Robert Jamieson on Ezekiel 16 →
Matthew Poole1624–1679Matthew Poole's Commentary on the Holy Bible

So miserably poor was this creature, that she had not clothes to her back; he gave them who married her. Broidered work; rich and beautiful needle-work of divers colours, much above the state of an abject infant, and suited to the bounty and riches of him who gave them. Badgers’ skin; those Eastern people had an art of curiously dressing and colouring the skins of those beasts, of which they made their neatest festival shoes, and these were for the richest and greatest personages to use. I girded thee, both for strength, activity, and ornament. With fine linen; both soft, warm, and comely. Such soft raiment, used in kings courts, intimate the advancement of tills abject to royal state, as…

Read Matthew Poole on Ezekiel 16 →
John Trapp1601–1669Trapp's Complete Commentary on the Old and New Testaments

Ezekiel 16:10 I clothed thee also with broidered work, and shod thee with badgers’ skin, and I girded thee about with fine linen, and I covered thee with silk.Ver. 10. I clothed thee also with broidered work.] Phrygionica veste variegata. With variety of precious graces, whereby thou didst outshine Solomon in all his bravery; for one grain of faith is of better worth than all the gold of Ophir, and one remnant of hope beyond all the gay clothing in the world. And girded thee about with fine linen.] The Church hath a rich wardrobe for woollens and linens; God’ s plenty of both.

Read John Trapp on Ezekiel 16 →
Charles John Ellicott1819–1905Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers

(10) Badgers’ skin.—See Exodus 25:5. The thing intended is a fine kind of leather prepared from the skin of some sea animal; but the critics differ as to the particular animal intended, whether the dolphin or the dugong. “Fine linen” was a luxury much valued by the ancients, while “silk” is a word used only here and in Ezekiel 16:13, and its meaning is much questioned. By its etymology it is thought to express fineness of texture; and our translators have followed the rabbinical tradition in understanding it to mean silk.

Read Charles John Ellicott on Ezekiel 16 →
AdamClarkeAdam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible

Verse 10. I clothed thee also with broidered work] Cloth on which various figures, in various colours, were wrought by the needle. With badgers' skin] See Exodus 25:5. The same kind of skin with which the tabernacle was covered. Fine linen] בשש beshesh, with cotton. I have seen cloth of this kind enveloping the finest mummies. I covered thee with silk.] משי meshi. Very probably the produce of the silk-worm.

Read AdamClarke on Ezekiel 16 →
CambridgeThe Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges

10. The costly clothing. broidered work] Psalms 45:14; Judges 5:30. The word might mean work of various colours (Exodus 26:36). So Ezekiel 16:13; Ezekiel 16:18. badgers’ skin] According to most, skin of the sea-cow or manati, an animal allied to the dolphin, and found in the Red Sea. The name is found in Assyrian; the Assyrian kings crossed the Euphrates in ships made of the skin of this animal, and Salmaneser pursued his foes on lake Van in such ships. These facts suggest that the skins were readily procured not only in Mesopotamia but even in Armenia, and that some land animal must have furnished them. On these grounds Fried. Del. (Prolegomena, p. 78) decides for the wether. See Dill. on…

Read Cambridge on Ezekiel 16 →
Albert Barnes1798–1870Barnes' Notes on the Bible

Badgers’ skin - Probably the skin of the dolphin or dugong (Exodus 25:5 note). Silk - For a robe, a turban, or (as gauze) for a transparent veil; the derivation of the word in the original is much disputed.

Read Albert Barnes on Ezekiel 16 →

The verse in English, compared — 17 translations, and where they part company

Every translation on this page is a decision someone had to make and commit to. Read down a column and you see one translator's judgement; read across a row and you see the range the Greek actually allows. The BSB is the wording the rest of this page is measured against, so it is listed first.

Modern formal

BSBBerean Standard Bible2020

I clothed you in embroidered cloth and gave you sandals of fine leather. I wrapped you in fine linen and covered you with silk.

WEBWorld English Bible2000

I clothed you also with embroidered work and put leather sandals on you. I dressed you with fine linen and covered you with silk.

MSBMajority Standard Bible2022

I clothed you in embroidered cloth and gave you sandals of fine leather. I wrapped you in fine linen and covered you with silk.

NETBNew English Translation2006

I dressed you in embroidered clothing and put fine leather sandals on your feet. I wrapped you with fine linen and covered you with silk.

Tyndale line

KJVKing James Version1611

I clothed thee also with broidered work, and shod thee with badgers’ skin, and I girded thee about with fine linen, and I covered thee with silk.

ASVAmerican Standard Version1901

I clothed thee also with broidered work, and shod thee with sealskin, and I girded thee about with fine linen, and covered thee with silk.

RVARevised Version, American1894

I clothed thee also with broidered work, and shod thee with sealskin, and I girded thee about with fine linen, and covered thee with silk.

NWBWebster's Bible1833

I clothed thee also with broidered work, and shod thee with badgers' skin, and I girded thee with fine linen, and I covered thee with silk.

GNVGeneva Bible1599

I clothed thee also with broydred worke, and shod thee with badgers skin: and I girded thee about with fine linen, and I couered thee with silke.

Strictly literal

DBYDarby Translation1890

and I clothed thee with embroidered work, and shod thee with badgers' skin, and I bound thee about with byssus, and covered thee with silk.

YLTYoung's Literal Translation1862

And I clothe thee with embroidery, And I shoe thee with badger's skin, And I gird thee with fine linen, And I cover thee with figured silk.

LSVLiteral Standard Version2020

And I clothe you with embroidery, || And I shoe you with tachash [skin], || And I gird you with fine linen, || And I cover you with figured silk.

ILTInterlinear Literal Translation2000

I clothed thee also with broidered work, and made thee shoes of badger's skin, and I placed on thy head a turban of fine linen, and I covered thee with silk.

ULBUnlocked Literal Bible2017

I dressed you in embroidered clothes and placed leather sandals on your feet. I wrapped you with fine linen and covered you with silk.

From the Latin

DRADouay-Rheims (Challoner)1899

And I clothed thee with embroidery, and shed thee with violet coloured shoes: and I girded thee about with fine linen, and clothed thee with fine garments.

Simplified

FBVFree Bible Version2020

I put a beautifully embroidered dress on you and gave you fine leather sandals. I clothed you in fine linen and covered you with silk.

BBEBible in Basic English1949

And I had you clothed with needlework, and put leather shoes on your feet, folding fair linen about you and covering you with silk.

Counted from the translations carried on this site, not from a survey of every English Bible. A rendering shared by many versions is usually inherited rather than independently arrived at — the Tyndale line in particular runs through most of them.


The sentence as the grammar sees it — from the MACULA Hebrew treebank

This is not our own analysis: it is the scholarly syntax tree for the verse, showing how the clause actually holds together.

וָandclauseverbאַלְבִּישֵׁ֣Iobjectךְclothed.yousecond objectרִקְמָ֔הmulticolored.materialוָandclauseverbאֶנְעֲלֵ֖Iobjectךְshod.youadverbialתָּ֑חַשׁleatherוָandclauseverbאֶחְבְּשֵׁ֣Iobjectךְwrapped.your.headprepositional phrase · prepositionalבַּwith.(the)noun phrasefineשֵּׁ֔שׁlinenוַandclauseverbאֲכַסֵּ֖Iobjectךְcovered.youadverbialמֶֽשִׁיsilk

Boxes are the grammarian's groupings — clause, noun phrase, prepositional phrase.


The four witnesses to this verse — Masoretic, Septuagint, Samaritan, Qumran

Both the Masoretic Text and the Septuagint agree on the wording of this verse, with all eight words matching in the Hebrew and Greek texts. This consistency indicates a shared understanding of God's provision for His people.

Masoretic TextLeningrad Codex, c. AD 1008 — the text this page is built on

וָאַלְבִּישֵׁ֣ךְ רִקְמָ֔ה וָאֶנְעֲלֵ֖ךְ תָּ֑חַשׁ וָאֶחְבְּשֵׁ֣ךְ בַּשֵּׁ֔שׁ וַאֲכַסֵּ֖ךְ מֶֽשִׁי׃

Septuagintthe Greek the translators chose, word by word
וָאַלְבִּישֵׁ֣ךְσεרִקְמָ֔הποικίλαוָאֶנְעֲלֵ֖ךְσεתָּ֑חַשׁὑάκινθονוָאֶחְבְּשֵׁ֣ךְσεבַּשֵּׁ֔שׁβύσσῳוַאֲכַסֵּ֖ךְσεמֶֽשִׁי׃τριξάπτῳ

8 of the 8 words are matched. This is the word-by-word correspondence, not the Septuagint's own sentence — its word order and its articles are its own.

Four traditions, not one. “On the leather” means the letters physically survive on the scroll, as against letters an editor has supplied to fill a hole in it — a restoration is a scholar’s reading, not a reading of the manuscript. Words in [square brackets] are supplied; the notes count them apart from what survives.


The map of this verse — what each word keeps company with

This is a map of two things, both counted rather than judged. Company kept: which words stand within three words of each of these, anywhere in the Hebrew Bible — the thicker the line, the more often the pair meet compared with chance. Built from: the words a word is made out of, taken from its own Strong’s entry. It is not a map of meaning: nothing here claims two words mean the same thing. Click any circle to see the numbers behind it.

Ezekiel 16:10לָבֵשׁand I clothand I clothed yלָבֵשׁרִקְמָהmulticoloremulticolored clרִקְמָהנָעַלand I shod and I shod youנָעַלתַּ֫חַשׁleatherleatherתַּ֫חַשׁחָבַשׁand I wrappand I wrapped hחָבַשׁשֵׁשׁwith fine lwith fine linenשֵׁשׁכָּסָהand I coverand I covered yכָּסָהמֶ֫שִׁיsilksilkמֶ֫שִׁירָקַםto weaveto weaveרָקַםנַ֫עַלsandalsandalנַ֫עַלמָשָׁהto drawto drawמָשָׁהמֶ֫שִׁיsilksilkמֶ֫שִׁישַׁ֫יִשׁalabasteralabasterשַׁ֫יִשׁכָּשָׂהbe satedbe satedכָּשָׂהבַּדlinenlinenבַּדשִׁרְיָהlancelanceשִׁרְיָהצֶ֫בַעdyedyeצֶ֫בַעעֲלִיָּהupper roomupper roomעֲלִיָּהכַּלָהdaughter-idaughter-in-lawכַּלָהמִכְסֶהcoveringcoveringמִכְסֶהאָדֹםto reddento reddenאָדֹםחֲמוֹרdonkeydonkeyחֲמוֹרשָׁזַרto twistto twistשָׁזַראַרְגָּמָןpurplepurpleאַרְגָּמָןשַׂקsackclothsackclothשַׂקעָנָןcloudcloudעָנָן
meets it a little oftener than chancemeets it far oftener than chancebuilt from the same roottwo words of the verse share ita word of this versea related word

Lexicons — every word in Ezekiel 16:10

One dossier per word, with every reference work grouped by kind — Hebrew lexicons, morphology, Bible dictionaries, topical chains and the English of the translators themselves. The verse sits at the head of each block with the word under study lit, so you never lose your place. The panel above gives the short answer; this is the long one, and it is the part of the page worth indexing.

Every entry below is the lexicographer's own text. On the Hebrew: Brown-Driver-Briggs entire and its gloss set, Strong's Hebrew Dictionary, and Tyndale House's Translators Brief lexicon. Where a cell says a work has no entry, that work genuinely has none for this word.

and I clothed you multicolored cloth and I shod you leather and I wrapped head your with fine linen and I covered you silk
וָאַלְבִּישֵׁ֣ךְva.'al.bi.Shekh and I clothed you H3847 Verb hiphil sequential imperfect first person common singular · suffix
110× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
To clothe means to wrap something around or put on a garment. In the Bible, it can be used literally or figuratively, as in putting on clothes or being clothed with a certain attitude.
Tyndale gloss
to clothe
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

The Hebrew word לָבֵשׁ (*labash*) means to put on or wear clothing, and it can refer to both literal and figurative clothing. It is built from a primitive root meaning to wrap around. The entries cover various forms, including Qal, Pual, and Hiphil, indicating different nuances of dressing or being clothed. The word is also noted for its use in a figurative sense, such as being clothed with a spirit.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

לָבֵשׁ, לָבַשׁ vb. put on (a garment), wear, clothe, be clothed

Qal

lit. put on (one’s own) garment; = wear (more or less habitually)

very oft. fig., put on, be clothed with

lit. put on

once

clothed with

and the spirit of י׳ clothed itself with Gideon

Pu. arrayed

Hiph. clothe, array with

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H3847 לָבֵשׁ, לָבַשׁ put on (a garment), wear, clothe, be clothed

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

3847 labash law-bash'

or labesh {law-bashe'}; a primitive root; properly, wrap

around, i.e. (by implication) to put on a garment or clothe

(oneself, or another), literally or figuratively:--(in)

apparel, arm, array (self), clothe (self), come upon, put (on,

upon), wear.

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

לָבֵשׁ (la.vash) — to clothe.

1) to dress, wear, clothe, put on clothing, be clothed

1a) (Qal)

1a1) to put on clothes, be clothed, wear

1a2) to put on, be clothed with (fig.)

1b) (Pual) to be fully clothed

1c) (Hiphil) to clothe, array with, dress

Aramaic equivalent: le.vash (לְבֵשׁ "to clothe" H3848)

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Conj | V-Hiphil-ConsecImperf-1cs | Suff — Verb hiphil sequential imperfect first person common singular · suffix
Hc/Vhw1cs/Sp2fs
and I clothed you multicolored cloth and I shod you leather and I wrapped head your with fine linen and I covered you silk
רִקְמָ֔הrik.Mah multicolored cloth H7553 Noun common · feminine singular absolute
12× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
In the Bible, this Hebrew word refers to embroidery or needlework with diverse colors, like the intricate designs on priestly garments. It is used in Exodus to describe the craftsmanship of the tabernacle. This word highlights the beauty of handmade textiles.
Amplified meaning
with needlework, broidered work
Tyndale gloss
embroidery
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

רִקְמָה (riqmah) refers to embroidery or variegated fabric, emphasizing colorful needlework. It is derived from the root word for 'variegation of color' and is associated with decorative textiles. The term appears in contexts related to richly designed garments.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

רִקְמָה n.f. variegated stuff

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H7553 רִקְמָה

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

7553 riqmah rik-maw'

from 7551; variegation of color; specifically,

embroidery:--broidered (work), divers colours, (raiment of)

needlework (on both sides).

see HEBREW for 07551

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

רִקְמָה (riq.mah) — embroidery.

variegated stuff, embroidered

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
N-fs — Noun common · feminine singular absolute
HNcfsa
Bible dictionarieson the English sense
Thompson Chain Reference topics
and I clothed you multicolored cloth and I shod you leather and I wrapped head your with fine linen and I covered you silk
וָאֶנְעֲלֵ֖ךְva.'en.'a.Lekh and I shod you H5274 Verb qal sequential imperfect first person common singular · suffix
8× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
In the original Hebrew, this verb means to put on shoes or sandals, as seen in Genesis 14:23. It involves fastening something up, like a sandal, and is used in various contexts, including Deuteronomy 29:5.
Tyndale gloss
to lock
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

נָעַל (na'al) primarily means to lock or bar something, as well as to furnish with sandals. It is derived from a root meaning to fasten up. The verb appears in both Qal and Hiphil forms, indicating actions of locking and providing footwear, respectively. There are no significant disagreements among the lexicons regarding its meanings.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

נָעַל vb. bar, bolt, lock

base

[נָעַל] vb. denom. furnish with sandals

Qal and I shod thee with תחשׁ (q.v.).

Hiph. and gave them sandals.

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H5274a נָעַל bar, bolt, look H5274b נָעַל vb. denom. furnish with sandals

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

5274 na`al naw-al'

a primitive root; properly, to fasten up, i.e. with a bar or

cord; hence (denominative from 5275), to sandal, i.e. furnish

with slippers:--bolt, inclose, lock, shoe, shut up.

see HEBREW for 05275

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

נָעַל (na.al) — to lock.

1) to bar, lock, bolt

1a) (Qal) to bar, lock, bolt

נָעַל (na.al) — to shoe.

1) to furnish with sandals, shoe

1a) (Qal) to shoe

1b) (Hiphil) to give sandals

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Conj | V-Qal-ConsecImperf-1cs | Suff — Verb qal sequential imperfect first person common singular · suffix
Hc/Vqw1cs/Sp2fs
and I clothed you multicolored cloth and I shod you leather and I wrapped head your with fine linen and I covered you silk
תָּ֑חַשׁTa.chash leather H8476 Noun common · masculine singular absolute
14× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
This Hebrew word refers to a type of animal hide, possibly from a badger or antelope, used to make leather. It is mentioned in the Bible as a material for certain priestly items. The word appears in Exodus and Ezekiel.
Amplified meaning
badgers' skin, sealskin
Tyndale gloss
leather
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

תַּ֫חַשׁ (tachash) refers to a type of leather or skin, possibly from a clean animal like a badger or an extinct species. The entries suggest it may also denote the animal that produces this leather. There is some uncertainty about the specific animal associated with this term.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

תַּ֫חַשׁ n.m. taḫaš, a kind of leather or skin, and perh. the animal yielding it

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H8476 תַּ֫חַשׁ a kind of leather or skin, and perh. the animal yielding it

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

8476 tachash takh'-ash

probably of foreign derivation; a (clean) animal with fur,

probably a species of antelope:--badger.

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

תַּ֫חַשׁ (ta.chash) — leather.

1) a kind of leather, skin, or animal hide

1a) perhaps the animal yielding the skin

1a1) perhaps the badger or dugong, dolphin, or sheep, or a now extinct animal

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
N-ms — Noun common · masculine singular absolute
HNcmsa
Bible dictionarieson the English sense
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

leth'-er.

See SKIN; GIRDLE; TANNER.

Easton's Bible Dictionary

Leather

A girdle of, worn by Elijah (2 Kings 1:8) and John the Baptist (Matt. 3:4). Leather was employed both for clothing (Num. 31:20; Heb. 11:37) and for writing upon. The trade of a tanner is mentioned (Acts 9:43; 10:6, 32). It was probably learned in Egypt.

Smith's Bible Dictionary

The notices of leather in the Bible are singularly few; indeed the word occurs but twice in the Authorized Version, and in each instance in reference to the same object, a girdle. (2 Kings 1:8; Matthew 3:4) There are, however, other instances in which the word "leather" might with propriety be substituted for "skin." (Leviticus 11:32; 13:48; Numbers 31:20) Though the material itself is seldom noticed, yet we cannot doubt that it was extensively used by the Jews; shoes, bottles, thongs, garments, ropes and other articles were made of it. The art of tanning, however, was held in low esteem by the Jews.

Nave's Topical Bible

→ Belts of 2Ki 1:8; Mt 3:4

→ Tanning of Ac 9:43; 10:5,6

→ Called “skin,” Ge 3:21; Mr 1:6

→ Called “hide,” Le 8:17

and I clothed you multicolored cloth and I shod you leather and I wrapped head your with fine linen and I covered you silk
וָאֶחְבְּשֵׁ֣ךְva.'ech.be.Shekh and I wrapped head your H2280 Verb qal sequential imperfect first person common singular · suffix
33× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
This verb means to tie or bind something firmly, like a turban or a saddle. It is also used figuratively to mean stopping or ruling something. In 1 Kings 20:12, it describes the binding of a wound.
Tyndale gloss
to saddle/tie
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

חָבַשׁ (chabash) is a Hebrew verb meaning to bind, tie, or saddle. It covers a range of actions from physically binding something up to metaphorically governing or restraining. The word appears in various forms, including Qal (to bind) and Piel (to restrain). The entries consistently emphasize its meanings related to binding and governance.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

[חָבַשׁ] vb. bind, bind on, bind up

Qal

bind, bind on

bind up

Pi. bind, restrain

Pu. be bound up

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H2280 חָבַשׁ bind, bind on, bind up

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

2280 chabash khaw-bash'

a primitive root; to wrap firmly (especially a turban,

compress, or saddle); figuratively, to stop, to rule:--bind

(up), gird about, govern, healer, put, saddle, wrap about.

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

חָבַשׁ (cha.vash) — to saddle/tie.

1) to tie, bind, bind on, bind up, saddle, restrain, bandage, govern

1a) (Qal)

1a1) to bind, bind on

1a2) to bind up

1b) (Piel) to bind, restrain

1c) (Pual) to be bound up

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Conj | V-Qal-ConsecImperf-1cs | Suff — Verb qal sequential imperfect first person common singular · suffix
Hc/Vqw1cs/Sp2fs
and I clothed you multicolored cloth and I shod you leather and I wrapped head your with fine linen and I covered you silk
בַּשֵּׁ֔שׁba.Shesh with fine linen H8336 Preposition · noun common masculine singular absolute
41× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
In the Bible, this Hebrew word refers to fine white linen or marble, often used to describe the luxurious clothing and buildings of ancient times, like the Temple in Jerusalem.
Amplified meaning
white linen
Tyndale gloss
alabaster
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

שֵׁשׁ (shesh) refers to fine materials, primarily white linen or byssus, often associated with Egyptian textiles. It can also denote alabaster or similar stones like marble, indicating a range of meanings related to both fabric and stone. The entries suggest a connection to bleached or fine materials, but there is no significant disagreement among the lexicons.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

שֵׁשׁ n.m. id. [שַׁ֫יִשׁ]; material of pavement

base

שֵׁשׁ n.m. byssus, fine Egyptian linen

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H8336a שֵׁשׁ id. [שַׁ֫יִשׁ] H8336b שֵׁשׁ byssus, fine Egyptian linen

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

8336 shesh shaysh

or (for alliteration with 4897) shshiy {shesh-ee'}; for 7893;

bleached stuff, i.e. white linen or (by analogy) marble:--X

blue, fine ((twined)) linen, marble, silk.

see HEBREW for 04897

see HEBREW for 07893

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

שֵׁשׁ (shesh) — alabaster.

alabaster, similar stone, marble, material of pavement

שֵׁשׁ (shesh) — linen.

something bleached white, byssus, linen, fine linen

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Prep | N-ms — Preposition · noun common masculine singular absolute
HRd/Ncmsa
Bible dictionarieson the English sense
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

lin'-en (badh, "white linen," used chiefly for priestly robes, buts, "byssus," a fine white Egyptian linen, called in the earlier writings shesh; pesheth, "flax," cadhin; bussos, othonion, linon, sindon): Thread or cloth made of flax.

1. History:

Ancient Egypt was noted for its fine linen (Ge 41:42; Isa 19:9). From it a large export trade was carried on with surrounding nations, including the Hebrews, who early learned the art of spinning from the Egyptians (Ex 35:25) and continued to rely on them for the finest linen (Pr 7:16; Eze 27:7). The culture of flax in Palestine probably antedated the conquest, for in

Easton's Bible Dictionary

Linen

(1.) Heb., pishet, pishtah, denotes “flax,” of which linen is made (Isa. 19:9); wrought flax, i.e., “linen cloth”, Lev. 13:47, 48, 52, 59; Deut. 22:11.

Flax was early cultivated in Egypt (Ex. 9:31), and also in Palestine (Josh. 2:6; Hos. 2:9). Various articles were made of it: garments (2 Sam. 6:14), girdles (Jer. 13:1), ropes and thread (Ezek. 40:3), napkins (

As is well known, is made of the fine fibers of flax, and was much used by the ancients. Four different words in Hebrew are translated in our Bible, "Linen," "fine linen," and "silk:" PISHTAH, Jud 15:14 Eze 44:17,18; BAD, worn by the priests, Ex 28:42 39:28, and by king David, etc., 2Sa 6:14; SHESH, worn by Joseph when governor of Egypt, Ge 41:42, and by the virtuous woman in Pr 31:22, (see SILK;) and BUTZ, of which the veil of the temple and David’s outer mantle were made,

and I clothed you multicolored cloth and I shod you leather and I wrapped head your with fine linen and I covered you silk
וַאֲכַסֵּ֖ךְva.'a.kha.Sekh and I covered you H3680 Conjunction · verb piel first person common singular · suffix
152× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
To cover something means to fill up hollows or hide something from view, as seen in many biblical stories. This verb is used in various forms throughout the Bible, such as to cover oneself with clothing or to conceal something for protection. It can also mean to overwhelm or spread over something.
Tyndale gloss
to cover
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

The Hebrew word כָּסָה (*kacah*) primarily means to cover or conceal. It encompasses a range of meanings, including to clothe, hide, or overwhelm. The entries describe various forms of the verb, such as being covered or covering oneself, and its use in contexts like protection or sin. There is no significant disagreement among the lexicons.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

[כָּסָה] vb. cover

Qal

conceal

pass. (cstr.) covered in respect of sin (by God, which he thus puts out of sight)

Niph. covered

Pi.

cover, clothe

cover, conceal blood

cover (with covering of protection)

cover, spread over

cover, overwhelm

cover over

Pual.

be covered

be clothed

Hithp. cover, clothe oneself

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H3680 כָּסָה cover .. conceal

. pass. (cstr.) covered in respect of sin (by God, which he thus puts out of sight)

. covered

. . cover, clothe

. cover, conceal blood

. cover (with covering of protection)

. cover, spread over

. cover, overwhelm

. cover over

. . be covered

. be clothed

. cover, clothe oneself

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

3680 kacah kaw-saw'

a primitive root; properly, to plump, i.e. fill up hollows;

by implication, to cover (for clothing or secrecy):--clad

self, close, clothe, conceal, cover (self), (flee to) hide,

overwhelm. Compare 3780.

see HEBREW for 03780

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

כָּסָה (ka.sah) — to cover.

1) to cover, conceal, hide

1a) (Qal) conceal, covered (participle)

1b) (Niphal) to be covered

1c) (Piel)

1c1) to cover, clothe

1c2) to cover, conceal

1c3) to cover (for protection)

1c4) to cover over, spread over

1c5) to cover, overwhelm

1d) (Pual)

1d1) to be covered

1d2) to be clothed

1e) (Hithpael) to cover oneself, clothe oneself

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Conj | V-Piel-ConsecImperf-1cs | Suff — Conjunction · verb piel first person common singular · suffix
HC/Vpu1cs/Sp2fs
and I clothed you multicolored cloth and I shod you leather and I wrapped head your with fine linen and I covered you silk
מֶֽשִׁי׃Me.shi silk H4897 Noun common · masculine singular absolute
2× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
This word refers to silk, a valuable and expensive material used for making clothes. In the Bible, it is mentioned as a luxury item, like in the book of Ezekiel, where it is listed as one of the goods traded by the merchants.
Amplified meaning
figured silk, expensive garments
Tyndale gloss
silk
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

מֶ֫שִׁי (meshiy) refers to silk, a luxurious fabric used for garments. It is derived from the root word for silk production, indicating its value as a costly material. The term appears in Ezekiel 16:13, where it is associated with fine clothing.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

מֶ֫שִׁי n.[m.] a costly material for garments, acc. to Rabb. silk;—abs. Ez 16:13

ref

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H4897 מֶ֫שִׁי

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

4897 meshiy meh'-shee

from 4871; silk (as drawn from the cocoon):--silk.

see HEBREW for 04871

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

מֶ֫שִׁי (me.shi) — silk.

1) a costly material for garment

1a) perhaps silk

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
N-ms — Noun common · masculine singular absolute
HNcmsa
Bible dictionarieson the English sense
Easton's Bible Dictionary

Silk

Heb. demeshek, “damask,” silk cloth manufactured at Damascus, Amos 3:12. A.V., “in the corner of a bed, and in Damascus in a couch;” R.V., “in the corner of a couch, and on the silken cushions of a bed” (marg., “in Damascus on a bed”).

Heb. meshi, (Ezek. 16:10, 13, rendered “silk”). In Gen. 41:42 (marg. A.V.), Prov. 31:22 (R.V., “fine linen”), the word “silk” ought to be “fine linen.”

Silk was common in New Testament times (Rev. 18:12).

Smith's Bible Dictionary

The only undoubted notice of silk in the Bible occurs in (Revelation 18:12) where it is mentioned among the treasures of the typical Babylon. It is however, in the highest degree probable that the texture was known to the Hebrews from the time that their commercial relations were extended by Solomon. The well-known classical name of the substance does not occur in the Hebrew language.

American Tract Society Bible Dictionary

In the time of the Ptolemies, came to Greece and Rome from the far east of China, etc., by the way of Alexandria, and was sold for its weight in gold. It sometimes came in the form of skeins, and was woven into a light and thin gauze. It is mentioned in Re 18:12, and probably in Eze 16:10,13. In Ge 41:42 and Pr 31:22, the word rendered silk in our version is the same that is elsewhere correctly rendered fine linen. It is not known how early or extensively the Jews used it.

Nave's Topical Bible

→ Wearing apparel made of Pr 31:22; Eze 16:10,13

→ Merchandise of Re 18:12

→ See COTTON

→ See LINEN

Sources on this page. Lexicons and dictionaries imported from the CrossWire SWORD modules — Abbott-Smith, Strong's, Dodson, the Intermediate Liddell-Scott-Jones, Robinson and Packard, Webster and Cawdrey. Thayer’s Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament (Harper, 1889 — Grimm’s Wilke’s Clavis Novi Testamenti, translated, revised and enlarged by Joseph Henry Thayer) is public domain and is set here from the Internet Archive page scan greekenglishlex00grim; it is uncorrected OCR, marked as such on the entry itself, and the Strong’s numbers — which Thayer’s own edition does not carry — were matched by lemma against the other modules on this page. Trench’s Synonyms of the New Testament (Macmillan, 1880) and Moulton and Milligan’s Vocabulary of the Greek Testament (Hodder & Stoughton, 1930, which entered the United States public domain on 1 January 2026) are set from Internet Archive page scans synonymsofnewtes00treniala and vocabularyofgree00mouluoft, and are likewise uncorrected OCR matched to Strong’s numbers by lemma. Trench treats a group of words at once, so the same essay stands on the page of each word it compares. The Mounce Concise Greek-English Dictionary is © 1993 and is used here by permission for non-commercial use, www.teknia.com/greek-dictionary. The full Liddell-Scott-Jones and the Hebrew word data (TAHOT) come from STEPBible.org, CC BY 4.0. Brown-Driver-Briggs is the OpenScriptures digitisation, public domain. Syntax analysis is the Nestle 1904 Lowfat treebank (biblicalhumanities.org); the concordance and morphology are built from the tagged Nestle 1904 text. Septuagint occurrences use the Open Scriptures Septuagint lemma index, derived from CCAT (University of Pennsylvania) and the Rahlfs 1935 dataset by Eliran Wong, CC BY-NC-SA 4.0 — used here on a non-commercial ministry site. Greek of Josephus and Barnabas from the Perseus Digital Library, CC BY-SA 4.0. Commentaries and the Ante-Nicene Fathers are public-domain texts hosted on this site. Everyday Greek from the Duke Databank of Documentary Papyri, CC BY 3.0, with dates and provenance from the Heidelberger Gesamtverzeichnis. Philo and the Apostolic Fathers from Open Greek and Latin (First1KGreek), CC BY-SA 4.0. The apparatus and the fifth Greek column are the SBL Greek New Testament, © 2010 SBL and Logos Bible Software, CC BY 4.0. The Latin is the Clementine Vulgate (public domain); the Syriac New Testament is the ETCBC edition (MIT licence). The Hebrew behind the Greek is computed here from the Septuagint index and TAHOT, not taken from any aligned edition. The translation spread and the per-word edition marks come from the Translators Amalgamated Greek NT (STEPBible, CC BY 4.0); clause roles from the Nestle 1904 Lowfat treebank (CC BY-SA 4.0); place identifications and their confidence from OpenBible.info Bible Geocoding (CC BY 4.0), with map tiles © OpenStreetMap contributors. Gospel parallels are computed here from shared uncommon vocabulary, not taken from any printed harmony. Cross references are the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge and the subject headings are Nave’s Topical Bible, both public domain. Works under Creative Commons licences are used unchanged apart from markup removal.

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