βύσσος
býssos
G1040 noun
SILEX Entry
Definition
Fine linen, specifically a high-quality, often bright white textile made from refined flax or, in some contexts, fine cotton; denotes a textile associated with wealth, luxury, and sacred use. The core meaning centers on fine cloth, with contextual applications extending to garments, fabrics, and sometimes paraphernalia made from this material. In Greek and Hellenistic usage, especially where influenced by Hebrew or Eastern Mediterranean contexts, it most often refers to the prized linen used in temple, royal, or elite settings.
Semantic Range
fine linen, high-quality white cloth, valuable fabric used in garments and sacred furnishings, sometimes metaphor for purity or status
Root / Etymology
Borrowed from Hebrew בּוּץ (būṣ, 'fine linen'), transmitted into Greek as βύσσος, possibly through intermediary languages such as Phoenician. Not an originally Greek term; its use in Greek reflects contact with Eastern Mediterranean and Levantine luxury goods and textile trade. The connection to the similar Latin byssus and modern 'byssus' (fine linen or 'sea silk') reflects ongoing historical association with precious cloth.
Historical & Contextual Notes
In classical and Hellenistic Greek, βύσσος refers to fine linen, especially of oriental origin. The term enters Greek as a loanword, most likely reflecting contact with Levantine and Egyptian textile traditions. In the Septuagint, βύσσος is used to translate Hebrew terms denoting luxury linen, often associated with priestly vestments and royal garments (e.g., Exodus 25:4, 26:1). In the New Testament, the word appears in contexts indicating wealthy or prestigious attire (e.g., Luke 16:19, Revelation 18:12). Greek βύσσος is sometimes rendered 'fine linen' in English Bibles, but its cultural connotation includes associations with status, purity, and sometimes religious function. The term is distinct from χιτών ('tunic') or ἱμάτιον ('outer garment'), which refer to garment types rather than the textile material. Later Greek (and Latin) could use byssus for other luxury textiles as well, but in biblical usage, it refers to a specific high-quality linen, not general linen or modern silk. Some confusion with 'sea silk' postdates the biblical period and is not relevant to LXX or NT usage. English translations that use simply 'linen' may obscure the luxury and ritual associations of the term.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
of Hebrew origin (בּוּץ); white linen:--fine linen.
Root Family
βύσσος (byssos) — fine linen, high-quality textile
Word Forms
1 distinct form
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | SIBI-P2 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
G1040-01 |
βύσσον | busson | N ACC F SG |
fine linen | fine linen | fine linen | 1 |
Occurrences in Scripture
1 occurrence
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | SIBI-P2 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
G1040-01 |
Luke 16:19 | βύσσον | busson | N ACC F SG |
fine linen | fine linen | fine linen |