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לְבוּשׁ

𐤋𐤁𐤅𐤔

lᵉbûwsh

H3830 noun

SILEX Entry

Definition

Garment or article of clothing; general term for any item of dress worn on the body, encompassing a wide range of garments. The word may also serve, metonymically or euphemistically, as a reference to a wife, in the sense of one who is 'clothed' upon the man, though this is rare. Primary lexical sense is a physical covering worn as clothing.

Semantic Range

garment, clothing, apparel, raiment, vesture, ceremonial dress, figurative sense for 'wife', metaphorical sense of honor or adornment

Root / Etymology

From the root לָבַשׁ (l-b-sh), meaning 'to put on (a garment), to wear, to be clothed.' The noun לְבוּשׁ (lebûsh) denotes the result or object of the action—namely, the thing worn or garment. Distinct from related Hebrew terms such as בֶּגֶד (beged, general term for clothing) or מַד (mad, attire), which may have more specific connotations or ritual associations.

Historical & Contextual Notes

Throughout the Hebrew Bible, לְבוּשׁ is a broad term for garment, applied to a wide social spectrum and a variety of garment types: from common clothing (Gen 28:20; Job 24:7, 10) to royal or ceremonial apparel (Esth 6:8, 11; 8:15; Ezek 16:10, 13), and metaphorically for honor or dignity (2 Chr 6:41; Ps 93:1). The use of לְבוּשׁ for 'wife' is attested only rarely and likely as a euphemism, derived from the notion of being 'clothed' with a partner (see Deut 22:5, where gendered garments are discussed and some interpretive traditions pick up on the association). The semantic range in biblical texts does not imply a specific type of garment, but rather focuses on the fact of being dressed. In later periods, Aramaic and post-biblical Hebrew continue the term in this sense. Most English translations render לְבוּשׁ as 'garment,' 'raiment,' 'apparel,' or 'clothing,' but these do not always capture the metaphorical or honorific uses apparent in some poetic or prophetic contexts. The term spans usage from early Israelite narratives through the Persian period (e.g., Esther), without significant semantic shift, though context will often clarify whether everyday or special clothing is intended.

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

or לְבֻשׁ; from לָבַשׁ; a garment (literally or figuratively); by implication (euphemistically) a wife; apparel, clothed with, clothing, garment, raiment, vestment, vesture.

Bantu Hebrew

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Root Family

לבש (l-b-sh) — to clothe, to wear, to put on

Root לבש to clothe, to wear, to put on (a garment)
Strong's Lemma SIBI-P1
H3831 לְבוּשׁ his garment
H3847 לָבַשׁ I will clothe
H3848 לְבַשׁ you will put on
H4403 מַלְבּוּשׁ the garment

Word Forms

13 distinct forms

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 SIBI-P2 Occurrences
H3830-06 לְב֔וּשׁ levush HNcmsa clothing garment garment 8
H3830-10 לְ֝בוּשִׁ֗/י levushi HNcmsc/Sp1cs my clothing my garment my garment 4
H3830-11 לְבֻשׁ֔/וֹ levusho HNcmsc/Sp3ms as with a bird his garment his garment 4
H3830-04 הַ/לְּב֜וּשׁ halevush HTd/Ncmsa the garment the garment the garment 3
H3830-07 לְבוּשָֽׁ/הּ levushah HNcmsc/Sp3fs her clothing her garment her garment 3
H3830-05 כַּ/לְּב֖וּשׁ kalevush HRd/Ncmsa as with a garment like the garment like a garment 2
H3830-01 בִּ/לְב֥וּשׁ bilevush HR/Ncmsc clothed in garment of in a garment of 2
H3830-13 לִ/לְבוּשֶׁ֑/ךָ lilevushekha HR/Ncmsc/Sp2ms for your clothing for your garment for your garment 2
H3830-12 לְבֻשׁ֗/וּ levushu HNcmsc/Sp3ms that he had put on his garment his garment 1
H3830-08 לְבוּשָׁ֔/ם levusham HNcmsc/Sp3mp their clothing their garment their garment 1

Occurrences in Scripture

33 occurrences

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 SIBI-P2
H3830-11 Genesis 49:11 לְבֻשׁ֔/וֹ levusho HNcmsc/Sp3ms his garments his garment his garment
H3830-09 2 Samuel 1:24 לְבוּשְׁ/כֶֽן levushekhen HNcmsc/Sp2fp your apparel your garment your garment
H3830-12 2 Samuel 20:8 לְבֻשׁ֗/וּ levushu HNcmsc/Sp3ms that he had put on his garment his garment
H3830-06 2 Kings 10:22 לְב֔וּשׁ levush HNcmsa robes garment garment
H3830-06 Isaiah 14:19 לְב֥וּשׁ levush HNcmsc clothed garment garment
H3830-03 Isaiah 63:1 בִּ/לְבוּשׁ֔/וֹ bilevusho HR/Ncmsc/Sp3ms in his apparel in his garment in his apparel
H3830-13 Isaiah 63:2 לִ/לְבוּשֶׁ֑/ךָ lilevushekha HR/Ncmsc/Sp2ms your clothing for your garment for your garment
H3830-08 Jeremiah 10:9 לְבוּשָׁ֔/ם levusham HNcmsc/Sp3mp their clothing their garment their garment
H3830-06 Ezekiel 9:11 לְבֻ֣שׁ levush HVqsmsc clothed garment clothed
H3830-11 Malachi 2:16 לְבוּשׁ֔/וֹ levusho HNcmsc/Sp3ms his-garment his garment his garment
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