מֶשִׁי
𐤌𐤔𐤉
meshîy
H4897 noun
SILEX Entry
Definition
A fine, delicate fiber or fabric, specifically silk, likely imported and considered luxurious in biblical contexts. May refer both to the raw material known as silk and to garments or textiles made from it.
Semantic Range
silk (fiber), silk fabric, silken garment; by extension, luxury textile
Root / Etymology
From the root מָשָׁה (m-sh-h, to draw or pull out), reflecting the process of drawing out silk thread from cocoons. The form מֶשִׁי appears to be a noun derived from this root, denoting an item or substance drawn out by hand.
Historical & Contextual Notes
מֶשִׁי ('meshîy') occurs rarely in the Hebrew Bible, attested in contexts emphasizing wealth or luxury, such as in Ezekiel 16:10, 13, where it is included among sumptuous items given as gifts. The term references an exotic luxury textile, almost certainly imported from eastern regions, as silk was not produced indigenously in the ancient Near East. Its usage indicates a level of affluence and is part of vocabulary describing luxury trade and materials, distinguishing it from other fine fabrics like שֵׁשׁ (shesh, typically 'linen'). Later Jewish usage maintains the meaning 'silk,' but the biblical occurrence is confined and always within contexts of wealth. English translations uniformly render it as 'silk,' but the historical reality is that actual silk was exceedingly rare and highly valued in the Iron Age Levant. No religious or ethnic significance attaches to the term; it is a material descriptor.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
from מָשָׁה; silk (as drawn from the cocoon); silk.
Bantu Hebrew
No Bantu Hebrew comparisons have been submitted for this word yet.
+ Add Bantu Hebrew WordRoot Family
משה (m-š-h) — to draw, pull out
Word Forms
2 distinct forms
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H4897-01 |
מֶֽשִׁי | meshi | HNcmsa |
with silk | drawn silk | 1 |
H4897-02 |
וָ/מֶ֨שִׁי֙ | vameshi | HC/Ncmsa |
and silk | silk fabric | 1 |
Occurrences in Scripture
2 total occurrences
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H4897-01 |
Ezekiel 16:10 | מֶֽשִׁי | meshi | HNcmsa |
with silk | drawn silk |
H4897-02 |
Ezekiel 16:13 | וָ/מֶ֨שִׁי֙ | vameshi | HC/Ncmsa |
and silk | silk fabric |