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בַּד

𐤁𐤃

bad

H906 noun

SILEX Entry

Root בָּדד to separate, divide

Definition

Refined linen fabric or garments made of fine linen, typically describing high-quality textiles used for sacred or ceremonial purposes. Refers both to the spun fiber (flaxen thread, yarn) and to garments fashioned from this material—particularly the distinctive linen vestments worn by priests in the Israelite sanctuary. In certain contexts, designates simply linen as a valued textile.

Semantic Range

linen fabric, linen yarn, linen garment, priestly garment, fine cloth

Root / Etymology

The term בַּד (bad) is likely derived from the root בָּדַד (badad) meaning 'to be separate, to divide,' possibly referencing the separated fibers of flax from which linen threads are spun. However, the direct etymology remains somewhat uncertain, as the nominal form בַּד only occurs with the specific sense of linen.

Historical & Contextual Notes

In the Hebrew Bible, בַּד appears frequently in priestly or cultic contexts, designating the fine linen fabric used specifically for the garments of the Aaronide priesthood (e.g., Exodus 28–39; Leviticus 6:3–4; Ezekiel 44:17–18). These garments, described as 'בִּגְדֵי בַּד' (linen garments), signified both ritual purity and social distinction within Israelite religious practice of the monarchic and exilic periods. Outside of ritual usage, references to בַּד are rare; the term does not denote ordinary clothing but rather high-status or sacred vestiture. In post-exilic and later usage, the association of בַּד with linen persists, though the term's specific sacerdotal connotations are maintained most strongly in the priestly literature. English translations as 'linen' sometimes obscure the text’s emphasis on purity and status signaled by the distinctive textile. The rendering as 'fine linen' is particularly significant in contrasting priestly garb with common fabrics such as wool (צֶמֶר, tsemar).

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

perhaps from בָּדַד (in the sense of divided fibres); flaxen thread or yarn; hence, a linen garment; linen.

Bantu Hebrew

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Root Family

בדד (b-d-d) — to separate, divide

Strong's Lemma SIBI-P1
H905 בַּד separate piece
H907 בַּד his poles
H909 בָּדַד solitude
H910 בָּדָד in isolation
H911 בְּדַד Separated One

Word Forms

5 distinct forms

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 Occurrences
H906-01 בַּ֨ד bad HNcmsc linen fine linen cloth 7
H906-04 הַ/בַּדִּ֔ים habadim HTd/Ncmpa in linen the separated poles 7
H906-05 בָ֔ד vad HNcmsa linen fine linen 4
H906-03 הַ/בָּ֖ד habad HTd/Ncmsa the linen the fine linen 3
H906-02 בַּדִּ֔ים badim HNcmpa in linen fine linen garments 2

Occurrences in Scripture

23 total occurrences

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1
H906-05 Exodus 28:42 בָ֔ד vad HNcmsa linen fine linen
H906-03 Exodus 39:28 הַ/בָּ֖ד habad HTd/Ncmsa linen the fine linen
H906-05 Leviticus 6:3 בַ֗ד vad HNcmsa of linen fine linen
H906-05 Leviticus 6:3 בַד֮ vad-2 HNcmsa linen fine linen
H906-01 Leviticus 16:4 בַּ֨ד bad HNcmsc linen fine linen cloth
H906-05 Leviticus 16:4 בַד֮ vad HNcmsa linen fine linen
H906-01 Leviticus 16:4 בַּד֙ bad-2 HNcmsa linen fine linen cloth
H906-01 Leviticus 16:4 בַּ֖ד bad-3 HNcmsa linen fine linen cloth
H906-03 Leviticus 16:23 הַ/בָּ֔ד habad HTd/Ncmsa of linen the fine linen
H906-03 Leviticus 16:32 הַ/בָּ֖ד habad HTd/Ncmsa the linen the fine linen
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