בַּד
𐤁𐤃
bad
H906 noun
SILEX Entry
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
No Bantu Hebrew comparisons have been recorded for this word yet.
Root Family
בָּדד (bad) — to separate, divide
Word Forms
5 distinct forms
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | SIBI-P2 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H906-01 |
בָּֽד | bad | HNcmsa |
linen | fine linen cloth | fine linen cloth | 7 |
H906-04 |
הַ/בַּדִּ֔ים | habadim | HTd/Ncmpa |
in linen | the separated poles | in linen | 7 |
H906-05 |
בָ֔ד | vad | HNcmsa |
linen | fine linen | fine linen | 4 |
H906-03 |
הַ/בָּ֖ד | habad | HTd/Ncmsa |
the linen | the fine linen | the fine linen | 3 |
H906-02 |
בַּדִּ֑ים | badim | HNcmpa |
in linen | fine linen garments | fine linen garments | 2 |
Occurrences in Scripture
23 occurrences
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | SIBI-P2 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H906-05 |
Exodus 28:42 | בָ֔ד | vad | HNcmsa |
linen | fine linen | fine linen |
H906-03 |
Exodus 39:28 | הַ/בָּ֖ד | habad | HTd/Ncmsa |
linen | the fine linen | the fine linen |
H906-05 |
Leviticus 6:3 | בַ֗ד | vad | HNcmsa |
of linen | fine linen | of fine linen |
H906-05 |
Leviticus 6:3 | בַד֮ | vad-2 | HNcmsa |
linen | fine linen | fine linen |
H906-01 |
Leviticus 16:4 | בַּ֨ד | bad | HNcmsc |
linen | fine linen cloth | fine linen |
H906-05 |
Leviticus 16:4 | בַד֮ | vad | HNcmsa |
linen | fine linen | fine linen |
H906-01 |
Leviticus 16:4 | בַּד֙ | bad-2 | HNcmsa |
linen | fine linen cloth | fine linen |
H906-01 |
Leviticus 16:4 | בַּ֖ד | bad-3 | HNcmsa |
linen | fine linen cloth | fine linen |
H906-03 |
Leviticus 16:23 | הַ/בָּ֔ד | habad | HTd/Ncmsa |
of linen | the fine linen | the fine linen |
H906-03 |
Leviticus 16:32 | הַ/בָּ֖ד | habad | HTd/Ncmsa |
the linen | the fine linen | the linen |
H906-01 |
1 Samuel 2:18 | בָּֽד | bad | HNcmsa |
linen | fine linen cloth | fine linen cloth |
H906-01 |
1 Samuel 22:18 | בָּֽד | bad | HNcmsa |
linen | fine linen cloth | fine linen cloth |
H906-01 |
2 Samuel 6:14 | בָּֽד | bad | HNcmsa |
linen | fine linen cloth | fine linen cloth |
H906-02 |
Ezekiel 9:2 | בַּדִּ֔ים | badim | HNcmpa |
in linen | fine linen garments | fine linen garments |
H906-04 |
Ezekiel 9:3 | הַ/בַּדִּ֔ים | habadim | HTd/Ncmpa |
in-linen | the separated poles | in linen |
H906-04 |
Ezekiel 9:11 | הַ/בַּדִּ֗ים | habadim | HTd/Ncmpa |
in linen | the separated poles | in linen |
H906-04 |
Ezekiel 10:2 | הַ/בַּדִּ֗ים | habadim | HTd/Ncmpa |
with linen | the separated poles | in linen |
H906-04 |
Ezekiel 10:6 | הַ/בַּדִּים֙ | habadim | HTd/Ncmpa |
in linen | the separated poles | the linen |
H906-04 |
Ezekiel 10:7 | הַ/בַּדִּ֑ים | habadim | HTd/Ncmpa |
in linen | the separated poles | in linen |
H906-02 |
Daniel 10:5 | בַּדִּ֑ים | badim | HNcmpa |
in linen | fine linen garments | fine linen garments |
H906-04 |
Daniel 12:6 | הַ/בַּדִּ֔ים | habadim | HTd/Ncmpa |
in linen | the separated poles | in linen |
H906-04 |
Daniel 12:7 | הַ/בַּדִּ֗ים | habadim | HTd/Ncmpa |
in linen | the separated poles | in linen |
H906-01 |
1 Chronicles 15:27 | בָּֽד | bad | HNcmsa |
of linen | fine linen cloth | fine linen cloth |