אֵטוּן
𐤀𐤈𐤅𐤍
ʼêṭûwn
H330 noun
SILEX Entry
Definition
A type of finely spun, twisted linen fabric, particularly associated with high-quality textiles such as those used in tabernacle furnishings and priestly vestments. The term denotes a fabric characterized by its meticulous craftsmanship—being made of spun or plied threads, often white and of exceptional fineness and strength.
Semantic Range
twisted linen yarn, fine spun linen, finely twisted textile, high-quality (possibly plied) linen fabric, ornamented or decorated cloth (by extension)
Root / Etymology
Root and etymology uncertain. Though Strong's suggests connection to an unused root meaning 'to bind' or 'twist,' no attested verbal root אטן survives in biblical Hebrew. The nominal form likely refers to 'twisted' yarn or thread but may be a borrowing or an archaic formation related to textiles.
Historical & Contextual Notes
In the Hebrew Bible, אֵטוּן appears rarely, almost exclusively in technical contexts describing luxury textiles for the tabernacle or priesthood (e.g., Exodus 28:6). It specifies a high-value material distinct from ordinary linen (שֵׁשׁ, shesh) or other woven goods. Later Jewish traditions sometimes identified אֵטוּן with Egyptian fine linen, but this association is post-biblical. The KJV and other translations often render the term 'fine linen' or 'tapestry,' but the word is more narrowly technical—referring to twisted, plied, or spun linen threads of superior quality, not generic linen. No clear evidence supports using 'tapestry' in the modern sense of pictorial weaving; rather, the emphasis is on texture and quality. The specific referent may have shifted by the Second Temple period, with post-biblical sources sometimes conflating it with other luxury textiles.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
from an unused root (probably meaning to bind); properly, twisted (yarn), i.e. tapestry; fine linen.
Bantu Hebrew
No Bantu Hebrew comparisons have been submitted for this word yet.
+ Add Bantu Hebrew WordRoot Family
אטן (ʾ-ṭ-n) — to twist, to bind, to wind
Word Forms
1 distinct form
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H330-01 |
אֵט֥וּן | etun | HNcmsc |
fine linen | finely twisted linen of | 1 |
Occurrences in Scripture
1 total occurrence
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H330-01 |
Proverbs 7:16 | אֵט֥וּן | etun | HNcmsc |
fine linen | finely twisted linen of |