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לָבַשׁ

𐤋𐤁𐤔

lâbash

H3847 verb

SILEX Entry

Root לבש to put on, to clothe, to cover

Definition

To put on or be clothed with a garment; to dress or cover oneself in clothing. Extended to mean 'to array,' to assume a particular appearance by means of clothing, or metaphorically, to endow, equip, or invest with qualities or attributes as with a garment. The verb can be used both actively (to clothe another) and reflexively (to clothe oneself), and occurs in literal (putting on physical clothes) and figurative senses (assuming a role, state, or divine attribute).

Semantic Range

to put on (clothes), to dress, to clothe oneself, to clothe another, to be clothed, to assume an appearance, to endow (figurative), to equip (figurative), to arm (oneself with armor); to be invested with a state or quality, to wear, to array oneself

Root / Etymology

From the root לבש, meaning 'to wrap around' or 'envelop.' The basic motion is that of covering the body, hence the transition to 'to put on (clothes)' or 'to dress.' The qal stem is commonly used for donning clothes; other stems (e.g., hifil) are used for putting clothing on others or imbuing with qualities metaphorically.

Historical & Contextual Notes

The verb לָבַשׁ is used broadly throughout the Hebrew Bible from the earliest periods (e.g., patriarchal narratives, poetic texts) to post-exilic literature. While its primary sense is the donning or wearing of clothing (Genesis 3:21; Exodus 28:41), it develops significant figurative meaning, particularly in poetic and prophetic texts. For example, it is used to describe donning mourning (e.g., sackcloth), strength, shame, or honor as though these abstract qualities were garments (Isaiah 61:10; Psalm 35:13). In priestly contexts, לָבַשׁ is a technical term for robing priests in their vestments (Exodus 29:5, Leviticus 8:7). In military contexts, it can mean 'to arm' (with armor). The core sense remains 'to put on (a garment or quality)'; context determines whether the action is literal or symbolic. Some English translations use idioms (e.g., 'arrayed,' 'clothed'), but may not always convey the figurative nuances in Hebrew. The verb sometimes contrasts with פָּשַׁט (to strip off) or עָרַם (to make bare).

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

or לָבֵשׁ; a primitive root; properly, wrap around, i.e. (by implication) to put on agarment or clothe (oneself, or another), literally or figuratively; (in) apparel, arm, array (self), clothe (self), come upon, put (on, upon), wear.

Bantu Hebrew

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Root Family

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

Strong's Lemma SIBI-P1
H3830 לְבוּשׁ in garment of
H3831 לְבוּשׁ his garment
H3848 לְבַשׁ you will put on
H4403 מַלְבּוּשׁ the garment

Word Forms

57 distinct forms

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 Occurrences
H3847-38 וַ/יַּלְבֵּ֤שׁ vayalebesh HC/Vhw3ms and clothed and he clothed 6
H3847-56 יִלְבְּשׁ֛וּ yilebeshu HVqi3mp let them be clothed they will clothe themselves 6
H3847-53 יִלְבַּ֣שׁ yilebash HVqi3ms he shall put on he will put on 5
H3847-20 לְבֻ֣שׁ levush HVqsmsa clothed garment 5
H3847-17 לָב֑וּשׁ lavush HVqsmsa clothed clothed one 5
H3847-42 וַ/יִּלְבַּשׁ֙ vayilebash HC/Vqw3ms and he put on and he clothed himself 5
H3847-25 מְלֻבָּשִׁ֤ים melubashim HVPsmpa clothed clothed ones 4
H3847-46 וְ/הִלְבַּשְׁתָּ֤ vehilebasheta HC/Vhq2ms and you shall clothe and you will clothe 4
H3847-50 וְ/לָבַ֨שׁ velavash HC/Vqq3ms and he shall put on and he clothed himself 4
H3847-14 לָבְשָׁ֖ה laveshah HVqp3fs clothed she clothed herself 3

Occurrences in Scripture

111 total occurrences

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1
H3847-39 Genesis 3:21 וַ/יַּלְבִּשֵֽׁ/ם vayalebishem HC/Vhw3ms/Sp3mp and clothed them and he clothed them
H3847-36 Genesis 27:15 וַ/תַּלְבֵּ֥שׁ vatalebesh HC/Vhw3fs and put on and she clothed
H3847-07 Genesis 27:16 הִלְבִּ֖ישָׁה hilebishah HVhp3fs she put on she clothed
H3847-22 Genesis 28:20 לִ/לְבֹּֽשׁ lilebosh HR/Vqc to wear to clothe oneself
H3847-37 Genesis 38:19 וַ/תִּלְבַּ֖שׁ vatilebash HC/Vqw3fs and put on and she put on
H3847-38 Genesis 41:42 וַ/יַּלְבֵּ֤שׁ vayalebesh HC/Vhw3ms and clothed and he clothed
H3847-46 Exodus 28:41 וְ/הִלְבַּשְׁתָּ֤ vehilebasheta HC/Vhq2ms and you shall clothe and you will clothe
H3847-46 Exodus 29:5 וְ/הִלְבַּשְׁתָּ֤ vehilebasheta HC/Vhq2ms and you shall clothe and you will clothe
H3847-47 Exodus 29:8 וְ/הִלְבַּשְׁתָּ֖/ם vehilebashetam HC/Vhq2ms/Sp3mp and you shall clothe them and you will clothe them
H3847-54 Exodus 29:30 יִלְבָּשָׁ֧/ם yilebasham HVqi3ms/Sp3mp shall-wear-them he will put them on
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