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פִּשְׁתֶּה

𐤐𐤔𐤕𐤄

pishteh

H6593 noun

SILEX Entry

Root פשת to strip, peel, separate fibers

Definition

Linen or flax, especially as a plant or its fiber prepared for spinning and weaving. Refers primarily to the material derived from the flax plant (Linum usitatissimum), encompassing both the raw plant, the fibers, and the manufactured linen cloth used for garments, cords, and ritual purposes. Semantically, the term extends from the agricultural product (flax) to spun thread and finished linen fabric.

Semantic Range

flax plant, flax fibers, processed flax, linen thread, linen cloth, garments made of linen

Root / Etymology

Derived from the root פשת (p-sh-t), meaning 'to strip off, to peel,' likely referring to the process of extracting fibers from flax stalks. פִּשְׁתֶּה (pishteh) is a nominal form referring specifically to the flax plant or its product.

Historical & Contextual Notes

פִּשְׁתֶּה appears frequently in the Hebrew Bible, especially in agricultural, ritual, and dress contexts (e.g., Exodus 9:31, Isaiah 19:9, Joshua 2:6). In the Israelite and Judahite periods, flax cultivation and linen production were significant agricultural and economic activities. The term can denote both the flax plant pre-harvest and the processed fibers or fabric. Linen (pishteh) was considered valuable and is often mentioned in priestly and temple contexts (e.g., priestly garments); it was prized for its purity and durability compared to wool. English translations usually render פִּשְׁתֶּה as 'flax' or 'linen,' but usage sometimes overlaps, and context clarifies whether the plant or finished fabric is meant. The word remains distinct from שֵׁשׁ (shesh), another term for fine linen, possibly denoting higher-quality or imported fabric. There is no theological meaning embedded in the term; meaning shifts relate primarily to context, not period, though ritual association with priesthood is prominent in later literary strata.

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

from the same as פַּשׁ as in the sense of comminuting; linen (i.e. the thread, as carded); flax, linen.

Bantu Hebrew

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Root Family

פשת (p-š-t) — to strip, peel, separate fibers

Strong's Lemma SIBI-P1
H6594 פִּשְׁתָּה like flax-fiber

Word Forms

9 distinct forms

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 Occurrences
H6593-02 פִשְׁתִּ֖ים fishetim HNcmpa linen flax fibers 4
H6593-06 פִּשְׁתִּֽים pishetim HNcmpa linen flax fibers 3
H6593-08 וּ/פִשְׁתִּ֖ים ufishetim HC/Ncmpa and flax flax fibers 2
H6593-07 וּ/פִשְׁתִּ֔/י ufisheti HC/Ncmsc/Sp1cs and-my-flax and my flax-linen 2
H6593-01 בְּ/פִשְׁתֵּ֣י befishetey HR/Ncmpc with the stalks of in flax fibers of 1
H6593-09 בַ/פִּשְׁתִּ֔ים vapishetim HRd/Ncmpa in linen flax fibers 1
H6593-05 לַ/פִּשְׁתִּ֖ים lapishetim HRd/Ncmpa of linen to flax fibers 1
H6593-04 כַּ/פִּשְׁתִּים֙ kapishetim HRd/Ncmpa like flax like flax fibers 1
H6593-03 הַ/פִּשְׁתִּ֗ים hapishetim HTd/Ncmpa linen the flax fibers 1

Occurrences in Scripture

16 total occurrences

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1
H6593-06 Leviticus 13:47 פִּשְׁתִּֽים pishetim HNcmpa of linen flax fibers
H6593-05 Leviticus 13:48 לַ/פִּשְׁתִּ֖ים lapishetim HRd/Ncmpa of linen to flax fibers
H6593-09 Leviticus 13:52 בַ/פִּשְׁתִּ֔ים vapishetim HRd/Ncmpa in linen flax fibers
H6593-03 Leviticus 13:59 הַ/פִּשְׁתִּ֗ים hapishetim HTd/Ncmpa linen the flax fibers
H6593-08 Deuteronomy 22:11 וּ/פִשְׁתִּ֖ים ufishetim HC/Ncmpa and linen flax fibers
H6593-01 Joshua 2:6 בְּ/פִשְׁתֵּ֣י befishetey HR/Ncmpc with the stalks of in flax fibers of
H6593-04 Judges 15:14 כַּ/פִּשְׁתִּים֙ kapishetim HRd/Ncmpa like flax like flax fibers
H6593-02 Isaiah 19:9 פִשְׁתִּ֖ים fishetim HNcmpa flax flax fibers
H6593-06 Jeremiah 13:1 פִּשְׁתִּ֔ים pishetim HNcmpa linen flax fibers
H6593-06 Ezekiel 40:3 פִּשְׁתִּ֥ים pishetim HNcmpa of flax flax fibers
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