English · KJV
G1040

βύσσος

býssos /boos'-sos/ Ask about this word
Rootof Hebrew origin (בּוּץ)
Meaningwhite linen
KJV usagefine linen.

Word Study

In depth

A plain-language study of býssos — the range of meaning it carries, how Scripture actually uses it, and where it points. Written for readers who don’t know the original language.

Core Meaning & Semantic Range

The Greek word býssos, represented by G1040, is a term of Hebrew origin for white linen. It is a rare word, appearing only 2 times across 2 unique verses in the Bible. It consistently denotes a high-quality, luxurious fabric associated with wealth.

Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis

In its biblical usage, G1040 signifies affluence and status. It is first mentioned as the clothing of a "certain rich man" who was clothed in purple and fine linen and lived sumptuously Luke 16:19. Later, in the book of Revelation, fine linen is listed among the valuable "merchandise" of the great city Babylon, alongside items like gold, silver, pearls, purple, and silk Revelation 18:12. In both instances, it is presented as a valuable commodity.

Related Words & Concepts

Several related words appear alongside G1040, reinforcing its connection to luxury goods and valuable materials:

  • G4209 porphýra (purple): A garment dyed with a red-blue color, worn by the rich man along with fine linen Luke 16:19 and listed as merchandise of Babylon Revelation 18:12.
  • G4596 sērikós (silk): A silky fabric, listed with fine linen as part of Babylon's commercial inventory Revelation 18:12.
  • G2847 kókkinos (scarlet): A crimson-colored fabric, also listed as a luxury trade good alongside fine linen Revelation 18:12.
  • G3135 margarítēs (pearl): A pearl, which is listed as precious merchandise with fine linen in Revelation's description of Babylon's wealth Revelation 18:12.

Theological Significance

The theological weight of G1040 is symbolic, consistently representing worldly riches and materialism.

  • Symbol of Worldly Wealth: The fine linen worn by the rich man in Luke's parable highlights his focus on earthly comfort and luxury, which stands in contrast to his spiritual state Luke 16:19.
  • Merchandise of a Corrupt System: In Revelation, fine linen is part of the inventory of "Babylon the Great," a system characterized by immense wealth and corruption. Its presence in this list links it to the world's commercial pride that is destined for judgment Revelation 18:12.

Summary

In summary, býssos G1040 is more than just a type of cloth. In its two scriptural appearances, it functions as a powerful symbol of worldly status and material opulence. It is used to characterize individuals and systems focused on earthly possessions, illustrating the trappings of a world often at odds with spiritual values.

How the KJV Renders It

Translation

Strong’s lists the renderings but not their weight. These are counted from the King James text of the tagged verses — the bar under each is how often the translators actually reached for it. Select one to filter the occurrences below.

Grammatical Forms

Morphology

In the Greek New Testament, this word appears as a noun and an adjective across 2 occurrences, inflected in 2 grammatical forms — each row is one form, and the bar is how often it is that form.

  • Accusative Singular Feminine 1×
  • Genitive Singular Neuter 1×
Genitive
Possession or source — often "of".
Accusative
The direct object of the verb.
Singular
One.
Feminine
Feminine grammatical gender.
Neuter
Neuter grammatical gender.

Related Words

Related

Other entries the study above points to — each one is drawn from a reference it makes. Follow the trail to see how the words connect.

G4209 πορφύρα of Latin origin; the "purple" mussel, i.e. (by implication) the red-blue color itself, and finally a garment dyed with i G4596 σηρικός from (an Indian tribe from whom silk was procured; hence the name of the silk-worm); Seric, i.e. silken (neuter as noun G2847 κόκκινος from κόκκος (from the kernel-shape of the insect); crimson-colored:--scarlet (colour, coloured). G3135 μαργαρίτης from (a pearl-oyster); a pearl:--pearl.

Theographic Context

Context

The people, places, and span of history the verses containing this word touch on — drawn from the theographic tagging of Scripture. Select any name to isolate its verses in the occurrence list.

Biblical Distribution

Distribution

Appears in 2 verses across 2 of the 27 books. Most frequent in Luke and Revelation (1 verse each); never once in the other 25.

1
Luke
1
Revelation

Every Occurrence

Concordance

Every verse where the word is tagged in the King James text. Filter by book, by the English word the translators chose, or search within the verses.

Sources. Definition and numbering: James Strong, Exhaustive Concordance of the Bible (1890). Morphology: STEPBible / Tyndale House (CC BY). Verse tagging: the King James text keyed to Strong’s numbers. Every count on this page is computed from the tagged corpus, not estimated.