The Hebrew word lᵉbûwsh, represented by H3830, is a term for a garment. It appears 32 times across 32 unique verses. While its primary meaning is a literal garment or apparel, it is also used figuratively to represent abstract qualities and even a wife.
Beyond its basic denotation, H3830 carries an inherent semantic weight related to identity and social standing. A garment is not merely a covering but often a visual declaration of who one is, what one does, or what one's circumstances are. The very act of putting on lᵉbûwsh (from its root H3847, "to put on") signifies a transformation or assumption of a role, whether temporary or permanent. This is subtly embedded in its usage, suggesting that the apparel is intrinsically linked to the persona or condition it represents.
In the biblical narrative, H3830 is used to describe a wide array of clothing. It can denote royal attire, such as the "royal apparel of blue and white" worn by Mordecai Esther 8:15. It is also used for garments of mourning and humility, as when David made sackcloth his clothing Psalms 35:13. The word can refer to basic clothing needed for survival, with Job speaking of the naked who perish for want of clothing (Job 31:19, Job 24:7). In prophecy, it is used symbolically, as when the disciples cast lots for the Messiah's vesture Psalms 22:18, and when a divine figure from Edom is described as "glorious in his apparel" Isaiah 63:1.
The usage of H3830 also illuminates the socio-economic aspects of ancient Israel and surrounding cultures. It frequently denotes garments of opulence and distinction, signifying wealth or royal status, as seen in the "wrought gold" clothing of the king's daughter Psalms 45:13 or the "blue and purple" apparel crafted for idols, reflecting their perceived value Jeremiah 10:9. Conversely, garments could be indicators of extreme suffering or defilement; Job laments how his "garment changed" due to disease Job 30:18, and the prophet mourns those whose lᵉbûwsh became so blood-polluted that "men could not touch their garments" Lamentations 4:14, marking them as unclean. Furthermore, the word appears in practical contexts, such as the source of material for clothing, with "lambs. for thy clothing" Proverbs 27:26, and even in military descriptions, like Joab's "garment that he had put on" 2 Samuel 20:8, showing its everyday application beyond symbolic uses.
Several related words expand upon the concept of garments and being clothed:
- H3847 lâbash (to put on a garment or clothe): This is the primitive root verb from which H3830 is derived. It signifies the act of getting dressed, as when Mordecai was arrayed by Haman Esther 6:11.
- H899 beged (a covering, i.e. clothing): A common synonym often used in parallel with H3830. The heavens "shall wax old like a garment" and be changed like a vesture Psalms 102:26.
- H4403 malbûwsh (a garment, or (collectively) clothing): Another noun for apparel, used interchangeably with H3830 when vestments were brought out for the worshippers of Baal 2 Kings 10:22.
- H8242 saq (coarse loose cloth or sacking): This specifies the material for garments of mourning. It was forbidden to enter the king's gate clothed with sackcloth Esther 4:2.
- H3682 kᵉçûwth (a cover (garment)): This word for a covering is used alongside H3830 to emphasize the plight of the poor who lack both clothing and a covering in the cold Job 24:7.
- H3831 lᵉbûwsh (Aramaic corresponding to lᵉbûwsh): This Aramaic cognate demonstrates the semantic stability of the term across closely related Semitic languages, carrying the same fundamental meaning of "garment" or "clothing" in Aramaic texts.
The theological and figurative weight of H3830 is significant, using physical clothing to explain intangible truths.
- A Metaphor for Character: The word is used to personify abstract qualities. For the virtuous woman, "Strength and honour are her clothing" Proverbs 31:25. In a negative sense, it is said that one "covereth violence with his garment" Malachi 2:16.
- A Symbol of Divine Creation: God's creative acts are depicted as dressing the world. He "made the cloud the garment thereof" for the sea Job 38:9 and covered the deep "as with a garment" Psalms 104:6.
- An Image of Transience: The created heavens are likened to clothing that ages and is replaced. They will "wax old like a garment; as a vesture shalt thou change them, and they shall be changed" Psalms 102:26, highlighting God's permanence.
- A Sign of Divine Judgment: H3830 is employed to portray God's active involvement in judgment and vengeance. The striking image of a divine warrior "glorious in his apparel" Isaiah 63:1 whose "apparel" is "red" like one who "treadeth in the winefat" Isaiah 63:2 vividly depicts the Lord executing justice, with the garments themselves stained by the blood of His enemies. This imagery underscores the active, physical manifestation of divine wrath.
The Hebrew word H3830, lᵉbûwsh, serves as a foundational term for "garment" or "apparel" throughout the Old Testament, appearing in 32 distinct verses. While literally denoting clothing, its semantic range extends to profound figurative and theological applications.
On a literal level, lᵉbûwsh encompasses a broad spectrum of attire, from the opulent royal apparel worn by Mordecai Esther 8:15 and the "wrought gold" clothing of a king's daughter Psalms 45:13, to the humble sackcloth of mourners like David Psalms 35:13, and the essential coverings needed by the poor Job 24:7. Beyond mere covering, these garments often signify the wearer's identity, status, or condition, whether it be wealth, destitution, or military readiness 2 Samuel 20:8. The term also highlights the practicalities of clothing, such as its source Proverbs 27:26 and its susceptibility to defilement or decay, as seen in the blood-stained garments of the afflicted Lamentations 4:14 or the transient nature of heavens likened to aging clothing Psalms 102:26. Its Aramaic cognate, H3831, further affirms the stability of this core concept across related languages.
Theologically, lᵉbûwsh emerges as a potent metaphor for abstract qualities, portraying "strength and honour" as the "clothing" of a virtuous woman Proverbs 31:25 or conversely, concealing "violence" Malachi 2:16. It illustrates God's majestic creative power, depicting the sea's cloud "garment" Job 38:9 and the deep being covered "as with a garment" Psalms 104:6. Furthermore, the word powerfully symbolizes divine judgment, as the Lord is pictured with "dyed garments" and "red. apparel" from Bozrah, signifying His vengeance Isaiah 63:1, Isaiah 63:2. In essence, H3830 transcends its physical referent to articulate deep truths about human identity, societal structure, and the awe-inspiring attributes of God.
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