Word Study for H3831 (לְבוּשׁ)

lᵉbûwsh /leb-oosh'/ Ask about this word

Root(Aramaic) corresponding to לְבוּשׁ

Meaning(a garment (literally or figuratively); by implication (euphemistically) a wife)

KJV usagegarment.

Word Study

In depth

A plain-language study of lᵉbûwsh — 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 Aramaic word lᵉbûwsh, represented by H3831, means garment. It is a specific term appearing only 2 times in 2 unique verses in the Bible. Its usage is split between a literal reference to human clothing and a figurative description of a divine robe.

Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis

In its biblical occurrences, H3831 is used in two distinct contexts within the book of Daniel. It first appears literally, listed among the articles of clothing worn by the three men cast into the fiery furnace, described as their "other garments" Daniel 3:21. The word is then used in a profoundly symbolic way to describe the garment of the Ancient of Days in a divine vision, which was "white as snow" Daniel 7:9.

Related Words & Concepts

The word H3831 appears in a list alongside other Aramaic terms for specific articles of clothing, all found in Daniel 3:21:

H5622 çarbal (coat): This refers to the cloaks worn by the men. The text later notes that these coats were not changed by the fire Daniel 3:27.
H6361 paṭṭîysh (hose): This designates a type of gown or leg covering.
H3737 karbᵉlâʼ (hat): This term refers to the men's headwear.

Theological Significance

The theological weight of H3831 is derived from its two powerful contexts.

Divine Majesty and Purity: In Daniel's vision, the garment of the Ancient of Days being "white as snow" is a powerful symbol of absolute holiness, righteousness, and divine purity Daniel 7:9. It contributes to the imagery of God's supreme and untainted authority.
Witness to Divine Protection: As one of the garments worn by the men thrown into the furnace, the word is part of a scene demonstrating God's miraculous deliverance Daniel 3:21. The survival of their clothing underscores the totality of God's protective power over those who are faithful to Him.

Summary

In summary, while lᵉbûwsh H3831 is used infrequently, its appearances are significant. It functions both as a simple descriptor for human attire in a moment of trial and as a profound symbol for the majestic purity of God. The word marks a contrast between the garments of men subjected to fiery judgment and the glorious, pure garment of the ultimate Judge.

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 Hebrew Old Testament, this word appears as a noun across 2 occurrences, inflected in 2 grammatical forms — each row is one form, and the bar is how often it is that form. Select any form to read what each part of its name means, and to filter the occurrence list to it.

לְבֻשֵׁי
לְבוּשֵׁ

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

2 verses, all in Daniel — and none of the other 38 Old Testament books.

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, by grammatical form, 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.