מֶשִׁי
silk (as drawn from the cocoon)
Definition
The Hebrew noun מֶשִׁי (meshîy) refers specifically to silk, understood as the fine, luxurious thread drawn from the cocoon of the silkworm. In its two biblical occurrences, it denotes a high-value textile used for opulent garments. The word appears exclusively in Ezekiel's extended metaphor describing Jerusalem as a woman adorned by God (Ezekiel 16:10, 13). There are no distinct alternate meanings; it consistently signifies the material 'silk'.
Biblical Usage
This word is used only twice in the Old Testament, both times in the book of Ezekiel. It appears in a highly poetic and metaphorical context within Ezekiel's allegory of God's relationship with Jerusalem. In Ezekiel 16:10 and 16:13, silk is listed among other luxurious materials—fine linen, embroidered work, gold, and silver—that God uses to lavishly adorn the personified city, symbolizing His bestowed beauty and wealth.
Etymology
The noun מֶשִׁי (meshîy) is derived from the root מָשָׁה (māshâ, H4871), meaning 'to draw out' or 'to pull out.' This etymology directly connects to the process of drawing out the fine filaments from a silkworm's cocoon to produce silk thread. The word's formation highlights the material's origin and method of production.
Semantic Range
While 'silk' itself is a material object, its use in Ezekiel 16 carries significant theological weight. It is part of a catalog of extravagant blessings God bestows upon Jerusalem, symbolizing His grace, covenant love, and the elevation of His people from a state of abandonment to one of glorious beauty. Understanding this specific, costly material enriches the reader's grasp of the depth of God's provision and the tragedy of Jerusalem's subsequent spiritual adultery, as described in the same chapter.
In the ancient Near East, silk was an exceptionally rare and expensive import, likely originating from the Far East (e.g., China). Its mention in Ezekiel (6th century BC) indicates it was a known luxury item among the elite in Judah, symbolizing the pinnacle of wealth and refined status. For the original audience, hearing 'silk' in this prophecy would immediately evoke ideas of extravagant royal splendor and opulence far beyond everyday experience.
שֵׁשׁ (shêsh, H8336) — fine linen, a more common luxury textile in the ANE. בּוּץ (bûts, H948) — a fine, white linen, also used for priestly garments. פִּשְׁתִּים (pishtîm, H6593) — linen, a more general term for flax-based cloth.
Word Details
How this works
Hebrew definitions are from Brown-Driver-Briggs (1906) and Strong's Exhaustive Concordance (1890), both public domain. BDB was groundbreaking for its era but reflects 19th-century assumptions about Semitic etymology. Modern scholarship (HALOT, DCH) has revised many entries. Use these definitions as a starting point for exploration, not as the final word on a term's meaning in context.
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