τρίχινος

made of hair

Definition

The adjective τρίχινος (trichinos) means 'made of hair' or 'consisting of hair.' In the New Testament, it is used exclusively to describe a specific type of coarse, dark cloth, typically woven from goat's hair, which was used for making sacks and rough garments. This material was associated with mourning, poverty, and repentance. Its sole biblical occurrence is in Revelation 6:12, where it describes the symbolic appearance of the sun becoming 'black as sackcloth made of hair' during a cosmic cataclysm.

Biblical Usage

This word is used only once in the New Testament, in the book of Revelation. It appears in Revelation 6:12 within the vision of the sixth seal being opened, describing the sun becoming 'black as sackcloth made of hair' (ὡς σάκκος τρίχινος). Its usage is purely descriptive and symbolic within an apocalyptic context, emphasizing a scene of profound darkness, mourning, and divine judgment.

Etymology

Derived directly from the Greek noun θρίξ (thrix, G2359), meaning 'a hair.' The adjective suffix -ινος (-inos) indicates 'made of' or 'pertaining to,' forming a word that literally means 'consisting of hair.' It is a straightforward descriptive term in Greek for objects manufactured from hair, most commonly coarse cloth.

Semantic Range

In its sole use in Revelation 6:12, τρίχινος carries significant symbolic weight. The image of the sun turning black 'as sackcloth made of hair' draws on Old Testament imagery where sackcloth signifies mourning, repentance, and calamity (e.g., Genesis 37:34, Jonah 3:5-6). This detail intensifies the apocalyptic scene, portraying not just physical darkness but a cosmos plunged into a state of deep mourning and judgment before God. Understanding this cultural symbol enriches the reading by connecting the verse to a broader biblical theme of creation lamenting in the face of divine wrath.

In the ancient Greco-Roman and Jewish world, cloth 'made of hair' (τρίχινος) referred specifically to cilicium, a coarse, dark fabric woven from goat or camel hair. It was the standard material for making sacks (sackcloth) and rough outer garments. Wearing such sackcloth was a widespread cultural sign of mourning, penitence, poverty, or distress. The modern reader might miss that 'sackcloth' was not just any rough cloth, but had this specific, recognizable composition and associated social meaning.

σάκκος (sakkos, G4526) — The sackcloth itself, the garment or item made from τρίχινος material; the focus is on the object, while τρίχινος describes its composition.

Word Details

Scripture References