"made of fine linen or fine cotton, Rev. 18:16; 18:8 (2x), 14*"
Definition and meaning
made of fine linen or fine cotton, Rev. 18:16; 18:8 (2x), 14*
In the original Greek the word is written: βύσσινος
Historical context
Domitian required people across the empire to address him as Dominus et Deus — Lord and God. Christians who refused to burn incense before the emperor's image faced economic exclusion and imprisonment. The book was written in apocalyptic imagery that believers would recognize but Roman authorities would not — a letter of resistance written to people being crushed by the most powerful empire on earth.
The people who first heard this word were not reading a book — they were living through empires, oppression, exile, and covenant. Every word carried the weight of that reality. Understanding it changes how you read Scripture.
Scripture references
These are the most notable occurrences of byssinos (G1039) across the King James Bible.
And saying, Alas, alas, that great city, that was clothed in fine linen, and purple, and scarlet, and decked with gold, and precious stones, and pearls!
And to her was granted that she should be arrayed in fine linen, clean and white: for the fine linen is the righteousness of saints.
And the armies which were in heaven followed him upon white horses, clothed in fine linen, white and clean.
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Common questions
Strong's G1039 (byssinos) is a Greek word that means: made of fine linen or fine cotton, Rev. 18:16; 18:8 (2x), 14* It appears 3 times in the King James Bible.
The word byssinos (G1039) appears 3 times in the original Greek text.
Strong's G1039 is byssinos, a Greek word defined as: made of fine linen or fine cotton, Rev. 18:16; 18:8 (2x), 14*. James Strong catalogued this in his 1890 concordance to help English readers study the original languages of the Bible.
byssinos is a Greek word found in the New Testament.