Topic
Flax
22 passages cited, from 4 classic reference works.
These works date from 1884–1915 and are in the public domain. They reflect the Protestant scholarship of their time: their history, archaeology and dates can be out of date, and where they interpret, other traditions read the text differently. The verses are shown in the King James Version, the wording these works were written against.
The verses
The passages the works cite, those cited by more of them first.
- Joshua 2:6Easton · Smith · ISBE · Nave In Palestine
But she had brought them up to the roof of the house, and hid them with the stalks of flax, which she had laid in order upon the roof.
- Exodus 9:31Easton · ISBE · Nave In Egypt
And the flax and the barley was smitten: for the barley was in the ear, and the flax was bolled.
- Hosea 2:5Smith · ISBE · Nave Linen made from
For their mother hath played the harlot: she that conceived them hath done shamefully: for she said, I will go after my lovers, that give me my bread and my water, my wool and my flax, mine oil and my drink.
- Hosea 2:9Smith · ISBE · Nave Linen made from
Therefore will I return, and take away my corn in the time thereof, and my wine in the season thereof, and will recover my wool and my flax given to cover her nakedness.
- Leviticus 13:48Easton · ISBE
Whether it be in the warp, or woof; of linen, or of woollen; whether in a skin, or in any thing made of skin;
- Leviticus 13:52Easton · ISBE
He shall therefore burn that garment, whether warp or woof, in woollen or in linen, or any thing of skin, wherein the plague is: for it is a fretting leprosy; it shall be burnt in the fire.
- Leviticus 13:59Easton · ISBE
This is the law of the plague of leprosy in a garment of woollen or linen, either in the warp, or woof, or any thing of skins, to pronounce it clean, or to pronounce it unclean.
- Deuteronomy 22:11Easton · ISBE
¶ Thou shalt not wear a garment of divers sorts, as of woollen and linen together.
- Proverbs 31:13ISBE · Nave Linen made from
She seeketh wool, and flax, and worketh willingly with her hands.
- Isaiah 19:9Smith · ISBE
Moreover they that work in fine flax, and they that weave networks, shall be confounded.
- Isaiah 42:3ISBE · Nave FIGURATIVE — Smoking flax not quenched
A bruised reed shall he not break, and the smoking flax shall he not quench: he shall bring forth judgment unto truth.
- Matthew 12:20ISBE · Nave FIGURATIVE — Smoking flax not quenched
A bruised reed shall he not break, and smoking flax shall he not quench, till he send forth judgment unto victory.
Show 10 more
- Leviticus 13:47 ISBE
- Judges 15:14 ISBE
- Judges 16:9 ISBE
- Esther 1:16 Nave Robes made of
- Isaiah 1:31 ISBE
- Isaiah 19:6 Nave Linen made from
- Isaiah 43:17 ISBE
- Jeremiah 13:1 ISBE
- Ezekiel 40:3 Nave Robes made of
- Ezekiel 44:17 ISBE
In the reference works
Easton's Bible Dictionary (1897) · 6 references
(Heb. pishtah, i.e., “peeled”, in allusion to the fact that the stalks of flax when dried were first split or peeled before being steeped in water for the purpose of destroying the pulp). This plant was cultivated from earliest times. The flax of Egypt was destroyed by the plague of hail when it “was bolled”, i.e., was forming pods for seed (Ex. 9:31). It was extensively cultivated both in Egypt and Palestine. Reference is made in Josh. 2:6 to the custom of drying flax-stalks by exposing them to the sun on the flat roofs of houses. It was much used in forming articles of clothing such as girdles, also cords and bands (Lev. 13:48, 52, 59; Deut. 22:11). (See LINEN.)
Smith's Bible Dictionary (1884) · 4 references
- The drying process.
- The peeling of the stalks and separation of the fibres.
- The hackling. (Isaiah 19:9) That flax was one of the most important crops in Palestine appears from (Hosea 2:5,9)
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia (1915) · 19 references
flaks pesheth, also pishtah; linon (Mt 12:20)): The above Hebrew words are applied
(1) to the plant: "The flax was in bloom" (the King James Version "bolled"; Ex 9:31);
(2) the "stalks of flax," literally, "flax of the tree," put on the roof to dry (Jos 2:6);
(3) to the fine fibers used for lighting: the King James Version "tow," "flax," the Revised Version (British and American). "A dimly burning wick will he not quench" (Isa 42:3); "They are quenched as a wick" (Isa 43:17). The thought is perhaps of a scarcely lighted wick just kindled with difficulty from a spark.
(4) In Isa 19:9 mention is made of "combed flax," i.e. flax hackled ready for spinning (compare Ho 2:5,9; Pr 31:13). The reference in Jud 15:14 is to flax twisted into cords.
(5) In Jud 16:9; Isa 1:31, mention is made of ne`oreth, "tow," literally, something "shaken off"--as the root implies--from flax.
(6) The plural form pishtim is used in many passages for linen, or linen garments, e.g. Le 13:47,48,52,59; De 22:11; Jer 13:1 ("linen girdle"); Eze 44:17 f. Linen was in the earliest historic times a favorite material for clothes. The Jewish priestly garments were of pure linen. Egyptian mummies were swathed in linen. Several other Hebrew words were used for linen garments.
See LINEN.
Flax is the product of Linum usitatissimum, a herbaceous plant which has been cultivated from the dawn of history. It is perennial and grows to a height of 2 to 3 ft.; it has blue flowers and very fibrous stalks. The tough fibers of the latter, after the decay and removal of the softer woody and gummy material, make up the crude "flax." Linseed, linseed oil and oilcake are useful products of the same plant.
E. W. G. Masterman
In the topical indexes
Texts: Easton's Bible Dictionary (1897); Smith's Bible Dictionary (1884); International Standard Bible Encyclopedia (1915); Nave's Topical Bible (1896), from the CrossWire SWORD modules (public domain). Verse references were parsed from the works' own markup and checked against the KJV verse list.