FLAX (פִּשְׁתָּה, H7325, λίνον, G3351). The word pishtâh occurs in Exodus 9:31; Isaiah 42:3; and 43:17. This could be tr. “wick.” Pēshet occurs seven times (Josh 2:6; Judg 15:14; Prov 31:13; Isa 19:9; Ezek 40:3; Hos 2:5, 9), but the word can be tr. “linen.” In Matthew 12:20, the linon is a quotation from Isaiah 42:3.

Flax was grown in Pal. before the arrival of the Israelites, for Rahab (Josh 2:1, 6), hid the two spies under the stems of flax she had drying on the flat roof of her house. The cloth made from local-grown flax would have been welcomed by the Jews, whose clothes, after their long trek, might have been wearing out.

Solomon congratulates a good wife who separates the fibers of the flax and makes fine linen (Prov 31:13). Fine flax is mentioned in Isaiah 19:9, when it is obvious that white cloth and thin white linen were made.

It is obvious that the Egyptians knew about growing flax. Making linen for Pharaoh gave Joseph fine linen clothes, and after the Israelites had escaped from Egypt, and had “spoiled the Egyptians,” they were able to make fine linen priestly garments for Aaron and his sons.

Solomon knew the value of linen, and seems to have made it a state monopoly. Linen was used also as sails for yachts (Ezek 27:7). In the NT linen towels and napkins are mentioned (John 11:44; 13:4). Linen also was used for the wrappings of dead bodies (Mark 15:46).

It is generally believed that the flax was Linum usitatissimum which grows two to four ft. high and bears beautiful blue flowers (there are occasionally white varieties). The plants were grown until they were ripe, when they were pulled up whole and laid out to dry. To lose a crop of flax was serious, and could be one of God’s punishments (Hos 2:9).

The capsules of flax are called “bols,” and the bolled flax is the mature flax, ready for harvesting and drying. Bundles of flax are soaked in water for three or four weeks. This causes what is called “retting”; i.e., the fibers separate, and it is only then that the threads can be combed.

Of course, the best linen was used for wrapping the body of our Lord, while “the church”—the bride of the risen Lord—is “arrayed in fine linen” (Rev 19:8 KJV) and the angels themselves are robed in pure white linen also (15:6 RSV).

Linen is the oldest of textile fibers, and was evidently graded into three types—(a) coarse (Ezek 9:2); (b) better texture (Exod 26:1); (c) really fine and expensive (Esth 8:15).

Incidentally, the Talmud gives full instructions as to how orthodox Jews should harvest, bleach and prepare linen used by the rabbis.