Linen­ - The Holy Cloth

Linen comes from the fiber of the flax plant, and is the oldest “vegetable” material used for clothing. It is natural that since it has been around so long that it would have been mentioned in the Bible. Linen was not easily dyed, and so was usually left white, which was its natural color, and this might be part of the reason it was seen as a symbol of purity. There are frequent mentions of it in this context in the Old Testament.

As far back as the Hebrew captivity and the story of Moses, linen was involved. One of the seven plagues directed against the Egyptians destroyed crops, and the Bible states that “the flax and the barley was smitten.” Flax is the plant that yields the fibers woven in linen.

As the story continued, and the Tabernacle became the center of worship for the Tribes of Israel, the curtains were made of fine linen. Aaron, the high priest, wore a linen coat and a linen mitre when he entered the holy place.

In the New Testament’s Book of Revelations, the final book of the Bible, John is given a revelation of what was to be the future of mankind by seven angels holding in their hands the past and future of mankind. They were clothed in pure white linen. The final quotations from the same book inform us that those of us who get chosen for eternal life and happiness are going to be wearing white garments made of linen. This a fact most comforting to linen manufactures and sellers today who can anticipate having gainful employment in heaven handling the demand for robes.

The idea that linen is associated with purity is not solely a Biblical concept. In the 2nd century AD, Plutarch informed us that the Priests of Isis were wearing linen robes because of it supposed purity. The white color and antiquity of linen has much to do with its association with religion, but its longevity could also play a role. Linen mummy covers recovered from 6000 year old tombs in Egypt were virtually intact although all other fabrics had long since turned to dust. This is caused by the fabrics natural resistance to microbes, a fact that makes linen an ideal and sanitary cloth for bedding. Early man might have viewed this remarkable ability to seemingly last forever with a bit more superstitious eye, and might view linen as not merely a practical fabric, but a true gift from the gods.

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