Original Word: מַלְבּוּשׁ
Part of Speech: Noun Masculine
Transliteration: malbuwsh
Pronunciation: mal-BOOSH
Phonetic Spelling: (mal-boosh')
KJV: apparel, raiment, vestment
NASB: attire, garments, dress, raiment
Word Origin: [from H3847 (לָבַשׁ לָבֵשׁ - clothed)]

1. a garment, or (collectively) clothing

apparel, raiment, vestment

Or malbush {mal-boosh'}; from labash; a garment, or (collectively) clothing -- apparel, raiment, vestment.

see HEBREW labash

Word Origin
from labash
Definition
raiment, attire
NASB Translation
attire (3), dress (1), garments (3), raiment (1).

מַלְבּוּשׁ, [מַלְבֻּשׁ] noun masculine^{Zephaniah 1:8} raiment, attire; — absolute 2 Kings 10:22 2t.; suffix מַלְבּוּשֵׁךְ Ezekiel 16:3; plural suffix מַלְבּוּשַׁי Isaiah 63:3; מַלְבּוּשִׁיהֶם2Chronicles 9:4 (twice in verse), מַלְבֻּשֵׁיהֶם 1 Kings 10:5; — raiment, 2 Kings 10:22 (for worshippers, "" לְבוּשׁ), Job 27:16 (as wealth); of Jerusalem under figure of infant Ezekiel 16:13; נָכְרִי ׳מַל Zephaniah 1:8 foreign attire (accusative with לָבַשׁ); plural of garments of Solomon's servants 1 Kings 10:5 2Chronicles 9:4a, + 2 Chronicles 9:4b; of ׳י under figure of warrior Isaiah 63:3.

Scope and Principal Themes

מַלְבּוּשׁ commonly signifies visible apparel that reflects spiritual, social, and covenant realities. Across its eight occurrences, the term gathers three main motifs: royal distinction, moral exposure, and eschatological judgment.

Royal Distinction and Wisdom

• 1 Kings 10:5; 2 Chronicles 9:4 — The Queen of Sheba is astonished by “the attire of his servants,” recognizing Solomon’s wisdom through ordered garments that mirror the ordered house of God. Court clothing becomes a testimony to divine endowment and godly governance.
• 2 Kings 10:22 — Jehu commands, “Bring out garments for all the worshipers of Baal.” The priestly wardrobe of apostasy is deliberately exposed before destruction, underscoring that garments identify loyalty either to the true King or to idols.

Material Prosperity versus Moral Integrity

• Job 27:16 — “Though he heaps up silver like dust and piles up clothing like clay,” the wicked man’s wardrobe is a fleeting storehouse. Luxurious מַלְבּוּשׁ offers no refuge from divine justice, contrasting sharply with righteousness as lasting covering (compare Isaiah 61:10).

Covenant Blessing and Betrayal

• Ezekiel 16:13 — The prophet recalls Israel’s bridal adornment: “You were adorned with gold and silver, and your clothing was of fine linen, silk, and embroidered cloth.” Mַלְבּוּשׁ here illustrates covenant grace lavishly bestowed; the ensuing unfaithfulness turns the very gift into evidence for indictment (Ezekiel 16:15-16).

Day of the Lord and Purging of Pretension

• Zephaniah 1:8 — “I will punish the princes and the king’s sons and all who are clad in foreign apparel.” Foreign מַלְבּוּשׁ symbolizes syncretism in Judah’s elite. Divine visitation will strip away unfaithful identity markers, reaffirming Yahweh’s exclusive claim.

Messianic Judgment Imagery

• Isaiah 63:3 — The Warrior-Redeemer declares, “I have trodden the winepress alone… their lifeblood spattered My garments, and I stained all My clothing.” Here מַלְבּוּשׁ is drenched in vengeance, foreshadowing Revelation 19:13 where the conquering Christ wears a robe dipped in blood. The stain speaks of both accomplished salvation and irrevocable judgment.

Theological Synthesis

1. Garments testify to allegiance: Solomon’s servants reflect godly order; Baal’s priests, rebellious confusion.
2. External splendor without righteousness is vanity; true covering is found in divine salvation.
3. Covenant gifts, including material attire, call for covenant fidelity.
4. On the Day of the Lord, counterfeit identities will be unmasked; only those clothed in salvation will stand.

Ministry Implications

• Personal holiness: As clothing visibly distinguishes, believers are to “clothe yourselves with the Lord Jesus Christ” (Romans 13:14).
• Corporate worship: Care in outward order can honor God, yet never substitute for inner devotion.
• Prophetic preaching: Mַלְבּוּשׁ imagery grants a vivid vocabulary for urging repentance from materialism and cultural compromise, and for heralding the righteous garments granted by the Gospel.

הַמַּלְבּֽוּשׁ׃ המלבוש׃ וּמַלְבֻּֽשֵׁיהֶם֙ וּמַלְבּ֣וּשֵׁיהֶ֔ם וּמַלְבּֽוּשֵׁיהֶ֗ם וּמַלְבּוּשֵׁךְ֙ ומלבושיהם ומלבושך ומלבשיהם מַלְבּ֥וּשׁ מַלְבּֽוּשׁ׃ מַלְבּוּשַׁ֖י מלבוש מלבוש׃ מלבושי ham·mal·būš hammalbūš hammalBush mal·bū·šay mal·būš malbūš malbūšay malBush malbuShai ū·mal·bu·šê·hem ū·mal·bū·šê·hem ū·mal·bū·šêḵ ūmalbušêhem ūmalbūšêhem ūmalbūšêḵ umalbusheCh umalbusheiHemInterlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel Texts