Hastings' Dictionary of the Bible (1898)
SILK. The only undoubted reference to silk occurs in Rev 18:12. It is a question whether the Hebrews knew anything about it, although there are two passages in which a word so translated is employed. Prov 31:22; Eze 16:10, 2 Kgs 11:13. The "silk" of the A.V. is rather byssus, or fine linen. But in N.T. times silk was common.