Topical Encyclopedia
Definition and Usage in Biblical Times:Rope, a strong, thick line made of fibers or strands twisted together, was an essential tool in ancient times, used for a variety of purposes including construction, agriculture, and navigation. In the Bible, ropes are mentioned in several contexts, often symbolizing strength, bondage, or deliverance.
Biblical References:1.
Construction and Binding: Ropes were crucial in construction and binding activities. In the building of the Tabernacle, ropes would have been used to secure the tent and its coverings. Although not explicitly mentioned in the context of the Tabernacle, ropes were undoubtedly part of the practical tools used by the Israelites.
2.
Symbol of Bondage: Ropes often symbolize bondage or captivity. In
Judges 16:11, Samson is bound with new ropes by the Philistines, which he subsequently breaks: "He said to her, 'If they bind me with new ropes that have never been used, then I will become weak and be like any other man.'" This illustrates the use of ropes as a means of restraint and the miraculous strength given to Samson by God.
3.
Deliverance and Escape: Ropes also play a role in accounts of deliverance. In
Joshua 2:15, Rahab uses a rope to help the Israelite spies escape from Jericho: "Then she let them down by a rope through the window, for her house was in the wall of the city, and she lived in the wall." This act of faith and courage is pivotal in the narrative of Israel's conquest of Jericho.
4.
Nautical Use: In
Acts 27:32, ropes are mentioned in the context of a shipwreck: "So the soldiers cut the ropes to the lifeboat and set it adrift." This highlights the use of ropes in navigation and the management of ships, a common practice in the ancient Mediterranean world.
5.
Metaphorical Use: Ropes are sometimes used metaphorically in Scripture. In
Ecclesiastes 4:12, the strength of unity is illustrated with the imagery of a cord: "Though one may be overpowered, two can defend themselves. A cord of three strands is not quickly broken." This metaphor emphasizes the strength found in unity and companionship.
Cultural and Historical Context:In ancient Near Eastern cultures, ropes were typically made from materials such as flax, hemp, or other plant fibers. The process of making rope involved twisting fibers together to create a strong and durable line. Ropes were indispensable in daily life, used for tasks ranging from drawing water from wells to securing loads on animals.
Theological Implications:The use of ropes in the Bible often carries deeper theological meanings. They can represent human limitations and the need for divine intervention, as seen in the account of Samson. Conversely, ropes can also symbolize God's provision and protection, as in the escape of the spies from Jericho. The imagery of a strong cord in Ecclesiastes underscores the biblical principle of community and mutual support.
Conclusion:While ropes are a simple and practical tool, their presence in biblical narratives often points to larger themes of strength, deliverance, and unity. Through these accounts, believers are reminded of God's power to break the bonds of captivity and His call for unity among His people.
Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary
1. (
n.) A large, stout cord, usually one not less than an inch in circumference, made of strands twisted or braided together. It differs from cord, line, and string, only in its size. See Cordage.
2. (n.) A row or string consisting of a number of things united, as by braiding, twining, etc.; as, a rope of onions.
3. (n.) The small intestines; as, the ropes of birds.
4. (v. i.) To be formed into rope; to draw out or extend into a filament or thread, as by means of any glutinous or adhesive quality.
5. (v. t.) To bind, fasten, or tie with a rope or cord; as, to rope a bale of goods.
6. (v. t.) To connect or fasten together, as a party of mountain climbers, with a rope.
7. (v. t.) To partition, separate, or divide off, by means of a rope, so as to include or exclude something; as, to rope in, or rope off, a plot of ground; to rope out a crowd.
8. (v. t.) To lasso (a steer, horse).
9. (v. t.) To draw, as with a rope; to entice; to inveigle; to decoy; as, to rope in customers or voters.
10. (v. t.) To prevent from winning (as a horse), by pulling or curbing.
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia
ROPErop: Used in the Old Testament for chebhel, "that which binds" (2 Samuel 17:13, etc.), and for `abhoth, "that which is woven" (Judges 15:13, etc.). In neither word is any specified thickness or strength connoted, and chebhel is translated equally well by "line" (2 Samuel 8:2, etc.) or "cord" (Joshua 2:15, etc.), and `abhoth by "cord" (Psalm 118:27, etc.), as best suits the context. Similarly in the New Testament the word schoinion, literally, "made of rushes" can mean the rope by which a boat is fastened (Acts 27:32) or small cords suitable for a whip (John 2:15). The usual material for ropes was certainly flax (hemp), but the Egyptians, and so possibly the Hebrews, at times made ropes of leathern thongs.
SeeCORD;LINE; SHIPS AND BOATS, III, 2.
Burton Scott Easton
Greek
4979. schoinion -- arope (made of rushes)... a
rope (made of rushes). Part of Speech: Noun, Neuter Transliteration: schoinion
Phonetic Spelling: (skhoy-nee'-on) Short Definition: a cord,
rope Definition: a
...4553. sargane -- a plaitedrope, hence a hamper, basket
... a plaitedrope, hence a hamper, basket. Part of Speech: Noun, Feminine Transliteration:
sargane Phonetic Spelling: (sar-gan'-ay) Short Definition: a basket...
2202. zeukteria -- bands, ropes
... band. Feminine of a derivative (at the second stage) from the same as zugos; a
fastening (tiller-rope) -- band. see GREEK zugos. (zeukterias) -- 1 Occurrence....
996. boetheia -- help
... help. From boethos; aid; specially, arope or chain for frapping a vessel -- help.
see GREEK boethos. (boetheiais) -- 1 Occurrence. (boetheian) -- 1 Occurrence....
4522. sagene -- a dragnet
... From a derivative of satto (to equip) meaning furniture, especially a pack-saddle
(which in the East is merely a bag of nettedrope); a "seine" for fishing...
Strong's Hebrew
5364. niqpah -- an encirclingrope... 5363, 5364. niqpah. 5365 . an encircling
rope. Transliteration: niqpah
Phonetic Spelling: (nik-paw') Short Definition:
rope. Word
...5688. aboth -- cord,rope, cordage
... aboth or aboth or abothah. 5689 . cord,rope, cordage. Transliteration: aboth
or aboth or abothah Phonetic Spelling: (ab-oth') Short Definition: cords....
2256. chebel -- cord, territory, band
... Or chebel {khay'-bel}; from chabal; arope (as twisted), especially a measuring
line; by implication, a district or inheritance (as measured); or a noose (as...
100. agmon -- a rush, bulrush
... Word Origin from the same as agam Definition a rush, bulrush NASB Word Usage bulrush
(2), reed (1),rope (1), rushes (1). bulrush, caldron, hook, rush....
3499. yether -- remainder, excess, preeminence
... From yathar; properly, an overhanging, ie (by implication) an excess, superiority,
remainder; also a smallrope (as hanging free) -- + abundant, cord, exceeding...
2256a. chebel -- cord, territory, band
... cord (2), cords (13), group (2), line (4), lines (2), measurement (1), measuring
line (1), noose (1), portion (3), portions (2), region (5),rope (1), ropes (7...
2254. chabal -- to bind, pledge
... A primitive root; to wind tightly (as arope), ie To bind; specifically, by a pledge;
figuratively, to pervert, destroy; also to writhe in pain (especially of...
2614. chanaq -- to strangle
... A primitive root (compare chanak); to be narrow; by implication, to throttle, or
(reflex.) To choke oneself to death (by arope) -- hang self, strangle....
1379. gabal -- to bound, border
... A primitive root; properly, to twist as arope; only (as a denominative from gbuwl)
to bound (as by a line) -- be border, set (bounds about). see HEBREW gbuwl....
Library
A Startling Statement
... There was a shortrope lying near by, and seizing this a man ran with his
companions to the point from which the man had jumped....
Cast Your Eye Round the Room in which You Sit...
... If a man found a coil ofrope in a desert he could at least think of all the things
that can be done with a coil ofrope; and some of them might even be...
Rational Belief.
... They thought they had two ropes fastened to the car, but one of them only was fastened,
and they unfastened that onerope, and the balloon started to go up....
Personal Experience
... Above the chasm there seemed suspended arope securely fastened and strong enough
to hold my weight, and it seemed that I could easily take hold of thisrope...
John Chapter ii. 21-Dec
... For indeed every man twists for himself arope by his sins: "Woe to them who draw
sins as a longrope?" [240] Who makes a longrope? He who adds sin to sin....
Ye have Given no Heed to False Teachers.
... of God the Father, and drawn up on high by the instrument of Jesus Christ, which
is the cross, [543] making use of the Holy Spirit as arope, while your faith...
The Story of the Stranger at the Well
... He was thirsty, too; and as he looked into the well he could see the water a hundred
feet below, but he had norope with which to let down a cup or a jar to...
Of the Care with which a Monk Should Preserve the Recollection of...
... of God and are borne along, as it were, with their steps suspended on a line stretched
out on high, may be rightly compared torope dancers, commonly called...
On God and his Perfections
... Now while one of these men is hanging over the fearful precipice, his life
is entirely in the hands of those holding therope above....
To Bishop Iren??us.
... [1613] Matthew 10:23. [1614] The word in the text for basket is sargane, a basket
of twisted work (srg) commonlyrope--the word used by St....
Thesaurus
Rope (10 Occurrences)... See Cordage. 2. (n.) A row or string consisting of a number of things united,
as by braiding, twining, etc.; as, a
rope of onions.
...Rush-rope (1 Occurrence)
Rush-rope. Rushing, Rush-rope. Rust . Multi-Version Concordance
Rush-rope (1 Occurrence). Job 41:2 Wilt thou put a rush...
Cart-rope (1 Occurrence)
Cart-rope. Cart, Cart-rope. Cart-ropes . Multi-Version Concordance
Cart-rope (1 Occurrence). Isaiah 5:18 Woe unto them...
Drawer (1 Occurrence)
... In the case of a cistern or shallow well, an earthenware water jar or a bucket made
of tanned goats' skin is lowered into the water by arope and then raised...
Cord (47 Occurrences)
... Isaiah (5:18) says, "Woe unto them that draw iniquity with cords of vanity, and
sin as it were with a cartrope." This verse is thus given in the Chaldee...
Spinning
... The various fibers, mentioned above, to be made into thread, were gathered into
a looserope which was wound around a distaff or about the left hand....
Sling (11 Occurrences)
... 5. (n.) A loop ofrope, or arope or chain with hooks, for suspending a barrel,
bale, or other heavy object, in hoisting or lowering....
Water (4571 Occurrences)
... In the case of a cistern or shallow well, an earthenware water jar or a bucket made
of tanned goats' skin is lowered into the water by arope and then raised...
Whip (7 Occurrences)
... 8. (vt) To overlay (a cord,rope, or the like) with other cords going round and
round it; to overcast, as the edge of a seam; to wrap; -- often with about...
Cart (12 Occurrences)
... A "cartrope," for the purpose of fastening loads on carts, is used (Isaiah 5:18)
as a symbol of the power of sinful pleasures or habits over him who indulges...
Resources
Did the high priest have a rope tied to him when he entered the Holy of Holies? | GotQuestions.orgWhat is the significance of a scarlet thread? | GotQuestions.orgHow can I gain an eternal perspective on life? | GotQuestions.orgRope: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.comBible Concordance •
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