Topical Encyclopedia
Wool, a textile fiber obtained from sheep and certain other animals, holds significant importance in the biblical context, both as a practical material and a symbol with spiritual implications. In ancient times, wool was a primary material for clothing and other textiles, valued for its warmth and durability. The Bible references wool in various contexts, illustrating its role in daily life, religious practices, and metaphorical teachings.
Biblical References and UsesWool is mentioned in several passages throughout the Bible, highlighting its common use and significance. In the book of Leviticus, wool is noted in the context of the priestly garments. The high priest's ephod, a sacred vestment, was made of fine linen and wool, signifying purity and holiness (
Leviticus 19:19). The prohibition against mixing wool and linen in garments, as stated in
Deuteronomy 22:11, underscores the importance of maintaining distinctiveness and purity in the Israelites' daily lives.
In
Proverbs 31:13, the virtuous woman is described as one who "selects wool and flax and works with eager hands," illustrating the industrious nature and skill required in textile production. This passage highlights the value of wool in the household economy and the diligence of a godly woman.
Symbolism and Spiritual SignificanceWool also carries symbolic meaning in the Scriptures. In
Isaiah 1:18, the Lord uses wool as a metaphor for purity and forgiveness: "Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red as crimson, they shall be like wool." Here, wool represents the cleansing and transformative power of God's forgiveness, turning the stain of sin into purity.
The imagery of wool is further employed in the book of Revelation, where the hair of the glorified Christ is described as "white like wool, as white as snow" (
Revelation 1:14). This description emphasizes the purity, wisdom, and eternal nature of Christ, drawing a parallel between the whiteness of wool and divine holiness.
Economic and Social ContextIn the ancient Near East, wool was a valuable commodity, integral to the economy and trade. Sheep were a primary source of wool, and their care and shearing were essential aspects of pastoral life. The production and trade of woolen goods contributed to the wealth and sustenance of families and communities.
The significance of wool in the biblical world is also evident in its use as a medium of exchange and a measure of wealth. In
2 Kings 3:4, Mesha, the king of Moab, is described as a sheep breeder who paid tribute to the king of Israel with "a hundred thousand lambs and the wool of a hundred thousand rams," indicating the economic value of wool in international relations and tribute systems.
ConclusionWool, as depicted in the Bible, serves as a multifaceted symbol and practical resource. Its presence in Scripture reflects its importance in ancient society, its role in religious and cultural practices, and its enduring symbolism of purity and divine transformation. Through its various references, wool provides insight into the daily life, economy, and spiritual teachings of the biblical world.
Smith's Bible Dictionary
Woolwas an article of the highest value among the Jews, as the staple material for the manufacture of clothing. (Leviticus 13:47;22:11;Job 31:20;Proverbs 31:13;Ezekiel 34:3;Hosea 2:5) The importance of wool is incidentally shown by the notice that Mesha's tribute was paid in a certain number of rams "with the wool." (2 Kings 3:1) The wool of Damascus was highly prized in the mart of Tyre. (Ezekiel 27:18)
Easton's Bible Dictionary
One of the first material used for making woven cloth (
Leviticus 13:47, 48, 52, 59;
19:19). The first-fruit of wool was to be offered to the priests (
Deuteronomy 18:4). The law prohibiting the wearing of a garment "of divers sorts, as of woollen and linen together" (
Deuteronomy 22:11) may, like some other laws of a similar character, have been intended to express symbolically the separateness and simplicity of God's covenant people. The wool of Damascus, famous for its whiteness, was of great repute in the Tyrian Market (
Ezek. 27:18).
Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary
1. (
n.) The soft and curled, or crisped, species of hair which grows on sheep and some other animals, and which in fineness sometimes approaches to fur; -- chiefly applied to the fleecy coat of the sheep, which constitutes a most essential material of clothing in all cold and temperate climates.
2. (n.) Short, thick hair, especially when crisped or curled.
3. (n.) A sort of pubescence, or a clothing of dense, curling hairs on the surface of certain plants.
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia
WOOLwool (tsemer; erion): Wool and flax were the fibers most used by the ancient weavers. Wool was used principally for the outside garments (Leviticus 13:48Proverbs 31:13Ezekiel 34:3Hosea 2:5, 9). Syrian wool is found on the world's markets today, but it is not rated as first quality, partly because it is so contaminated with thorns, straw and other foreign matter which become entangled with the wool while the sheep are wandering over the barren, rocky mountain sides in search of food. Extensive pastures are almost unknown.
Two kinds of wool are sold:
(1) That obtained by shearing. This is removed from the animal as far as possible in one piece or fleece usually without previous washing. The fleeces are gathered in bales and carried to a washing-place, which is usually one of the stony river beds, with but a small stream flowing through it during the summer. The river bed is chosen because the rocks are clean and free from little sticks or straw which would cling to the washed wool. The purchaser of this washed wool submits it to a further washing with soap, ishnan (alkali plant), "soapwort", or other cleansing agent (see FULLER), and then cards it before spinning and weaving. The wool thus obtained is nearly snow white.
(2) The second supply of wool is from the tanneries where the wool is removed from the skins with slaked lime (see TANNER). This is washed in many changes of water and used for stuffing mattresses, quilts, etc., but not for weaving.
Gideon used a fleece of wool to seek an omen from God (Judges 6:37). Mesha, king of Moab, sent a large quantity of wool as a tribute to the king of Israel (2 Kings 3:4). Wool was forbidden to be woven with linen (Deuteronomy 2:11; compareLeviticus 19:19). Priests could not wear woolen garments (Ezekiel 44:17). Wool dyed scarlet with the qermes was used in the blood-covenant ceremony (Hebrews 9:19; compare Leviticus 14;Numbers 19:6).
The whiteness of wool was used for comparison
(1) with snow (Psalm 147:16);
(2) with sins forgiven (Isaiah 1:18);
(3) with hair (Daniel 7:9Revelation 1:14).
James A. Patch
Greek
2053. erion --wool... 2052, 2053. erion. 2054 .
wool. Part of Speech: Noun, Neuter Transliteration:
erion Phonetic Spelling: (er'-ee-on) Short Definition:
wool Definition:
wool.
...2440. himation -- an outer garment, a cloak, robe
... [2440 ("a robe") was often made ofwool with openings for the head and arms, and
worn loosely the 5509 ("the under-tunic").]. Word Origin dim....
1102. gnapheus -- one who cleans woolen cloth
... Word Origin from knapto (to cardwool) Definition one who cleans woolen
cloth NASB Word Usage launderer (1). cleaner, launderer....
Strong's Hebrew
6015. amar --wool... 6014b, 6015. amar. 6016 .
wool. Transliteration: amar Phonetic Spelling:
(am-ar') Short Definition:
wool. Word Origin (Aramaic) of
...6785. tsemer --wool
...wool. Transliteration: tsemer Phonetic Spelling: (tseh'-mer) Short Definition:wool.
Word Origin from an unused word Definitionwool NASB Word Usagewool (16)....
3768. karpas -- cotton or fine linen
... 1). byssus or fine vegetablewool. Of foreign origin; byssus or fine vegetable
wool: 3767, 3768. karpas. 3769 . Strong's Numbers.
8162. shaatnez -- mixed stuff
... Probably of foreign derivation; linsey- woolsey, ie Cloth of linen andwool carded
and spun together -- garment of divers sorts, linen and wollen....
Library
But those Who, in the Opinion of Celsus, Resemble the Workers in...
... Chapter LVIII. But those who, in the opinion of Celsus, resemble the workers
inwool in private? But those who, in the opinion...
Fasting, and the Goat Sent Away, were Types of Christ.
... "And all of you spit upon it, and pierce it, and encircle its head with scarlet
wool, and thus... But why is it that they place thewool in the midst of thorns?...
The Red Heifer a Type of Christ.
... a heifer, and slay and burn it, and, that then boys should take the ashes, and put
these into vessels, and bind round a stick [1542] purplewool along with...
Gideon and the Fleece.
... The sign Gideon asked for was, that when he laid a fleece ofwool on the ground,
if the victory were to be his, then the fleece should be wet and the ground dry...
Some Other Memorable Places of the City.
... VI. "The street of those that dealt inwool.". "In... R. Jose saith, That this
was in the street of those that dealt inwool.". Josephus...
Hebrews ix. 15-18
... he says) "when Moses had spoken every precept to all the people according to the
law, he took the blood of calves, with water, and scarletwool, and hyssop...
How Love Effects the Union of the Soul with God in Prayer.
... This is nothing else than to increase union; as does precious ointment or balm,
which, falling upon cotton-wool, so sinks into it and unites itself to it more...
On Clothes.
... clothes and food, and superfluities in general, as unnecessary; what are we to imagine
ought to be said of love of ornament, and dyeing ofwool, and variety of...
Diamond and his Mother Sat Down Upon the Edge of the Rough Grass...
... are the whitest sheep. with the woolliestwool. and the longestwool. and the
trailingest tails.... awake or asleep. with the woolliestwool. and the trailingest...
From the First Chapter.
... 14. "And His head and His hairs were white as it were whitewool, and as it were
snow."] On the head the whiteness is shown; "but the head of Christ is God...
Thesaurus
Wool (34 Occurrences)... The first-fruit of
wool was to be offered to the priests (Deuteronomy 18:4). The
law prohibiting the wearing of a garment "of divers sorts, as of woollen and
...Wool-cutters (2 Occurrences)
Wool-cutters.Wool,Wool-cutters.Wool-cutting . Multi-Version Concordance
Wool-cutters (2 Occurrences). 1 Samuel 25:7 I have had...
Wool-cutting (1 Occurrence)
Wool-cutting.Wool-cutters,Wool-cutting. Woolen . Multi-Version
ConcordanceWool-cutting (1 Occurrence). Genesis 38...
Woolen (6 Occurrences)
... Noah Webster's Dictionary 1. (a.) Made ofwool; consisting ofwool; as, woolen goods....
3. (n.) Cloth made ofwool; woolen goods. Multi-Version Concordance...
Fleece (6 Occurrences)
... Thewool of a sheep, whether shorn off or still attached to the skin (Deuteronomy
18:4; Job 31:20).... 6. (vt) To spread over as withwool. Int....
Woof (9 Occurrences)
... Leviticus 13:48 whether it is in warp, or woof; of linen, or ofwool; whether in
a skin, or in anything made of skin; (WEB KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV)....
Knitted (9 Occurrences)
... Knitted (9 Occurrences). Leviticus 13:48 whether it is in warp, or woof; of linen,
or ofwool; whether in a skin, or in anything made of skin; (See NIV)....
Leather (34 Occurrences)
... Leviticus 13:48 If it is in the threads of the linen or of thewool, or in leather,
or in anything made of skin; (BBE NAS NIV). Leviticus...
Spinning
... spinning. The materials commonly spun were flax, cotton,wool, goats' hair.
Goats...Wool was first cleansed and then carded. The present...
Article (17 Occurrences)
... (See NAS RSV NIV). Leviticus 13:48 whether it is in warp, or woof; of linen, or
ofwool; whether in a skin, or in anything made of skin; (See NAS)....
Resources
Why does the Bible speak against wearing clothing made of different types of fabric? | GotQuestions.orgWhat does shabbat mean? | GotQuestions.orgWhat was the significance of the commands against mixing different things in Deuteronomy 22:9 11? | GotQuestions.orgWool: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.comBible Concordance •
Bible Dictionary •
Bible Encyclopedia •
Topical Bible •
Bible Thesuarus
