Embroidered Cloth

Cloth with beautiful patterns sewn into it by hand, often considered valuable.

Linen cloth embroidered with wool
Linen cloth embroidered with wool (© EgyArt, via Wikimedia Commons) Embroidered cloth, needlework

About Embroidered Cloth

The art of making decorative designs on clothing. This was an art practiced both in the home and as a profession. Embroidery was done on a loom or with a needle. The tabernacle and temple had delicate, embroidered fabrics (Exodus 26:1, 31). The clothing of priests were beautifully embroidered (Exodus 28:6, 8; 39:2). Embroidery was practiced in:

Canaan (Judges 5:30)

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The object itself Article

Form, use in ancient daily life, and how translators render the term.

Key References

Exodus 26:1

“You are to construct the tabernacle itself with ten curtains of finely spun linen, each with blue, purple, and scarlet yarn, and cherubim skillfully worked into them.

Exodus 27:16

The gate of the courtyard shall be twenty cubits long, with a curtain embroidered with blue, purple, and scarlet yarn, and finely spun linen. It shall have four posts and four bases.

Ezekiel 27:7

Of embroidered fine linen from Egypt they made your sail, which served as your banner. Of blue and purple from the coasts of Elishah they made your awning.

All Scripture References (17)

Exodus (8)
Exodus 26:36

For the entrance to the tent, you are to make a curtain embroidered with blue, purple, and scarlet yarn, and finely spun linen.

Exodus 27:16

The gate of the courtyard shall be twenty cubits long, with a curtain embroidered with blue, purple, and scarlet yarn, and finely spun linen. It shall have four posts and four bases.

Exodus 28:39

You are to weave the tunic with fine linen, make the turban of fine linen, and fashion an embroidered sash.

Exodus 35:35

He has filled them with skill to do all kinds of work as engravers, designers, embroiderers in blue, purple, and scarlet yarn and fine linen, and as weavers—as artistic designers of every kind of craft.

Exodus 36:37

For the entrance to the tent, he made a curtain embroidered with blue, purple, and scarlet yarn, and finely spun linen,

Exodus 38:18

The curtain for the entrance to the courtyard was embroidered with blue, purple, and scarlet yarn, and finely spun linen. It was twenty cubits long and, like the curtains of the courtyard, five cubits high,

Exodus 38:23

With him was Oholiab son of Ahisamach, of the tribe of Dan, an engraver, designer, and embroiderer in blue, purple, and scarlet yarn and fine linen.

Exodus 39:29

and the sash of finely spun linen, embroidered with blue, purple, and scarlet yarn, just as the LORD had commanded Moses.

Judges (1)
Judges 5:30

‘Are they not finding and dividing the spoil—a girl or two for each warrior, a plunder of dyed garments for Sisera, the spoil of embroidered garments for the neck of the looter?’

Psalms (1)
Psalm 45:15

They are led in with joy and gladness; they enter the palace of the king.

Ezekiel (7)
Ezekiel 16:10

I clothed you in embroidered cloth and gave you sandals of fine leather. I wrapped you in fine linen and covered you with silk.

Ezekiel 16:13

So you were adorned with gold and silver, and your clothing was made of fine linen, silk, and embroidered cloth. You ate fine flour, honey, and oil. You became very beautiful and rose to be queen.

Ezekiel 16:18

You took your embroidered garments to cover them, and you set My oil and incense before them.

Ezekiel 26:16

All the princes of the sea will descend from their thrones, remove their robes, and strip off their embroidered garments. Clothed with terror, they will sit on the ground, trembling every moment, appalled over you.

Ezekiel 27:7

Of embroidered fine linen from Egypt they made your sail, which served as your banner. Of blue and purple from the coasts of Elishah they made your awning.

Ezekiel 27:16

Aram was your customer because of your many products; they exchanged turquoise, purple, embroidered work, fine linen, coral, and rubies for your wares.

Ezekiel 27:24

In your marketplace they traded with you fine garments of blue, embroidered work, and multicolored rugs with cords tightly twisted and knotted.