Wool

The soft, wavy hair from sheep used to make fabric for clothing; it can symbolize whiteness, purity, and softness.

About Wool

Wool fiber, made from the hair of sheep, was an important product of the ancient Near East.

King Mesha of Moab, a sheep breeder, sent the wool of 100,000 rams as tribute to King Ahab of Israel each year (2 Kings 3:4). The people of Damascus traded wool with Tyre’s merchants (Ezekiel 27:18). Woolen garments were commonly worn by the Israelites (Leviticus 13:47–59; Isaiah 51:8; Hosea 2:5, 9). Woolen garments mingled with linen fabric were forbidden (Deuteronomy 22:11). In fact, wearing any wool was prohibited for Israelite priests serving in the sanctuary’s inner court (Ezekiel 44:17).

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The object itself Article

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

Key References

Isaiah 1:18

“Come now, let us reason together,” says the LORD. “Though your sins are like scarlet, they will be as white as snow; though they are as red as crimson, they will become like wool.

Ezekiel 34:3

You eat the fat, wear the wool, and butcher the fattened sheep, but you do not feed the flock.

All Scripture References (17)

Leviticus (4)
Leviticus 13:47

If any fabric is contaminated with mildew—any wool or linen garment,

Leviticus 13:48

any weave or knit of linen or wool, or any article of leather—

Leviticus 13:52

He is to burn the fabric, weave, or knit, whether the contaminated item is wool or linen or leather. Since the mildew is harmful, the article must be burned up.

Leviticus 13:59

This is the law concerning a mildew contamination in wool or linen fabric, weave, or knit, or any leather article, for pronouncing it clean or unclean.”

Deuteronomy (1)
Deuteronomy 22:11

Do not wear clothes of wool and linen woven together.

Judges (1)
Judges 6:37

then behold, I will place a fleece of wool on the threshing floor. If there is dew only on the fleece and all the ground is dry, then I will know that You are going to save Israel by my hand, as You have said.”

2 Kings (1)
2 Kings 3:4

Now Mesha king of Moab was a sheep breeder, and he would render to the king of Israel a hundred thousand lambs and the wool of a hundred thousand rams.

Psalms (1)
Psalm 147:16

He spreads the snow like wool; He scatters the frost like ashes;

Proverbs (1)
Proverbs 31:13

She selects wool and flax and works with eager hands.

Isaiah (2)
Isaiah 1:18

“Come now, let us reason together,” says the LORD. “Though your sins are like scarlet, they will be as white as snow; though they are as red as crimson, they will become like wool.

Isaiah 51:8

For the moth will devour them like a garment, and the worm will eat them like wool. But My righteousness will last forever, My salvation through all generations.”

Ezekiel (3)
Ezekiel 27:18

Because of your many products and your great wealth of goods, Damascus traded with you wine from Helbon, wool from Zahar,

Ezekiel 34:3

You eat the fat, wear the wool, and butcher the fattened sheep, but you do not feed the flock.

Ezekiel 44:17

When they enter the gates of the inner court, they are to wear linen garments; they must not wear anything made of wool when they minister at the gates of the inner court or inside the temple.

Daniel (1)
Daniel 7:9

As I continued to watch, thrones were set in place, and the Ancient of Days took His seat. His clothing was white as snow, and the hair of His head was like pure wool. His throne was flaming with fire, and its wheels were all ablaze.

Hosea (2)
Hosea 2:7

She will pursue her lovers but not catch them; she will seek them but not find them. Then she will say, ‘I will return to my first husband, for then I was better off than now.’

Hosea 2:11

I will put an end to all her exultation: her feasts, New Moons, and Sabbaths—all her appointed feasts.