CORD, ROPE (חֶ֫בֶל֮, H2475; עֲבֹת, H6310; מֵיתָר, H4798; חוּט, H2562; יֶ֫תֶר֮, H3857; אַגְמﯴן, H109; σχοινίον, G5389; ζευκτηρία, G2415; σκευή, G5006). Names for cord or rope made of twisted strands or strips of goat or camel hair, sinew, leather, vine or plant fibers, even of chains of gold (Exod 28:24, 25), used for a variety of purposes in the OT and NT.

Ancient Egyptian and Mesopotamian art shows rope being used as riggings of a ship, bowstrings, binding on prisoners, whips, etc.

Of the several OT words for rope or cord, חֶ֫בֶל֮, H2475, one of the most common, is used for pulling and lowering objects (Josh 2:15; 2 Sam 17:13; also עֲבֹת, H6310, Isa 5:18); tying materials together (Ezek 27:24); steadying a tent by cords (Isa 33:20; also מֵיתָר, H4798, Jer 10:20; יֶ֫תֶר֮, H3857, Job 4:21); securing a ship’s mast with ropes (Isa 33:23); measuring distances (Zech 2:1); setting traps (fig. Ps 140:5); and symbolizing captivity (1 Kings 20:31, 32). עֲבֹת, H6310, in addition, is used for binding of prisoners (Judg 15:13, 14), a wild ox (Job 39:10), a sacrificial animal at the altar (Ps 118:27), as well as to indicate the two twisted cords of gold on the high priest’s breast piece (Exod 28:14, 24).

Beside being ordinary tent ropes (Jer 10:20) מֵיתָר, H4798, indicates the cords of the Tabernacle (Exod 35:18; 39:40), and the string of a bow (Ps 21:12). See also יֶ֫תֶר֮, H3857, Psalm 11:2 the same strong material possibly being used in Judges 16:7, 8, 9.

חוּט, H2562, is a cord dyed scarlet (Josh 2:18) and is relatively small (Song of Solomon 4:3), as well as a heavy threefold (Eccl 4:12 RSV) cord.

אַגְמﯴן, H109, a “bulrush,” once indicates rope with which to lead an animal (Job 41:2).

Of the sparse NT references, σχοινίον, G5389, (used twice) is a whip of “cords” (rushes used for animal bedding) (John 2:15) and a rope to hold a ship’s life boat in place (Acts 27:32); ζευκτηρία, G2415, is used once for rudder ropes (Acts 27:40); and σκευή, G5006, “tackle,” prob. included ropes (Acts 27:19).

Bibliography J. B. Pritchard, ANEP (1954), figs. 1, 7, 10, 298, 332; R. J. Forbes, Studies in Ancient Technology, IV (1956), 2-80.