Wool (Gr. ἔριον, Heb 9:19; Re 1:4). The fleece of the sheep, as such, was properly called גֵז or גּזָּה, while the material of which it was composed was called צֶמֶר; hence גַזִּת הִצֶּמֶר, a fleece of wool (Jg 6:37). Wool was used by the Hebrews from an early period extensively for clothing (Le 13:47; De 22:11; Job 31:20; Pr 31:13; Eze 34:3; Ho 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" (2Ki 3:4), as well as by its being specified among the first-fruits to be offered to the priests (De 18:4). The wool of Damascus was highly prized in the mart of Tyre (Ezra 27:18), and is compared in the Sept. to the wool of Miletus (ἔρια ἐκ Μιλήτου), the fame of which was widely spread in the ancient world (Pliny 3:73; Virgil, Georg. 3:306; 4:334.) Wool is occasionally cited as an image of purity and brilliancy (Isa 1:18; Da 7:9; Re 1:14), and the flakes of snow are appropriately likened to it (Ps 147:16). The art of dyeing it was understood by the Jews (Mishna, Shab. 1, § 6). SEE SHEEP; SEE WOOLLEN.
The Cyclopedia of Biblical, Theological, and Ecclesiastical Literature was edited by John McClintock and James Strong. It contains nearly 50,000 articles pertaining to Biblical and other religious literature, people, creeds, etc. It is a fantastic research tool for broad Christian study.
John McClintock was born October 27, 1814 in Philadelphia to Irish immigrants, John and Martha McClintock. He began as a clerk in his father's store, and then became a bookkeeper in the Methodist Book Concern in New York. Here he converted to Methodism and considered joining the ministry. McClintock entered the University of Pennsylvania in 1832 and graduated with high honors three years later. Subsequently, he was awarded a doctorate of divinity degree from the same institution in 1848.WikipediaRead More