Cord, Rope
Cord, Rope
CORD, ROPE.Hebrew possesses a considerable number of words rendered, without any attempt at uniformity, by cord, rope, and a variety of other terms. It is difficult for the English reader to recognize the same original in the Psalmists bow string (Psa 11:2) and the green withs (RVm [Note: Revised Version margin.] new bowstrings) with which Samson was bound; or again in the tent ropes of Isa 33:20 (EV [Note: English Version.] cords) and the ships tacklings of Isa 33:23. The former set were probably of animal sinews or gut, the latter of twisted flax. The stronger ropes were of three strands (Ecc 4:12). No doubt the fibres of the palm and, as at the present day, goats hair were spun into ropes. The process of rope-making from leather thongs is illustrated on an Egyptian tomb, the wreathen work (lit. rope-work) of Exo 28:14 (see RV [Note: Revised Version.] ), where, however, gold wire is the material used. Ecc 12:6 speaks also of a silver cord, and Job 41:2 of a rope of rushes (see RVm [Note: Revised Version margin.] ). The Gr. word for the cords of our Saviours scourge (Joh 2:15) and the ropes of Act 27:32 also denoted originally such a rope.
The everyday use of cords for binding evil-doers suggested the metaphor of the wicked man holden with the cords of his sin (Pro 5:22), while from the hunters snares comes the figure of Psa 140:5; also the cords of death of Psa 116:3 RV [Note: Revised Version.] .
A. R. S. Kennedy.