Wool
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.
