Bible Dictionary: Embroidery

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Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary

1. (n.) Needlework used to enrich textile fabrics, leather, etc.; also, the art of embroidering.

2. (n.) Diversified ornaments, especially by contrasted figures and colors; variegated decoration.

International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

EMBROIDERY

em-broid'-er-i (riqrnah; the King James Version Needlework):

Riqmah was applied to any kind of cloth which showed designs in variegated colors. The method of manufacture is unknown. The designs may have been woven into cloth or drawn in by a needle or hook (Judges 5:30 Psalm 45:14 Ezekiel 16:10, 13, 18; Ezekiel 26:16; Ezekiel 27:7, 16, 24).

Ma`aseh raqam is translated "the work of the embroiderer" in the Revised Version (British and American) instead of "needlework" (Exodus 26:36; Exodus 27:16; Exodus 28:39; Exodus 36:37; Exodus 38:18; Exodus 39:29 Judges 5:30 Psalm 45:14).

Raqam, "embroiderer," occurs in Exodus 35:35; Exodus 38:23. The fact that this word is used instead of `aragh, "weaver," would lead us to suppose that the embroiderers' work was either different from that of the weaver or that a "raqam" was especially skilled in fine weaving. Another word, choshebh, is used to describe a skillful weaver. "Cunning work" in the King James Version of Exodus 26:1, 31; Exodus 28:6, 15; 35:33, 15; 36:8, 35; 39:3, 1 is rendered in the American Standard Revised Version "work of the skillful workmen." The passage has been freely rendered "designers."

In the Revised Version (British and American) of Exodus 28:39 shabhats is translated "weave."

In Exodus 28:4 occurs the word tashbets, which is translated "broidered" in the King James Version and "checker work" in the Revised Version (British and American). If this kind of work is what it is supposed to be, it is more truly "needlework" than the embroidery. This work is still done in some of the Syrian cities and towns, especially in Damascus. Small caps for men to wear under their ordinary headdress and loose outer garments or dressing-gowns are the forms in which it is commonly seen. The checker-work effect is obtained by sewing in a cotton string between two pieces of cloth, so as to form designs. The patterns Usually run to straight lines such as zigzags or squares. The effect is striking, and we can well imagine would have made an impressive priest's robe, especially if costly materials were used.

See also CRAFTS.

James A. Patch

Strong's Hebrew

7553. riqmah -- variegated stuff
... Word Origin from raqam Definition variegated stuff NASB Word Usage embroidered
(4), embroidered cloth (2), embroidered work (3), embroidery (1), many colors (1 ...
/hebrew/7553.htm - 6k

Library

Deborah's Song
... A damsel, two damsels to every man; To Sisera a spoil of divers colours, A spoil
of divers colours of embroidery, Of divers colours of embroidery on both sides ...
/.../various/select masterpieces of biblical literature/iv deborahs song.htm

Devout Customs and Usages
... "The Stole is a strip of silk about three inches wide and eight and a half
feet long, with ends ornamented by embroidery and fringed. ...
/.../regester/the worship of the church/devout customs and usages.htm

Marriage of the Blessed virgin to Joseph
... The maidens employed themselves with embroidery and other forms of decoration of
carpets and vestments, and also with the cleaning of these vestments and of ...
/.../emmerich/the life of the blessed virgin mary/vii marriage of the blessed.htm

The Presentation of the Blessed virgin in the Temple
... Above this table was a picture in some sort of embroidery or needlework which hung
like a curtain in front of a kind of little cupboard containing scrolls of ...
/.../emmerich/the life of the blessed virgin mary/iii the presentation of the.htm

The Portrait of the Bride
... consisting in garments gleaming with gold, which suggests splendour and glory, and
partly in robes of careful and many-coloured embroidery, which suggests the ...
/.../maclaren/expositions of holy scripture j/the portrait of the bride.htm

The Temples and the Gods of Chaldaea
... or sculptured friezes on the external walls of their buildings; and even then its
employment suggested rather that of a band of embroidery carefully disposed ...
/.../chapter iithe temples and the.htm

Samuel, the Little Server
... the long months in between, her fingers were busy making him a little coat of a
beautiful blue stuff, sewed with a border of exquisite embroidery, blue and ...
/.../steedman/the babe in the bulrushes/samuel the little server.htm

List of Books for Reference
... "The Congregation in Church." Mowbray & Co., London. "Church Needlework." Lambert.
"Embroidery for Church Guilds." Woodward. "Church Vestments." Dolby. ...
/.../regester/the worship of the church/list of books for reference.htm

For State Reasons, the Various Orders of the Citizens Also are ...
... This appellation is given to the crowns which, distinguished by their gems and oak
leaves of gold, they put on, with mantles having an embroidery of palm ...
/.../tertullian/the chaplet or de corona/chapter xiii for state reasons.htm

Victory Over Death.
... It runs like a coloured thread through embroidery, appearing on the upper surface
every now and then in a different shape"a leaf, it may be, or a flower; but ...
/.../robertson/sermons preached at brighton/xvii victory over death.htm

Thesaurus

Embroidery (12 Occurrences)
... Int. Standard Bible Encyclopedia. EMBROIDERY. ... If this kind of work is what it is
supposed to be, it is more truly "needlework" than the embroidery. ...
/e/embroidery.htm - 13k

Byssus (40 Occurrences)
... (DBY). Exodus 26:36 And thou shalt make for the entrance of the tent a curtain of
blue, and purple, and scarlet, and twined byssus, of embroidery. (DBY). ...
/b/byssus.htm - 19k

Figured (4 Occurrences)
... Ezekiel 16:10 And I clothe thee with embroidery, And I shoe thee with badger's skin,
And I gird thee with fine linen, And I cover thee with figured silk. (YLT). ...
/f/figured.htm - 8k

Broidery (1 Occurrence)
... Noah Webster's Dictionary (n.) Embroidery. Multi-Version Concordance Broidery (1
Occurrence). Judges 5:30 Are they not finding, are they not dividing the spoil? ...
/b/broidery.htm - 6k

Assyria (124 Occurrences)
... MECHANICS VIII. FURNITURE, POTTERY AND EMBROIDERY IX. LANGUAGE, LITERATURE AND SCIENCE
X. GOVERNMENT AND ARMY XI. ... VIII. Furniture, Pottery and Embroidery. ...
/a/assyria.htm - 101k

Entrance (190 Occurrences)
... Exodus 26:36 And thou shalt make for the entrance of the tent a curtain of blue,
and purple, and scarlet, and twined byssus, of embroidery. (DBY NIV). ...
/e/entrance.htm - 37k

Needlework (23 Occurrences)
... Noah Webster's Dictionary 1. (n.) Work executed with a needle; sewed work; sewing;
embroidery; also, the business of a seamstress. ... See EMBROIDERY. ...
/n/needlework.htm - 14k

Vest (11 Occurrences)
... (DBY). Exodus 28:39 And thou shalt weave the vest of byssus; and thou shalt make
a turban of byssus; and thou shalt make a girdle of embroidery. (DBY). ...
/v/vest.htm - 11k

Worsted (1 Occurrence)
... 3. (n.) Fine and soft woolen yarn, untwisted or lightly twisted, used in knitting
and embroidery. Multi-Version Concordance Worsted (1 Occurrence). ...
/w/worsted.htm - 7k

Work (4564 Occurrences)
... work, or the works, of Addison. (b) Flowers, figures, or the like, wrought
with the needle; embroidery. 5. (n.) Structures in civil ...
/w/work.htm - 12k

Bible Concordance

Embroidery (12 Occurrences)

Exodus 26:36 And thou shalt make for the entrance of the tent a curtain of blue, and purple, and scarlet, and twined byssus, of embroidery.
(DBY)

Exodus 28:39 And thou shalt weave the vest of byssus; and thou shalt make a turban of byssus; and thou shalt make a girdle of embroidery.
(DBY)

Exodus 36:37 And he made a curtain for the entrance of the tent of blue, and purple, and scarlet, and twined byssus, of embroidery;
(DBY)

Exodus 38:18 And the curtain of the gate of the court was of embroidery of blue, and purple, and scarlet, and twined byssus; and the length was twenty cubits, and the height like the breadth, five cubits, just as the hangings of the court;
(DBY)

Exodus 39:29 and the girdle, of twined byssus, and blue, and purple, and scarlet, of embroidery; as Jehovah had commanded Moses.
(DBY)

Judges 5:30 Have they not found, have they not divided the spoil? A damsel, two damsels to every man; To Sisera a spoil of dyed garments, A spoil of dyed garments embroidered, Of dyed garments embroidered on both sides, on the necks of the spoil?
(See JPS NAS)

Psalms 45:14 She shall be brought unto the king in raiment of embroidery; the virgins behind her, her companions, shall be brought in unto thee:
(DBY)

Ezekiel 16:10 And I clothe thee with embroidery, And I shoe thee with badger's skin, And I gird thee with fine linen, And I cover thee with figured silk.
(YLT)

Ezekiel 16:13 And thou dost put on gold and silver, And thy clothing 'is' fine linen, And figured silk and embroidery, Fine flour, and honey, and oil thou hast eaten, And thou art very very beautiful, And dost go prosperously to the kingdom.
(YLT)

Ezekiel 16:18 And dost take the garments of thy embroidery, And thou dost cover them, And My oil and My perfume thou hast set before them.
(YLT)

Ezekiel 27:7 Of fine linen with embroidery from Egypt hath been thy sail, To be to thee for an ensign, Of blue and purple from isles of Elishah hath been thy covering.
(YLT)

Ezekiel 27:16 Aram 'is' thy merchant, Because of the abundance of thy works, For emerald, purple, and embroidery, And fine linen, and coral, and agate, They have given out thy remnants.
(YLT)

Subtopics

Embroidery

Embroidery in Blue and Purple and Scarlet on the Curtains of the Tabernacle

Embroidery: Bezaleel and Aholiab Divinely Inspired For, in the Work of the Tabernacle

Embroidery: On the Garments of Princes

Embroidery: On the Garments of Sisera

Embroidery: On the Garments of Women

Embroidery: On the Girdle and Coat of the High Priest, Intermingled With Gold

Related Terms

Byssus (40 Occurrences)

Figured (4 Occurrences)

Broidery (1 Occurrence)