Lexical Summary chor: Hole, cave, den Original Word: חוֹר Strong's Exhaustive Concordance network The same as chuwr; white linen -- network. Compare chor. see HEBREW chuwr see HEBREW chor NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Originsee choray. Brown-Driver-Briggs חוֺרָ֑י noun masculine white stuff, compare I. חוּר; וְאֹרְגִים חוֺרָ֑י Isaiah 19:9 and (those) weaving white stuff. Topical Lexicon Canonical Occurrence Strong’s Hebrew 2355 appears only once, in Isaiah 19:9, within Isaiah’s oracle against Egypt: “Those who work with flax will despair, the weavers of fine linen will lose hope” (Isaiah 19:9). The word designates a bleached or dazzling‐white cloth—an article associated with skilled craftsmanship, economic prosperity and, by implication, purity. Cultural and Economic Background In the ancient Near East Egypt was renowned for its flax industry. Linen fabrics woven along the Nile were prized throughout the Mediterranean world. Isaiah singles out the artisans who “weave” this white textile to underscore just how far‐reaching Egypt’s impending collapse would be. If even its signature trade failed, every other sector of society would also crumble (compare Isaiah 19:10). Prophetic Backdrop in Isaiah 19 Isaiah declares that the LORD will “stir up Egyptian against Egyptian” (Isaiah 19:2) and “dry up the waters of the sea” (Isaiah 19:5). The resulting social chaos and ecological devastation would ruin agriculture, fishing and textile production alike. The inclusion of חוֹר highlights the completeness of divine judgment: from palace counselors (Isaiah 19:11–13) all the way down to ordinary weavers, none escape the sovereign hand of God. Symbolic and Theological Resonance 1. Purity and righteousness. White linen later becomes a biblical symbol of moral purity: priests minister in “fine linen” (Exodus 28:39), saints are given “fine linen, bright and clean” in heavenly worship (Revelation 19:8). The judgment upon the producers of such cloth foreshadows the spiritual bankruptcy of any nation that exalts its own splendor over obedience to God. Intertextual Connections • Exodus 26:1; 28:42 – priestly garments of white linen stress holiness. Practical Ministry Applications • Stewardship: Skills and commerce are God’s gifts (Deuteronomy 8:17–18); they must serve His purposes, not human pride. Summary Strong’s 2355 חוֹר, though mentioned only once, threads together themes of economic might, divine judgment, and the ultimate quest for purity. Isaiah’s brief reference to Egypt’s white linen weavers calls every generation to recognize that genuine security and righteousness are found solely in allegiance to the Lord. Forms and Transliterations חוֹרָֽי׃ חורי׃ choRai ḥō·w·rāy ḥōwrāyLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance Isaiah 19:9 HEB: שְׂרִיק֑וֹת וְאֹרְגִ֖ים חוֹרָֽי׃ KJV: and they that weave networks, shall be confounded. INT: combed and the weavers networks 1 Occurrence |
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