Dictionary of Bible Themes » 5000 Humanity » 5200 Human civilisation » 5507 rope and cord
Items normally used in domestic and military situations, but also used in Scripture in a symbolic sense to refer to bondage or constraint.
Various uses for rope and cord
In clothes and furnishing
Exodus 28:28,37; Numbers 15:38; 1 Kings 20:31; Esther 1:6; Ezekiel 27:24
For tents
Exodus 35:18; Exodus 39:40; Numbers 3:37; Numbers 4:32; Isaiah 54:2
In sailing
Acts 27:17,32,40
In military use
2 Samuel 17:13
Stringing the bow is a symbolic expression which also reflects actual practice:
Psalm 7:12; Psalm 11:2; Jeremiah 51:3
For rescue and escape
Joshua 2:15; 1 Samuel 19:12; Jeremiah 38:6,13; Acts 9:25; 2 Corinthians 11:33
To restrain animals
Job 39:5; Job 41:1-2; Psalm 32:9; Matthew 21:2 pp Mark 11:2 pp Luke 19:30
To restrain people
Judges 15:13-14; Ezekiel 3:25; Ezekiel 4:8; Matthew 14:3 pp Mark 6:17
Rope and cord as symbols of bondage
Of evil
Proverbs 5:22 See also Psalm 129:4; Psalm 140:5; Isaiah 5:18; Isaiah 58:6; Romans 7:6
Of suffering
Luke 13:16 See also Job 16:8; Job 36:8; Psalm 119:61; Daniel 3:21; Matthew 14:3 pp Mark 6:17; Mark 15:1; John 18:12,24
Of death
Psalm 18:4-5 pp 2 Samuel 22:6 See also Psalm 116:3
Rope and cord as symbols of spiritual and emotional ties
Symbols of loving relationships
Hosea 11:4 See also Ecclesiastes 4:12; Jeremiah 10:20; Romans 7:2
Symbols of obedience
Proverbs 7:2-3 See also Deuteronomy 6:8; Deuteronomy 11:18; Proverbs 3:3; Proverbs 6:20-21
Symbols of life
Ecclesiastes 12:6 See also Psalm 16:6
See also
5236 bow and arrow 5251 chains 5344 imprisonment 5517 seafaring 5578 tents 5690 friends 5934 restraint 6658 freedom 6720 redemption 7254 plumb-line 7921 fellowship 8790 oppression