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