מַסֶּכֶת
something expanded, i.e. the warp in aloom (as stretched out to receive the woof)
Definition
The Hebrew noun מַסֶּכֶת refers to the 'warp' of a loom—the set of lengthwise threads that are stretched out taut on the frame to provide the foundation for weaving. In its two biblical occurrences, it specifically denotes the tightly stretched warp threads into which the 'woof' or weft is woven. This imagery is used metaphorically in Judges 16:13-14 to describe part of the loom to which Samson's hair was attached, representing a woven structure or 'web.' The word conveys the idea of something expanded, spread out, and made firm as a base for construction.
Biblical Usage
This word appears only twice in the Old Testament, both in the narrative of Samson and Delilah in Judges 16. In Judges 16:13, Delilah tells Samson, 'If you weave the seven locks of my head with the web (מַסֶּכֶת).' In Judges 16:14, the text describes how she 'fastened it with the pin, and said to him, “The Philistines are upon you, Samson!”' In both verses, the term is used in the context of weaving and entrapment, referring to the loom's warp as part of the mechanism intended to bind Samson.
Etymology
מַסֶּכֶת derives from the root נָסַךְ (nāsakh, H5259), which broadly means 'to pour out' or 'to spread out.' In this nominal form, the sense shifts from the act of pouring to the state of being spread out or expanded, fitting the image of threads stretched across a loom. This connection highlights how the word's meaning developed from a verb of action to a noun describing a prepared, stationary foundation.
Semantic Range
While מַסֶּכֶת itself is a technical weaving term, its use in Judges 16 carries theological weight in the story of Samson. It symbolizes the schemes of entrapment and betrayal that Delilah employs against God's chosen deliverer. Understanding this as the foundational 'warp' threads enriches the reading by emphasizing how Samson's strength—a divine gift—was progressively ensnared in a carefully constructed 'web' of deception, mirroring the spiritual entanglement of his vows. The word subtly underscores themes of vulnerability, cunning opposition, and the consequences of broken covenant.
In ancient Israelite culture, weaving was a common and vital household craft, primarily done by women. The loom's warp (מַסֶּכֶת) was the essential, fixed framework that made weaving possible. This tangible, everyday object would be immediately familiar to the original audience. The metaphorical use in Judges leverages this familiarity to make Delilah's actions concrete: she is not just betraying Samson but using the very tools of domestic life to bind a warrior, blending the ordinary with the treacherous.
מַחֲבֶרֶת (maḥăbereth, H4229) — a 'thing joined,' often a fabric or web, but with a focus on the joining itself rather than the stretched foundation. אֶרֶג (ʾereg, H707) — a general term for 'weaver' or 'loom,' referring to the whole apparatus or craft, not specifically the warp threads.
Word Details
How this works
Hebrew definitions are from Brown-Driver-Briggs (1906) and Strong's Exhaustive Concordance (1890), both public domain. BDB was groundbreaking for its era but reflects 19th-century assumptions about Semitic etymology. Modern scholarship (HALOT, DCH) has revised many entries. Use these definitions as a starting point for exploration, not as the final word on a term's meaning in context.
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