אֶרֶג

אֶרֶג

a weaving; a braid; also a shuttle

Definition

The Hebrew noun אֶרֶג (ʼereg) refers to the product or tool of weaving. Its primary meaning is 'a weaving' or 'a braid,' as seen in Judges 16:14, where Delilah weaves Samson's hair into a 'web' or braid on a loom. It can also refer to the 'shuttle,' the tool used to pass the weft thread through the warp on a loom, as in Job 7:6, where Job laments that his days are swifter than a weaver's shuttle. Thus, the word encompasses both the woven fabric itself and the instrument used to create it.

Biblical Usage

This word is used only twice in the Old Testament, in two distinct contexts. In Judges 16:14, it describes the physical braid of hair woven into the loom's web as part of Samson's betrayal. In Job 7:6, it is used metaphorically for the shuttle, symbolizing the swift, fleeting, and ultimately cut-off nature of human life. Both uses are in poetic or narrative contexts emphasizing fragility or deception.

Etymology

Derived from the root verb אָרַג (ʼārag, H707), meaning 'to weave.' This root is the basis for several words related to weaving and looms in Hebrew. The noun אֶרֶג specifically denotes the product of that action (the weaving) or a key instrument (the shuttle) used in the process.

Semantic Range

While not a central theological term, its use in Job 7:6 provides a powerful metaphor for human transience and mortality before God. Understanding this concrete image of the shuttle—moving rapidly only to be cut off—deepens the existential lament in Job's poetry. In Judges 16:14, the 'weaving' is part of the narrative of broken vows and deception, subtly underscoring the theme of entanglement and betrayal. In ancient Israel, weaving was a vital and common domestic craft, primarily done by women. A loom's shuttle was a familiar, fast-moving tool. The metaphor in Job would have been immediately understood by an agrarian audience. The act of weaving hair into a loom, as in the Samson story, might reflect a known magical or binding practice in the ancient Near East, intended to sap strength. מַחֲרָשֶׁת (maḥărašet, H2796) — a cutting tool, ploughshare, or possibly a stylus; distinct as a general tool, not specifically for weaving. חוּט (ḥûṭ, H2339) — a thread; the material used in weaving, not the product or tool.

Word Details