Topic
Cord
40 passages cited, from 4 classic reference works.
These works date from 1884–1915 and are in the public domain. They reflect the Protestant scholarship of their time: their history, archaeology and dates can be out of date, and where they interpret, other traditions read the text differently. The verses are shown in the King James Version, the wording these works were written against.
The verses
The passages the works cite, those cited by more of them first.
- Judges 15:13Easton · ISBE · Nave Ancient uses of — Binding prisoners
And they spake unto him, saying, No; but we will bind thee fast, and deliver thee into their hand: but surely we will not kill thee. And they bound him with two new cords, and brought him up from the rock.
- Psalms 78:55Easton · ISBE · Nave Ancient uses of — Measuring ground
He cast out the heathen also before them, and divided them an inheritance by line, and made the tribes of Israel to dwell in their tents.
- Proverbs 5:22Easton · ISBE · Nave FIGURATIVE — Of sin
¶ His own iniquities shall take the wicked himself, and he shall be holden with the cords of his sins.
- Ecclesiastes 4:12Easton · ISBE · Nave FIGURATIVE — Of friendship
And if one prevail against him, two shall withstand him; and a threefold cord is not quickly broken.
- Hosea 11:4Easton · ISBE · Nave Ancient uses of — Leading or binding animals
I drew them with cords of a man, with bands of love: and I was to them as they that take off the yoke on their jaws, and I laid meat unto them.
- Exodus 35:18Easton · Nave Ancient uses of — Fastening tents
The pins of the tabernacle, and the pins of the court, and their cords,
- Exodus 39:40Easton · Nave Ancient uses of — Fastening tents
The hangings of the court, his pillars, and his sockets, and the hanging for the court gate, his cords, and his pins, and all the vessels of the service of the tabernacle, for the tent of the congregation,
- 2 Samuel 8:2ISBE · Nave Ancient uses of — Measuring ground
And he smote Moab, and measured them with a line, casting them down to the ground; even with two lines measured he to put to death, and with one full line to keep alive. And so the Moabites became David’s servants, and brought gifts.
- 1 Kings 20:31ISBE · Nave Ancient uses of — Worn on the head as a sign of submission
¶ And his servants said unto him, Behold now, we have heard that the kings of the house of Israel are merciful kings: let us, I pray thee, put sackcloth on our loins, and ropes upon our heads, and go out to the king of Israel: peradventure he will save thy…
- Job 36:8ISBE · Nave SYMBOLICAL USES OF — Token in mourning
And if they be bound in fetters, and be holden in cords of affliction;
- Job 39:10ISBE · Nave Ancient uses of — Hitching to cart or plough
Canst thou bind the unicorn with his band in the furrow? or will he harrow the valleys after thee?
- Psalms 2:3Easton · ISBE
Let us break their bands asunder, and cast away their cords from us.
Show 28 more
- Psalms 16:6 ISBE · Nave FIGURATIVE — Of spiritual blessings
- Psalms 118:27 ISBE · Nave Ancient uses of — Leading or binding animals
- Psalms 129:4 Easton · ISBE
- Ecclesiastes 12:6 ISBE · Nave FIGURATIVE — Of life
- Isaiah 5:18 Easton · ISBE
- Isaiah 54:2 ISBE · Nave Ancient uses of — Fastening tents
- Amos 7:17 ISBE · Nave Ancient uses of — Measuring ground
- Micah 2:5 ISBE · Nave Ancient uses of — In casting lots
- Zechariah 2:1 ISBE · Nave Ancient uses of — Measuring ground
- John 2:15 Smith · ISBE
- Acts 27:32 Smith · ISBE
- Numbers 15:38 ISBE
- Joshua 2:15 ISBE
- Joshua 17:14 Nave Ancient uses of — Measuring ground
- Judges 15:14 ISBE
- Judges 16:7 ISBE
- 2 Samuel 2:1–32 Easton
- 2 Samuel 8:1–18 Easton
- 1 Kings 20:31–33 Nave SYMBOLICAL USES OF — Token in mourning
- Job 4:21 Easton
- Job 30:11 ISBE
- Psalms 11:2 ISBE
- Psalms 140:5 ISBE
- Isaiah 19:9 Smith
- Isaiah 33:23 ISBE
- Jeremiah 10:20 ISBE
- Lamentations 2:8 Easton
- Ezekiel 3:25 ISBE
In the reference works
Easton's Bible Dictionary (1897) · 15 references
Frequently used in its proper sense, for fastening a tent (Ex. 35:18; 39:40), yoking animals to a cart (Isa. 5:18), binding prisoners (Judg. 15:13; Ps. 2:3; 129:4), and measuring ground (2 Sam. 8;2; Ps. 78:55). Figuratively, death is spoken of as the giving way of the tent-cord (Job 4:21. “Is not their tent-cord plucked up?” R.V.). To gird one’s self with a cord was a token of sorrow and humiliation. To stretch a line over a city meant to level it with the ground (Lam. 2:8). The “cords of sin” are the consequences or fruits of sin (Prov. 5:22). A “threefold cord” is a symbol of union (Eccl. 4:12). The “cords of a man” (Hos. 11:4) means that men employ, in inducing each other, methods such as are suitable to men, and not “cords” such as oxen are led by. Isaiah (5:18) says, “Woe unto them that draw iniquity with cords of vanity, and sin as it were with a cart rope.” This verse is thus given in the Chaldee paraphrase: “Woe to those who begin to sin by little and little, drawing sin by cords of vanity: these sins grow and increase till they are strong and are like a cart rope.” This may be the true meaning. The wicked at first draw sin with a slender cord; but by-and-by their sins increase, and they are drawn after them by a cart rope. Henderson in his commentary says: “The meaning is that the persons described were not satisfied with ordinary modes of provoking the Deity, and the consequent ordinary approach of his vengeance, but, as it were, yoked themselves in the harness of iniquity, and, putting forth all their strength, drew down upon themselves, with accelerated speed, the load of punishment which their sins deserved.”
Smith's Bible Dictionary (1884) · 3 references
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia (1915) · 35 references
kord (chebhet, yether, methar, `abhoth; schoinion):
(1) The Arabic chab'l corresponds to the Hebrew chebhel and is still the common name for cord or rope throughout the East. Such ropes or cords are made of goat's or camel's hair, first spun into threads and then twisted or plaited into the larger and stronger form. Chebhel is translated rather inconsistently in the Revised Version (British and American) by "cord" (Jos 2:15; Job 36:8, etc.); by "line" (2Sa 8:2; Mic 2:5; Ps 16:6; 78:55; Am 7:17; Zec 2:1); by "ropes" (1Ki 20:31), and by "tacklings" (Isa 33:23).
(2) Yether corresponds to the Arabic wittar, which means catgut. With a kindred inconsistency it is translated the Revised Version (British and American) by "withes" (Jud 16:7 the Revised Version, margin "bowstring"); by "cord" (Job 30:11), where some think it may mean "bowstring," or possibly "rein" of a bridle, and by "bowstring" (Ps 11:2), doubtless the true meaning.
(3) Methar is considered the equivalent of Arabic atnab, which means tent ropes, being constantly so used by the Bedouin. They make the thing so called of goat's or camel's hair. It is used of the "cords" of the tabernacle (Jer 10:20), of the "cords" of the "hangings" and "pillars" of the courts of the tabernacle in Exodus and Numbers, and figuratively by Isa 54:2, "Lengthen thy cords," etc.
(4) `Abhoth is thought to have its equivalent in the Arabic rubuts, which means a band, or fastening. See BAND. It is translated by "cords" in Ps 118:27; 129:4; by "bands" in Eze 3:25; Job 39:10; Ho 11:4; by "ropes" in Jud 15:13,14, and by "cart rope" in Isa 5:18. See CART. See also Nu 15:38 and AMULET. It Seems to have the meaning of something twisted or interlaced.
(5) In the New Testament "cord" is found in Joh 2:15, translating schoinion, but in Ac 27:32 the same Greek word is rendered "ropes."
Figurative:
(1) of affliction (Job 36:8);
(2) of God's laws (Ps 2:3);
(3) of the artifices of the wicked (Ps 129:4; 140:5);
(4) of sinful habits (Pr 5:22);
(5) of true friendship or companionship (Ec 4:12);
(6) possibly of the spinal cord (Ec 12:6);
(7) of falsehood (Isa 5:18);
(8) of the spirit of enterprise and devotion (Isa 54:2);
(9) of God's gentleness.
George B. Eager
In the topical indexes
Nave's Topical Bible (1896) · 22 references, grouped by sub-topic
- → Ancient uses of
- → FIGURATIVE
- → SYMBOLICAL USES OF
- Token in mourning 1Ki 20:31-33; Job 36:8
- Signifying an inheritance Jos 17:14
Texts: Easton's Bible Dictionary (1897); Smith's Bible Dictionary (1884); International Standard Bible Encyclopedia (1915); Nave's Topical Bible (1896), from the CrossWire SWORD modules (public domain). Verse references were parsed from the works' own markup and checked against the KJV verse list.