Lexical Summary chut: thread, cord, line Original Word: חוּט Strong's Exhaustive Concordance cord, fillet, line, thread From an unused root probably meaning to sew; a string; by implication, a measuring tape -- cord, fillet, line, thread. NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Originfrom an unused word Definition thread, cord, line NASB Translation circumference* (1), cord (1), line (1), thread (4). Brown-Driver-Briggs חוּט noun masculineJoshua 2:18 thread, cord, line (Late Hebrew id.; Arabic  , Aramaic  , חוּטָא) — ׳ח absolute Genesis 14:23 2t.; construct Joshua 2:18+ 3t.; — 1 thread, as easily broken Judges 16:12 (simile); as composing a rope or cord; הַשָּׁנִי הַזֶּה ׳תִּקְוַת ח Joshua 2:18 (JE) this cord of scarlet thread (literally the cord of this thread of scarlet); probably also מִחוּט וְעַד שְׂרוֺךְ נַעַל Genesis 14:23 from a thread to a sandal-thong; in simile ׳כְּח הַשָּׁנִי Songs 4:3 like a thread of scarlet are thy lips. 2 cord, הַמְּשֻׁלָּשׁ ׳הַח Ecclesiastes 4:12 a three-fold cord. 3 line, as measure of length 1 Kings 7:15 and a line of twelve cubits surrounded (i.e. would surround) it (compare קָו 1 Kings 7:23), so Jeremiah 52:21. חִוִּי see below II. חוה. Topical Lexicon Overview The Hebrew noun חוּט (“thread, cord, string”) appears seven times across the Old Testament, functioning both literally and figuratively. Whether denoting a single strand, a measuring line, or a multi-ply rope, it consistently conveys ideas of limitation, connection, measurement, and strength. Canonical Occurrences • Genesis 14:23. Abram refuses even “a thread or the strap of a sandal” from the king of Sodom, underscoring God alone as his provider and safeguarding the purity of covenant blessing. Symbolic Trajectories 1. Covenant Integrity. Abram’s refusal of even a thread (Genesis 14) and Rahab’s display of the scarlet cord (Joshua 2) frame the word with covenant overtones—one negative (refusal of pagan enrichment), one positive (embrace of redemptive promise). Historical Background Threads and cords in the Ancient Near East served diverse roles: sewing tents, binding sandals, marking property, measuring construction, and signaling agreements (e.g., colored cords as badges). Dyed linen or wool—especially scarlet—required costly extraction from insects or shellfish, so a scarlet cord would have been conspicuous and precious, fitting its redemptive role in Joshua. Ministry and Theological Application • Integrity in Provision. Abram’s stance challenges believers to trust God over worldly patronage. Intertextual Echoes The New Testament frequently employs kindred imagery: believers “knit together in love” (Colossians 2:2), “held together by every supporting ligament” (Ephesians 4:16), and perfected by the “measuring line” of Christ’s full stature. The “scarlet” of Rahab resonates with Hebrews 11:31, where her faith secures a place among the faithful cloud of witnesses. Conclusion Across narrative, wisdom, poetry, and prophetic description, חוּט intertwines themes of covenant fidelity, divine strength, communal resilience, and redemptive beauty. From Abram’s refusal of a mere thread to the unbreakable threefold cord, Scripture wields the humble strand to remind God’s people that the smallest element, when consecrated to Him, serves grand purposes in His unfolding plan. Forms and Transliterations וְהַחוּט֙ וְח֛וּט וְחוּט֙ והחוט וחוט חוּט֩ חוט כְּח֤וּט כַּחֽוּט׃ כחוט כחוט׃ מִחוּט֙ מחוט chut ḥūṭ ka·ḥūṭ kaChut kaḥūṭ kə·ḥūṭ keChut kəḥūṭ mi·ḥūṭ miChut miḥūṭ veChut vehaChut wə·ha·ḥūṭ wə·ḥūṭ wəhaḥūṭ wəḥūṭLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance Genesis 14:23 HEB: אִם־ מִחוּט֙ וְעַ֣ד שְׂרֽוֹךְ־ NAS: that I will not take a thread or a sandal KJV: That I will not [take] from a thread even to a shoelatchet, INT: will not A thread against thong Joshua 2:18 Judges 16:12 1 Kings 7:15 Ecclesiastes 4:12 Songs 4:3 Jeremiah 52:21 7 Occurrences |
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