Sheep: Being Covered With a Fleece
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Topical Encyclopedia
In biblical times, sheep were among the most significant animals in the agrarian society of the ancient Near East. Their value extended beyond their role as a source of food; they were also prized for their wool, which was used to make clothing and other textiles. The fleece of a sheep, a thick covering of wool, is often mentioned in the Bible, symbolizing various spiritual and practical themes.

Symbol of Provision and Blessing

The fleece of a sheep is frequently associated with God's provision and blessing. In the account of Gideon, the fleece becomes a sign of divine assurance. Gideon, seeking confirmation of God's will, places a fleece on the threshing floor and asks for a sign: "If there is dew only on the fleece and all the ground is dry, then I will know that You will deliver Israel by my hand, as You have said" (Judges 6:37). The fleece, wet with dew while the ground remained dry, served as a tangible sign of God's promise and presence.

Metaphor for Innocence and Purity

Sheep, with their white fleece, are often used as metaphors for innocence and purity. This imagery is evident in the sacrificial system of the Old Testament, where lambs without blemish were offered to God as a symbol of atonement for sin. The prophet Isaiah uses this imagery to describe the coming Messiah: "He was oppressed and afflicted, yet He did not open His mouth. He was led like a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before her shearers is silent, so He did not open His mouth" (Isaiah 53:7). The fleece, in its unblemished state, represents the purity and innocence of Christ, the Lamb of God.

Representation of God's Care and Guidance

The imagery of sheep and their fleece also conveys the theme of God's care and guidance for His people. Psalm 23, one of the most beloved passages in Scripture, portrays the Lord as a shepherd who provides for and protects His flock: "The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want. He makes me lie down in green pastures; He leads me beside quiet waters" (Psalm 23:1-2). The fleece, as part of the sheep's covering, symbolizes the protection and provision that God extends to His people, ensuring their needs are met.

Illustration of Spiritual Transformation

The process of shearing a sheep's fleece can also be seen as an illustration of spiritual transformation. Just as the removal of the fleece allows for new growth, believers are called to shed their old selves and be renewed in Christ. The Apostle Paul writes, "You were taught with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires; to be renewed in the spirit of your minds; and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness" (Ephesians 4:22-24). The shearing of the fleece serves as a metaphor for the believer's journey of sanctification and renewal.

Conclusion

The imagery of sheep being covered with a fleece is rich with spiritual significance throughout the Bible. It serves as a symbol of God's provision, purity, care, and the transformative work He accomplishes in the lives of His people. Through the lens of Scripture, the fleece of a sheep becomes a profound representation of the divine truths that underpin the Christian faith.
Torrey's Topical Textbook
Job 31:20
If his loins have not blessed me, and if he were not warmed with the fleece of my sheep;
Torrey's Topical Textbook

Library

Book ii. --Of the Harmony of the Old and New Laws.
... The Shepherd who hath lost the sheep Himself. ... This mortal form be wholly covered; ...
are fated, so to speak, to die, and are under the sad fate of being "dead in ...
/.../fathers of the third century tertullian appendix/book ii of the harmony of.htm

Moody's Stories
... he started into the water, and the old sheep looked up ... I remember being in a meeting
after the Civil War ... found him outside, with his face all covered with dirt ...
//christianbookshelf.org/moody/moodys stories/moodys stories.htm

The Creation of Moving Creatures.
... Men like this are ravening wolves covered with sheep's clothing, as the Lord calls
them. ... [1630] He is present everywhere and gives to each being the means ...
/.../basil/basil letters and select works/homily vii the creation of.htm

Chapter xxxi
... particular class of the off-colour sheep or goats ... original agreement, which was to
have covered all relations between the two, was always being invalidated by ...
/...//christianbookshelf.org/leupold/exposition of genesis volume 1/chapter xxxi.htm

The First Commandment
... The seraphim, who stood about God's throne, covered their faces ... which one would do,
the other, being equal, would ... The sheep run to the hedges for shelter, and ...
/.../watson/the ten commandments/2 1 the first commandment.htm

The Absurdity and Impiety of the Heathen Mysteries and Fables ...
... know that, having killed their third brother, they covered the head ... of wrath, even
as others; but God, being rich in ... as if it had been the fleece of a sheep. ...
/.../clement/exhortation to the heathen/chapter ii the absurdity and impiety.htm

Christ is Glorious --Let us Make Him Known
... Here are his sheep in these pastures this morning, and ... in the mighty waters." The
depths have covered them; they ... by us, must be looked upon as being entirely a ...
/.../spurgeon/spurgeons sermons volume 10 1864/christ is gloriouslet us make.htm

The Third Continental Journey.
... space in the neighborhood of the quiet sheep, and spread ... and in the sweet stillness
which covered our spirits ... 18th."Being anxious to get to Patras in time to ...
/.../chapter xii the third continental.htm

On the Clause, and Shall Come in Glory to Judge the Quick and the ...
... thy vesture shalt thou be known for a sheep. ... Lectures, the great battle of Singara
being fought in ... The highways were covered with troops of Bishops, galloping ...
/.../cyril/lectures of s cyril of jerusalem/lecture xv on the clause.htm

Chaldaean Civilization
... left to right along the upper part of the tablet, and covered both sides ... shape of
these documents varied, and sometimes strikes us as being peculiar: besides ...
/.../chapter iiichaldaean civilization.htm

Resources
What is the significance of sheep in the Bible? | GotQuestions.org

Who are the “other sheep” mentioned in John 10:16? | GotQuestions.org

What is sheep stealing? | GotQuestions.org

Sheep: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.com

Bible ConcordanceBible DictionaryBible EncyclopediaTopical BibleBible Thesuarus
Subtopics

Sheep

Sheep Gate

Sheep Gate: An Ancient Gate of Jerusalem

Sheep Market

Sheep Market of Jerusalem

Sheep of Backsliders

Sheep of Lost Sinners

Sheep of the Defenselessness of Servants of God (Greek: Diakonoi)

Sheep of the Jews

Sheep of the People of Christ

Sheep of the Righteous

Sheep of the Wicked in Their Death

Sheep of Those Under God's Judgment

Sheep Tending

Sheep were Frequently: Cut off by Disease

Sheep were Frequently: Destroyed by Wild Beasts

Sheep were Frequently: Given As Presents

Sheep were Frequently: Given As Tribute

Sheep were Frequently: Taken in Great Numbers in War

Sheep: (In Patience and Simplicity) of Patience, of Christ

Sheep: (In Proneness to Wander) of Those Who Depart from God

Sheep: (Lost) of the Unregenerate

Sheep: (Separation from the Goats) the Separation of Saints

Sheep: (When Found) Restored Sinners

Sheep: Agile

Sheep: Also: Bozrah

Sheep: Also: Jacob's Management of

Sheep: Also: Kedar

Sheep: Also: Nebaioth

Sheep: Also: Sharon

Sheep: Being Covered With a Fleece

Sheep: Bleating of, Alluded To

Sheep: Clean and Used As Food

Sheep: Constituted a Great Part of Patriarchal Wealth

Sheep: False Prophets Assume the Simple Appearance

Sheep: Feasting at the Time of Shearing

Sheep: Females of, Called Ewes

Sheep: Figurative

Sheep: First Wool of, Given to the Priests

Sheep: Firstlings of, Could not be Dedicated As a Free-Will offering

Sheep: Firstlings of, not to be Redeemed

Sheep: Firstlings of, not to be Shorn

Sheep: Flesh of, Extensively Used As Food

Sheep: Flocks of Attended by Members of the Family

Sheep: Flocks of Attended by Servants

Sheep: Flocks of Conducted to the Richest Pastures

Sheep: Flocks of Fed in the Valleys

Sheep: Flocks of Fed on the Mountains

Sheep: Flocks of Fled from Strangers

Sheep: Flocks of Followed the Shepherd

Sheep: Flocks of Frequently Covered the Pastures

Sheep: Flocks of Guarded by Dogs

Sheep: Flocks of Kept in Folds or Cotes

Sheep: Flocks of Made to Rest at Noon

Sheep: Flocks of Watered Every Day

Sheep: Innocent

Sheep: Males of Called Rams

Sheep: Milk of, Used As Food

Sheep: Milk of, Used for Food

Sheep: Offered in Sacrifice by Abel

Sheep: Offered in Sacrifice by Abraham

Sheep: Offered in Sacrifice by Noah

Sheep: Offered in Sacrifice from the Earliest Age

Sheep: Offered in Sacrifice Under the Law

Sheep: Parable of the Lost

Sheep: Places Celebrated For: Bashan

Sheep: Places Celebrated For: Bozrah

Sheep: Places Celebrated For: Kedar

Sheep: Places Celebrated For: Nebaioth

Sheep: Remarkably Prolific

Sheep: Sagacious

Sheep: Shearing of

Sheep: Skins of, Made Into a Covering for the Tabernacle

Sheep: Skins of, Worn As Clothing by the Poor

Sheep: The First Fleece of, Belonged to the Priests and the Levites

Sheep: The Land of Bashan Adapted to the Raising of

Sheep: Time of Shearing, a Time of Rejoicing

Sheep: Tithe of, Given to the Levites

Sheep: Tribute (Taxes) Paid In

Sheep: Under Man's Care from the Earliest Age

Sheep: Washed and Shorn Every Year

Sheep: Wool of, Made Into Clothing

Sheep: Young of, Called Lambs

Related Terms

Sheep-shearing (1 Occurrence)

Sheep-cote (2 Occurrences)

Sheep's (3 Occurrences)

Sheep-gate (2 Occurrences)

Sheep-shearers (3 Occurrences)

Sheep-farmer (1 Occurrence)

Sheep-master (1 Occurrence)

Sheep-folds (4 Occurrences)

Sheep-traders (1 Occurrence)

Sheep-'gate (1 Occurrence)

Sheep-keeper (1 Occurrence)

Sheep-cotes (1 Occurrence)

Sheep-keepers (1 Occurrence)

Sheep-skins (1 Occurrence)

Sheep-market (1 Occurrence)

Sheep-fold (1 Occurrence)

Mountain-sheep (1 Occurrence)

He-sheep (1 Occurrence)

Sheepfold (3 Occurrences)

Sheepcote (2 Occurrences)

Bethesda (1 Occurrence)

Kine (24 Occurrences)

Shear (5 Occurrences)

Sheepshearing

Shearing (6 Occurrences)

Pen (16 Occurrences)

Market (24 Occurrences)

Sacrificeth (22 Occurrences)

Plundered (44 Occurrences)

Shepherds (55 Occurrences)

Striking (25 Occurrences)

Calves (34 Occurrences)

Cow (32 Occurrences)

7000 (3 Occurrences)

Bondwomen (10 Occurrences)

Baal-hazor (1 Occurrence)

Sheepmaster (1 Occurrence)

Sheepfolds (9 Occurrences)

Sees (135 Occurrences)

Keeper (72 Occurrences)

Attacks (45 Occurrences)

Donkeys (71 Occurrences)

Asses (68 Occurrences)

Keepers (78 Occurrences)

Cared (25 Occurrences)

Door (249 Occurrences)

Pushed (28 Occurrences)

Camels (52 Occurrences)

Value (138 Occurrences)

Kills (38 Occurrences)

Donkey (84 Occurrences)

Dark-colored (4 Occurrences)

Doorkeeper (8 Occurrences)

Menservants (19 Occurrences)

Pens (8 Occurrences)

Bleat (1 Occurrence)

Baalhazor (1 Occurrence)

Beeves (6 Occurrences)

Bleating (1 Occurrence)

Calls (62 Occurrences)

Calleth (261 Occurrences)

Curds (9 Occurrences)

Abandons (2 Occurrences)

Accountable (10 Occurrences)

Doesn't (300 Occurrences)

Straying (5 Occurrences)

Sells (14 Occurrences)

Suckling (19 Occurrences)

Stolen (28 Occurrences)

Scatters (12 Occurrences)

Spotted (9 Occurrences)

Speckled (9 Occurrences)

Snatches (5 Occurrences)

Sheepskin

She-asses (7 Occurrences)

Steals (7 Occurrences)

Abroad (120 Occurrences)

Accounted (32 Occurrences)

Sheep: Also: Sharon
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