Woollen refers to materials or garments made from wool, a textile fiber obtained from sheep and other animals. In biblical times, wool was a significant commodity and played a vital role in the daily life and economy of ancient Israel and surrounding regions. The Bible references wool and woollen garments in various contexts, highlighting their importance in religious, cultural, and economic aspects.

Biblical References:

1. Levitical Law and Purity:
Wool is mentioned in the context of the Levitical laws concerning purity and holiness. In Leviticus 19:19, the Israelites are commanded, "You must keep My statutes. You shall not breed your livestock with different kinds, nor sow your field with two kinds of seed, nor wear a garment of cloth made of two kinds of material." This prohibition against wearing garments of mixed materials, such as wool and linen, underscores the importance of maintaining purity and separation, reflecting God's call for His people to be distinct and holy.

2. Symbol of Wealth and Status:
Woollen garments were often associated with wealth and status. Proverbs 31:13 describes the virtuous woman: "She selects wool and flax and works with eager hands." This passage highlights the industrious nature of the woman and the value placed on wool as a material for clothing. Wool was a valuable commodity, and those who could afford woollen garments were often considered prosperous.

3. Prophetic Imagery:
Wool is used metaphorically in prophetic literature to convey purity and transformation. In Isaiah 1:18, the Lord invites His people to reason with Him, saying, "Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red as crimson, they shall be like wool." Here, wool symbolizes the cleansing and forgiveness that God offers, transforming the stain of sin into purity.

4. Priestly Garments:
The use of wool in priestly garments is implied in the detailed descriptions of the attire worn by the priests. While the primary material for the high priest's garments was linen, wool was likely used in other priestly garments and accessories. The distinction between wool and linen in priestly attire further emphasizes the theme of separation and holiness.

5. Economic Importance:
Wool was a significant part of the ancient economy, used for trade and commerce. Ezekiel 27:18 mentions the trade of wool: "Damascus was your merchant because of the abundance of your goods, because of your many luxury items, with wine of Helbon and white wool." This passage illustrates the role of wool in international trade and its value as a luxury item.

Cultural and Historical Context:

In ancient Israel, sheep were a primary source of wool, and shepherding was a common occupation. The production of wool and the crafting of woollen garments were essential skills in the household economy. Wool was used not only for clothing but also for blankets, tents, and other necessities. The process of shearing, spinning, and weaving wool was labor-intensive, and the quality of wool varied based on the breed of sheep and the skill of the craftsman.

The biblical injunctions regarding wool and mixed fabrics reflect broader themes of purity, holiness, and the distinct identity of God's people. Wool's association with wealth and status, as well as its symbolic use in prophetic literature, underscores its multifaceted significance in the biblical narrative.

Of Images, and the Ornaments of Temples, and the Contempt in which ...
... For when he had taken off a golden robe from the statue of the Olympian Jupiter,
he ordered that a woollen garment should be placed upon him, saying that a ...
/.../lactantius/the divine institutes/chap iv of images and the.htm

Jesus is Arrested.
... The feet of Jesus were bare; he wore, besides the ordinary dress, a seamless
woollen garment, and a cloak which was thrown over all. ...
/.../the dolorous passion of our lord jesus christ/chapter iii jesus is arrested.htm

An Appeal to the Married Women.
... For some, with their turbans and woollen bands, do not veil their head, but bind
it up; protected, indeed, in front, but, where the head properly lies, bare. ...
/.../tertullian/on the veiling of virgins/chapter xvii an appeal to the.htm

Dialogue Between a Gentleman and a Shepherd.
... The shepherd had a handkerchief round his head, a grey woollen blanket tied
like a hood, and a six-cubit piece of cloth round his loins. ...
//christianbookshelf.org/hodson/old daniel/chapter five dialogue between a.htm

Israel in Canaan.
... From seeing a dog's mouth stained purple after eating a certain shell-fish on their
coast, they had learnt how to dye woollen garments of a fine purple or ...
//christianbookshelf.org/yonge/the chosen people/lesson v israel in canaan.htm

I Would Now have These Most Religious Protectors and vindicators ...
... are theatres unsheltered: no doubt it was that immodest pleasure might not be torpid
in the wintertime, the Laced??monians invented their woollen cloaks for ...
//christianbookshelf.org/tertullian/apology/chapter vi i would now.htm

The Nailing of Jesus to the Cross.
... pulled off our Lord's cloak, the belt to which the ropes were fastened, and his
own belt, when they found it was impossible to drag the woollen garment which ...
/.../chapter xxxviii the nailing of.htm

The Veil of Veronica.
... her house. No sooner did she reach her room than she placed the woollen
veil on a table, and fell almost senseless on her knees. A ...
/.../the dolorous passion of our lord jesus christ/chapter xxxiv the veil of.htm

Concerning the Martyrdom of James, the Brother of the Lord, from ...
... bath. He alone was permitted to enter the holy place: [3695] for he did
not wear any woollen garment, but fine linen only. He alone ...
/.../unknown/the decretals/concerning the martyrdom of james.htm

How Queen Ethelthryth Always Preserved Her virginity, and Her Body ...
... It is told of her that from the time of her entering the monastery, she would never
wear any linen but only woollen garments, and would seldom wash in a hot ...
/.../bede/bedes ecclesiastical history of england/chap xix how queen ethelthryth.htm

Woollen (4 Occurrences)
...Woollen (4 Occurrences). Leviticus 13:47 The garment also that the plague of leprosy
is in, whether it be a woollen garment, or a linen garment; (ASV DBY). ...
/w/woollen.htm - 7k

Woolen (6 Occurrences)

/w/woolen.htm - 8k

Word (8118 Occurrences)

/w/word.htm - 16k

Wool (34 Occurrences)
... first-fruit of wool was to be offered to the priests (Deuteronomy 18:4). The law
prohibiting the wearing of a garment "of divers sorts, as of woollen and linen ...
/w/wool.htm - 21k

Dress (38 Occurrences)
... The disciples were forbidden to wear two "coats" (Matthew 10:10; Luke 9:3). (d)
The usual outer garment consisted of a piece of woollen cloth like a Scotch ...
/d/dress.htm - 53k

Malignant (5 Occurrences)
... Leviticus 13:52 And he shall burn the garment, whether the warp or the woof, in
woollen or in linen, or anything of skin, wherein the plague is: for it is a ...
/m/malignant.htm - 8k

Sore (156 Occurrences)
... be. (DBY). Leviticus 13:47 And if a sore of leprosy is in a garment, in
a woollen garment, or a linen garment, (DBY). Leviticus 13 ...
/s/sore.htm - 40k

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