(Gr.
ἔñéïí
, Heb_9:19; Rev_1:4). The fleece of the sheep, as such, was properly called
âֵæ
or
âְּæָּä
, while the material of which it was composed was called
öֶîֶø
; hence
âַæִּú äִöֶּîֶø
, a fleece of wool (Jdg_6:37). Wool was used by the Hebrews from an early period extensively for clothing (Lev_13:47; Deu_22:11; Job_31:20; Pro_31:13; Eze_34:3; Hos_2:5). The importance of wool is incidentally shown by the notice that Mesha's tribute was paid in a certain number of rams "with the wool" (2Ki_3:4), as well as by its being specified among the first-fruits to be offered to the priests (Deu_18:4). The wool of Damascus was highly prized in the mart of Tyre (Ezra 27:18), and is compared in the Sept. to the wool of Miletus (
ἔñéá ἐê Ìéëήôïõ
), the fame of which was widely spread in the ancient world (Pliny 3:73; Virgil, Georg. 3:306; 4:334.) Wool is occasionally cited as an image of purity and brilliancy (Isa_1:18; Dan_7:9; Rev_1:14), and the flakes of snow are appropriately likened to it (Psa_147:16). The art of dyeing it was understood by the Jews (Mishna, Shab. 1, § 6). SEE SHEEP; SEE WOOLLEN.