חוּט (chut)
chut
thread
H:N-MQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 7 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- H:N-M
Word Overview
The Hebrew word chut refers to a single strand or thin cord, appearing seven times in the Old Testament. It is not a heavy rope but a delicate, flexible fiber used for tying or marking. In Song of Solomon 4:1, it describes the beauty of the beloved’s neck as "like the tower of David, built for an armory; on it hang a thousand shields, all of them shields of warriors," where the text actually uses chut to describe the "neck" itself in some translations, though more commonly it appears in Judges 3:16 where Eglon is killed by a sword with a hilt that had a "belt" or cord (chut) attached, allowing him to draw it easily.
Its most famous usage is in Joshua 2:18, where Rahab instructs the spies to tie a scarlet thread (chut) from her window. This thin line becomes a sign of safety for her household during the fall of Jericho. The word often carries a sense of something slender yet significant, capable of holding weight or marking identity despite its fragility.
Translators usually render chut as "thread," "cord," or "line." While it lacks the grandeur of thicker ropes, its biblical appearances highlight how small, seemingly insignificant things can carry profound meaning. The scarlet thread in Rahab’s window stands as a visible promise of protection, showing that divine deliverance often works through humble, everyday materials.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The word chut describes a single strand or thin cord, something slender and flexible rather than heavy or rigid. In Scripture, this delicate fiber often carries significant weight, serving as a marker of identity, safety, or promise. It reminds us that God’s work is not always loud or imposing; sometimes it moves through the quiet, persistent threads of everyday life.
Consider Rahab in Joshua 2:18. She was asked to tie a scarlet chut from her window, a simple act that became a visible sign of protection for her entire household. This thin line did not rely on military strength but on faithfulness to a promise. It shows how divine deliverance often uses humble materials to secure our future.
Even in moments of weakness, like Samson breaking ropes as easily as thread in Judges 16:12, the imagery highlights human fragility against divine purpose. We are invited to trust that the same God who notices the smallest thread also holds our lives together with care and intention.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 7 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- and/ a line of2×
- like <the>/ thread1×
- from/ a thread1×
- and/ the/ thread1×
- [the] thread of1×
- [are] like/ [the] thread of1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- מִ/חוּט֙1×
- כַּ/חֽוּט\׃1×
- כְּ/ח֤וּט1×
- חוּט֩1×
- וְ/חוּט֙1×
- וְ/ח֛וּט1×
- וְ/הַ/חוּט֙1×
Key Verses
-
Joshua 2:18
Behold, when we come into the land, tie this line of scarlet thread in the window which you used to let us down. Gather to yourself into the house your father, your mother, your brothers, and all your father’s household.
The scarlet chut serves as a specific covenantal sign, marking Rahab’s household for salvation amidst the judgment of Jericho.
-
Genesis 14:23
that I will not take a thread nor a sandal strap nor anything that is yours, lest you should say, ‘I have made Abram rich.’
Abram uses the word to emphasize his refusal of any material gain, ensuring that credit for his wealth remains with God alone.
-
Song of Solomon 4:3
Your lips are like scarlet thread. Your mouth is lovely. Your temples are like a piece of a pomegranate behind your veil.
The beloved’s lips are compared to scarlet thread, using the color and delicacy of the cord to describe beauty and speech.