נְעֹ֫רֶת (ne.o.ret)
ne.o.ret
tow
H:N-FQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 2 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- H:N-F
Word Overview
The Hebrew noun ne’oret refers to the coarse fibers of flax, specifically the tow that is shaken loose or beaten out during processing. It represents the leftover material, distinct from the fine linen spun for clothing. This word appears in only two verses in the Old Testament, both carrying a tone of degradation or poverty.
In Judges 16:9 and 16:25, the Philistines bind Samson with these new ropes. The text emphasizes that they are fresh ne’oret, likely implying a material that tightens as it dries or becomes stiff, making the binding particularly secure and humiliating for a judge of Israel. Isaiah 19:9 uses the term to describe the distress of the flax workers in Egypt, whose tasks have been frustrated by the plague on the Nile.
The imagery highlights a stark contrast between value and waste. While linen symbolized purity and status, tow was the rough, discarded remnant. By associating Samson’s capture with this material, the narrative underscores his temporary loss of strength and dignity. The word serves as a concrete marker of lowliness in a culture that prized textile quality.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The word ne’oret points to the rough, discarded fibers of flax—tow—that remained after the valuable linen was spun. In ancient Israel, this material was associated with poverty and degradation, a stark contrast to the fine garments worn by the wealthy or used in temple worship. It represents what is left over when the best has been removed, a reminder of human frailty and the lowly conditions we sometimes face.
When Samson was bound with fresh ne’oret, the ropes tightened as they dried, symbolizing a moment of profound weakness and humiliation for a man chosen by God. This imagery reminds us that even those with great strength can find themselves restrained by circumstances beyond their control. Yet, the narrative does not end in despair; Samson’s release shows that God’s purposes are not limited by our temporary failures or the strength of our bonds.
In Isaiah, the mention of ne’oret highlights the distress of workers whose labor is frustrated, reflecting a time of national judgment and loss. These verses invite us to look beyond our own struggles to see God’s larger story. Whether in moments of weakness or times of hardship, we are reminded that our value is not defined by the quality of our circumstances but by our relationship with the Creator who sustains us.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 2 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- <the>/ tow1×
- <into>/ tow1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- לִ/נְעֹ֔רֶת1×
- הַ/נְּעֹ֙רֶת֙1×
Key Verses
-
Judges 16:9
Now she had an ambush waiting in the inner room. She said to him, “The Philistines are on you, Samson!” He broke the cords as a flax thread is broken when it touches the fire. So his strength was not known.
This verse contrasts Samson’s breaking of ordinary cords with his failure against fresh ne’oret, highlighting how this specific material tightened to secure his capture.