צֶ֫מֶר (tse.mer)
tse.mer
wool
H:N-MQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 11 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- H:N-M
Word Overview
The Hebrew noun tsemer refers to the fleece sheared from sheep, a material that was both a vital economic resource and a common garment fabric in the ancient Near East. With eleven occurrences in the Old Testament, it appears frequently in legal texts like Leviticus, where regulations govern the mixing of wool with linen, and in poetic books such as Psalms and Isaiah.
The word carries a rich range of imagery because of wool’s physical properties. It is often used to describe purity or brightness, most notably when the prophet Isaiah compares sin-stained lives to scarlet or crimson, promising they will become white as tsemer (Isaiah 1:18). This metaphor relies on the natural whiteness and softness of clean wool to illustrate spiritual cleansing. In other contexts, it simply denotes the material itself, highlighting its role in daily life and religious ritual.
Translators typically render this word as "wool," capturing its concrete reality without adding abstract theological meaning beyond what the text provides. The term’s versatility allows it to function as a literal commodity in trade laws or as a vivid symbol of transformation in prophetic poetry, grounding spiritual concepts in the tangible experiences of ancient Israel.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
Wool in the ancient world was far more than just fabric; it was a measure of wealth, warmth, and daily survival. When Proverbs describes the diligent woman seeking wool, it paints a picture of practical care and hard work. This tangible resource reminds us that faith is not abstract but lived out in the ordinary duties of life, providing comfort and covering for those we love.
Yet this same material carries a profound spiritual weight in Isaiah’s promise. The prophet uses the natural whiteness of clean wool to illustrate how deeply God can cleanse a stained life. Just as raw fleece is washed and prepared, our imperfections are met with grace that restores us to purity. It is a gentle assurance that no stain is too deep for divine forgiveness.
Whether viewed as a commodity in trade laws or a symbol of renewal, wool grounds our theology in reality. We do not need to look far for evidence of God’s care; it is found in the warmth He provides and the cleansing He offers. May you feel covered by His peace today.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 11 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- wool4×
- like <the>/ wool2×
- <the>/ wool2×
- in the/ wool1×
- and/ of the/ wool1×
- and/ like <the>/ wool1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- צָֽמֶר\׃1×
- צֶ֥מֶר1×
- צֶ֣מֶר1×
- צֶ֔מֶר1×
- כַּ/צָּ֑מֶר1×
- כַּ/צֶּ֥מֶר1×
- וְ/לַ/צָּ֑מֶר1×
- וְ/כַ/צֶּ֖מֶר1×
- הַ/צֶּ֣מֶר\׀1×
- הַ/צֶּ֖מֶר1×
- בַּ/צֶּ֙מֶר֙1×
Key Verses
-
Isaiah 1:18
“Come now, and let’s reason together,” says Yahweh: “Though your sins are as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow. Though they are red like crimson, they shall be as wool.
This verse uses the whiteness of wool as a concrete metaphor for complete spiritual cleansing, contrasting it with the deep red of sin.
-
Judges 6:37
behold, I will put a fleece of wool on the threshing floor. If there is dew on the fleece only, and it is dry on all the ground, then I’ll know that you will save Israel by my hand, as you have spoken.”
Gideon requests a specific sign involving a wet fleece to confirm God’s presence, showing how this material served as a tangible medium for divine communication.
-
Proverbs 31:13
She seeks wool and flax, and works eagerly with her hands.
The search for wool here highlights the value of diligent work and the practical provision of care within the household.
-
Psalms 147:16
He gives snow like wool, and scatters frost like ashes.
Comparing snow to wool emphasizes the gentle, soft distribution of winter’s gifts by God over the land.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does tsemer mean in the Bible?
Why is wool mentioned in Leviticus 13?
How is wool used as a metaphor in Isaiah?
Every Occurrence (11 verses across 7 books)
Leviticus 4 verses
“The garment also that the plague of leprosy is in, whether it is a woolen garment, or a linen garment;
Leviticus 13:48whether it is in warp or woof; of linen or of wool; whether in leather, or in anything made of leather;
Leviticus 13:52He shall burn the garment, whether the warp or the woof, in wool or in linen, or anything of leather, in which the…
Leviticus 13:59This is the law of the plague of mildew in a garment of wool or linen, either in the warp, or the woof, or in anything…