Bible Dictionaries
Fuller

Holman Bible Dictionary

One who thickens and shrinks newly-shorn wool or newly-woven cloth; also one who washes or bleaches clothing. The Hebrew term comes from the root “to tread” and refers to the common method of cleansing clothing by treading them by foot. Cleansing was also done by beating clothing with sticks. The ancient Hebrews were not acquainted with bar soap. Clothing was cleansed in a solution of alkali obtained by burning wood to ash. Putrid urine was sometimes used in the process. Due to the foul smell, fullers worked outside the city gates. All the biblical references are metaphorical (Psalm 51:7; Jeremiah 2:22; Jeremiah 4:14; Malachi 3:2 ) and refer to cleansing from sin.