Bible Dictionaries
Loom

Holman Bible Dictionary

A frame used for interlacing sets of threads at right angles to form cloth. The weaving of cloth was an important industry in the ancient world. Thus it is surprising that there are so few references to the process in Scripture. In a humorous scene, Samson convinced Delilah that his strength would be sapped should someone weave his hair into a piece of cloth on a loom. While he slept, Delilah did just that but was surprised when he easily freed himself from the loom (Judges 16:14 ). Here web refers to cloth on a loom. Isaiah compared his finished life with cloth which is cut off from the loom (Isaiah 38:12 ). Job 7:6 compares the brevity of life to the speed of the weaver's shuttle, the devise used to quickly pass the woof thread between the threads of the warp. Frequent references to a spear like a weaver's beam ( 1 Samuel 17:7; 2 Samuel 21:19; 1 Chronicles 11:23; 1 Chronicles 20:5 ) perhaps suggest a javelin with a cord attached so that it might be easily retrieved. In this case, the heddle rod, a rod attached to cords or wires and used to guide warp threads, is possibly in mind. Other interpreters prefer to see a reference to the great size of the spear. See Cloth, Clothing .