FLEECE (גֵּז, H1600, גִּזָּה, H1603, [the latter being simply the feminine form of the former], lit. “something cut”; more specifically גֵּ֥ז צֹאן [Deut 18:4] “a cutting from the flock, i.e. fleece”, גֵּ֥ז כֶּבֶשׂ [Job 31:20] “a cutting from a lamb, i.e. fleece,” or גִּזַּ֥ת צֶ֖מֶר [Judg 6:37] “a cutting of wool, i.e. fleece”). The root means literally “to cut down, off,” hence, used of sheep, “to shear,” used of hair, “to cut, shave (off),” used of crops, “to mow.” The verb is used only of sheep or hair in the OT, but the word גֵּ֑ז “something cut” not only means “fleece” but also “mown grass” (Ps 72:6; Amos 7:1). The verb means “to mow, prune, trim” frequently in Mishnaic Heb. It is the coat of wool freshly sheared from a sheep. Gideon requested that a fleece be covered with morning dew, while the ground remained dry and then the opposite (Judg 6:36-40) as a sign that God intended to deliver Israel through him. It is specified as one of the first fruits that is the Levitical priest’s due from the people (Deut 18:4), while Job could testify that the poor man could bless him from his heart because he had been warmed by the fleece from his lambs (Job 31:20). See Sheep.