ROPE (חֶ֫בֶל֮, H2475, rope, cord; עֲבֹת, H6310, cord, rope, interwoven foliage; σχοινίον, G5389, cord; ζευκτηρίος, band, rope), rope or cord (there is no distinction in Heb. or Gr.). A cord of various thicknesses made by plaiting or twisting fibers, hair and strips of hide.

Evidence from a cave-painting in eastern Spain as early as the Late Paleolithic (c. 12000 b.c.) shows what appears to be rope being used to climb down the face of a cliff. In Egypt rope has been found made of reed (c. 4000 b.c.), fiber, flax, grass, papyrus and camel hair. Thicknesses as much as 2 1/2 inches in diameter have been found in sites of ancient Egypt. Ropes were of utmost importance in ancient empires because man himself provided the chief source of motive power for building operations. Some ancient inscrs. (e.g. Rekmire—15th cent. b.c.) show the rope-making process in Egypt.

In the Bible rope is used in warfare for destroying cities (2 Sam 17:13), for horse harnessing (Job 39:10; Isa 5:18), in ship tackling (Acts 27:32, 40), for lowering people from heights (Josh 2:15; Jer 38:6ff.), traps (Job 18:10), and binding people (Judg 15:13ff). Rope in place of leather or fabric in clohing represented poverty or shame (1 Kings 20:31ff; Isa 3:24). A “hook” (KJV) put through the nose of leviathan (Job 41:2) is prob. better rendered “rope” (RSV) or “cord” (NEB) since the word used (’agmon) refers to a reed or rush cord. The whip that Jesus used to drive out the money changers from the Temple (John 2:15) made of “small cords” (KJV) or “cords” (RSV, NEB) is rendered “ropes” in Acts 27:32. See [http://biblegateway/wiki/Cord, Rope CORD].