רִקְמָה
riq.mah
embroidery
Lexicon Entry
Lexicon data from STEPBible TIPNR, Tyndale House, Cambridge. Licensed under CC BY 4.0.
What Original Readers Understood
Supported# Riqmah (רִקְמָה): Biblical Embroidery The Hebrew word *riqmah* refers specifically to embroidery—the craft of decorating fabric with needle and thread. Based on its twelve occurrences in the biblical text, this term denotes a specialized textile art form rather than weaving or basic cloth production. The word's consistent definition across sources indicates it was a recognized, named technique in ancient Hebrew culture, suggesting that embroidered work held sufficient cultural prominence to warrant its own distinct vocabulary. The frequency of *riqmah* in biblical texts, though modest at twelve occurrences, indicates its relevance primarily in specific contexts, likely those involving religious garments, temple furnishings, or items of particular value and artistry. The existence of a dedicated term for this craft suggests that embroidery was not a marginal or common domestic skill, but rather a notable form of decorative work distinguished enough from other textile techniques to receive its own lexical category. This linguistic specificity reflects the historical reality that such ornamented pieces were probably created by skilled artisans for important purposes.
Source data & methodology
Occurrences in Scripture
12 total occurrences across the text
She shall be led to the king in embroidered work. The virgins, her companions who follow her, shall be brought to you.
Ezekiel 16:10I clothed you also with embroidered work, and put sealskin sandals on you. I dressed you with fine linen and covered you with silk.
Ezekiel 16:13Thus you were decked with gold and silver. Your clothing was of fine linen, silk, and embroidered work. You ate fine flour, honey, and oil. You were exceedingly beautiful, and you prospered to royal estate.
Ezekiel 16:18You took your embroidered garments, covered them, and set my oil and my incense before them.
Ezekiel 17:3and say, ‘The Lord Yahweh says: “A great eagle with great wings and long feathers, full of feathers, which had various colors, came to Lebanon, and took the top of the cedar.
Ezekiel 26:16Then all the princes of the sea will come down from their thrones, and lay aside their robes, and strip off their embroidered garments. They will clothe themselves with trembling. They will sit on the ground, and will tremble every moment, and be astonished at you.
Ezekiel 27:7Your sail was of fine linen with embroidered work from Egypt, that it might be to you for a banner. Blue and purple from the islands of Elishah was your awning.
Ezekiel 27:16“ ‘ “Syria was your merchant by reason of the multitude of your handiworks. They traded for your wares with emeralds, purple, embroidered work, fine linen, coral, and rubies.
Ezekiel 27:24These were your traders in choice wares, in wrappings of blue and embroidered work, and in chests of rich clothing, bound with cords and made of cedar, among your merchandise.
Judges 5:30‘Have they not found, have they not divided the plunder? A lady, two ladies to every man; to Sisera a plunder of dyed garments, a plunder of dyed garments embroidered, of dyed garments embroidered on both sides, on the necks of the plunder?’
Judges 5:30‘Have they not found, have they not divided the plunder? A lady, two ladies to every man; to Sisera a plunder of dyed garments, a plunder of dyed garments embroidered, of dyed garments embroidered on both sides, on the necks of the plunder?’
1 Chronicles 29:2Now I have prepared with all my might for the house of my God the gold for the things of gold, the silver for the things of silver, the bronze for the things of bronze, iron for the things of iron, and wood for the things of wood; also onyx stones, stones to be set, stones for inlaid work, of various colors, all kinds of precious stones, and marble stones in abundance.