In biblical times, the term "fuller" refers to a person who was responsible for cleaning and whitening cloth, particularly wool. The process of fulling involved several steps, including washing, beating, and sometimes bleaching the fabric to remove oils, dirt, and other impurities. This occupation is mentioned in several passages of the Bible, highlighting its significance in ancient society.

Biblical References:

1. Malachi 3:2 : "But who can endure the day of His coming? And who can stand when He appears? For He will be like a refiner’s fire, like a launderer’s soap." The term "launderer’s soap" in this verse is often associated with the work of a fuller. The imagery of cleansing and purification is used to describe the refining process that God will bring upon His people, much like the fuller's role in purifying garments.

2. Mark 9:3 : "His clothes became radiantly white, brighter than any launderer on earth could bleach them." This passage describes the Transfiguration of Jesus, where His garments became exceedingly white, surpassing the capabilities of any earthly fuller. This emphasizes the divine nature of the transformation and the purity associated with Christ.

3. Isaiah 7:3 : "Then the LORD said to Isaiah, 'Go out with your son Shear-jashub to meet Ahaz at the end of the aqueduct of the Upper Pool, on the road to the Launderer’s Field.'" The "Launderer’s Field" is a location associated with the work of fullers, indicating a place where cloth was processed and cleaned. This setting provides a backdrop for the prophetic encounter between Isaiah and King Ahaz.

Cultural and Historical Context:

The fuller's trade was an essential part of ancient textile production. Fullers used various natural substances, such as clay, alkaline plants, and soapwort, to clean and treat fabrics. The process often took place in designated areas outside city limits due to the odors and waste produced. Fullers would tread upon the cloth in vats of water to agitate and cleanse it, a method that required physical strength and endurance.

The spiritual symbolism of fulling in the Bible often relates to purification and holiness. Just as a fuller cleanses garments, God is depicted as cleansing His people from sin and impurity. This metaphor underscores the transformative power of divine intervention and the call to righteousness.

Theological Significance:

The imagery of fulling in Scripture serves as a powerful metaphor for the sanctification process. Believers are called to be purified and made holy, reflecting the righteousness of God. The fuller's work is a reminder of the thorough and sometimes rigorous process required to achieve spiritual cleanliness. This theme resonates throughout the Bible, emphasizing the need for repentance, renewal, and the pursuit of holiness in the life of a believer.Fuller's field

A spot near Jerusalem (2 Kings 18:17; Isaiah 36:2; 7:3), on the side of the highway west of the city, not far distant from the "upper pool" at the head of the valley of Hinnom. Here the fullers pursued their occupation.

Fuller's soap

(Hebrews borith mekabbeshim, i.e., "alkali of those treading cloth"). Mention is made (Proverbs 25:20; Jeremiah 2:22) of nitre and also (Malachi 3:2) of soap (Hebrews borith) used by the fuller in his operations. Nitre is found in Syria, and vegetable alkali was obtained from the ashes of certain plants. (see SOAP.)

FULLER'S FIELD, THE

fool'-ers feld, (sedheh khobhec): In all references occurs "the conduit of the upper pool, in the highway of the fuller's field"; this must have been a well-known landmark at Jerusalem in the time of the monarchy. Here stood Rabshakeh in his interview with Eliakim and others on the wall (2 Kings 18:17 Isaiah 36:2); clearly the highway was within easy earshot of the walls. Here Isaiah met Ahaz and Shear-jashub his son by command of Yahweh (Isaiah 7:3). An old view placed these events somewhere near the present Jaffa Gate, as here runs an aqueduct from the Birket Mamilla outside the walls of the Birket Hamam el Batrah, inside the walls; the former was considered the "Upper Pool" and is traditionally called the "Upper Pool" of Gihon. But these pools and this aqueduct are certainly of later date (see JERUSALEM). Another view puts this highway to the North side of the city, where there are extensive remains of a "conduit" running in from the North. In favor of this is the fact that the North was the usual side for attack and the probable position for Rabshakeh to gather his army; it also suits the conditions of Isaiah 7:3. Further, Josephus (BJ, V, iv, 2) in his description of the walls places a "Monument of the Fuller" at the Northeast corner, and the name "fuller" survived in connection with the North wall to the 7th century, as the pilgrim Arculf mentions a gate. West of the Damascus gate called Porta Villae Fullonis. The most probable view, however, is that this conduit was one connected with Gihon, the present "Virgin's Fountain" (see GIHON). This was well known as "the upper spring" (2 Chronicles 32:30), and the pool, which, we know, was at the source, would probably be called the "Upper Pool." In this neighborhood-or lower down the valley near En-rogel, which is supposed by some to mean "the spring of the fuller"-is the natural place to expect "fulling." Somewhere along the Kidron valley between the Virgin's Fountain and the junction with the Tyropeon was the probable scene of the interview with Rabshakeh; the conversation may quite probably have occurred across the valley, the Assyrian general standing on some part of the cliffs now covered by the village of Siloam.

E. W. G. Masterman

FULLER'S FOUNTAIN

See EN-ROGEL.

3526. kabas -- to wash
... Word Origin a prim. root Definition to wash NASB Word Usage fuller's (3), fullers'
(1), wash (38), washed (8), washes (1). fuller, washing. ...
/hebrew/3526.htm - 6k

Appendix.
... Mosheim's Ecclesiastical History; Milner's Church History; Scott's Continuation
of Milner; Life of Knox; Gilpin's Lives of the Reformers; Fuller's and Warner's ...
/.../newcomb/a practical directory for young christian females/appendix.htm

Now Let us Shew Briefly, if You Will, that These Things were ...
... For He doth come as the fire of a furnace and as fuller's soap: and He shall sit,
refining and purifying as it were gold and silver." But that thou mayest know ...
/.../34 now let us shew.htm

Let us See what Celsus Says Next, when He Adduces from History ...
... They say that Aristeas, who was inferior to none of the citizens by birth, entering
into a fuller's shop in Proconnesus, died suddenly, and that the fuller ...
/.../christianbookshelf.org/origen/origen against celsus/chapter xxvi let us see.htm

India as Carey Found It
... With the cautious wisdom that marked all Fuller's action, though perhaps with the
ignorance that was due to Carey's absence, the third meeting of the new ...
/.../smith/the life of william carey/chapter iii india as carey.htm

The Lord Coming to his Temple
... For he is like a refiner's fire, and like a fuller's soap,. ... III. The searching power
of it in general, expressed by a refiner's fire and by fuller's soap. IV. ...
//christianbookshelf.org/newton/messiah vol 1/sermon iv the lord coming.htm

Heraclitus' Estimate of Hesiod; Paradoxes of Heraclitus; his ...
... "The way is straight and curved of the carders of wool;" [979] and the circular
movement of an instrument in the fuller's shop called "a screw" is straight and ...
/.../the refutation of all heresies/chapter v heraclitus estimate of hesiod.htm

The Heresy of Tatian.
... of Christ. Lit. and Doct. II. p. 3 sqq., and JM Fuller's article in the Dict. of
Christ. Biog. [1324] In chap. 16. [1325] Iren??us, Adv. H??r. I. 28. 1. ...
/.../pamphilius/church history/chapter xxix the heresy of tatian.htm

The Axe at the Root --A Testimony against Puseyite Idolatry
... Christ has the winnowing fan in his hand; he sits as a refiner; he is compared by
the prophet to the "refiner's fire" and to "fuller's soap;" and hence you see ...
/.../spurgeon/spurgeons sermons volume 12 1866/the axe at the roota.htm

A Song among the Lilies
... many hearts, the touchstone by which the pure gold and the counterfeit metal are
discerned; his very name is as a refiner's fire and like fuller's soap; false ...
/.../spurgeon/spurgeons sermons volume 20 1874/a song among the lilies.htm

General Service to John, Precursor, Prophet and Baptist of the ...
... for He shall come like a refiner's fire and like fuller's soap, and He
shall purify by consuming and purging as gold and silver. ...
/.../anonymous/the general menaion/chapter v general service to.htm

Fuller's (4 Occurrences)
... Easton's Bible Dictionary Fuller's field. A spot near ... Hinnom. Here the fullers
pursued their occupation. Fuller's soap. (Hebrews borith ...
/f/fuller's.htm - 11k

Fuller (5 Occurrences)
... This art is one of great antiquity. Mention is made of "fuller's soap"
(Malachi 3:2), and of "the fuller's field" (2 Kings 18:17). ...
/f/fuller.htm - 10k

Fullers (4 Occurrences)
... And when they were come up, they came and stood by the conduit of the upper pool,
which is in the highway of the fuller's field. (See JPS). ...
/f/fullers.htm - 7k

Conduit (5 Occurrences)
... When they were come up, they came and stood by the conduit of the upper pool, which
is in the highway of the fuller's field. (WEB KJV JPS ASV WBS YLT NAS RSV). ...
/c/conduit.htm - 9k

Field (390 Occurrences)
... 13. (vt) To catch, stop, throw, etc. (the ball), as a fielder. Int. Standard
Bible Encyclopedia. FULLER'S FIELD, THE. fool'-ers feld ...
/f/field.htm - 44k

Rab-shakeh (14 Occurrences)
... And when they were come up, they came and stood by the conduit of the upper pool,
which is in the highway of the fuller's field. (See JPS BBE DBY WBS). ...
/r/rab-shakeh.htm - 10k

Rabshakeh (15 Occurrences)
... When they were come up, they came and stood by the conduit of the upper pool, which
is in the highway of the fuller's field. (WEB KJV ASV NAS). ...
/r/rabshakeh.htm - 14k

Aqueduct (4 Occurrences)
... And when they were come up, they came and stood by the aqueduct of the upper
pool, which is on the highway of the fuller's field. (DBY NIV). ...
/a/aqueduct.htm - 23k

Upper (99 Occurrences)
... Jerusalem. When they were come up, they came and stood by the conduit of the
upper pool, which is in the highway of the fuller's field. ...
/u/upper.htm - 39k

Lachish (22 Occurrences)
... Jerusalem. When they were come up, they came and stood by the conduit of the
upper pool, which is in the highway of the fuller's field. ...
/l/lachish.htm - 22k

What is the significance of the refiner's fire and launderer's soap in Malachi 3:2? | GotQuestions.org

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