Bible Dictionary
Tow
Tow is the coarse, short fiber separated from flax. Scripture uses it as a picture of material that catches fire easily, and possibly of a flax wick.
Definition
Tow is the coarse part of flax, consisting of short fibers separated from the finer threads. It was used as a familiar example of material that catches fire easily.
Biblical Usage
Tow appears in images of rapid burning. In Isaiah 43:17, a related term is understood as flax or a wick.
Historical Background
Tow was a common flax material. Its short, coarse fibers made it especially suitable as an illustration of inflammability.
Scripture References
Historical Bible Dictionaries
Easton's Bible Dictionary
(Judg. 16:9). See FLAX.
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia (ISBE)
<p>to (ne`oreth (Jud 16:9; Isa 1:31)): The coarser part of flax, with short threads, used as an example of easily inflammable material. Also Isa 43:17 the King James Version for pishtah, the usual word for "flax" (so the English Revised Version), here as used for a wick (so the American Standard Revised Version, the English Revised Version margin).</p>