small cord, rope

Boyd’s Bible Dictionary:

(string). Variously made and used (Isa. 19:9⁹Moreover they that work in fine flax, and they that weave networks, shall be confounded. (Isaiah 19:9)); scourge (John 2:15¹⁵And when he had made a scourge of small cords, he drove them all out of the temple, and the sheep, and the oxen; and poured out the changers' money, and overthrew the tables; (John 2:15)); ship-ropes (Acts 27:32³²Then the soldiers cut off the ropes of the boat, and let her fall off. (Acts 27:32)).

Strong’s Dictionary of Greek Words:

Number:

4979 (find all occurrences in KJV Bible)

Greek:

σχοινίον

Transliteration:

schoinion

Phonic:

skhoy-nee’-on

Meaning:

diminutive of σχοῖνος (a rush or flag-plant; of uncertain derivation); a rushlet, i.e. grass-withe or tie (generally)

KJV Usage:

small cord, rope

From Manners and Customs of the Bible:

Job 41:2²Canst thou put an hook into his nose? or bore his jaw through with a thorn? (Job 41:2). Canst thou put a hook into his nose? or bore his jaw through with a thorn?

1. Agmon, “hook,” is more correctly a rush-cord or rope made of reeds, (Gesenius;) and the question of the text suggests the wonderful strength of the leviathan by the impossibility of putting a rope around his nose, thus binding his jaws.

2. Choach, “thorn,” is really a ring; and the text probably refers to a custom, very ancient and still practiced, of inserting a strong iron ring into the jaw of a fish as soon as caught. A cord is fastened to the ring and the fish is let down into the water, where it remains until the fisherman has an opportunity of selling it.