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•FULLER The word “full” is from the Anglo-Saxon fullian, meaning “to whiten.” To full is to press or scour cloth in a mill. 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). At his transfiguration our Lord’s rainment is said to have been white “so as no fuller on earth could white them” (Mark 9:3). En-rogel (q.v.), meaning literally “foot-fountain,” has been interpreted as the “fuller’s fountain,” because there the fullers trod the cloth with their feet.‌‌

•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.)

•FULNESS (1.) Of time (Galatians 4:4), the time appointed by God, and foretold by the prophets, when Messiah should appear. (2.) Of Christ (John 1:16), the superabundance of grace with which he was filled. (3.) Of the Godhead bodily dwelling in Christ (Colossians 2:9), i.e., the whole nature and attributes of God are in Christ. (4.) Ephesians 1:23, the church as the fulness of Christ, i.e., the church makes Christ a complete and perfect head.

•FUNERAL Burying was among the Jews the only mode of disposing of corpses (Genesis 23:19; 25:9; 35:8, 9, etc.).

The first traces of burning the dead are found in 1 Samuel 31:12. The burning of the body was affixed by the law of Moses as a penalty to certain crimes (Leviticus 20:14; 21:9).

To leave the dead unburied was regarded with horror (1 Kings 13:22; 14:11; 16:4; 21:24, etc.).

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