PLUMBLINE, PLUMMET.The latter is a diminutive of piumb, from Lat. plumbum, iead, and denotes the combined cord and weight, by suspending which against a wali it can be seen whether or not the latter is perpendicular. On the strength of Zec_4:10 (lit. the stone, the tin, not iead; cf. AVm [Note: Authorized Version margin.] ) it has been inferred that the Hebrew masons used a plumb-bob of iead, but the text of this passage is undoubtedly corrupt (Wellh., Marti, Nowack). The Hebrew plummet (2Ki_21:13, Isa_28:17) more probably consisted of a stone (Isa_34:11 AV [Note: Authorized Version.] , but RV [Note: Revised Version.] plummet) suspended by a cord, the piumbline of Amo_7:7 ff., Cf. Arts and Crafts, § 3.
A. R. S. Kennedy.
Hastings' Dictionary of the Bible
Edited by James Hastings, D.D. Published in 1909