Corals are marine invertebrates within the class Anthozoa of the phylum Cnidaria, typically living in compact colonies of many identical individual polyps. While the Bible does not provide a detailed description of corals as understood in modern marine biology, it does reference corals in the context of their value and beauty, particularly in the ancient Near Eastern world.

Biblical References:

1. Job 28:18 · In the poetic discourse on wisdom, the Book of Job mentions corals to emphasize the incomparable value of wisdom: "Coral and quartz are unworthy of mention; the price of wisdom is beyond rubies." . Here, corals are grouped with other precious materials, indicating their esteemed status in ancient times.

2. Ezekiel 27:16 · The prophet Ezekiel, in his lamentation over the fall of Tyre, lists corals among the luxurious goods traded by the city: "Aram was your customer because of your many products. They exchanged turquoise, purple, embroidered work, fine linen, coral, and rubies for your wares." . This passage highlights the commercial value of corals in the ancient economy, particularly in the context of trade and wealth.

Cultural and Historical Context:

In the ancient Near East, corals were highly prized for their beauty and rarity. They were often used in jewelry and ornamentation, signifying wealth and status. The references in Job and Ezekiel suggest that corals were well-known and valued commodities, traded alongside other precious stones and materials.

The mention of corals in the Bible reflects the broader cultural appreciation for natural beauty and the divine craftsmanship evident in creation. The use of corals in biblical texts serves as a metaphor for the incomparable worth of divine wisdom and the splendor of God's creation.

Symbolism and Theological Implications:

In biblical literature, corals symbolize beauty, value, and the richness of God's creation. Their inclusion in the poetic and prophetic texts underscores the theme of divine wisdom surpassing all earthly treasures. The comparison of wisdom to corals and other precious materials in Job highlights the transcendent nature of divine understanding, which cannot be measured by material wealth.

Theologically, the references to corals invite reflection on the Creator's artistry and the inherent value of creation. They remind believers of the importance of seeking wisdom and understanding, which are more precious than the most valuable earthly treasures.

Conclusion:

While corals are not a central theme in the Bible, their mention in the context of value and beauty provides insight into the cultural and economic milieu of the biblical world. The symbolic use of corals in Scripture serves to elevate the pursuit of wisdom and the appreciation of God's creation.6443. peninim -- corals
... 6442, 6443. peninim. 6444 . corals. Transliteration: peninim Phonetic
Spelling: (paw-neen') Short Definition: jewels. Word Origin ...
/hebrew/6443.htm - 6k

7215. ramoth -- perhaps corals
... 7214, 7215. ramoth. 7216 . perhaps corals. Transliteration: ramoth Phonetic
Spelling: (raw-maw') Short Definition: coral. Word Origin ...
/hebrew/7215.htm - 6k

Geological Contemporaneity and Persistent Types of Life.
... There is no certainly known extinct order of Protozoa; there is but one among the
Coelenterata"that of the rugose corals; there is none among the Mollusca ...
/.../x geological contemporaneity and persistent.htm

Naparima and Montserrat
... What vast, though probably slow, processes changed that sea-bottom from one salt
enough to carry corals and limestones, to one brackish enough to carry ...
//christianbookshelf.org/kingsley/at last/chapter x naparima and montserrat.htm

The Gifts of Heavenly Wisdom
... 'Rubies' is probably rather to be taken as 'corals,' which seem to have been very
highly prized by the Jews, and, no doubt, found their way to them from the ...
/.../maclaren/expositions of holy scripture g/the gifts of heavenly wisdom.htm

Be Diligent
... hearts of men. Shall we show slime and filth, or shall we show lovely corals
and silver sands without a taint or a speck? These are ...
/.../maclaren/expositions of holy scripture ephesians peter/be diligent.htm

God's World
... The beasts, and birds, and insects, the strange fish, and shells, and the nameless
corals too, in the deep, deep sea, who build and build below the water for ...
/.../kingsley/twenty-five village sermons/sermon i gods world.htm

On the Study of Zoology.
... Of these, some, such as men, horses, birds, fishes, snails, slugs, oysters,
corals, and sponges, are not in the least like the lobster. ...
/.../huxley/lay sermons addresses and reviews/vi on the study of.htm

Criticisms on "The Origin of Species. "
... Cryptogamic vegetation would have the advantage over Phanerogamic; Hydrozoa over
Corals; Crustacea over Insecta, and Amphipoda and Isopoda over the higher ...
/.../huxley/lay sermons addresses and reviews/xiii criticisms on the origin.htm

The Arrest of the Body
... that of an Oolite form. The Tabulate Corals of the Silurian period are similar
to those which exist to-day. The Lamp-shells of our ...
/.../drummond/the lowell lectures on the ascent of man/chapter iii the arrest of.htm

Outward Bound
... But, wherever the bottom was stony, we could see huge prickly sea- urchins, huger
brainstone corals, round and gray, and branching corals likewise, such as ...
//christianbookshelf.org/kingsley/at last/chapter i outward bound.htm

Spiritual Peace
... depth of the seas, a thousand fathoms beneath the bosom of the floods, where the
mariners' bones lie undisturbed, where pearls are born, and corals that never ...
/.../spurgeon/spurgeons sermons volume 6 1860/spiritual peace.htm

Corals (5 Occurrences)
... Multi-Version Concordance Corals (5 Occurrences). Job 28:18 Corals and crystal are
no more remembered; yea, the acquisition of wisdom is above rubies. (DBY YLT) ...
/c/corals.htm - 7k

Coral (3 Occurrences)
... It differs totally in structure from the white corals which form coral reefs, belonging
to the order of Octactinia or Eight-rayed Polyps, while the reef ...
/c/coral.htm - 12k

Redder (1 Occurrence)
... Lamentations 4:7 Her holy ones were cleaner than snow, they were whiter than milk,
their bodies were redder than corals, their form was as the sapphire: (BBE). ...
/r/redder.htm - 6k

Dead (580 Occurrences)
... Nothing living can exist in this sea. "The fish carried down by the Jordan at once
die, nor can even mussels or corals live in it; but it is a fable that no ...
/d/dead.htm - 80k

Markets (11 Occurrences)
... with thee for the multitude of thy handiworks: they traded in thy markets with
carbuncles, purple, and broidered work, and fine linen, and corals, and rubies. ...
/m/markets.htm - 9k

Carbuncles (2 Occurrences)
... with thee for the multitude of thy handiworks: they traded in thy markets with
carbuncles, purple, and broidered work, and fine linen, and corals, and rubies. ...
/c/carbuncles.htm - 7k

Cleaner (3 Occurrences)
... Lamentations 4:7 Her holy ones were cleaner than snow, they were whiter than milk,
their bodies were redder than corals, their form was as the sapphire: (BBE). ...
/c/cleaner.htm - 7k

Costly (26 Occurrences)
... NIV). Proverbs 20:15 There is gold and a store of corals: but the lips of
knowledge are a jewel of great price. (See RSV). Proverbs ...
/c/costly.htm - 14k

Corashan

/c/corashan.htm - 6k

Acquisition (2 Occurrences)
... property. (See NAS). Job 28:18 Corals and crystal are no more remembered; yea,
the acquisition of wisdom is above rubies. (DBY YLT NAS). ...
/a/acquisition.htm - 7k

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