In biblical times, engraving was a significant art form used for both practical and religious purposes. The act of engraving involved inscribing or carving designs, letters, or symbols onto various materials such as stone, metal, or wood. This practice is mentioned numerous times throughout the Scriptures, highlighting its importance in ancient Israelite culture and worship.

Old Testament References

One of the earliest mentions of engraving in the Bible is found in the construction of the Tabernacle and its furnishings. In Exodus 28:9-11, God commands Moses to have two onyx stones engraved with the names of the sons of Israel: "Engrave the names of the sons of Israel on the two stones, as a jeweler engraves a seal." These stones were to be mounted on the shoulder pieces of the ephod, serving as a memorial for the tribes of Israel.

The art of engraving was also employed in the creation of the High Priest's breastplate. Exodus 28:21 describes the engraving of the names of the twelve tribes of Israel on twelve stones: "The stones are to be engraved with the names of the sons of Israel, one for each of the twelve tribes, like a seal."

In the construction of the Temple, Solomon utilized skilled engravers to adorn the Temple with intricate designs. 1 Kings 6:29 states, "On all the walls around the temple, in both the inner and outer rooms, he carved cherubim, palm trees, and open flowers."

Symbolic and Spiritual Significance

Engraving in the Bible often carries symbolic and spiritual significance. The act of engraving is used metaphorically to describe the permanence and importance of God's laws and promises. In Isaiah 49:16, God reassures His people of His unwavering commitment to them: "Behold, I have engraved you on the palms of My hands; your walls are ever before Me."

Similarly, the prophet Jeremiah speaks of the sin of Judah being engraved with an iron tool on their hearts, indicating the deep-seated nature of their rebellion against God (Jeremiah 17:1).

New Testament Context

While the New Testament does not explicitly mention the act of engraving, the concept of inscribing or writing on the heart is echoed in the teachings of the apostles. Paul, in 2 Corinthians 3:3, contrasts the old covenant, written on tablets of stone, with the new covenant, written on the hearts of believers: "You show that you are a letter from Christ, the result of our ministry, written not with ink but with the Spirit of the living God, not on tablets of stone but on tablets of human hearts."

Conclusion

Engraving in the Bible serves as a powerful reminder of the enduring nature of God's word and His covenant with His people. Whether through the physical act of inscribing names and symbols on sacred objects or the metaphorical engraving of divine truths on the human heart, the practice underscores the importance of remembrance, identity, and spiritual commitment in the life of faith.1. (v. t.) To carve in some surface as wood, stone, or metal; as, to engrave an inscription.

2. (v. t.) To cut in; to make by incision.

3. (v. t.) To cut with a graving instrument in order to form an inscription or pictorial representation; to carve figures; to mark with incisions.

4. (v. t.) To form or represent by means of incisions upon wood, stone, metal, or the like; as, to engrave an inscription.

5. (v. t.) To impress deeply; to infix, as if with a graver.

1795. entupoo -- to imprint, engrave
... to imprint, engrave. Part of Speech: Verb Transliteration: entupoo Phonetic Spelling:
(en-too-po'-o) Short Definition: I engrave Definition: I engrave, imprint. ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/1795.htm - 6k

1449. eggrapho -- to inscribe, to enter in a register
... write in, inscribe. From en and grapho; to "engrave", ie Inscribe -- write (in).
see GREEK en. see GREEK grapho. (engegrammene) -- 2 Occurrences. ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/1449.htm - 6k

5480. charagma -- a stamp, impress
... Word Origin from charasso (to sharpen, to engrave) Definition a stamp, impress
NASB Word Usage image formed (1), mark (7). stamp, mark. ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/5480.htm - 7k

6605b. pathach -- to engrave
... 6605a, 6605b. pathach. 6606 . to engrave. Transliteration: pathach Short
Definition: engrave. Word Origin a prim. root Definition ...
/hebrew/6605b.htm - 5k

2801. charath -- to grave, engrave
... charath. 2802 . to grave, engrave. Transliteration: charath Phonetic Spelling:
(khaw-rath') Short Definition: engraved. ... A primitive root; to engrave -- graven. ...
/hebrew/2801.htm - 5k

2790a. charash -- to cut in, engrave, plow, devise
... 2790, 2790a. charash. 2790b . to cut in, engrave, plow, devise.
Transliteration: charash Short Definition: plow. Word Origin a prim. ...
/hebrew/2790a.htm - 5k

2790. charash -- to cut in, engrave, plow, devise
... 2789, 2790. charash. 2790a . to cut in, engrave, plow, devise. Transliteration:
charash Phonetic Spelling: (khaw-rash') Short Definition: altogether. ...
/hebrew/2790.htm - 6k

2672. chatsab -- to hew, hew out, cleave
... Or chatseb {khaw-tsabe'}; a primitive root; to cut or carve (wood), stone or other
material); by implication, to hew, split, square, quarry, engrave -- cut, dig ...
/hebrew/2672.htm - 6k

2747. cheret -- engraving tool, stylus
... graving tool, pen. From a primitive root meaning to engrave; a chisel or graver;
also a style for writing -- graving tool, pen. 2746, 2747. cheret. 2748 . ...
/hebrew/2747.htm - 6k

6605. pathach -- to open
... thakh') Short Definition: appear. appear, break forth, draw out, let go free,
engrave, loose self, be, be set opening, A primitive root ...
/hebrew/6605.htm - 5k

2710. chaqaq -- to cut in, inscribe, decree
... A primitive root; properly, to hack, ie Engrave (Judges 5:14, to be a scribe simply);
by implication, to enact (laws being cut in stone or metal tablets in ...
/hebrew/2710.htm - 6k

874. baar -- to make distinct or plain
... declare, make plainly. A primitive root; to dig; by analogy, to engrave; figuratively,
to explain -- declare, (make) plain(-ly). 873, 874. baar. 875 . ...
/hebrew/874.htm - 6k

3799. katham -- to be stained
... mark. A primitive root; properly, to carve or engrave, ie (by implication) to inscribe
indelibly -- mark. 3798, 3799. katham. 3800 . Strong's Numbers.
/hebrew/3799.htm - 5k

What God Is
... There is outward idolatry and there is inward, there is idolatry in action, when
men paint or engrave some similitude of God, and there is idolatry in ...
/.../binning/the works of the rev hugh binning/lecture x what god is.htm

A vision of Judgement and Cleansing
... forth My servant The BRANCH.9. For behold the stone that I have laid before Joshua;
upon one stone shall be seven eyes: behold, I will engrave the graving ...
/.../maclaren/expositions of holy scripture a/a vision of judgement and.htm

Mormonites, or the Church of the Latter-Day Saints.
... commanded Mormon to collect the writings of his forefathers,"their revelations and
prophecies, &c.,"and make an abridgment of them, and engrave them upon ...
/.../hayward/the book of religions/mormonites or the church of.htm

Extracts for Study, with Lesson Talk
... Fit the words to your lips. Engrave the passage on your mind by frequent repetition.
9. Study this passage for its profound and prophetic thought. ...
/.../successful methods of public speaking/extracts for study with lesson.htm

The Second Part.
... and see how zealous I am for the Lord of hosts: they proclaime their almes with
a trumpet, paint their good deedes upon Church windowes, engrave their legacies ...
/.../ward/a coal from the altar to kindle the holy fire of zeale/the second part.htm

Of Scoffing and Derision.
... which a dispassionate hearer easily wipes out, but those of Wit are like the engraver's
burn upon copper, or the corrodings of Aquafortis, engrave and indent ...
/.../allestree/the government of the tongue/section vii of scoffing and.htm

The Order of Thought which Surrounded the Development of Jesus.
... The apotheosis is reached by the scaffold; characters have distinctive features,
which engrave them as eternal types in the memory of men. ...
//christianbookshelf.org/renan/the life of jesus/chapter iv the order of.htm

A More Particular Exposition of 1 Tim. ...
... if the divine gift hath qualified thee by wit, by skill, by learning, be thou a
Bazaleel of the spiritual tabernacle, [500] engrave the precious gems of divine ...
/.../vincent/the commonitory of vincent of lerins/chapter xxii a more particular.htm

A Question for Communicants
... it in many ways. You may erect a bronze column, or you may engrave a record
of it upon brass in the church. The column will get ...
/.../spurgeon/spurgeons sermons volume 38 1892/a question for communicants.htm

"He is the Rock, his Work is Perfect, for all his Ways are ...
... When the Lord would pierce the hearts of his people, and engrave a challenge with
the point of a diamond, he useth this as his pen,""Have I been a wilderness ...
/.../binning/the works of the rev hugh binning/sermon ii he is the.htm

Engrave (8 Occurrences)
... Noah Webster's Dictionary 1. (vt) To carve in some surface as wood, stone, or
metal; as, to engrave an inscription. ...Engrave (8 Occurrences). ...
/e/engrave.htm - 9k

Engraving (7 Occurrences)
... Noah Webster's Dictionary 1. (p. pr. & vb. n.) of Engrave. 2. (n.) The act
or art of producing upon hard material incised or raised ...
/e/engraving.htm - 9k

Engravings (11 Occurrences)
... Exodus 28:11 With the work of an engraver in stone, like the engravings of a signet,
you shall engrave the two stones, according to the names of the children ...
/e/engravings.htm - 10k

Grave (128 Occurrences)
... 6. (superl.) Slow and solemn in movement. 7. (n.) To dig. [Obs.] Chaucer. 8. (n.)
To carve or cut, as letters or figures, on some hard substance; to engrave. ...
/g/grave.htm - 37k

Violet (3 Occurrences)
... send me a man skillful to work in gold, and in silver, and in brass, and in iron,
and in purple, and crimson, and blue, and who knows how to engrave all manner ...
/v/violet.htm - 8k

Fabrics (4 Occurrences)
... send me a man skillful to work in gold, and in silver, and in brass, and in iron,
and in purple, and crimson, and blue, and who knows how to engrave all manner ...
/f/fabrics.htm - 7k

Crimson (10 Occurrences)
... send me a man skillful to work in gold, and in silver, and in brass, and in iron,
and in purple, and crimson, and blue, and who knows how to engrave all manner ...
/c/crimson.htm - 10k

Craftsmen (22 Occurrences)
... send me a man skillful to work in gold, and in silver, and in brass, and in iron,
and in purple, and crimson, and blue, and who knows how to engrave all manner ...
/c/craftsmen.htm - 14k

Carve (1 Occurrence)
... Noah Webster's Dictionary. 1. (vt) To cut. 2. (vt) To cut, as wood, stone, or other
material, in an artistic or decorative manner; to sculpture; to engrave. ...
/c/carve.htm - 8k

Signet (21 Occurrences)
... Exodus 28:11 With the work of an engraver in stone, like the engravings of a signet,
you shall engrave the two stones, according to the names of the children ...
/s/signet.htm - 15k

Engrave: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.com

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