Engravings in the Bible refer to the art of carving or inscribing designs, figures, or letters onto various materials such as stone, metal, or wood. This practice is mentioned in several contexts throughout the Scriptures, often associated with craftsmanship, artistry, and the worship of God.

Biblical References and Contexts

1. The Tabernacle and Temple: Engravings played a significant role in the construction and decoration of the Tabernacle and the Temple. In Exodus 28:9-11, God commands Moses to have two onyx stones engraved with the names of the sons of Israel, which were to be mounted on the shoulders of the ephod worn by the high priest: "Take two onyx stones and engrave on them the names of the sons of Israel, six of their names on one stone and the remaining six on the other, according to the order of their birth. Engrave the names of the sons of Israel on the two stones as a jeweler engraves a seal."

2. The Ten Commandments: One of the most significant uses of engraving in the Bible is the inscription of the Ten Commandments on stone tablets. In Exodus 31:18, it is recorded, "When He had finished speaking with Moses on Mount Sinai, He gave him the two tablets of the Testimony, tablets of stone inscribed by the finger of God." This divine engraving signifies the permanence and authority of God's law.

3. Solomon's Temple: The construction of Solomon's Temple involved intricate engravings. In 1 Kings 6:18, the interior of the Temple is described: "The cedar within the house was carved in the form of gourds and open flowers. All was cedar; no stone was visible." These engravings were not merely decorative but served to reflect the beauty and glory of God’s dwelling place.

4. Idolatry and False Worship: Engravings are also mentioned in the context of idolatry. Isaiah 44:13-17 describes the process of crafting idols, highlighting the futility of worshiping engraved images: "The carpenter stretches out a line; he marks it out with a pencil. He shapes it with planes and marks it with a compass. He shapes it into the figure of a man, with the beauty of a man, to dwell in a house."

Symbolism and Significance

Engravings in the Bible often symbolize permanence, authority, and dedication. The act of engraving is a deliberate and skilled process, reflecting the care and intention behind the creation of sacred objects. In the context of the Tabernacle and Temple, engravings were a means of glorifying God and setting apart sacred spaces for worship.

Conversely, the Bible warns against the use of engravings in the creation of idols, emphasizing the distinction between the worship of the one true God and the false worship of man-made images. The prophets frequently condemned the practice of idolatry, urging the people of Israel to remain faithful to God.

Craftsmanship and Divine Inspiration

The Bible acknowledges the skill and artistry involved in engraving. In Exodus 31:2-5, God appoints Bezalel, filled with the Spirit of God, to oversee the craftsmanship of the Tabernacle: "See, I have called by name Bezalel the son of Uri, the son of Hur, of the tribe of Judah. And I have filled him with the Spirit of God, with wisdom, understanding, and ability in all kinds of craftsmanship, to design artistic works in gold, silver, and bronze, to cut gemstones for settings, and to carve wood, so that he may be a master of every craft."

This divine inspiration underscores the belief that artistic talent and craftsmanship are gifts from God, to be used for His glory and purposes. Engravings, when used in accordance with God's commands, serve as a testament to His majesty and the devotion of His people.6603. pittuach -- an engraving
... 6602, 6603. pittuach. 6604 . an engraving. Transliteration: pittuach Phonetic
Spelling: (pit-too'-akh) Short Definition: engravings. ...
/hebrew/6603.htm - 6k

4734. miqlaath -- carving
... Word Origin from qala Definition carving NASB Word Usage carved (1), carvings
(1), engravings (1). carved figure, carving, graving. ...
/hebrew/4734.htm - 6k

6605b. pathach -- to engrave
... Word Origin a prim. root Definition to engrave NASB Word Usage carved (1), engrave
(4), engraved (2), make (1), make kinds of engravings (1). 6605a, 6605b. ...
/hebrew/6605b.htm - 5k

Engravings.
... ENGRAVINGS. Page MAP OF THE PERSIAN EMPIRE. DARIUS CROSSING THE BOSPORUS
Frontispiece. THE ARMY OF CAMBYSES OVERWHELMED IN THE DESERT 35. ...
//christianbookshelf.org/abbott/darius the great/engravings.htm

Engravings.
... ENGRAVINGS. Page MAP OF THE PERSIAN EMPIRE Frontispiece. THE EXPOSURE OF THE INFANT
48. CYRUS'S HUNTING 90. THE SECRET CORRESPONDENCE 132. THE SIEGE OF SARDIS 179 ...
//christianbookshelf.org/abbott/cyrus the great/engravings.htm

Engravings.
... ENGRAVINGS. Page ARTABANUS AND THE GHOST Frontispiece. MAP OF THE PERSIAN
EMPIRE xii. PHERON DEFYING THE NILE 48. MAP OF GREECE 101. ...
//christianbookshelf.org/abbott/xerxes/engravings.htm

Published By
... [Illustration: Portrait of Moody.]. MOODY'S ANECDOTES; 210 pages exclusive of
engravings. ... Illustrated with excellent engravings of Messrs. ...
/.../moody/moodys anecdotes and illustrations/published by.htm

Cyrus the Great
... Title Page. Makers of History Cyrus the Great. BY. JACOB ABBOTT. WITH ENGRAVINGS.
NEW YORK AND LONDON. HARPER & BROTHERS PUBLISHERS. 1904. ...
//christianbookshelf.org/abbott/cyrus the great/title page.htm

Darius the Great
... Title Page. Makers of History Darius the Great. BY. JACOB ABBOTT. WITH ENGRAVINGS.
NEW YORK AND LONDON. HARPER & BROTHERS PUBLISHERS. 1904. ...
//christianbookshelf.org/abbott/darius the great/title page.htm

Xerxes
... Xerxes. BY JACOB ABBOTT. WITH ENGRAVINGS. NEW YORK AND LONDON HARPER & BROTHERS
PUBLISHERS 1902. Entered, according to Act of Congress, in the year 1850, by. ...
//christianbookshelf.org/abbott/xerxes/title page.htm

The Ascension of Messiah to Glory
... They may be compared to the delicate engravings on a seal, the beauty and proportions
of which cannot be plainly discerned without the assistance of a ...
//christianbookshelf.org/newton/messiah vol 2/sermon xxvi the ascension of.htm

Child's Story of the Bible
... ILLUSTRATED. WITH NUMEROUS FULL-PAGE COLORED PLATES,. AND PHOTO-ENGRAVINGS. BOSTON.
DEWOLFE, & FISKE Co. COPYRIGHT, 1898. By DEWOLFE, FISKE & CO. ...
//christianbookshelf.org/lathbury/childs story of the bible/title page.htm

The Meaning
... think differently, and had rather refer the type of dimension to the signification
of building, as what is displayed in architectural engravings, or graphically ...
//christianbookshelf.org/mede/a key to the apocalypse/the meaning.htm

Engravings (11 Occurrences)
... Multi-Version Concordance Engravings (11 Occurrences). Exodus 28:11 With
the work of an engraver in stone, like the engravings of ...
/e/engravings.htm - 10k

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

Engraving (7 Occurrences)
... Exodus 28:36 "You shall make a plate of pure gold, and engrave on it, like the
engravings of a signet,'HOLY TO YAHWEH.' (Root in WEB KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS NAS RSV ...
/e/engraving.htm - 9k

Engrave (8 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/engrave.htm - 9k

Signets (4 Occurrences)
... Exodus 28:11 With the work of an engraver in stone, like the engravings of a signet,
shalt thou engrave the two stones, according to the names of the children ...
/s/signets.htm - 7k

Gravings (2 Occurrences)
... the capital and above was a cubit: and its mouth was round after the work of a pedestal,
a cubit and a half; and also on its mouth were engravings, and their ...
/g/gravings.htm - 7k

Filigree (9 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 ...
/f/filigree.htm - 9k

Tribes (141 Occurrences)
... Exodus 28:21 The stones shall be according to the names of the children of Israel,
twelve, according to their names; like the engravings of a signet, everyone ...
/t/tribes.htm - 41k

Engraved (62 Occurrences)
... Exodus 39:6 They worked the onyx stones, enclosed in settings of gold, engraved
with the engravings of a signet, according to the names of the children of ...
/e/engraved.htm - 26k

Enclosed (16 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/enclosed.htm - 10k

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