In biblical times, the furnace was a significant structure used for various purposes, including smelting metals, baking bricks, and as a metaphor for trials and divine judgment. The term "furnace" appears in several contexts throughout the Bible, illustrating both its practical uses and its symbolic meanings.

1. Practical Uses:

· Metalworking: Furnaces were essential in the ancient process of refining metals. The intense heat of a furnace was used to purify metals by removing impurities. This process is metaphorically applied to God's refining of His people. In Proverbs 17:3, it is written, "A crucible for silver and a furnace for gold, but the LORD is the tester of hearts."

· Brickmaking: Furnaces were also used in the production of bricks, a common building material in ancient times. The Israelites, during their bondage in Egypt, were forced to make bricks, which may have involved the use of furnaces (Exodus 1:14).

2. Symbolic Uses:

· Divine Judgment and Testing: The furnace is often used as a symbol of divine judgment and testing. In the book of Daniel, the fiery furnace is a central element in the account of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. King Nebuchadnezzar ordered them to be thrown into a blazing furnace for refusing to worship an idol. Miraculously, they were unharmed, demonstrating God's power and protection (Daniel 3:19-27). This event underscores the theme of faithfulness under trial and God's deliverance.

· Purification and Refinement: The furnace symbolizes the process of purification and refinement. In Malachi 3:2-3, the coming of the Lord is likened to a refiner's fire, purifying the sons of Levi. This imagery conveys the idea of God purifying His people, removing impurities to make them holy and acceptable.

· Hell and Eternal Punishment: The furnace is also used metaphorically to describe hell and eternal punishment. In Matthew 13:42, Jesus speaks of the wicked being thrown into a "fiery furnace," where there will be "weeping and gnashing of teeth." This imagery serves as a stark warning of the consequences of rejecting God.

3. Historical and Cultural Context:

Furnaces in the ancient Near East were typically constructed from clay or stone and fueled by wood or charcoal. The design and construction of these furnaces varied depending on their intended use, whether for metalworking, pottery, or brickmaking. The intense heat generated by these furnaces made them apt symbols for the severe trials and judgments described in the Scriptures.

4. Theological Implications:

The use of the furnace as a metaphor in the Bible highlights several theological themes, including God's sovereignty, the reality of divine judgment, and the process of sanctification. The imagery of the furnace serves to remind believers of the refining work of God in their lives, as well as the ultimate judgment that awaits those who reject Him.

In summary, the furnace in the Bible is a multifaceted symbol representing both the practical aspects of ancient life and profound spiritual truths. Its presence in Scripture underscores the themes of purification, testing, and divine judgment, offering believers insights into God's character and His dealings with humanity.Furnace

Various kinds of furnaces are noticed in the Bible, such as a smelting or calcining furnace, (Genesis 19:28; Exodus 9:8,10; 19:18) especially a lime-kiln, (Isaiah 33:12; Amos 2:1) a refining furnace, (Proverbs 17:3) Nebuchadnezzar's furnace, a large furnace built like a brick-kiln, (Daniel 3:22,23) with two openings one at the top for putting in the materials, and another below for removing them; the potter's furnace, Ecclus. 27:5; The blacksmith's furnace. Ecclus. 38:28. The Persians were in the habit of using the furnace as a means of inflicting punishment. (Daniel 3:22,23; Jeremiah 29:22)

(1.) Chald. attun, a large furnace with a wide open mouth, at the top of which materials were cast in (Dan. 3:22, 23; Comp. Jeremiah 29:22). This furnace would be in constant requisition, for the Babylonians disposed of their dead by cremation, as did also the Accadians who invaded Mesopotamia.

(2.) Hebrews kibshan, a smelting furnace (Genesis 19:28), also a lime-kiln (Isaiah 33:12; Amos 2:1).

(3.) Hebrews kur, a refining furnace (Proverbs 17:3; 27:21; Ezek. 22:18).

(4.) Hebrews alil, a crucible; only used in Psalm 12:6.

(5.) Hebrews tannur, oven for baking bread (Genesis 15:17; Isaiah 31:9; Nehemiah 3:11). It was a large pot, narrowing towards the top. When it was heated by a fire made within, the dough was spread over the heated surface, and thus was baked. "A smoking furnace and a burning lamp" (Genesis 15:17), the symbol of the presence of the Almighty, passed between the divided pieces of Abraham's sacrifice in ratification of the covenant God made with him. (see OVEN.)

(6.) Gr. kamnos, a furnace, kiln, or oven (Matthew 13:42, 50; Revelation 1:15; 9:2).

1. (n.) An enclosed place in which heat is produced by the combustion of fuel, as for reducing ores or melting metals, for warming a house, for baking pottery, etc.; as, an iron furnace; a hot-air furnace; a glass furnace; a boiler furnace, etc.

2. (n.) A place or time of punishment, affliction, or great trial; severe experience or discipline.

3. (n.) To throw out, or exhale, as from a furnace; also, to put into a furnace.

FURNACE

fur'-nas: The word is used in the Old Testament English Versions of the Bible to translate several Hebrew words:

Kibhshan, in Genesis 19:28, where the smoke of the destruction of the cities of the plain is said to have ascended "as the smoke of a furnace"; in Exodus 9:8, where Yahweh commands to take "handfuls of ashes of the furnace and. sprinkle it toward heaven," etc.

Kur, in Deuteronomy 4:20, where Yahweh is represented, when speaking of taking the children of Israel out of Egypt, as taking them "out of the iron furnace."

`Alil in Psalm 12:6, where "the words of Yahweh" are said to be "pure," "as silver tried in a furnace"; compare Proverbs 17:3, "furnace for gold."

`Attun, in Daniel 3:6, where mention is made of "a burning fiery furnace" into which Daniel and his companions were cast. There is good reason to believe that these words all stand for either a brick-kiln or a smelting furnace.

In the New Testament a notable figurative use is made of the word in the phrase "the furnace of fire," he kaminos tou puros. It is found in the parable of the Tares (Matthew 13:42) as part of the remarkable imagery of that parable; while in the companion parable of the Drag-Net (Matthew 13:50) it stands as a symbol of the final destiny of the impenitent, a synonym of "hell"; compare Jeremiah 29:22 Daniel 3:6, 22 Revelation 20:14-15, etc., and "eternal fire" (Matthew 25:41), "unquenchable fire" (Matthew 3:12), "the Gehenna of fire" (Matthew 5:22 margin; Matthew 18:9 parallel Mark 9:43 margin, etc.). A fact which modern travelers speak of, that furnaces for punishment have been found in Persia as elsewhere in the East, sheds some light upon this use of the expression "the furnace of fire."

George B. Eager

2575. kaminos -- furnace
... furnace. Part of Speech: Noun, Feminine Transliteration: kaminos Phonetic Spelling:
(kam'-ee-nos) Short Definition: a furnace Definition: a furnace, oven, kiln. ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/2575.htm - 6k

2823. klibanos -- an oven
... an oven. Part of Speech: Noun, Masculine Transliteration: klibanos Phonetic Spelling:
(klib'-an-os) Short Definition: an oven, furnace Definition: an oven ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/2823.htm - 6k

861. attun -- a furnace
... 860, 861. attun. 862 . a furnace. Transliteration: attun Phonetic Spelling:
(at-toon') Short Definition: furnace. Word Origin (Aramaic ...
/hebrew/861.htm - 6k

5948. alil -- perhaps furnace, crucible
... 5947, 5948. alil. 5949 . perhaps furnace, crucible. Transliteration:
alil Phonetic Spelling: (al-eel') Short Definition: furnace. ...
/hebrew/5948.htm - 6k

3564. kuwr -- smelting pot or furnace
... 3563b, 3564. kuwr. 3564a . smelting pot or furnace. Transliteration: kuwr
Phonetic Spelling: (koor) Short Definition: furnace. furnace ...
/hebrew/3564.htm - 5k

3564a. kur -- smelting pot or furnace
... 3564, 3564a. kur. 3564b . smelting pot or furnace. Transliteration: kur
Short Definition: furnace. Word Origin from an unused word ...
/hebrew/3564a.htm - 5k

3600. kir -- cooking furnace
... 3599, 3600. kir. 3601 . cooking furnace. Transliteration: kir Phonetic
Spelling: (keer) Short Definition: stove. Word Origin from ...
/hebrew/3600.htm - 6k

3536. kibshan -- a kiln
... 3535, 3536. kibshan. 3537 . a kiln. Transliteration: kibshan Phonetic
Spelling: (kib-shawn') Short Definition: furnace. ... furnace. ...
/hebrew/3536.htm - 6k

8574. tannur -- (portable) stove, firepot
... Word Origin from the same as tenuk Definition (portable) stove, firepot NASB Word
Usage furnace (2), Furnaces (2), oven (10), ovens (1). furnace, oven. ...
/hebrew/8574.htm - 6k

3565. Kor Ashan -- Chor-ashan
... Word Origin the same as Bor, qv. Chor-ashan From kuwr and ashan; furnace of smoke;
Cor-Ashan, a place in Palestine -- Chor-ashan. see HEBREW kuwr. ...
/hebrew/3565.htm - 6k

The Story of the Fiery Furnace
... THE STORY OF THE FIERY FURNACE. ... The king had said that if any one did not worship
the golden image he should be thrown into a furnace of fire. ...
/.../marshall/the wonder book of bible stories/the story of the fiery.htm

The Lord's Furnace
... THE LORD'S FURNACE. 'The Lord, whose fire is in Zion, and His furnace in
Jerusalem.'" Isaiah 31:9. This very remarkable characterisation ...
/.../maclaren/expositions of holy scripture h/the lords furnace.htm

He who in the Fiery Furnace
... CANON FOR EASTER DAY BY ST. JOHN OF DAMASCUS He who in the fiery furnace. tr., John
Brownlie ... He who in the fiery furnace. Kept from harm the faithful three,. ...
/.../brownlie/hymns of the greek church/he who in the fiery.htm

The Fiery Furnace
... In the Lands of the Heathen Chapter 41 The Fiery Furnace. [This chapter is
based on Daniel 3..] The dream of the great image, opening ...
/.../white/the story of prophets and kings/chapter 41 the fiery furnace.htm

God's People in the Furnace
... God's People in the Furnace. A Sermon (No.35). ... At New Park Street Chapel, Southwark.
"I have chosen thee in the furnace of affliction.""Isaiah 48:10. ...
/.../spurgeon/spurgeons sermons volume 1 1855/gods people in the furnace.htm

September 12. "The Furnace for Gold; but the Lord Trieth the ...
... SEPTEMBER 12. "The furnace for gold; but the Lord trieth the hearts" (Prov. xvii.
3.). "The furnace for gold; but the Lord trieth the hearts" (Proverbs 17:3.) ...
/.../simpson/days of heaven upon earth /september 12 the furnace for.htm

The Great Furnace for a Great Soul
... CHAPTER XI THE GREAT FURNACE FOR A GREAT SOUL. "Happy the pure in heart, for they
shall see God." ... THE GREAT FURNACE FOR A GREAT SOUL. BEING THE STORY OF AI DO. ...
/.../cable/the fulfilment of a dream of pastor hsis/chapter xi the great furnace.htm

A Burning, Fiery Furnace
... BOOK V CHAPTER LV A BURNING, FIERY FURNACE. elaune, kinei, phonion exiei
kalou."Eur. Herc. Fur.837. The examination of the two ...
/.../chapter lv a burning fiery.htm

But Lately, O Blindness, I Worshipped Images Produced from the ...
... Book I. 39 But lately, O blindness, I worshipped images produced from
the furnace? But lately, O blindness, I worshipped images ...
/.../the seven books of arnobius against the heathen/39 but lately o blindness.htm

The Test by Fire
... Whoever does not fall down and worship shall be thrown into a burning, fiery furnace.'"
So when all the people heard the sound of the trumpet, flute, lute, harp ...
//christianbookshelf.org/sherman/the childrens bible/the test by fire.htm

Furnace (35 Occurrences)
... Easton's Bible Dictionary. (1.) Chald. attun, a large furnace with a wide open mouth,
at the top of which materials were cast in (Dan. 3:22, 23; Comp. ...
/f/furnace.htm - 22k

Blazing (27 Occurrences)
... Genesis 15:17 It came to pass that, when the sun went down, and it was dark, behold,
a smoking furnace, and a flaming torch passed between these pieces. ...
/b/blazing.htm - 14k

Abednego (14 Occurrences)
... 2:49). With Shadrach and Meshach, he was delivered from the burning fiery furnace
(3:12-30). Int. Standard Bible Encyclopedia. ABED-NEGO. ...
/a/abednego.htm - 13k

Shadrach (14 Occurrences)
... Dura. Their conduct filled the king with the greatest fury, and he commanded
them to be cast into the burning fiery furnace. Here ...
/s/shadrach.htm - 14k

Three (5005 Occurrences)
... to Daniel 3:23, where it is said that "Shadrach, Meshach and Abed-nego (Azariah)
fell down bound into the midst of the burning fiery furnace." [?] the version ...
/t/three.htm - 18k

Abed-nego (14 Occurrences)
... province of Babylon (Daniel 2). Having refused to bow down to the image which
Nebuehadnezzar had set up, he was cast into the burning fiery furnace, and after ...
/a/abed-nego.htm - 13k

Fiery (47 Occurrences)
... (See NAS). Matthew 13:42 and these they will throw into the fiery furnace. ... (WEY
NIV). Matthew 13:50 and will throw them into the fiery furnace. ...
/f/fiery.htm - 21k

Kiln (5 Occurrences)
... 1. (n.) A large stove or oven; a furnace of brick or stone, or a heated chamber,
for the purpose of hardening, burning, or drying anything; as, a kiln for ...
/k/kiln.htm - 8k

Meshach (15 Occurrences)
... and the form of his visage was changed against Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego:
therefore he spoke, and commanded that they should heat the furnace seven times ...
/m/meshach.htm - 12k

Abed'nego (14 Occurrences)
... of fury, and the expression of his face hath been changed concerning Shadrach, Meshach,
and Abed-Nego; he answered and said to heat the furnace seven times ...
/a/abed'nego.htm - 10k

Where was Daniel when his three friends were thrown into the fiery furnace for refusing to worship Nebuchadnezzar's statue? | GotQuestions.org

What should we learn from the account of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego? | GotQuestions.org

Summary of the Book of Daniel - Bible Survey | GotQuestions.org

Furnace: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.com

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