Lye, a strong alkaline substance, is primarily known for its use in cleaning and soap-making. In biblical times, lye was derived from the ashes of plants and was an essential component in the ancient process of cleansing and purification. The Bible references lye in the context of its cleansing properties, symbolizing spiritual purification and the removal of sin.

Biblical References:

1. Proverbs 25:20 : "Like one who takes away a garment on a cold day, or like vinegar poured on lye, is one who sings songs to a heavy heart." This verse uses lye metaphorically to illustrate the discordant effect of inappropriate actions. Just as vinegar reacts with lye, causing a fizzing and potentially harmful reaction, so too can insensitivity exacerbate the sorrow of a heavy heart.

2. Jeremiah 2:22 : "Although you wash with lye and use an abundance of soap, the stain of your guilt is still before Me," declares the Lord GOD." Here, lye is mentioned in the context of attempting to cleanse oneself from sin. Despite the use of lye and soap, which are effective in physical cleansing, the verse emphasizes that only God can truly remove the stain of guilt from sin.

Symbolism and Usage:

In the biblical context, lye symbolizes the human effort to achieve purity and cleanliness. However, the scriptures underscore the insufficiency of physical cleansing agents like lye in addressing spiritual impurity. The use of lye in these passages serves as a metaphor for the futility of relying solely on human means for spiritual purification. It highlights the need for divine intervention and the cleansing power of God to truly purify the heart and soul.

Cultural and Historical Context:

In ancient Israel, lye was commonly used in the process of laundering clothes and in the production of soap. The Israelites, like many ancient cultures, understood the importance of cleanliness, both physically and spiritually. The use of lye in everyday life would have been familiar to the original audience of the biblical texts, making its metaphorical use in scripture particularly poignant.

Theological Implications:

The references to lye in the Bible serve as a reminder of the limitations of human efforts in achieving righteousness. They point to the necessity of seeking God's grace and forgiveness for true spiritual cleansing. The imagery of lye underscores the biblical theme that while humans can strive for purity, it is ultimately God who purifies and redeems.

In summary, lye in the Bible is a powerful symbol of cleansing and purification, used to illustrate the deeper spiritual truth that only God can cleanse the heart from sin.1. (n.) A strong caustic alkaline solution of potassium salts, obtained by leaching wood ashes. It is much used in making soap, etc.

2. (n.) A short side line, connected with the main line; a turn-out; a siding.

3. (n.) A falsehood.

LYE

li.

See NITRE.

1253a. bor -- lye, potash
... bor. 1253b . lye, potash. Transliteration: bor Short Definition: lye. Word Origin
from barar Definition lye, potash NASB Word Usage lye (2). 1253, 1253a. ...
/hebrew/1253a.htm - 5k

1287. borith -- lye, alkali, potash, soap
... 1286, 1287. borith. 1288 . lye, alkali, potash, soap. Transliteration: borith
Phonetic Spelling: (bo-reeth') Short Definition: soap. Word Origin fem. ...
/hebrew/1287.htm - 6k

1253. bor -- lye, potash
... 1252, 1253. bor. 1253a . lye, potash. Transliteration: bor Phonetic
Spelling: (bore) Short Definition: so. never so, purely The ...
/hebrew/1253.htm - 5k

5427. nether -- natron or carbonate of soda
... 5426, 5427. nether. 5428 . natron or carbonate of soda. Transliteration:
nether Phonetic Spelling: (neh'-ther) Short Definition: lye. ...
/hebrew/5427.htm - 6k

Song 15. Against Lying.
... Against Lying. 1 O `tis a lovely thing for youth To walk betimes in wisdom's way;
To fear a lye, to speak the truth, That we may trust to all they say. ...
/.../watts/divine songs for children/song 15 against lying.htm

Whether Plain Water is Necessary for Baptism?
... Objection 4: Further, lye does not seem to be pure water, for it has the properties
of heating and drying, which are contrary to those of water. ...
/.../aquinas/summa theologica/whether plain water is necessary.htm

section v.
... shall be refined into a more impregnable and fixed temper like Gold, though they
suffer from the action of flames, they shall never perish, but lye immortal in ...
//christianbookshelf.org/browne/religio medici/section v.htm

His Earliest Oracles. (ii. 2-iv. 4. )
... Yea, though thou scour thee with nitre, 22 And heap to thee lye, Ingrained is thy
guilt before Me, Rede of the Lord, thy God.(156) How sayest thou, "I'm not ...
//christianbookshelf.org/smith/jeremiah/1 his earliest oracles ii.htm

section i.
... In brief, I am averse from nothing: my Conscience would give me the lye if I should
say I absolutely detest or hate any essence but the Devil; or so at least ...
//christianbookshelf.org/browne/religio medici/section i 2.htm

Of Two Spiritual Martyrdoms, Wherewith God Cleanseth the Soul that ...
... disordered Passions of Concupiscence, Self-esteem Desire and Thoughts, how spiritual
soever, and many other Interests and secret Vices, which lye within the ...
/.../the spiritual guide which disentangles the soul/chap iv of two spiritual.htm

Book iv. The Descent: from the Mount of Transfiguration into the ...
... But God forbede but men shulde leve Wel mor thing then men han seen with eye. Men
shall not wenen euery thing a lye. But yf him-selfe yt seeth or elles dooth. ...
/.../edersheim/the life and times of jesus the messiah/book iv the descent from.htm

The Westminster Catechisms.
... Expositions. Thomas Lye (Minister in London, d.1684): An Explanation of the
Shorter Catechism. London, 1676. Hugh Binning (d.1653, Prof. ...
/.../ 96 the westminster catechisms.htm

Wesley in Winchester Cathedral
... sold! Is there anything under the sun that can satisfy a spirit made
for God? Wednesday, 16."I preached at South Lye. Here it ...
/.../wesley/the journal of john wesley/wesley in winchester cathedral.htm

Of the Power and Authoritie Given to Synods.
... As they meet to minister light and peace to such churches, as through want of light
and peace lye in error (or doubt at least) and variance; so they have power ...
/.../the keyes of the kingdom of heaven and power thereof/chap vi of the power.htm

Lye (4 Occurrences)
... Int. Standard Bible Encyclopedia. LYE. li. See NITRE. ...Lye (4 Occurrences). Job
9:30 If I wash myself with snow, and cleanse my hands with lye, (WEB NAS RSV). ...
/l/lye.htm - 7k

Nitre (2 Occurrences)
... It is a carbonate of soda, not saltpetre, which the word generally denotes
(Jeremiah 2:22; RV "lye"). Noah Webster's Dictionary. ...
/n/nitre.htm - 9k

Buck (23 Occurrences)
... Noah Webster's Dictionary 1. (n.) Lye or suds in which cloth is soaked in
the operation of bleaching, or in which clothes are washed. ...
/b/buck.htm - 13k

Soap (4 Occurrences)
... carbonates with oleaginous matter. The word "purely" in Isaiah 1:25 (RV,
"throughly;" marg., "as with lye") is lit. "as with bor ...
/s/soap.htm - 10k

Purity (16 Occurrences)
... as the translation of bor, properly "that which cleanses" (compare Job 9:30, the
Revised Version margin "Hebrew `cleanse my hands with lye,' " ie alkali for ...
/p/purity.htm - 30k

Pure (160 Occurrences)
... as the translation of bor, properly "that which cleanses" (compare Job 9:30, the
Revised Version margin "Hebrew `cleanse my hands with lye,' " ie alkali for ...
/p/pure.htm - 39k

Purely (4 Occurrences)
... as the translation of bor, properly "that which cleanses" (compare Job 9:30, the
Revised Version margin "Hebrew `cleanse my hands with lye,' " ie alkali for ...
/p/purely.htm - 9k

Lydia's (1 Occurrence)

/l/lydia's.htm - 6k

Refining (8 Occurrences)
... The description of refining in Ezekiel 22:18-22 may indicate that a flux (compare
"as with lye," Isaiah 1:25 the American Revised Version margin) was sometimes ...
/r/refining.htm - 12k

Refiner (10 Occurrences)
... The description of refining in Ezekiel 22:18-22 may indicate that a flux (compare
"as with lye," Isaiah 1:25 the American Revised Version margin) was sometimes ...
/r/refiner.htm - 13k

What is the significance of the refiner's fire and launderer's soap in Malachi 3:2? | GotQuestions.org

Lye: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.com

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