Definition and Usage in Scripture:
In the Bible, the concept of melting is often used metaphorically to describe the process of transformation, purification, or the emotional state of individuals. It is associated with the refining of metals, the softening of hearts, and the overwhelming fear or distress that causes one's courage to dissolve.

Metaphorical Use in Refining and Purification:
Melting is frequently used in the context of refining metals, symbolizing the purification process that believers undergo. In the ancient world, metals were melted to remove impurities, a process that is likened to God's refining of His people. Malachi 3:3 states, "He will sit as a refiner and purifier of silver; He will purify the sons of Levi and refine them like gold and silver." This imagery emphasizes the divine intention to purify and sanctify His people, removing impurities and making them holy.

Emotional and Spiritual Melting:
The Bible also uses the imagery of melting to describe the emotional and spiritual state of individuals. In times of fear or distress, hearts are said to "melt." For example, in Joshua 2:11, Rahab describes the fear of the Canaanites upon hearing of the Israelites' approach: "When we heard this, our hearts melted and everyone's courage failed because of you, for the LORD your God is God in heaven above and on the earth below." This melting of hearts signifies a loss of courage and strength in the face of overwhelming circumstances.

Melting as a Response to God's Presence:
The presence of God can also cause a melting effect, as seen in the response of the mountains and the earth. In Nahum 1:5, it is written, "The mountains quake before Him, and the hills melt away; the earth trembles at His presence—the world and all its dwellers." This passage illustrates the power and majesty of God, before whom even the most formidable parts of creation cannot stand firm.

Symbolism in Judgment and Wrath:
Melting is sometimes used to depict the judgment and wrath of God. In Ezekiel 22:20-22, God speaks of gathering Israel into the furnace of His wrath: "As silver, bronze, iron, lead, and tin are gathered into a furnace to be melted with a fiery blast, so I will gather you in My anger and wrath, and I will put you inside and melt you." This imagery conveys the severity of divine judgment and the consuming nature of God's righteous anger.

Conclusion:
The concept of melting in the Bible serves as a powerful metaphor for transformation, purification, emotional response, and divine judgment. It reflects the multifaceted ways in which God interacts with His creation, purifying, testing, and sometimes bringing to account those who stand against His will. Through the imagery of melting, Scripture communicates profound truths about the nature of God and His dealings with humanity.1. (p. pr. & vb. n.) of Melt.

2. (n.) Liquefaction; the act of causing (something) to melt, or the process of becoming melted.

3. (a.) Causing to melt; becoming melted; -- used literally or figuratively; as, a melting heat; a melting appeal; a melting mood.

2046. hittuk -- a melting
... hittuk. 2047 . a melting. Transliteration: hittuk Phonetic Spelling: (hit-took')
Short Definition: melted. ... is melted. From nathak; a melting -- is melted. ...
/hebrew/2046.htm - 6k

1749. donag -- wax (as melting)
... 1748, 1749. donag. 1750 . wax (as melting). Transliteration: donag Phonetic
Spelling: (do-nag') Short Definition: wax. Word Origin ...
/hebrew/1749.htm - 5k

8557. temes -- a melting (away)
... 8556b, 8557. temes. 8558 . a melting (away). Transliteration: temes Phonetic
Spelling: (teh'-mes) Short Definition: away. Word Origin ...
/hebrew/8557.htm - 6k

2003. hemes -- brushwood
... melting. From an unused root apparently meaning to crackle; a dry twig or brushwood --
melting. 2002, 2003. hemes. 2004 . Strong's Numbers.
/hebrew/2003.htm - 5k

4549. masas -- to dissolve, melt
... root Definition to dissolve, melt NASB Word Usage completely lose heart (1), drenched
(1), dropped (1), melt (7), melt away (1), melted (5), melting (1), melts ...
/hebrew/4549.htm - 6k

4716. maq -- decay, rottenness
... rottenness, stink. From maqaq; properly, a melting, ie Putridity -- rottenness,
stink. see HEBREW maqaq. 4715, 4716. maq. 4717 . Strong's Numbers.
/hebrew/4716.htm - 6k

Whether Love is a Passion that Wounds the Lover?
... Objection 2: Further, melting is a kind of dissolution. ... melting, enjoyment, languor,
and fervor. Of these the first is "melting," which is opposed to freezing. ...
//christianbookshelf.org/aquinas/summa theologica/whether love is a passion.htm

Of the Outflowing (Escoulement) or Liquefaction of the Soul in God ...
... On the contrary, a gentle, pliable and tractable heart, is termed a melting
and liquefied heart. My heart, said David, speaking ...
/.../francis/treatise on the love of god/chapter xii of the outflowing.htm

Motives to Holy Mourning
... A stone will not melt. When the heart is in a melting frame, it is a sign the heart
of stone is taken away. ... God seals his pardons upon melting hearts. ...
/.../the beatitudes an exposition of matthew 51-12/8 motives to holy mourning.htm

Still, in his Examination of the Amount of Justice and Wisdom ...
... more precious substance to its natural lustre: (not that the separation is effected
without difficulty, for it takes time for the fire by its melting force to ...
/.../gregory/gregory of nyssa dogmatic treatises etc/chapter xxvi still in his.htm

That the Ultimate Reason for Believing Miracles is the Omnipotence ...
... Yet this seems rather contrary to nature, which has given not to fire but to water
the power of melting salt, and the power of scorching it not to water but to ...
/.../augustine/city of god/chapter 7 that the ultimate reason.htm

The Pharisees are the Bulls: the Roaring Lion is Herod or the ...
... Moreover, the statement, All my bones are poured out [2347] and dispersed like water;
my heart has become like wax, melting in the midst of my belly,' was a ...
/.../chapter ciii the pharisees are the.htm

The Word
... It is like setting a gold seal upon marble, which takes no impression.
O come to the word preached with a melting frame of heart! ...
//christianbookshelf.org/watson/the ten commandments/4 3 the word.htm

Why they Leave Us
... Our beloved brother, Charles Stanford, has just been taken from us. I seem to be
standing as one of a company of disciples, and my brethren are melting away. ...
/.../spurgeon/spurgeons sermons volume 32 1886/why they leave us.htm

The Second Condition Requisite in Affective Prayer, to Wit...
... that their prayers are inefficacious, as being deprived of these conditions.1. The
former, when they do not perceive a tenderness and melting devotion in ...
/.../chapter v the second condition.htm

Christ's Look
... can quite understand a conscience being so enlightened as to be convinced of the
evil of a certain course, and yet there being none of that melting into sorrow ...
/.../maclaren/expositions of holy scripture e/christs look.htm

Melting (9 Occurrences)
... 3. (a.) Causing to melt; becoming melted; -- used literally or figuratively; as,
a melting heat; a melting appeal; a melting mood. ...Melting (9 Occurrences). ...
/m/melting.htm - 9k

Crucible (3 Occurrences)
... 1. (n.) A melting pot for purifying metals; also a hardship that is a test and builder
of character, as in a melting pot composed of some very refractory ...
/c/crucible.htm - 7k

Wax (32 Occurrences)
... Made by melting the combs of bees. ... WAX. waks: (1) Noun (donagh): Used only in a simile
of melting (Psalm 22:14; Psalm 68:2; Psalm 97:5 Micah 1:4). See WRITING. ...
/w/wax.htm - 18k

Dross (7 Occurrences)
... Easton's Bible Dictionary The impurities of silver separated from the one in
the process of melting (Proverbs 25:4; 26:23; Psalm 119:119). ...
/d/dross.htm - 9k

Melteth (12 Occurrences)

/m/melteth.htm - 9k

Melts (11 Occurrences)

/m/melts.htm - 9k

Fire (602 Occurrences)
... cooking, lighting, etc., but according to the Law no fire could be kindled on the
Sabbath day (Exodus 35:3). It was employed also for melting (Exodus 32:24 ...
/f/fire.htm - 78k

Ulai (2 Occurrences)
... The stream's greatest volume follows the melting of the snows in the mountains,
and floods ensue if this coincides with the advent of heavy rain. ...
/u/ulai.htm - 9k

Lancet
... 2. (n.) An iron bar used for tapping a melting furnace. Int. Standard Bible
Encyclopedia. LANCE; LANCER; LANCET. lans, lan'-ser, lan'-set. ...
/l/lancet.htm - 6k

Found (3968 Occurrences)
... 2. (v.) imp. & pp of Find. 3. (vt) To form by melting a metal, and pouring it into
a mold; to cast. 4. (n.) A thin, single-cut file for combmakers. ...
/f/found.htm - 7k

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