Minerals
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In the Bible, minerals are often mentioned in the context of wealth, construction, and symbolism. They are integral to the biblical narrative, reflecting the culture, economy, and spiritual symbolism of ancient times.

Gold

Gold is one of the most frequently mentioned minerals in the Bible, symbolizing wealth, purity, and divine glory. It was used extensively in the construction of the Tabernacle and the Temple. In Exodus 25:11, God commands Moses to overlay the Ark of the Covenant with pure gold. Gold also signifies the wealth of kings, as seen in 1 Kings 10:14, where the annual gold revenue of King Solomon is described.

Silver

Silver, like gold, is a symbol of wealth and is often mentioned in the context of trade and commerce. In Genesis 23:16, Abraham purchases the cave of Machpelah with silver, indicating its use as currency. Silver is also used in religious contexts, such as in the making of the Tabernacle's furnishings (Exodus 26:19).

Bronze

Bronze is a significant metal in the Bible, used for both practical and symbolic purposes. It is mentioned in the construction of the Tabernacle, particularly in the making of the altar and utensils (Exodus 27:1-3). Bronze is also used metaphorically to describe strength and judgment, as in Deuteronomy 28:23, where the heavens over a disobedient Israel are described as bronze.

Iron

Iron is associated with strength and power in the Bible. It is mentioned in the context of tools and weapons, reflecting its importance in ancient warfare and agriculture. In Deuteronomy 3:11, the iron bed of Og, king of Bashan, is noted for its size, emphasizing his might. Iron is also used symbolically to represent oppression and bondage, as seen in Psalm 107:10.

Precious Stones

Various precious stones are mentioned in the Bible, often in the context of beauty and value. The High Priest's breastplate, as described in Exodus 28:17-20, is adorned with twelve stones, each representing one of the tribes of Israel. These stones include emerald, sapphire, and diamond, among others. In Revelation 21:19-21, the foundations of the New Jerusalem are described as being decorated with every kind of precious stone, symbolizing the glory and beauty of God's eternal kingdom.

Salt

Salt is a mineral with both practical and symbolic significance in the Bible. It is used as a preservative and seasoning, as seen in Leviticus 2:13, where God commands that all grain offerings be seasoned with salt. Salt also symbolizes covenant and loyalty, as in Numbers 18:19, where a "covenant of salt" is mentioned. In the New Testament, Jesus refers to His followers as the "salt of the earth" (Matthew 5:13), highlighting their role in preserving and purifying the world.

Sulfur

Sulfur, often referred to as brimstone, is associated with divine judgment and destruction. In Genesis 19:24, God rains down sulfur and fire on Sodom and Gomorrah as a form of judgment. This imagery is echoed in Revelation 21:8, where the lake of fire and sulfur represents the final judgment for the wicked.

Copper

Copper is another metal mentioned in the Bible, used for making various items, including mirrors and utensils. In Exodus 38:8, the bronze basin and its stand are made from the mirrors of the women who served at the entrance to the Tent of Meeting. Copper's durability and utility make it a valuable resource in biblical times.

These minerals, among others, play a significant role in the biblical narrative, serving as symbols of wealth, power, purity, and divine judgment. They reflect the material culture of the ancient Near East and carry deep spiritual meanings that resonate throughout the Scriptures.
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia
MINERALS

min'-er-alz.

See METALS; STONES, PRECIOUS.

Library

On the Study of Zoology.
... Natural history is the name familiarly applied to the study of the properties of
such natural bodies as minerals, plants, and animals; the sciences which ...
/.../huxley/lay sermons addresses and reviews/vi on the study of.htm

The Knowledge Both of Language and Things is Helpful for the ...
... 24. Ignorance of things, too, renders figurative expressions obscure, as when we
do not know the nature of the animals, or minerals, or plants, which are ...
/.../on christian doctrine in four books /chapter 16 the knowledge both of.htm

Ignorance of Things, Too, Renders Figurative Expressions Obscure.. ...
... 24. Ignorance of things, too, renders figurative expressions obscure, as when we
do not know the nature of the animals, or minerals, or plants, which are ...
/.../on christian doctrine in four books/chapter 24 ignorance of things.htm

June 22:
... 22-Jun. June 22d. All knowledge lies in Environment. When I want to know about minerals
I go to minerals. When I want to know about flowers I go to flowers. ...
//christianbookshelf.org/drummond/beautiful thoughts/june 22 0.htm

Criticisms on "The Origin of Species. "
... exhibits the same regular plan, the same harmony, as the organic world; and that,
to cite only one example, there is as much a natural system of minerals as of ...
/.../huxley/lay sermons addresses and reviews/xiii criticisms on the origin.htm

The Sovereignty of God in Creation
... another? Why should one be fertile, and another almost barren? Why should
one be rich in minerals and another own none? Why should ...
/.../pink/the sovereignty of god/chapter two the sovereignty of.htm

The Beatific vision. (Continued. )
... their respective inhabitants. He knows, moreover, all their sciences, the
characters of their plants, animals, and minerals. In a ...
/.../boudreaux/the happiness of heaven/chapter iii the beatific vision.htm

Thou Art Worthy
... eyes, are made upon the same plan; all plants and flowers, however different they
may seem, are made upon the same plan; all stones, and minerals, and earths ...
/.../kingsley/all saints day and other sermons/sermon xv thou art worthy.htm

On Creation
... The chief things created may be classed as follows: (1) The things that simply
exist, as rocks, and minerals"gold, silver, iron, etc. ...
/.../kinkead/baltimore catechism no 4/lesson 4 on creation.htm

'Make the Tree Good'
... The water that rises from some spring will bring up with it, in solution, a trace
of a bed of salt through which it has come, and of all the minerals in the ...
/.../maclaren/expositions of holy scripture b/make the tree good.htm

Thesaurus
Minerals
Minerals. Mine, Minerals. Mingle . Int. Standard Bible Encyclopedia
MINERALS. min'-er-alz. See METALS; STONES, PRECIOUS. ...
/m/minerals.htm - 6k

Mine (2991 Occurrences)
... 3. (vi) To dig a mine or pit in the earth; to get ore, metals, coal, or precious
stones, out of the earth; to dig in the earth for minerals; to dig a passage ...
/m/mine.htm - 10k

Mingle (7 Occurrences)

/m/mingle.htm - 9k

Precious (128 Occurrences)
... difficulty is met with in any attempt to translate the Greek and Hebrew names mentioned
in the Bible into names that would be used for the same minerals in a ...
/p/precious.htm - 71k

Stones (244 Occurrences)
... difficulty is met with in any attempt to translate the Greek and Hebrew names mentioned
in the Bible into names that would be used for the same minerals in a ...
/s/stones.htm - 74k

Syria (73 Occurrences)
... Belt (3) Second Mountain Belt (4) Great Central Valley (5) The Eastern Belt (6)
Rivers (7) Nature of Soil (8) Flora (9) Fauna (10) Minerals (11) Central ...
/s/syria.htm - 60k

Vein (1 Occurrence)
... a lode; a dike; -- often limited, in the language of miners, to a mineral vein or
lode, that is, to a vein which contains useful minerals or ores. ...
/v/vein.htm - 8k

Geology
... geology. (b) Of its history as regards rocks, minerals, rivers, valleys,
mountains, climates, life, etc.; historical geology. (c ...
/g/geology.htm - 16k

Flux (26 Occurrences)
... fusion. 4. (n.) Any substance or mixture used to promote the fusion of metals
or minerals, as alkalis, borax, lime, fluorite. 5. (n ...
/f/flux.htm - 16k

Diamond (5 Occurrences)
... (2.) A precious stone (Hebrews shamir', a sharp point) mentioned in Jeremiah
17:1. From its hardness it was used for cutting and perforating other minerals. ...
/d/diamond.htm - 9k

Resources
What is the significance of Cyprus in the Bible? | GotQuestions.org

What is hyssop? What was hyssop used for in the Bible? | GotQuestions.org

Is there any spiritual significance to birthstones? | GotQuestions.org

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