Topical Bible: Silver: Cords

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In biblical literature, the term "silver cord" is most notably referenced in the book of Ecclesiastes. The imagery of the silver cord is rich with symbolic meaning, often interpreted as a metaphor for the fragility and preciousness of life.

Ecclesiastes 12:6-7 :
"Remember Him before the silver cord is snapped, and the golden bowl is crushed; before the pitcher is shattered at the spring, and the wheel is broken at the well, before the dust returns to the ground from which it came, and the spirit returns to God who gave it."

In this passage, the "silver cord" is part of a poetic description of the aging process and the eventual return of the human spirit to God. The breaking of the silver cord signifies the moment of death, when the connection between the body and the spirit is severed. The use of "silver" suggests something valuable and beautiful, yet delicate and easily broken. This aligns with the biblical view of life as a precious gift from God, one that is to be cherished and respected.

The imagery of the silver cord, along with the golden bowl, the shattered pitcher, and the broken wheel, serves to emphasize the inevitability of death and the transient nature of earthly life. These metaphors collectively underscore the importance of remembering and honoring God throughout one's life, as the Preacher in Ecclesiastes urges his readers to do.

Symbolism and Interpretation:

1. Fragility of Life: The silver cord symbolizes the delicate and temporary nature of human existence. Just as a cord can be easily snapped, so too can life come to an abrupt end. This serves as a reminder of the need for spiritual preparedness and a life lived in accordance with God's will.

2. Connection Between Body and Spirit: The cord represents the link between the physical and the spiritual. Its breaking signifies the departure of the spirit from the body, a transition from the temporal to the eternal.

3. Value and Beauty: Silver, a precious metal, highlights the inherent value and beauty of life. It suggests that life, while fragile, is also a treasure bestowed by God, deserving of reverence and gratitude.

4. Call to Remembrance: The passage in Ecclesiastes calls believers to remember their Creator before the inevitable end comes. It is a call to live a life of faith and devotion, acknowledging God's sovereignty and preparing for the eventual return to Him.

Throughout Scripture, silver is often associated with purity, redemption, and value. In the context of the "silver cord," these associations enrich the metaphor, inviting believers to reflect on the purity and worth of a life lived in communion with God. The imagery serves as a poignant reminder of the brevity of life and the eternal significance of one's relationship with the Creator.

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Ecclesiastes 12:6
Or ever the silver cord be loosed, or the golden bowl be broken, or the pitcher be broken at the fountain, or the wheel broken at the cistern.
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Library

Esther, the Queen.
... The palace garden was hung with awnings of white and green and violet,
fastened with cords and silver rings to pillars of marble. ...
/.../lathbury/childs story of the bible/chapter xxxiv esther the queen.htm

Concerning the Tabernacle which Moses Built in the Wilderness for ...
... chapiters were of silver, but their bases were of brass: they resembled the sharp
ends of spears, and were of brass, fixed into the ground. Cords were also put ...
/.../josephus/the antiquities of the jews/chapter 6 concerning the tabernacle.htm

Hebrew Captives; Or, Mordecai and Esther.
... golden couches, and tesselated floors"are described as "white, green, and blue hangings,
fastened with cords of fine linen and purple to silver rings, and ...
/.../headley/half hours in bible lands volume 2/hebrew captives or mordecai and.htm

Unrestrained Communion
... to lay the sacrifice on the altar that sanctifies the gift, but it requires divine
compulsion"the cords of love ... We will build upon her battlements of silver; ...
/.../taylor/union and communion/section vi unrestrained communion.htm

Introduction.
... of Ahasuerus' palace of Susa, "where were white, green, and blue" (or violet) "hangings
fastened with cords of fine linen and purple to silver rings and ...
/.../ambrose/works and letters of st ambrose/introduction 4.htm

In common with the Roman Church, the Greek Church has seven ...
... then changes the rings, giving the gold ring to the woman, and the silver ring to ...
down on each side of the arm, and are drawn close to it by cords which are ...
//christianbookshelf.org/brownlie/hymns of the holy eastern church/iii.htm

Saint George Kills the Enchanter Osmond.
... bordered with gold and azure"the hooks of ivory, the cords of silk, while at the
top stood a golden eagle, and at each corner a green silver griffin shining ...
/.../the seven champions of christendom/chapter thirteen saint george kills.htm

Princely Service.
... sockets of solid silver,[E] and all the instruments; the pillars of the court, likewise,
with their brazen sockets and pins, and their cords,"these formed ...
/.../taylor/separation and service/part iii princely service.htm

In his Temple
... Jesus does not smite them with the whip of cords, but in His hand that simple ... like
fullers' soap: and He shall sit as a refiner and purifier of silver: and He ...
//christianbookshelf.org/white/the desire of ages/chapter 16 in his temple.htm

The Presentation of the Blessed virgin in the Temple
... and over it a colored scapulary or bodice decorated at the breast with cords. ... each
side of the front of this robe were embroidered three silver stripes with ...
/.../emmerich/the life of the blessed virgin mary/iii the presentation of the.htm