The term "plumb-line" appears in the Bible as a metaphorical and literal tool used to convey God's standard of righteousness and judgment. A plumb-line is a simple yet effective tool used in construction to ensure that structures are vertically true. It consists of a string with a weight (plumb bob) at the end, which, when suspended, provides a vertical reference line.

Biblical References:

1. Amos 7:7-8 : The most notable mention of the plumb-line is found in the book of Amos. The prophet Amos receives a vision from God: "This is what He showed me: The Lord was standing by a wall built true to plumb, with a plumb line in His hand. 'What do you see, Amos?' asked the LORD. 'A plumb line,' I replied. 'Behold,' said the Lord, 'I am setting a plumb line among My people Israel; I will no longer spare them.'" In this passage, the plumb-line symbolizes God's standard of judgment. The wall built true to plumb represents the nation of Israel, which was initially established according to God's righteous standards. However, the use of the plumb-line indicates that God is measuring Israel against His standards and finding them wanting, leading to impending judgment.

2. Isaiah 28:17 : Another reference to the plumb-line is found in Isaiah: "I will make justice the measuring line and righteousness the plumb line; hail will sweep away your refuge of lies, and water will flood your hiding place." Here, the plumb-line is used metaphorically to represent God's justice and righteousness. It serves as a divine standard against which all actions and structures are measured. The imagery suggests that anything not aligned with God's righteousness will be swept away.

Theological Significance:

The plumb-line serves as a powerful symbol of divine judgment and the unwavering standards of God. It emphasizes the importance of aligning one's life and actions with God's righteous decrees. In the context of the prophetic literature, the plumb-line is a call to repentance and a warning of the consequences of failing to meet God's standards.

Historical and Cultural Context:

In ancient construction, the plumb-line was an essential tool for builders to ensure that walls and structures were perfectly vertical. This tool's simplicity and accuracy made it a fitting metaphor for God's precise and unerring judgment. The use of the plumb-line in the prophetic books would have been easily understood by the original audience, who were familiar with its practical application in building.

Application for Believers:

For believers, the concept of the plumb-line serves as a reminder to live according to God's standards. It challenges individuals and communities to examine their lives and ensure they are in alignment with biblical principles. The plumb-line calls for introspection and a commitment to justice and righteousness, reflecting God's character in personal and communal life.PLUMB-LINE; PLUMMET

plum'-lin, plum'-et, plum'-it.

See TOOLS.

594. anak -- to plummet
... Word Origin of uncertain derivation Definition to plummet NASB Word Usage
plumb line (3), vertical with a plumb (1). plumb-line. ...
/hebrew/594.htm - 6k

68. eben -- a stone
... another (1), charm* (1), cornerstone* (1), death (1), differing weights (3), hailstones*
(4), jeweler* (1), lapis lazuli* (1), line* (1), plumb line (1), plumb ...
/hebrew/68.htm - 6k

Perfection to be Sought.
... The prophet Amos was one day shown a vision. "Behold, the Lord stood upon a wall
made by a plumbline, with a plumbline in His hand. ... And I said, A plumbline. ...
/.../the village pulpit volume ii trinity to advent/xlix perfection to be sought.htm

The Immutability of God
... a kind of self-content, and go our way with the thought, "Behold I am wise." But
when we come to this master-science, finding that our plumb-line cannot sound ...
/.../spurgeon/spurgeons sermons volume 1 1855/the immutability of god.htm

The Justice of God
... Romans 9:20. Who art thou, O man, that replies against God?' The plumb line of our
reason is too short to fathom the depth of God's justice. Romans 11:33. ...
//christianbookshelf.org/watson/a body of divinity/8 the justice of god.htm

Altogether Lovely
... to preach upon it, for I saith in my heart, "It is high, I cannot attain unto it."
These deep texts show us the shortness of our plumb-line; these ocean verses ...
/.../spurgeon/spurgeons sermons volume 17 1871/altogether lovely.htm

He Will be a Religious Genius
... of the Lord Jesus. Christ is the Divine plumb-line and standard of measurement
by which all character must be tested. In our last ...
//christianbookshelf.org/pink/the antichrist/7 he will be a.htm

February the Ninth the Rock and the Bowing Wall
... The wicked is "as a bowing wall." The wall is out of perpendicular, out of conformity
with the truth of the plumb-line, and it will assuredly topple into ruin. ...
/.../my daily meditation for the circling year/february the ninth the rock.htm

Amos
... (c) Then follow visions of destruction from locusts and drought, vii.1-6, the vision
of the plumbline, symbolical of the straightness to which Israel has ...
//christianbookshelf.org/mcfadyen/introduction to the old testament/amos.htm

The Value of this Doctrine
... unity. It is the plumbline by which every creed needs to be measured, the
balance in which every human dogma must be weighed. It ...
/.../pink/the sovereignty of god/chapter twelve the value of.htm

He Proceeds to Show that There is no "Variance" in the Essence of ...
... Now that which is "at variance" is surely so conceived and so called, in opposition
to that which is "in harmony," as the plumb-line is in harmony with the ...
/.../gregory/gregory of nyssa dogmatic treatises etc/section 8 he proceeds to.htm

Entire Sanctification as Taught by Paul.
... It was like a plumb- line applied to a leaning wall, which shows how far it deviates
from the perpendicular, but which has no power to make it upright. ...
/.../clark/the theology of holiness/chapter vii entire sanctification as.htm

Plumbline (2 Occurrences)
... Int. Standard Bible Encyclopedia PLUMB-LINE; PLUMMET. plum'-lin, plum'-et,
plum'-it. See TOOLS. Multi-Version Concordance Plumbline (2 Occurrences). ...
/p/plumbline.htm - 7k

Plumb-line (2 Occurrences)
Plumb-line. Plumbline, Plumb-line. Plummet . Int. Standard Bible Encyclopedia
PLUMB-LINE; PLUMMET. ... Plumbline, Plumb-line. Plummet . Reference Bible.
/p/plumb-line.htm - 7k

Plumb (6 Occurrences)
... 3. (adv.) In a plumb direction; perpendicularly. 4. (vt) To adjust by a plumbline;
to cause to be perpendicular; as, to plumb a building or a wall. ...
/p/plumb.htm - 9k

Plummet (4 Occurrences)
... 1. (n.) A piece of lead attached to a line, used in sounding the depth of water.
2. (n.) A plumb bob or a plumbline. See under Plumb. ...PLUMB-LINE; PLUMMET. ...
/p/plummet.htm - 8k

Vertical (1 Occurrence)
... Vertical (1 Occurrence). Amos 7:7 Thus he showed me and behold, the Lord stood beside
a wall made by a plumbline, with a plumbline in his hand. (See NAS). ...
/v/vertical.htm - 7k

Pardon (31 Occurrences)
... How could Jacob stand? For he is small." (See NAS). Amos 7:8 And Jehovah said
unto me, Amos, what seest thou? And I said, A plumb-line. ...
/p/pardon.htm - 18k

Seest (52 Occurrences)
... (KJV JPS ASV WBS YLT). Amos 7:8 And the LORD said unto me, Amos, what seest
thou? And I said, A plumbline. Then said the LORD, Behold ...
/s/seest.htm - 23k

Setting (82 Occurrences)
... Amos 7:8 and Jehovah saith unto me, 'What art thou seeing, Amos?' And I say, 'A
plumb-line;' and the Lord saith: 'Lo, I am setting a plumb-line in the midst of ...
/s/setting.htm - 32k

Level (31 Occurrences)
... 1. (n.) A line or surface to which, at every point, a vertical or plumbline is
perpendicular; a line or surface which is everywhere parallel to the surface of ...
/l/level.htm - 19k

Tools (3 Occurrences)
...Plumb-line ('anakh in Amos 7:7, a symbol of the searching moral investigation which
would be followed by a precise and exact judgment; compare mishkoleth ...
/t/tools.htm - 14k

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