In the Bible, "timbers" refer to the wood used in construction, craftsmanship, and various other applications. Timber played a significant role in the ancient world, particularly in the context of Israel and its surrounding regions, where it was a crucial resource for building structures, crafting tools, and creating implements for daily life and worship.

Biblical References and Uses

1. Construction of the Ark and Tabernacle: The earliest significant use of timber in the Bible is seen in the construction of Noah's Ark. Genesis 6:14 states, "Make for yourself an ark of gopher wood; make rooms in the ark and coat it with pitch inside and out." The specific type of wood, "gopher wood," is not clearly identified in modern terms, but it underscores the importance of durable timber in God's instructions for preserving life.

The Tabernacle, a portable earthly dwelling place of God among the Israelites, also utilized timber extensively. Exodus 26:15 describes the construction: "You are to make upright frames of acacia wood for the tabernacle." Acacia wood was chosen for its durability and resistance to decay, symbolizing the enduring presence of God among His people.

2. Solomon's Temple: One of the most notable uses of timber in the Bible is in the construction of Solomon's Temple. King Solomon sourced cedar and cypress timber from Lebanon, renowned for its quality. 1 Kings 5:6 records Solomon's request to Hiram, king of Tyre: "So give orders that cedars of Lebanon be cut for me. My servants will work with yours, and I will pay you for your servants whatever wages you set." The use of cedar wood, known for its fragrance and resistance to insects, was symbolic of the temple's grandeur and sanctity.

3. Palaces and Fortifications: Timber was also used in the construction of royal palaces and city fortifications. In 1 Kings 7:2 , Solomon's "House of the Forest of Lebanon" is described, highlighting the use of cedar pillars and beams. This not only provided structural integrity but also conveyed the wealth and power of the monarchy.

4. Everyday and Sacred Objects: Beyond large structures, timber was used to craft everyday items and sacred objects. The Ark of the Covenant, for instance, was made of acacia wood overlaid with gold (Exodus 25:10). This combination of materials signified the divine nature and holiness of the Ark.

5. Symbolism and Metaphors: Timber also appears in biblical metaphors and teachings. In Matthew 7:3-5 , Jesus uses the imagery of a "speck" and a "beam" (or "plank") to teach about judgment and hypocrisy: "Why do you look at the speck in your brother’s eye, but fail to notice the beam in your own eye?" This metaphor underscores the importance of self-examination and humility.

Cultural and Historical Context

In the ancient Near East, timber was a valuable commodity due to its scarcity in certain regions. The procurement and transportation of timber, especially from Lebanon, required significant effort and resources, often involving international trade and alliances, as seen in the relationship between Solomon and Hiram.

The choice of timber types, such as cedar, cypress, and acacia, reflects both practical considerations and theological symbolism. Cedar's durability and fragrance made it a preferred material for sacred and royal buildings, while acacia's resilience was ideal for items meant to endure the harsh desert environment.

Theological Significance

Timber in the Bible often symbolizes strength, endurance, and divine provision. Its use in constructing places of worship and sacred objects highlights the connection between the material world and spiritual truths. The careful selection and use of timber in biblical narratives serve as a reminder of God's attention to detail and His desire for beauty and order in His creation.6086. ets -- tree, trees, wood
... NASB Word Usage carpenters* (4), framework (1), gallows (9), handle (1), logs (1),
shaft (3), stalks (1), stick (8), sticks (3), timber (19), timbers (5), tree ...
/hebrew/6086.htm - 6k

636. a -- wood
... Word Origin (Aramaic) corresponding to ets Definition wood NASB Word Usage
beams (1), timber (1), timbers (1), wood (2). timber, wood. ...
/hebrew/636.htm - 6k

7136. qarah -- to encounter, meet, befall
... A primitive root; to light upon (chiefly by accident); causatively, to bring about;
specifically, to impose timbers (for roof or floor) -- appoint, lay (make ...
/hebrew/7136.htm - 5k

4746. meqareh -- beam work
... building. From qarah; properly, something meeting, ie A frame (of timbers) -- building.
see HEBREW qarah. 4745, 4746. meqareh. 4747 . Strong's Numbers.
/hebrew/4746.htm - 6k

A Refutation of this Dogma on the Ground of Familiar Human ...
... And so, too, when a ship is built, the keel does not lay itself, neither does the
mast erect itself in the centre, nor do all the other timbers take up their ...
/.../dionysius/the works of dionysius/ii a refutation of this.htm

John Chapter i. 32, 33
... The incorruptible timbers are the saints, the faithful that belong to Christ. ...
In that same ark, then, the timbers were incorruptible. ...
/.../augustine/homilies on the gospel of john/tractate vi john chapter i.htm

The Savanna of Aripo
... To thin out the useless timbers"but cautiously, for fear of letting in the sun's
rays"and to replace them by young plants of useful timbers, is all that ...
//christianbookshelf.org/kingsley/at last/chapter xii the savanna of.htm

Ephesians iv. 4
... Hence too was a ready communication to the rest of the outer walls: for so also
in the case of buildings, when the fire lays hold of the timbers, it is better ...
/.../homily x ephesians iv 4.htm

Note a the Following Extract of a Letter I Received from the Rev. ...
... to hear the groans of the wounded and dying, some pierced through the body, others
through the head, some bruised by the falling of the timbers of trees ...
/.../note a the following extract.htm

It was a Clear Morning and the Tenth Day Before the Kalends of ...
... The body of Herod was now become as an old house, its timbers sagging to their fall,
its tenant trembling at dim windows while the storm beat upon it. ...
//christianbookshelf.org/bacheller/vergilius/chapter 22 it was a.htm

A New Venture
... In the presence of the irresistible the conventional is a crazy structure, swept
away with very little creaking of its timbers on the flood.""GEORGE MEREDITH ...
/.../cable/the fulfilment of a dream of pastor hsis/chapter iii a new venture.htm

Confession of Sin --A Sermon with Seven Texts
... How many a hardened rebel on shipboard, when the timbers are strained and creaking,
when the mast is broken, and the ship is drifting before the gale, when the ...
/.../spurgeon/spurgeons sermons volume 3 1857/confession of sina sermon with.htm

All Kinds of Death a violence to Nature, Arising from Sin --Sin an ...
... It matters not whether the vessel of the human body goes with unbroken timbers or
shattered with storms, if the navigation of the soul be overthrown. ...
/.../tertullian/a treatise on the soul/chapter lii all kinds of death.htm

St Gregory the Great (Ad 540-604)
... He compares his Church to an old ship, shattered by winds and waves, decayed in
its timbers, full of leaks, and in continual danger of going to wreck. ...
/.../chapter xxxi st gregory the.htm

Timbers (8 Occurrences)
...Timbers (8 Occurrences). ... 1 Kings 6:10 And he built the floors against all the house,
five cubits high; and they held to the house by the timbers of cedar. ...
/t/timbers.htm - 8k

Beam (17 Occurrences)
... 2. (n.) One of the principal horizontal timbers of a building or ship. 3. (n.) The
width of a vessel; as, one vessel is said to have more beam than another. ...
/b/beam.htm - 17k

Fish (66 Occurrences)
... 14. (vt) To strengthen (a beam, mast, etc.), or unite end to end (two timbers, railroad
rails, etc.) by bolting a plank, timber, or plate to the beam, mast, or ...
/f/fish.htm - 38k

Sleeper (3 Occurrences)
... 9. (n.) One of the joists, or roughly shaped timbers, laid directly upon
the ground, to receive the flooring of the ground story. 10. ...
/s/sleeper.htm - 8k

Timbrel (7 Occurrences)

/t/timbrel.htm - 9k

Boats (11 Occurrences)
... She is manned with oarsmen of Sidon and Arvad, pilots of the wise men of Tyre, calkers
from Gebal to stop up the cracks and seams in her timbers, mariners and ...
/b/boats.htm - 40k

Ships (46 Occurrences)
... She is manned with oarsmen of Sidon and Arvad, pilots of the wise men of Tyre, calkers
from Gebal to stop up the cracks and seams in her timbers, mariners and ...
/s/ships.htm - 53k

Timber (32 Occurrences)

/t/timber.htm - 18k

Yoke (79 Occurrences)
... 8. (n.) A tie securing two timbers together, not used for part of a regular truss,
but serving a temporary purpose, as to provide against unusual strain. ...
/y/yoke.htm - 40k

Lattice (6 Occurrences)
... 3. (vi) To make a lattice of; as, to lattice timbers. 4. (vi) To close, as an opening,
with latticework; to furnish with a lattice; as, to lattice a window. ...
/l/lattice.htm - 9k

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