In biblical times, the brazier was an essential item used for heating and cooking purposes. It was a portable metal container in which charcoal or other combustible materials were burned to provide warmth or to cook food. The brazier is mentioned in several instances throughout the Bible, serving both practical and symbolic purposes.

Old Testament References

The brazier is notably mentioned in the context of the tabernacle and temple services. In Jeremiah 36:22-23 , we read about King Jehoiakim sitting in his winter house with a fire burning in the brazier before him. This passage illustrates the use of a brazier for warmth during the colder months. The brazier's presence in the king's house signifies its importance and common use in daily life.

Symbolic Significance

The brazier also holds symbolic significance in the Scriptures. In Isaiah 6:6-7 , a seraphim takes a live coal from the altar with tongs and touches Isaiah's lips, symbolizing purification and atonement. While the term "brazier" is not explicitly used here, the imagery of burning coals is closely related to the function of a brazier. This act signifies the cleansing of sin and the preparation of Isaiah for his prophetic mission.

New Testament Context

In the New Testament, the brazier is mentioned in the context of Peter's denial of Jesus. In John 18:18 , we find Peter warming himself by a charcoal fire in the courtyard of the high priest. The brazier here serves as a setting for a pivotal moment in Peter's life, highlighting his human frailty and the fulfillment of Jesus' prophecy regarding Peter's denial.

Cultural and Historical Insights

The use of braziers in ancient Israel reflects the broader cultural practices of the Near East. Braziers were typically made of metal, such as bronze or iron, and were designed to be portable. They were used not only in homes but also in religious settings, indicating their versatility and importance in daily life.

The brazier's role in biblical narratives underscores its practical utility and its deeper spiritual symbolism. It serves as a reminder of the human need for warmth and sustenance, as well as the divine provision of purification and redemption.Genesis 4:22
And Zillah, she also bore Tubalcain, an instructor of every artificer in brass and iron: and the sister of Tubalcain was Naamah.
Torrey's Topical Textbook

2 Timothy 4:14
Alexander the coppersmith did me much evil: the Lord reward him according to his works:
Torrey's Topical Textbook

The Vanity of Idols.
... one of them, the brazier a second, the silversmith a third, and the potter a fourth?
Was not every one of them, before they were formed by the arts of these ...
/.../the epistle of mathetes to diognetus/chapter ii the vanity of idols.htm

The Early Training of a Race.
... the desert: in front of the leader is borne aloft a brazier filled with ... From the
conquered they here learned their initial lessons in the arts of agriculture ...
/.../kent/the making of a nation/study xi the early training.htm

Matt. vi. 16
... not for its own sake, but with an eye to the ropemaker, and the brazier, and the ...
And as they that are on the stage, skilled in those wicked arts, do in them go ...
/.../chrysostom/homilies on the gospel of saint matthew/homily xx matt vi 16.htm

the Legendary History of Egypt
... stellar tables; the year, its subdivisions, its defects, influence of the heavenly
bodies and the days upon human destiny"Magic arts; incantations, amulets ...
/.../chapter iii -the legendary history of.htm

The Medes and the Second Chaldaean Empire
... Too ignorant of the arts of war to undertake a siege in the regular way, they usually
contented themselves with levying ransoms on fortified towns; occasionally ...
/.../chapter iiithe medes and the.htm

Memoir of John Bunyan
... THIS GREAT MAN DESCENDED FROM IGNOBLE PARENTS"BORN IN POVERTY"HIS EDUCATION AND
EVIL HABITS"FOLLOWS HIS FATHER'S BUSINESS AS A BRAZIER"ENLISTS FOR A ...
/.../bunyan/the works of john bunyan volumes 1-3/memoir of john bunyan.htm

Seasonable Counsel: Or, Advice to Sufferers.
... and mend their own pots and kettles? What would have become of thy trade
as a brazier? Christianity teaches all mankind not to trust ...
/.../bunyan/the works of john bunyan volumes 1-3/seasonable counsel or advice to.htm

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