Topical Bible: The Horse: Adorned With Bells on the Neck

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Topical Encyclopedia

In biblical times, the horse was a symbol of strength, power, and swiftness. Horses were often associated with warfare and royal processions, reflecting their importance in ancient Near Eastern cultures. The adornment of horses with bells on their necks is a specific image that appears in the prophetic literature of the Old Testament, particularly in the book of Zechariah.

Biblical Reference:

The primary reference to horses adorned with bells is found in Zechariah 14:20, which states: "On that day, 'HOLY TO THE LORD' will be inscribed on the bells of the horses, and the cooking pots in the house of the LORD will be like the sprinkling bowls before the altar" . This passage is part of a larger eschatological vision where the prophet Zechariah describes a future time of holiness and divine order.

Symbolism and Interpretation:

1. Holiness and Consecration: The inscription "HOLY TO THE LORD" on the bells signifies the consecration of even the most mundane objects to God. In the context of Zechariah's prophecy, this imagery suggests a future where all aspects of life, including those related to transportation and warfare, are dedicated to the service of the Lord. The bells, typically used for decoration or practical purposes such as alerting others to the horse's presence, become symbols of sanctification.

2. Peace and Restoration: The adornment of horses with bells inscribed with holiness may also symbolize a transformation from instruments of war to symbols of peace. In the prophetic vision, the presence of such bells indicates a time when God's peace reigns, and the implements of war are repurposed for holy use. This aligns with the broader biblical theme of God bringing peace and restoration to His creation.

3. Divine Presence and Worship: The bells on the horses, marked as holy, reflect the pervasive presence of God in the lives of His people. Just as the high priest's garments were adorned with bells to signify his approach to the Holy of Holies (Exodus 28:33-35), the bells on the horses suggest that God's holiness permeates all areas of life, turning even common animals into instruments of worship.

Cultural and Historical Context:

In ancient Israel and surrounding cultures, horses were valuable assets, primarily used in chariots for military purposes. The use of bells on horses may have served practical functions, such as signaling the approach of a chariot or adding to the grandeur of a royal procession. However, in the prophetic vision of Zechariah, these bells take on a deeper spiritual significance, pointing to a future where God's holiness transforms all creation.

Theological Implications:

The image of horses adorned with bells inscribed with "HOLY TO THE LORD" underscores the biblical theme of God's ultimate sovereignty and the sanctification of all creation. It reflects the hope of a future where God's kingdom is fully realized, and every aspect of life is aligned with His divine will. This vision encourages believers to anticipate and participate in the sanctification of their own lives, dedicating all they have to the service and glory of God.

Torrey's Topical Textbook

Zechariah 14:20
In that day shall there be on the bells of the horses, HOLINESS UNTO THE LORD; and the pots in the LORD's house shall be like the bowls before the altar.
Torrey's Topical Textbook

Library

Solomon's Temple Spiritualized
... Can 6:4).2. In particular, her neck is compared ... These pillars were also adorned with
lily work, as well ... making their prevailing[8] a stalking-horse to worldly ...
/.../bunyan/the works of john bunyan volumes 1-3/solomons temple spiritualized.htm

The Acceptable Sacrifice;
... I am taken, saith he, 'with one chain of thy neck' (Can 4:9). Here ... All which are
expressions adorned with such similitudes, as do undeniably declare that to ...
/.../bunyan/the works of john bunyan volumes 1-3/the acceptable sacrifice.htm

Memoir of John Bunyan
... Whence came the invisible power that struck Paul from his horse? ... prohibited on that
day to use any wrestlings, shooting, bowing, ringing of bells for pastime ...
/.../bunyan/the works of john bunyan volumes 1-3/memoir of john bunyan.htm

Grace Abounding to the Chief of Sinners:
... which I have here discoursed, and could have adorned all things ... to think, How, if
one of the bells should fall ... now so turned, that it lay like a horse leech at ...
/.../bunyan/the works of john bunyan volumes 1-3/grace abounding to the chief.htm

A Canticle of Love
... As the convent bells rang the evening Angelus, she fixed an ... her hand; and the lilies
and roses that adorned her in ... One day a horse was standing in front of the ...
/...//christianbookshelf.org/martin/the story of a soul/chapter xi a canticle of.htm

A Discourse Upon the Pharisee and the Publican
... 14,15) And this is the reason that so many moral men, that are adorned with civil ...
Nay rather, will not this, like a millstone about thy neck, drown thee in the ...
/.../bunyan/the works of john bunyan volumes 1-3/a discourse upon the pharisee.htm

The Pilgrim's Progress
... in white (Rev.3:4; 6:11); that he has a chain of gold about his neck; that he ... in
women to go neat and fine, and it is a comely thing to be adorned with that ...
/.../bunyan/the works of john bunyan volumes 1-3/the pilgrims progress.htm

Mr. Bunyan's Last Sermon:
... What is a woman's breast to a horse? ... in Ezekiel 16:11: 'I decked thee also with
ornaments, and I put bracelets upon thine hands, and a chain on thy neck; and I ...
/.../bunyan/the works of john bunyan volumes 1-3/mr bunyans last sermon .htm

The Holy War,
... they neither sound to boot and saddle, nor horse and away, nor a charge.'. ... It is
a place well-watered, and richly adorned with hills and valleys, bravely situate ...
/.../bunyan/the works of john bunyan volumes 1-3/the holy war.htm