Furnace

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Easton's Bible Dictionary - Furnace

Furnace [N] [S]

  • Chald. attun, a large furnace with a wide open mouth, at the top of which materials were cast in ( Daniel 3:22 Daniel 3:23 ; Compare Jeremiah 29:22 ). This furnace would be in constant requisition, for the Babylonians disposed of their dead by cremation, as did also the Accadians who invaded Mesopotamia.

  • Heb. kibshan, a smelting furnace ( Genesis 19:28 ), also a lime-kiln ( Isaiah 33:12 ; Amos 2:1 ).

  • Heb. kur, a refining furnace ( Proverbs 17:3 ; 27:21 ; Ezek. 22:18 ).

  • Heb. alil, a crucible; only used in Psalms 12:6 .

  • Heb. tannur, oven for baking bread ( Genesis 15:17 ; Isaiah 31:9 ; Nehemiah 3:11 ). It was a large pot, narrowing towards the top. When it was heated by a fire made within, the dough was spread over the heated surface, and thus was baked. "A smoking furnace and a burning lamp" ( Genesis 15:17 ), the symbol of the presence of the Almighty, passed between the divided pieces of Abraham's sacrifice in ratification of the covenant God made with him. (See OVEN .)

  • Gr. kamnos, a furnace, kiln, or oven ( Matthew 13:42 Matthew 13:50 ; Revelation 1:15 ; 9:2 ).

    These dictionary topics are from
    M.G. Easton M.A., D.D., Illustrated Bible Dictionary, Third Edition,
    published by Thomas Nelson, 1897. Public Domain, copy freely.
    [N] indicates this entry was also found in Nave's Topical Bible
    [S] indicates this entry was also found in Smith's Bible Dictionary
    Bibliography Information

    Easton, Matthew George. "Entry for Furnace". "Easton's Bible Dictionary". .

    • Smith's Bible Dictionary - Furnace

    Furnace. [N] [E]

    Various kinds of furnaces are noticed in the Bible, such as a smelting or calcining furnace, ( Genesis 19:28 ; Exodus 9:8 Exodus 9:10 ; 19:18 ) especially a lime-kiln, ( Isaiah 33:12 ; Amos 2:1 ) a refining furnace, ( Proverbs 17:3 ) Nebuchadnezzars furnace, a large furnace built like a brick-kiln, ( Daniel 3:22 Daniel 3:23 ) with two openings one at the top for putting in the materials, and another below for removing them; the potters furnace, Ecclus. 27:5; The blacksmiths furnace. Ecclus. 38:28. The Persians were in the habit of using the furnace as a means of inflicting punishment. ( Daniel 3:22 Daniel 3:23 ; Jeremiah 29:22 )

    [N] indicates this entry was also found in Nave's Topical Bible
    [E] indicates this entry was also found in Easton's Bible Dictionary
    Bibliography Information

    Smith, William, Dr. "Entry for 'Furnace'". "Smith's Bible Dictionary". . 1901.

    International Standard Bible Encyclopedia - Furnace

    FURNACE

    fur'-nas:

    The word is used in the Old Testament English Versions of the Bible to translate several Hebrew words:

    Kibhshan, in Genesis 19:28, where the smoke of the destruction of the cities of the plain is said to have ascended "as the smoke of a furnace"; in Exodus 9:8, where Yahweh commands to take "handfuls of ashes of the furnace and .... sprinkle it toward heaven," etc.

    Kur, in Deuteronomy 4:20, where Yahweh is represented, when speaking of taking the children of Israel out of Egypt, as taking them "out of the iron furnace."

    `Alil in Psalms 12:6, where "the words of Yahweh" are said to be "pure," "as silver tried in a furnace"; compare Proverbs 17:3, "furnace for gold."

    `Attun, in Daniel 3:6, where mention is made of "a burning fiery furnace" into which Daniel and his companions were cast. There is good reason to believe that these words all stand for either a brick-kiln or a smelting furnace.

    In the New Testament a notable figurative use is made of the word in the phrase "the furnace of fire," he kaminos tou puros. It is found in the parable of the Tares (Matthew 13:42) as part of the remarkable imagery of that parable; while in the companion parable of the Drag-Net (Matthew 13:50) it stands as a symbol of the final destiny of the impenitent, a synonym of "hell"; compare Jeremiah 29:22; Daniel 3:6,22; Revelation 20:14-15, etc., and "eternal fire" (Matthew 25:41), "unquenchable fire" (Matthew 3:12), "the Gehenna of fire" (Matthew 5:22 margin; Matthew 18:9 parallel Mark 9:43 margin, etc.). A fact which modern travelers speak of, that furnaces for punishment have been found in Persia as elsewhere in the East, sheds some light upon this use of the expression "the furnace of fire."

    George B. Eager

    Copyright Statement
    These files are public domain.

    Bibliography Information
    Orr, James, M.A., D.D. General Editor. "Entry for 'FURNACE'". "International Standard Bible Encyclopedia". 1915.