Dictionaries :: Furnace

Easton's Bible Dictionary

Furnace:

(1.) Chald. attun, a large furnace with a wide open mouth, at the top of which materials were cast in (Dan 3:22,23; Jer 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.

(2.) Heb. kibshan, a smelting furnace (Gen 19:28), also a lime-kiln (Isa 33:12; Amo 2:1).

(3.) Heb. kur, a refining furnace (Pro 17:3; 27:21; Eze 22:18).

(4.) Heb. alil, a crucible; only used in Psa 12:6.

(5.) Heb. tannur, oven for baking bread (Gen 15:17; Isa 31:9; Neh 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" (Gen 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.)

(6.) Gr. kamnos, a furnace, kiln, or oven (Mat 13:42,50; Rev 1:15; 9:2).

International Standard Bible Encyclopaedia

Furnace:

fur'-nas: The word is used in the Old Testament English Versions of the Bible to translate several Hebrew words: Kibhshan, in Ge 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 Ex 9:8, where Yahweh commands to take "handfuls of ashes of the furnace and.... sprinkle it toward heaven," etc.

Kur, in De 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 Ps 12:6, where "the words of Yahweh" are said to be "pure," "as silver tried in a furnace"; compare Pr 17:3, "furnace for gold."

?Attun, in Da 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 (Mt 13:42) as part of the remarkable imagery of that parable; while in the companion parable of the Drag-Net (Mt 13:50) it stands as a symbol of the final destiny of the impenitent, a synonym of "hell"; compare Jer 29:22; Da 3:6,22; Re 20:14-15, etc., and "eternal fire" (Mt 25:41), "unquenchable fire" (Mt 3:12), "the Gehenna of fire" (Mt 5:22 margin; Mt 18:9 parallel Mr 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."

Written by George B. Eager

Nave's Topical Bible

Furnace: Use Of

For refining silver,

Eze 22:22; Mal 3:3;

for refining gold,

Pro 17:3.

Furnace: For Melting Lead and Tin

Eze 22:20

Furnace: For Capital Punishment

Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego cast into, by Nebuchadnezzar,

Dan 3:6-26.

Furnace: Figurative

Of affliction,

Deu 4:20; 1Ki 8:51; Psa 12:6; Isa 48:10; Jer 11:4.

Of lust,

Hsa 7:4.

Of hell,

Mal 4:1; Mat 13:42, 50; Rev 9:2.

Vine's Expository Dictionary of New Testament Words

Furnace:

"an oven, furnace, kiln" (whence Lat. caminus, Eng., chimney), used for smelting, or for burning earthenware, occurs in Mat 13:42, 50; Rev 1:15; 9:2.

Smith's Bible Dictionary

Furnace:

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