Dictionaries :: Silver

Silver:

used for a great variety of purposes, as may be judged from the frequent references to it in Scripture. It first appears in commerce in Gen 13:2; 23:15, 16. It was largely employed for making vessels for the sanctuary in the wilderness (Exd 26:19; 27:17; Num 7:13,19; 10:2). There is no record of its having been found in Syria or Palestine. It was brought in large quantities by foreign merchants from abroad, from Spain and India and other countries probably.

Silver:

sil'-ver (keceph; argurion, arguros): Silver was known in the earliest historic times. Specimens of early Egyptian and Babylonian silver work testify to the skill of the ancient silversmiths. In Palestine, silver objects have been found antedating the occupation of the land by the Hebrews. This metal was used for making all kinds of ornamental objects. In the mound of Gezer were found bowls, vases, ladles, hairpins, rings and bracelets of silver. The rings and settings for scarabs or seals were commonly of this metal. The first mention of silver in the Bible is in Ge 13:2, where it says that Abraham was rich in cattle, in silver and gold. At that time it was commonly used in exchange in the form of bars or other shapes. Coins of that metal were of a much later date (Ge 20:16; 23:15; 24:53; 37:28, etc.). Booty was collected in silver (Jos 6:19); tribute was paid in the same (1Ki 15:19). It was also used for jewelry (Ge 44:2). The Children of Israel systematically despoiled the Egyptians of their silver before the exodus (Ex 3:22; 11:2; 12:35, etc.). Ex 20:23 implies that idols were made of it. It was largely used in the fittings of the tabernacle (Ex 26 ) and later of the temple (2Ch 2 ).

It is likely that the ancient supply of silver came from the mountains of Asia Minor where it is still found in abundance associated with lead as argentiferous galena, and with copper sulfide. The Turkish government mines this silver on shares with the natives. The Sinaitic peninsula probably also furnished some silver. Later Phoenician ships brought quantities of it from Greece and Spain. The Arabian sources are doubtful (2Ch 9:14). Although silver does not tarnish readily in the air, it does corrode badly in the limestone soil of Palestine and Syria. This probably partly accounts for the small number of objects of this metal found. On the site of the ancient jewelers' shops of Tyre the writer found objects of gold, bronze, lead, iron, but none of silver.

Figurative:

Silver to be as stones in Jerusalem (1Ki 10:27) typified great abundance (compare Job 3:15; 22:25; 27:16; also Isa 60:17; Zec 9:3). The trying of men's hearts was compared to the refining of silver (Ps 66:10; Isa 48:10). Yahweh's words were as pure as silver refined seven times (Ps 12:6). The gaining of understanding is better than the gaining of silver (Pr 3:14; compare Pr 8:19; 10:20; 16:16; 22:1; 25:11). Silver become dross denoted deterioration (Isa 1:22; Jer 6:30). Breast and arms of silver was interpreted by Daniel to mean the inferior kingdom to follow Nebuchadnezzar's (Da 2:32,39).

In the New Testament, reference should be made especially to Ac 19:24; Jas 5:3; Re 18:12.

Written by James A. Patch

Silver: Reference Concerning

See MONEY

Silver: Symbolical:

Dan 2:32, 35

Silver: Made Of

Cups,

Gen 44:2;

trumpets,

Num 10:2;

cords,

Ecc 12:6;

chains,

Isa 40:19;

shrines,

Act 19:24;

idols,

Exd 20:23; Isa 30:22; Hsa 13:2;

baskets [R.V.], or filigree [marg., R.V.],

Pro 25:11;

jewels,

Sgs 1:11;

see JEWELS;

palace,

Sgs 8:9.

Silver: Vessels Of

Num 7:85; 1Ki 10:25; 2Sa 8:10; 2Ki 12:13; 1Ch 18:10; 2Ch 24:14; Ezr 1:6; 5:14; 6:5; 8:26; Dan 5:2; 11:8

Silver: Abundance Of

1Ki 10:27; 1Ch 22:14; 29:2-7; 2Ch 1:15; Ecc 2:8; Isa 2:7

Silver: Dross From

Pro 25:4; 26:23

Silver: Reprobate

Jer 6:30

Silver: Workers In

2Ch 2:14; Act 19:24

See SMITH

Silver: Used for Money

Gen 13:2; 17:12; 20:16; 23:13-16; Amo 8:6; Mat 10:9; 26:15; Mar 14:11; Act 19:19

See MONEY

Silver: From Tarshish

Eze 27:12

Silver: Refining Of

Pro 17:3; 25:4; 26:23; Eze 22:18-22; Jer 6:29, 30; Zec 13:9; Mal 3:3

See REFINING

Silver: For Ornamentation Of

And in the manufacture of, the utensils for the tabernacle,

Exd 26:19; 27:17; 35:24; 36:24; 38:25; Num 7:13, 19, 25, 31, 37, 43, 49, 55, 61, 67, 73, 79, 85;

of the temple,

1Ch 28:14; 29:2-5; Ezr 5:14; 6:5; 8:26; Dan 5:2.

Silver: Veins Of, Found in the Earth

Job 28:1

Silver: Generally Found in an Impure State

Pro 25:4

Silver: Comparative Value Of

Isa 60:17

Silver: Described As

White and shining

Psa 68:13,14

Fusible

Eze 22:20,22

Malleable

Jer 10:9

Silver: Purified by Fire

Pro 17:3; Zec 13:9

Silver: Purified, Called

Refined silver

1Ch 29:4

Choice silver

Pro 8:19

Silver: Tarshish Carried on Extensive Commerce In

Jer 10:9; Eze 27:12

Silver: The Patriarchs Rich In

Gen 13:2; 24:35

Silver: Used as Money from the Earliest Times

Gen 23:15,16; 37:28; 1Ki 16:24

Silver: Very Abundant in the Reign of Solomon

1Ki 10:21,22,27; 2Ch 9:20,21,27

Silver: The Working In, a Trade

Act 19:24

Silver: Made Into

Cups

Gen 44:2

Dishes

Num 7:13,84,85

Bowls

Num 7:13,84

Thin plates

Jer 10:9

Chains

Isa 40:19

Wires (alluded to)

Ecc 12:6

Sockets for the boards of the tabernacle

Exd 26:19,25,32; 36:24,26,30,36

Ornaments and hooks for the pillars of the tabernacle

Exd 27:17; 38:19

Candlesticks

1Ch 28:15

Tables

1Ch 28:16

Beds or couches

Est 1:6

Vessels

2Sa 8:10; Ezr 6:5

Idols

Psa 115:4; Isa 2:20; 30:22

Ornaments for the person

Exd 3:22

Silver: Given by the Israelite for Making the Tabernacle

Exd 25:3; 35:24

Silver: Given by David and his subjects for making the temple

1Ch 28:14; 29:2,6-9

Silver: Taken in War Often Consecrated to God

Jos 6:19; 2Sa 8:11; 1Ki 15:15

Silver: Taken in War Purified by Fire

Num 31:22,23

Silver: Often Given as Presents

1Ki 10:25; 2Ki 5:5,23

Silver: Tribute Often Paid In

2Ch 17:11; Neh 5:15

Silver: Illustrative

Of the words of the Lord

Psa 12:6

Of the tongue of the just

Pro 10:20

Of good rulers

Isa 1:22,23

Of the Medo-Persian kingdom

Dan 2:32,39

Of saints purified by affliction

Psa 66:10; Zec 13:9

(Labour of seeking for,) of diligence required for attaining knowledge

Pro 2:4

(Reprobate,) of the wicked

Jer 6:30

(Dross of,) of the wicked

Isa 1:22; Eze 22:18

Silver: Wisdom to Be Esteemed More Than

Job 28:15; Pro 3:14; 8:10,19; 16:16

Silver:

is rendered "silver" in Act 3:6; 8:20, RV (AV, "money"); 20:33; 1Cr 3:12 (metaphorical); 1Pe 1:18.
See MONEY, PIECE.

Silver:

akin to argos, "shining," denotes "silver." In each occurrence in the NT it follows the mention of gold, Mat 10:9; Act 17:29; Jam 5:3; Rev 18:12.

Note: For drachme, Luk 15:8, see PIECE.

Silver:

signifies "made of silver," Act 19:24; 2Ti 2:20; Rev 9:20.

Silver:

In very early times silver was used for ornaments (Genesis 24:53) and for vessels of various kinds. Images for idolatrous worship were made of silver or overlaid with it (Exodus 20:23; Hosea 13:2; Habakkuk 2:19 Baruch 6:39) and the manufacture of silver shrines for Diana was a trade in Ephesus (Acts 19:24). But its chief use was as a medium of exchange, and throughout the Old Testament we find "silver" used for money, like the French argent. Silver was brought to Solomon from Arabia (2 Chronicles 9:14) and from Tarshish (2 Chronicles 9:21) which supplied the markets of Tyre (Ezekiel 27:12). From Tarshish it came in the form of plates (Jeremiah 10:9) like those on which the sacred books of the Singhalese are written to this day. Spain appears to have been the chief source whence silver was obtained by the ancients. Possibly the hills of Palestine may have afforded some supply of this metal. Silvers mixed with alloy is referred to in Jeremiah 6:30 and a finer kind, either purer in itself or more thoroughly purified, is mentioned in Proverbs 8:19.