Topical Encyclopedia
The term "burnished" refers to a process of polishing or making a surface smooth and shiny, often through rubbing or friction. In biblical contexts, "burnished" is frequently used to describe metals, particularly bronze, that have been polished to a bright, reflective finish. This imagery is employed to convey beauty, strength, and divine glory.
Biblical References:1.
Ezekiel 1:7 : "Their legs were straight, and the soles of their feet were like the hooves of a calf, gleaming like polished bronze." In this vision of the cherubim, the burnished bronze symbolizes the purity and divine nature of these heavenly beings. The polished appearance suggests a reflection of God's glory and majesty.
2.
Daniel 10:6 : "His body was like beryl, his face like the brilliance of lightning, his eyes like flaming torches, his arms and legs like the gleam of polished bronze, and his voice like the sound of a multitude." Here, the description of the heavenly messenger includes burnished bronze, emphasizing the splendor and awe-inspiring presence of the divine messenger. The polished bronze signifies strength and the radiant glory of the heavenly realm.
3.
Revelation 1:15 : "His feet were like polished bronze refined in a furnace, and His voice was like the roar of many waters." In this vision of the glorified Christ, the burnished bronze of His feet represents purity, strength, and the refining power of His judgment. The imagery of burnished bronze underscores the majesty and authority of Christ as the eternal King and Judge.
Symbolism and Interpretation:In the biblical narrative, burnished bronze often symbolizes divine purity, strength, and glory. The process of burnishing involves refining and purifying, which can be seen as a metaphor for spiritual refinement and sanctification. Just as metal is polished to reveal its true luster, believers are called to undergo spiritual refinement to reflect the glory of God.
The use of burnished bronze in descriptions of heavenly beings and divine visions serves to highlight the otherworldly and transcendent nature of these figures. It conveys a sense of awe and reverence, reminding readers of the holiness and majesty of God and His messengers.
Theological Significance:From a theological perspective, the imagery of burnished bronze in Scripture points to the transformative power of God's presence. It serves as a reminder of the call to holiness and the process of sanctification that believers undergo. The polished, reflective quality of burnished bronze symbolizes the believer's journey toward reflecting the character and glory of God in their lives.
In summary, the term "burnished" in the Bible is rich with symbolic meaning, representing divine purity, strength, and the transformative power of God's presence. Through the imagery of burnished bronze, Scripture communicates the majesty and holiness of God and His call for believers to reflect His glory.
Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary
(
imp. & p. p.) of Burnish.
Greek
5474. chalkolibanon -- chalcolibanus (fine copper, bronze or brass...... Word Origin from chalkos and libanos Definition chalcolibanus (fine copper, bronze
or brass) NASB Word Usage
burnished bronze (2). fine brass.
...Strong's Hebrew
7044. qalal --burnished... 7043, 7044. qalal. 7045 .
burnished. Transliteration: qalal Phonetic Spelling:
(kaw-lawl') Short Definition:
burnished. Word Origin
...6731. tsiyts -- perhaps wings
... Or tsits {tseets}; from tsuwts; properly, glistening, ie Aburnished plate; also
a flower (as bright-colored); a wing (as gleaming in the air) -- blossom...
Library
Introductory Note to Clement of Alexandria
... More of this when we come to Clement, that man of genius who introduced Christianity
to itself, as reflected in theburnished mirror of his intellect....
Hiram, the Inspired Artificer
... Hiram constructed of bright,burnished brass, an immense laver, called
"a molten sea," to be used for the ablutions of the priests....
The Contrast.
... sees". "The Heavenly City, Built of bright andburnished gold, Lying in
transcendent beauty, Stored with treasures all untold....
Epilogue
... The rich man's halls are nobly furnished; Therein no nook or corner empty seems;
Here stands the brazen laverburnished, And there the golden goblet brightly...
Agreement of Plato and Homer.
... not without a double sense does this expression of Phoenix seem to have been used:
"Not even if God Himself were to promise me, that, havingburnished off my...
The Temple and Its Dedication
... Garnished with precious stones, surrounded by spacious courts with magnificent
approaches, and lined with carved cedar andburnished gold, the temple structure...
That the Eyes of the Soul must be Purged Ere God Can be Seen.
... So also thou, O man, hast the eyes of thy soul overspread by thy sins and evil deeds.
As aburnished mirror, so ought man to have his soul pure....
Meaning of the Name Christian.
... is not anointed with oil? And what work has either ornament or beauty
unless it be anointed andburnished? Then the air and all...
Fix Thou Our Hearing, that it be not Loosed and Wander!
... goodly. When water is confined in channels, desert places drink of it;
brass, silver and gold, when they areburnished shine. 10....
The Glory and Honor that Jesus Has Won
... His head and hair were white as wool, white as snow; his eyes were like a flame
of fire, his feet were likeburnished bronze melted in the furnace, his voice...
Thesaurus
Burnished (6 Occurrences)... Multi-Version Concordance
Burnished (6 Occurrences). Revelation 1:15 His feet were
like
burnished brass, as if it had been refined in a furnace.
...Fine (184 Occurrences)
... in a furnace"; in Daniel 10:6 it is nehosheth qalal, the King James Version "polished
brass," the Revised Version (British and American) "burnished" (qalal is...
Legs (50 Occurrences)
... (BBE RSV NIV). Ezekiel 1:7 Their feet were straight feet; and the sole of their
feet was like the sole of a calf's foot; and they sparkled likeburnished brass....
Brass (168 Occurrences)
... cymbal. (WEB KJV ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT). Revelation 1:15 His feet were like
burnished brass, as if it had been refined in a furnace. His...
Burns (34 Occurrences)
Glow (3 Occurrences)
... Glow (3 Occurrences). Revelation 1:15 His feet were likeburnished brass, as if
it had been refined in a furnace. His voice was like the voice of many waters....
Gleamed (2 Occurrences)
... (See NIV). Ezekiel 1:7 Their feet were straight feet; and the sole of their feet
was like the sole of a calf's foot; and they sparkled likeburnished brass....
Glowing (14 Occurrences)
... (WEY). Revelation 1:15 His feet were likeburnished brass, as if it had been refined
in a furnace. His voice was like the voice of many waters. (See NIV)....
Gleam (5 Occurrences)
... body also was like the beryl, and his face as the appearance of lightning, and his
eyes as flaming torches, and his arms and his feet likeburnished brass, and...
Torches (18 Occurrences)
... body also was like the beryl, and his face as the appearance of lightning, and his
eyes as flaming torches, and his arms and his feet likeburnished brass, and...
Resources
What was Jesus' message to the church in Thyatira in Revelation? | GotQuestions.orgWas Jesus black? | GotQuestions.orgBurnished: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.comBible Concordance •
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