Prayer Tents Bible References - Prayer Tents

COAL

While coal today is understood as a readily combustible rock primarily composed of carbonaceous material, such a mineral was not known in the biblical world. Rather, the “coal” (Heb. gaḥeleṯ, reṣep, peḥām; Gk. ánthrax) of the Bible was formed by placing wood, often the hard wood of the broom plant (Ps. 120:4), in a slow flame of intense heat, which turned the wood into charcoal. Coal may thus also refer to the hot coals or embers found in a charcoal fire (Lev. 16:12; Ps. 18:8[MT 9]; Prov. 6:28; Isa. 47:14; Ezek. 10:2).

Coal is used in images figuratively to represent the loss of life and one’s lineage (2 Sam. 14:7) as well as guilt-inspiring acts of kindness to one’s enemy (Prov. 25:22; cf. Rom. 12:20). A glowing coal is put to the lips of Isaiah by a seraphim in order to purify the prophet’s unclean lips so that he might speak what is true (Isa. 6:6).

Martha Jean Mugg Bailey






Eerdmans Dictionary of the Bible (2000)

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