Prayer Tents Bible References - Prayer Tents

LYE, SOAP

An element for cleansing. Potassium carbonate lye was obtained from the ashes of certain plants or found naturally. A district in Egypt was known for its natural availability. Aristotle describes lye as an element that dissolves easily in water.

Soap was invented by the Phoenicians and used as a hair dye and salve during the period of the biblical writings. Not until the 2nd century c.e. is soap mentioned as a cleansing agent. Soap was formed by combining plant ashes with an oil substance. The cleansing use of soap in the Roman Empire likely resulted from contact with Germanic tribes. The paucity of reference to cleansing agents and the importance of fragrances indicate that ancient standards of cleanliness were different from modern standards.

In biblical usage lye and soap are used metaphorically for moral purification (e.g., Job 9:30; Isa. 1:25; Jer. 2:22; Mal. 3:2) or the sting of defeat (Prov. 25:20 NRSV mg).

Stanley Harstine

Prayer Tents Bible References - Prayer Tents

LYE, SOAP

Eerdmans Dictionary of the Bible (2000)