Furnace

A furnace in Scripture is a place where metal is tested, and the prophets and psalmists borrow it for people. Egypt is called “the iron furnace” in Deuteronomy 4:20, the place from which God brought Israel out. Isaiah hears God say, “I have chosen thee in the furnace of affliction.” The psalmist says God’s words are like silver “purified seven times.” Other passages are sterner: Ezekiel warns that Jerusalem will be melted, and Jesus speaks of a “furnace of fire” for those who do wrong (Matthew 13:42). Christians read that last picture in different ways.

9 verses

Deuteronomy

Deuteronomy 4:20

But the LORD hath taken you, and brought you forth out of the iron furnace, even out of Egypt, to be unto him a people of inheritance, as ye are this day.

1 Kings

1 Kings 8:51

For they be thy people, and thine inheritance, which thou broughtest forth out of Egypt, from the midst of the furnace of iron:

Psalms

Psalms 12:6

The words of the LORD are pure words: as silver tried in a furnace of earth, purified seven times.

Isaiah

Isaiah 48:10

Behold, I have refined thee, but not with silver; I have chosen thee in the furnace of affliction.

Ezekiel

Ezekiel 22:22

As silver is melted in the midst of the furnace, so shall ye be melted in the midst thereof; and ye shall know that I the LORD have poured out my fury upon you.

Malachi

Malachi 4:1

For, behold, the day cometh, that shall burn as an oven; and all the proud, yea, and all that do wickedly, shall be stubble: and the day that cometh shall burn them up, saith the LORD of hosts, that it shall leave them neither root nor branch.

Matthew

Matthew 13:42

And shall cast them into a furnace of fire: there shall be wailing and gnashing of teeth.

Matthew 13:50

And shall cast them into the furnace of fire: there shall be wailing and gnashing of teeth.

Revelation

Revelation 9:2

And he opened the bottomless pit; and there arose a smoke out of the pit, as the smoke of a great furnace; and the sun and the air were darkened by reason of the smoke of the pit.

From Easton's Bible Dictionary

Matthew George Easton, 1897

(1.) Chald. attun, a large furnace with a wide open mouth, at the top of which materials were cast in (Dan. 3:22, 23; comp. 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; Amos 2:1).

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

(4.) Heb. alil, a crucible; only used in Ps. 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.)

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

From Smith's Bible Dictionary

William Smith, 1884

Various kinds of furnaces are noticed in the Bible, such as a smelting or calcining furnace, (Genesis 19:28; Exodus 9:8,10; 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, Ecclus. 27:5; The blacksmith’s furnace. Ecclus. 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)