furnace Summary and Overview
Bible Dictionaries at a Glance
furnace in Easton's Bible Dictionary
(1.) Chald. attun, a large furnace with a wide open mouth, at the top of which materials were cast in (Dan. 3:22, 23; compare 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 T0002814.) (6.) Gr. kamnos, a furnace, kiln, or oven (Matt. 13:42, 50; Rev. 1:15; 9:2).
furnace in Smith's Bible Dictionary
Various kinds of furnaces are noticed in the Bible, such as a smelting or calcining furnace, #Ge 19:28; Ex 9:8,10; 19:18| especially a lime-kiln, #Isa 33:12; Am 2:1| a refining furnace, #Pr 17:3| Nebuchadnezzar's furnace, a large furnace built like a brick-kiln, #Da 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. #Da 3:22,23; Jer 29:22|
furnace in Schaff's Bible Dictionary
FUR'NACE . Furnaces were used for melting the precious metals. Prov 17:3. They were also used to punish criminals. The furnace into which Nebuchadnezzar cast the young Hebrews who refused to worship his image, Dan 3:22-23; cf. Jer 29:22, was probably a large furnace, like a brick kiln, with an opening at the top to cast in the materials; a second, for the removal of slag, cinders, etc., or molten Egyptian Furnace. (Ayre.) metal, was arranged below, in one of the sides, so that the material in the interior could be observed.
furnace in Fausset's Bible Dictionary
Nehemiah 3:11; Nehemiah 12:38, "the tower of the furnaces," i.e. of the (bakers') ovens. Hosea 7:7. There were also the smelting furnace, the refining furnace, the type of affliction and testing probation (Deuteronomy 4:20; Proverbs 17:3; Proverbs 27:21), the lime-kiln. The brick-kiln furnace had an opening at the top to cast in the materials, and a door at the bottom to extract the metal. The Babylonians used it to inflict their cruel capital punishments (Daniel 3:22-26; Jeremiah 29:22).