In biblical times, wax was primarily derived from bees and was used for various practical and symbolic purposes. Although the Bible does not frequently mention wax directly, its properties and uses can be inferred from the cultural and historical context of the ancient Near East.

Symbolism and Usage

1. Symbol of Transience and Change: Wax, due to its ability to melt and change form, is often associated with transience and transformation. This symbolism is reflected in the Bible, where the melting of wax is used metaphorically to describe the power and presence of God. In Psalm 68:2 , it is written, "As smoke is blown away, You will drive them out; as wax melts before the fire, the wicked will perish in the presence of God." Here, the melting of wax signifies the inevitable defeat and disappearance of the wicked in the face of divine judgment.

2. Illustration of Fear and Awe: The imagery of wax melting is also used to convey fear and awe in the presence of God's majesty. In Psalm 97:5 , the psalmist declares, "The mountains melt like wax at the presence of the LORD, before the Lord of all the earth." This vivid picture emphasizes the overwhelming power of God, before whom even the most formidable natural features dissolve.

3. Craftsmanship and Utility: While the Bible does not explicitly describe the use of wax in craftsmanship, historical evidence suggests that wax was used in the ancient world for sealing documents, making molds for metal casting, and as a component in various artistic endeavors. The process of using wax in lost-wax casting, for example, was well-known in antiquity and allowed for the creation of intricate metal objects.

4. Symbol of Purity and Preservation: In some biblical interpretations, wax is seen as a symbol of purity and preservation. The process of refining and purifying beeswax can be likened to spiritual purification. Although not directly mentioned in the Bible, this symbolism aligns with the broader biblical theme of refining and purifying one's faith and character.

Cultural Context

In the ancient Near East, beeswax was a valuable commodity due to its versatility and utility. It was used in religious rituals, as a waterproofing agent, and in the production of candles and lamps. The use of wax in lighting is particularly significant, as light holds profound symbolic meaning in the Bible, representing truth, guidance, and the presence of God.

Conclusion

While wax is not a central theme in the Bible, its properties and uses provide rich symbolic meaning that enhances our understanding of biblical texts. The imagery of wax melting before the presence of God serves as a powerful reminder of His supreme authority and the transient nature of earthly power.Made by melting the combs of bees. Mentioned (Psalm 22:14; 68:2; 97:5; Micah 1:4) in illustration. 1. (v. i.) To increase in size; to grow bigger; to become larger or fuller; -- opposed to wane.

2. (v. i.) To pass from one state to another; to become; to grow; as, to wax strong; to wax warmer or colder; to wax feeble; to wax old; to wax worse and worse.

3. (n.) A fatty, solid substance, produced by bees, and employed by them in the construction of their comb; -- usually called beeswax. It is first excreted, from a row of pouches along their sides, in the form of scales, which, being masticated and mixed with saliva, become whitened and tenacious. Its natural color is pale or dull yellow.

4. (n.) Hence, any substance resembling beeswax in consistency or appearance.

5. (n.) Cerumen, or earwax.

6. (n.) A wax like composition used for uniting surfaces, for excluding air, and for other purposes; as, sealing wax, grafting wax, etching wax, etc.

7. (n.) A wax like composition used by shoemakers for rubbing their thread.

8. (n.) A substance similar to beeswax, secreted by several species of scale insects, as the Chinese wax. See Wax insect, below.

9. (n.) A wax like product secreted by certain plants. See Vegetable wax, under Vegetable.

10. (n.) A substance, somewhat resembling wax, found in connection with certain deposits of rock salt and coal; -- called also mineral wax, and ozocerite.

11. (n.) Thick syrup made by boiling down the sap of the sugar maple, and then cooling.

12. (v. t.) To smear or rub with wax; to treat with wax; as, to wax a thread or a table.

WAX

waks:

(1) Noun (donagh): Used only in a simile of melting (Psalm 22:14; Psalm 68:2; Psalm 97:5 Micah 1:4).

See WRITING.

(2) A now archaic verb, meaning "to grow," used freely in English Versions of the Bible as a translation of various terms in Greek and Hebrew. The past participle in the King James Version and the English Revised Version is "waxen," except in Genesis 18:12. There (and throughout in the American Standard Revised Version) the form is "waxed."

2781. kerion -- honeycomb.
... Word Origin from keros (wax) Definition honeycomb. honeycomb. Diminutive from keos
(wax); a cell for honey, ie (collectively) the comb -- (honey-)comb. ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/2781.htm - 5k

4112. plastos -- formed, molded
... 4112 -- (from 4111 , "to by using clay, wax, etc.," which is the root of the English
term, "plastic") -- properly, shaped according to a mold (predesign ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/4112.htm - 7k

4973. sphragis -- a seal, a signet
... seal attests, the proof. Cognate: 4973 -- an etched (engraved) object pressed
into soft wax or clay to (); a ".". "Seal" is often ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/4973.htm - 7k

1096. ginomai -- to come into being, to happen, to become
... be ordained to be, partake, pass, be performed, be published, require, seem, be
showed, X soon as it was, sound, be taken, be turned, use, wax, will, would, be ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/1096.htm - 15k

837. auxano -- to make to grow, to grow
... A prolonged form of a primary verb; to grow ("wax"), ie Enlarge (literal or
figurative, active or passive) -- grow (up), (give the) increase. ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/837.htm - 8k

1813. exaleipho -- to wipe out, erase, obliterate
... to plaster, rub smooth, or whitewash." Later it referred to "wiping out" in the
sense of "to " (rubbing out a writing or seal impression left on a wax tablet). ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/1813.htm - 7k

4298. prokopto -- to cut forward (a way), advance
... if by beating), ie (figuratively and intransitively) to advance (in amount, to grow;
in time, to be well along) -- increase, proceed, profit, be far spent, wax ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/4298.htm - 7k

3975. pachuno -- to thicken, to fatten, fig. to make dull
... become dull. From a derivative of pegnumi (meaning thick); to thicken, ie (by
implication) to fatten (figuratively, stupefy or render callous) -- wax gross. ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/3975.htm - 6k

5594. psucho -- to breathe, blow, to make cool
... base of aer, which refers properly to an inanimate breeze), ie (by implication,
of reduction of temperature by evaporation) to chill (figuratively) -- wax cold ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/5594.htm - 7k

2901. krataioo -- to strengthen
... be strengthened, become strong. From krataios; to empower, ie (passively) increase
in vigor -- be strengthened, be (wax) strong. see GREEK krataios. ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/2901.htm - 7k

1749. donag -- wax (as melting)
... 1748, 1749. donag. 1750 . wax (as melting). Transliteration: donag Phonetic
Spelling: (do-nag') Short Definition: wax. Word Origin ...
/hebrew/1749.htm - 5k

2390. chazeq -- wax louder, stronger
... chazeq. 2391 . wax louder, stronger. Transliteration: chazeq Phonetic Spelling:
(khaw-zake') Short Definition: louder. ... from chazaq, qv. wax louder, stronger ...
/hebrew/2390.htm - 5k

2552. chamam -- to be or become warm
... enflame self, get have heat, be wax hot, be, wax warm self, at. A primitive
root; to be hot (literally or figuratively) -- enflame ...
/hebrew/2552.htm - 6k

2388. chazaq -- to be or grow firm or strong, strengthen
... self), be established, fasten, force, fortify, make hard, harden, help, (lay) hold
(fast), lean, maintain, play the man, mend, become (wax) mighty, prevail, be ...
/hebrew/2388.htm - 8k

2734. charah -- to burn or be kindled with anger
... angry (1), zealously (1). be angry, burn, be displeased, earnestly, fret
self, grieve, be wax hot, be incensed,. A primitive root ...
/hebrew/2734.htm - 6k

1878. dashen -- to be fat, grow fat
... away (1), take away the ashes (1). accept, anoint, take away the receive ashes
from, make wax fat. A primitive root; to be fat; transitively ...
/hebrew/1878.htm - 6k

535. amal -- to be weak, languish
... languish, be weak, wax feeble. A primitive root; to droop; by implication to be
sick, to mourn -- languish, be weak, wax feeble. 534, 535. amal. 536 . ...
/hebrew/535.htm - 6k

1086. balah -- to become old, wear out
... consume, enjoy long, become make, wax old, spend, waste. A primitive root;
to fail; by implication to wear out, decay (causatively ...
/hebrew/1086.htm - 6k

8080. shamen -- to grow fat
... become make, wax fat. A primitive root; to shine, ie (by analogy) be (causatively,
make) oily or gross -- become (make, wax) fat. 8079, 8080. shamen. 8081 ...
/hebrew/8080.htm - 6k

2357. chavar -- to be or grow white or pale
... root Definition to be or grow white or pale NASB Word Usage turn pale (1). wax pale.
A primitive root; to blanch (as with shame) -- wax pale. 2356, 2357. ...
/hebrew/2357.htm - 5k

The Tablet of Wax
... CHAPTER LVI THE TABLET OF WAX. The hart panteth after the waters, The dying
for life that departs ". The Lord in His glory for sinners,. ...
/.../christianbookshelf.org/bevan/three friends of god/chapter lvi the tablet of.htm

How the Upright Man Ought to be Like a Stamp not of Wax but of ...
... II. Second Conference of Abbot Moses. Chapter XII. How the upright man
ought to be like a stamp not of wax but of hard steel. And ...
/.../cassian/the works of john cassian /chapter xii how the upright.htm

1 Timothy v. 15-Nov
... Homily XV. 1 Timothy v. 11-15. 1 Timothy v.11-15 "But the younger widows refuse:
for when they have begun to wax wanton against Christ, they will marry; having ...
/.../homily xv 1 timothy v.htm

Types and Forms.
... For example, if wax be applied to an engraved ring, it takes the stamp and figure
from the ring, which undoubtedly is without sense; but then the ring, which ...
/.../unknown/recognitions of clement /chapter xlii types and forms.htm

Christ's Kingdom among the Gentiles. 1 Jesus Shall Reign Where'er ...
... 1 Jesus shall reign where'er the sun Does his successive journeys run; His kingdom
stretch from shore to shore Till moons shall wax and wane no more. ...
/.../adams/hymns for christian devotion/284 christs kingdom among.htm

After the Scripture.
... Speaking of the image stamped on sealing-wax by a seal, I can say, "I have stamped
the wax after the image of the seal," referring to the concave image of the ...
/.../kuyper/the work of the holy spirit/viii after the scripture.htm

The Resurrection Consistent with the Opinions of the Philosophers.
... these are indestructible and God; and God indeed occupies the position of an artificer,
to wit, a potter; and matter occupies the place of clay or wax, or some ...
/.../chapter vi the resurrection consistent with.htm

Second Sunday after Epiphany. Lift up Your Eyes unto the Heavens ...
... Lift up your eyes unto the heavens, and look upon the earth beneath; for the heavens
shall vanish away like smoke, and the earth shall wax old like a garment ...
/.../lyra germanica the christian year/second sunday after epiphany lift.htm

The Illusion of the Sealed Letters; Object in Detailing These ...
... But they say, likewise, that wax itself with fir-wood gum possesses a similar potency,
as well as two parts of mastich with one part of dry asphalt. ...
/.../hippolytus/the refutation of all heresies/chapter xxxiv the illusion of the.htm

Treats of the Same Subject: Explains, by Some Delicately Drawn ...
... Union may be symbolized by two wax candles, the tips of which touch each other so
closely that there is but one light; or again, the wick, the wax, and the ...
/.../teresa/the interior castle or the mansions/chapter ii treats of the.htm

Wax (32 Occurrences)
... 2. (vi) To pass from one state to another; to become; to grow; as, to wax strong;
to wax warmer or colder; to wax feeble; to wax old; to wax worse and worse. ...
/w/wax.htm - 18k

Seal (47 Occurrences)
... 2. (n.) An engraved or inscribed stamp, used for marking an impression in wax or
other soft substance, to be attached to a document, or otherwise used by way ...
/s/seal.htm - 38k

Waxen (12 Occurrences)
... 1. (pp) of Wax. 2. (a.) Made of wax. 3. (a.) Covered with wax; waxed; as, a waxen
tablet. 4. (a.) Resembling wax; waxy; hence, soft; yielding. ...
/w/waxen.htm - 10k

Melt (33 Occurrences)
... 1. (n.) See Milt. 2. (v.) To reduce from a solid to a liquid state, as by heat;
to liquefy; as, to melt wax, tallow, or lead; to melt ice or snow. ...
/m/melt.htm - 17k

Melted (33 Occurrences)
... Psalms 22:14 I am poured out like water. All my bones are out of joint. My heart
is like wax; it is melted within me. (WEB KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV). ...
/m/melted.htm - 16k

Style (5 Occurrences)
... 1. (n.) An instrument used by the ancients in writing on tablets covered with wax,
having one of its ends sharp, and the other blunt, and somewhat expanded ...
/s/style.htm - 9k

Snail (2 Occurrences)
... chomeT, the Revised Version (British and American) "sand-lizard," Septuagint saura,
"lizard" (Leviticus 11:30); (2) shabbelul, Septuagint keros, "wax" (Psalm 58 ...
/s/snail.htm - 10k

Pangs (26 Occurrences)
... Jeremiah 6:24 We have heard its report; our hands wax feeble: anguish has taken
hold of us, and pangs as of a woman in travail. (WEB ASV). ...
/p/pangs.htm - 13k

Soft (36 Occurrences)
... (BBE). Psalms 22:14 I am flowing away like water, and all my bones are out of place:
my heart is like wax, it has become soft in my body. (BBE). ...
/s/soft.htm - 20k

Fame (38 Occurrences)
... Jeremiah 6:24 We have heard the fame thereof: our hands wax feeble: anguish hath
taken hold of us, and pain, as of a woman in travail. (KJV JPS WBS). ...
/f/fame.htm - 21k

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