Reference: Silver
American
One of the precious metals and the one most commonly used as coin among all nations. It is first mentioned in Scripture in the history of Abraham, Ge 13:2; 20:16; 23:16, and was used in constricting the tabernacle, Ex 26:19,32, and afterwards the temple, 1Ch 29:4. In employing it as a medium of trade, the ancient Hebrews weighed it out, instead of having coins. In the times of the New Testament there were coins. See SHEKEL, and MONEY.
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Abram was very rich in cattle, silver and gold.
And unto Sara he said, "See, I have given thy brother a thousand pieces of silver, behold this thing shall be a covering to thine eyes unto all that are with thee and unto all men and an excuse."
And Abraham hearkened unto Ephron and weighed him the silver which he had said in the audience of the sons of Heth. Even four hundred silver sicles of current money among merchants.
and thou shalt make forty sockets of silver and put them under the twenty boards: two sockets under every board, for their two feet.
And hang it upon four pillars of sethim-wood covered with gold and that their knops be covered with gold also, and stand upon four sockets of silver.
Easton
used for a great variety of purposes, as may be judged from the frequent references to it in Scripture. It first appears in commerce in Ge 13:2; 23:15-16. It was largely employed for making vessels for the sanctuary in the wilderness (Ex 26:19; 27:17; Nu 7:13,19; 10:2). There is no record of its having been found in Syria or Palestine. It was brought in large quantities by foreign merchants from abroad, from Spain and India and other countries probably.
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Abram was very rich in cattle, silver and gold.
"My lord, hearken unto me. The land is worth four hundredth sicles of silver: But what is that betwixt thee and me? Bury thy dead." And Abraham hearkened unto Ephron and weighed him the silver which he had said in the audience of the sons of Heth. Even four hundred silver sicles of current money among merchants.
and thou shalt make forty sockets of silver and put them under the twenty boards: two sockets under every board, for their two feet.
All the pillars round about the court shall be hooped with silver, and their knops of silver, and their sockets of brass.
And his offering was: a silver charger, of a hundred and thirty sicles weight; and a silver bowl of seventy sicles of the holy sicle - both of them full of fine wheaten flour mingled with oil for a meat offering -
And his offering which he brought was: a silver charger of a hundred and thirty sicles weight; and a silver bowl of seventy sicles, of the holy sicle -
Fausets
Hebrew keceph, Greek arguros. The only one of the four metals, gold, silver, brass, and iron, not mentioned until after the deluge. Abraham paid Ephron for the cave of Machpelah "400 shekels of silver, current money with the merchant" (Ge 23:16). By this time it had become a recognized standard of value and medium of exchange. It probably was not coined, but bars of silver were probably formed in conventional shapes and marked with some sign to note their weight. The thousand ("pieces" is not in the Hebrew) of silver given by Abimelech to Abraham probably indicate the value of the "sheep and oxen," etc., which he gave (Ge 20:14-16). (See MONEY.) Silver was brought to Solomon in lavish abundance from Arabia and Tarshish (in plates like the Cingalese sacred writing tablets). 2Ch 9:14,21; 1Ki 10:21-27. Idols were generally wood inside, plated over with silver (Jer 10:9; Isa 30:22; 40:19; Ho 13:2; Hab 2:19).
It was used for women's ornaments, Ge 24:53; cups, Ge 44:2; sockets and chapiters of the pillars of the tabernacle, Ex 26:19; 27:10; 38:17; the two trumpets, Nu 10:2; the temple candlesticks, etc., 1Ch 28:15-17; the model shrines of Diana, Ac 19:24. There being mines ("vein") of silver and "dust of gold" is accurately noted in Job 28:1 (See METALS.) The Lord, with perfect wisdom and love, leaves His people in affliction till, their dross being purified, He sees them reflecting His holy image; just as a "refiner of silver" sits watching the melting silver until he sees his own image reflected, when he knows the silver has been long enough in the furnace and withdraws it (Mal 3:3). (See MINES; LEAD.) Captain Burton's discovery of silver and gold and other metals in great abundance in the land of Midian, as well as the remains of ancient mine workings, remarkably confirms the Scripture account of Midian's wealth in the metals (Nu 31:9,22,50-54; Jg 8:24-26). A forger would never have ascribed this kind of wealth to a nomadic people. (See MIDIAN; PARAN.)
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Then took Abimelech sheep and oxen, menservants and womenservants, and gave them unto Abraham, and delivered him Sara his wife again. And Abimelech said, "Behold, the land lieth before thee: dwell where it pleaseth thee best." read more. And unto Sara he said, "See, I have given thy brother a thousand pieces of silver, behold this thing shall be a covering to thine eyes unto all that are with thee and unto all men and an excuse."
And Abraham hearkened unto Ephron and weighed him the silver which he had said in the audience of the sons of Heth. Even four hundred silver sicles of current money among merchants.
And the servant took forth jewels of silver and jewels of gold and raiment, and gave them to Rebekah: But unto her brother and to her mother, he gave spices.
and put every man's money in his bag mouth, and put my silver cup in the sack's mouth of the youngest and his corn money also." And he did as Joseph had said.
and thou shalt make forty sockets of silver and put them under the twenty boards: two sockets under every board, for their two feet.
and twenty pillars thereof with their twenty sockets of brass: but the knops of the pillars and their hoops shall be silver.
and the sockets of the pillars were brass: but the knops and the hoops of the pillars were silver, and the heads were overlaid with silver, and all the pillars of the court were hooped about with silver.
"Make thee two trumpets of hard silver, that thou mayest use them to call the congregation together, and when the host shall journey.
And the children of Israel took all the women of Midian prisoners, and their children; and spoiled all their cattle, their substance and their goods.
We have therefore brought a present unto the LORD: what every man found of jewels of gold: chains, bracelets, rings, earrings and spangles, to make an atonement for our souls before the LORD." And Moses and Eleazar took the gold of them: jewels of all manner fashions. read more. And all the gold of the heave offering of the LORD, of the captains over thousands and hundreds, was sixteen thousand seven hundred and fifty sicles, which the men of war had spoiled, every man for himself. And Moses and Eleazar the priest took the gold of the captains over the thousands and over the hundreds, and brought it into the tabernacle of witness: to be a memorial unto the children of Israel, before the LORD.
Neverthelater, Gideon said unto them, "I would desire a certain request of you: even that you would give me, every man, the earrings of his prey." For they had golden earrings, because they were Ishmaelites. And they said, "We will do it." And they spread a mantle and did cast thereinto every man the earrings of his prey. read more. And the weight of the golden earrings was a thousand and seven hundred sicles of gold, beside brooches, ouches and garments of scarlet that were of the kings of Midian, and beside the chains, that were about their camels' necks.
And the weight of the golden candlesticks and of their lamps of gold, the weight for every candlestick and for their lamps. And for the candlesticks of silver by weight, both for the candlestick and also for her lamps according to the office of every candlestick. And the weight of gold for the tables of shewbread, table by table: and likewise silver for the tables of silver. read more. And for flesh hooks, basins and drinking pots of pure gold. And for cups of gold by weight, cup by cup. And for cups of silver by weight, cup by cup.
besides that which chapmen and merchants brought; and all the kings of Arabia and dukes of countries brought gold and silver to Solomon.
For the king's ships went to Tarshish with the servants of Hiram once every three years. And the ships of Tarshish brought gold, silver, the teeth of elephants, apes and peacocks.
Ye shall destroy also the covering of your silver images, and the decking of your golden idols. Even as filthiness shall ye put them away, and say, "Get you hence."
Shall the carver make him a carved image? And shall the goldsmith cover him with gold, or cast him into a form of silver plates?
namely, wood; silver, which is brought out of Tarshish, and beaten to plates; and gold from Ophir, a work that is made with the hand of the craftsman and the caster, clothed with yellow silk and scarlet: even so is the work of their wise men altogether.
And now they sin more and more. Of their silver, they make them molten Images, like the idols of the Heathen, and yet all is nothing but the work of the craftsmen. Notwithstanding they preach of the same: whoso will kiss the calves, offereth to men.
Woe unto him, that sayeth unto a piece of wood, "Arise," and to a dumb stone, "Stand up." For what instruction may such one give? Behold, it is laid over with gold and silver, and there is no breath in it.
And he shall sit trying and purging silver, and shall purify the sons of Levi, and shall fine them as gold and silver. And they shall bring offering unto the LORD of righteousness.
Hastings
Morish
This was a source of wealth from early days. Abraham was rich in silver, Ge 13:2; but with Solomon gold was so plentiful that silver was 'nothing accounted of.' 1Ki 10:21. The silver and gold which he had amassed were, alas, afterwards carried away to enrich their enemies because of the sins of Israel. 2Ch 12:9. Silver was also the common specie of commerce, 'pieces of silver' being weighed long before money was coined. Ge 23:16. Silver was used for the sockets, hooks, etc., in the tabernacle, the money paid for the redemption of the Israelites being applied to this purpose. Ex 30:11-16; 38:25-28. The house of God is founded on redemption. Ex 36:24-36; 38:10-17.
Silver is found in the earth (Job 28:1), and before it can be compared to 'the words of the Lord' it must be purified seven times. Ps 12:6; Pr 25:4.
THE SILVER CORD in Ec 12:6 seems to refer to 'the thread of life,' which is loosed, or removed, when death ensues.
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Abram was very rich in cattle, silver and gold.
And Abraham hearkened unto Ephron and weighed him the silver which he had said in the audience of the sons of Heth. Even four hundred silver sicles of current money among merchants.
And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying, "When thou takest the sum of the children of Israel and tellest them, they shall give every man a reconciling of his soul unto the LORD, that there be no plague among them when thou tellest them. read more. And thus much shall every man give that goeth in the number: half a sicle, after the holy sicle: a sicle is twenty geras: and a half sicle shall be the heave offering unto the LORD. And all that are numbered of them that are twenty years old and above shall give a heave offering unto the LORD. The rich shall not pass, and the poor shall not go under, half a sicle; when they give a heave offering unto the LORD for the atonement of their souls. And thou shalt take the reconciling money of the children of Israel and shalt put it unto the use of the tabernacle of witness, and it shall be a memorial of the children of Israel before the LORD, to make atonement for their souls."
and forty sockets of silver under the twenty boards, two sockets under every board, even for the two feet of them. And for the other side of the dwelling toward the north, read more. they made other twenty boards with forty sockets of silver, two sockets under every board. And behind in the end of the tabernacle toward the west, they made six boards, and two other boards for the corners of the habitation behind, and they were joined close both beneath and also above with clamps, and thus they did to both the corners: so they were in all eight boards and sixteen sockets, under every board two sockets. And they made bars of sethim-wood; five for the boards of the one side of the habitation, and five for the other, and five for the boards of the west end of the habitation. And they made the middle bar to shoot through the boards: even from the one end to the other, and overlaid the boards with gold, and made them rings of gold to thrust the bars through, and covered the bars with gold. And they made a hanging of jacinth, of scarlet, purple and twined bysse with cherubims of broidered work. And made thereunto four pillars of sethim-wood and overlaid them with gold. Their knops were also of gold, and they cast for them four sockets of silver.
and twenty pillars with twenty sockets of brass: but the knops of the pillars, and the hoops were silver. And on the north side the hangings were a hundred cubits long with twenty pillars and twenty sockets of brass, but the knops and the hoops of the pillars were of silver. read more. And on the west side, were hangings of fifty cubits long, and ten pillars with their ten sockets, and the knops and the hoops of the pillars were silver. And on the east side toward the sun rising, were hangings of fifty cubits: the hangings of the one side of the gate were fifteen cubits long, and their pillars three with their three sockets. And of the other side of the court gate, were hangings also of fifteen cubits long, and their pillars three with three sockets. Now all the hangings of the court round about, were of twined bysse, and the sockets of the pillars were brass: but the knops and the hoops of the pillars were silver, and the heads were overlaid with silver, and all the pillars of the court were hooped about with silver.
And the sum of silver that came of the multitude, was five score hundred weight and a thousand seven hundred and seventy five sicles of the holy sicle. Every man offering half a sicle after the weight of the holy sicle among them that went to be numbered from twenty years old and above, among six hundred thousand and three thousand and five hundred and fifty men. read more. And the five score hundred weight of silver went to the casting of the sockets of the sanctuary and the sockets of the veil: a hundred sockets of the five score hundred weight, a hundred weight to every socket. And the thousand seven hundred and seventy five sicles, made knops to the pillars and overlaid the heads and hooped them.
And all king Solomon's drinking vessels were of gold, and all the vessels of the house of the wood of Lebanon were of pure gold. And as for silver, it was nothing worth in the days of Solomon.
And Shishak king of Egypt came to Jerusalem and took away the treasures of the house of the LORD, and the treasures of the king's house, and shortly he took all. And he took also the shields of gold which Solomon made.
The words of the LORD are pure words: even as the silver, which from the earth is tried, and purified seven times in the fire.
Take the dross from the silver, and there shall be a clean vessel thereof.
Before the silver lace be taken away, and or the golden band be broken; or the pot be broken at the well, and the wheel upon the cistern;
Smith
Silver.
In very early times silver was used for ornaments,
and for vessels of various kinds. Images for idolatrous worship were made of silver or overlaid with it,
; Habb 2:19 Bar. 6:39, and the manufacture of silver shrines for Diana was a trade in Ephesus.
But its chief use was as a medium of exchange, and throughout the Old Testament we find "silver" used for money, like the French argent. Silver was brought to Solomon from Arabia,
and from Tarshish,
which supplied the markets of Tyre.
From Tarshish it came int he form of plates,
like those on which the sacred books of the Singhalese are written to this day. Spain appears to have been the chief source whence silver was obtained by the ancients. Possibly the hills of Palestine may have afforded some supply of this metal. Silvers mixed with alloy is referred to in
and a finer kind, either purer in itself or more thoroughly purified, is mentioned in
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And the servant took forth jewels of silver and jewels of gold and raiment, and gave them to Rebekah: But unto her brother and to her mother, he gave spices.
Ye shall not make therefore with me gods of silver nor gods of gold: in no wise shall ye do it.
besides that which chapmen and merchants brought; and all the kings of Arabia and dukes of countries brought gold and silver to Solomon.
For the king's ships went to Tarshish with the servants of Hiram once every three years. And the ships of Tarshish brought gold, silver, the teeth of elephants, apes and peacocks.
Therefore shall they be called reprobate silver, because the LORD hath cast them out."
namely, wood; silver, which is brought out of Tarshish, and beaten to plates; and gold from Ophir, a work that is made with the hand of the craftsman and the caster, clothed with yellow silk and scarlet: even so is the work of their wise men altogether.
Tarshish occupied with thee in all manner of wares: in silver, iron, tin and lead, and made thy market great.
And now they sin more and more. Of their silver, they make them molten Images, like the idols of the Heathen, and yet all is nothing but the work of the craftsmen. Notwithstanding they preach of the same: whoso will kiss the calves, offereth to men.
Watsons
SILVER, ????, Ge 20:16; ????????, 1Pe 1:15; Ac 3:4; 20:33; a well known metal, of a white shining colour; next in value to gold. It does not appear to have been in use before the deluge; at least Moses says nothing of it; he speaks only of the metals brass and iron, Ge 4:26. But in Abraham's time it was become common, and traffic was carried on with it, Ge 23:2,15. Yet it was not then coined, but was only in bars or ingots; and in commerce was always weighed.
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And Seth begat a son and called his name Enos. And in that time began men to call on the name of the LORD.
And unto Sara he said, "See, I have given thy brother a thousand pieces of silver, behold this thing shall be a covering to thine eyes unto all that are with thee and unto all men and an excuse."
and then died in a head-city called Hebron in the land of Canaan. Then Abraham came to mourn Sara and to weep for her.
"My lord, hearken unto me. The land is worth four hundredth sicles of silver: But what is that betwixt thee and me? Bury thy dead."
I have desired no man's silver, gold, or vesture.
But as he which called you is holy, even so be ye holy in all manner of conversation,