Reference: SEAL, SEALING
American
The allusions and references to seals and sealing are frequent in the sacred writings. Seals or signets were in use at a very early period, and they were evidently of various kind. Some were used as a substitute for signing one's name, the owner's name or chosen device being stamped by it with suitable ink on the document to be authenticated. Seals to be used for this purpose, with or without the sign manual, appear to have been worn by the parties to whom they respectively belonged. The seal of a private person was usually worn on his finger, or his wrist, or in a bracelet, being small in size, Jer 32:10; Lu 15:22; Jas 2:2. See RINGS. The seal of a governor was worn by him, or carried about his person in the most secure manner possible. The royal seal was either personal, to the king, or public, to the state; in other words, the seal of the king and the seal of the crown, 2Sa 1:10: the first the king retained; the latter he delivered to the proper officer of state. So far modern usages enable us to comprehend clearly the nature of this important instrument. The impress of the royal seal on any document gave it the sanction of government, 1Ki 21:8; and a temporary transfer of the seal to another hand conveyed a plenary authority for the occasion, Es 3:10,12; 8:2. Instead of the impression of a seal, probably on account of the heat of the climate, Job 38:14. The seal was a token of possession and of careful preservation, De 32:34; Job 9:7; 14:17. A portion of clay covering the lock or opening of a door, etc., guarded it from being opened clandestinely, Song 4:12; Da 6:17; Mt 27:66. Travellers in the East have met the same custom in modern times. The cord around a book, box, or roll of parchment was often secured with a sea, Isa 8:16; Re 5:1. The Holy Spirit seals Christians, impressing his image upon them as a token that they are his, Eph 1:13-14; 4:30. See SO.
See Verses Found in Dictionary
Is not, that, stored up with me, - Sealed up amongst my treasures;
So she wrote letters, in the name of Ahab, and sealed them with his signet-ring, - and sent the letters unto the elders, and unto the nobles who were in his city, dwelling with Naboth.
So then the king took his signet-ring from off his hand, and gave it unto Haman son of Hammedatha the Agagite, the adversary of the Jews;
Then were called the scribes of the king, in the first month, on the thirteenth day therein, and it was written according to all that Haman commanded unto the satraps of the king, and unto the pashas, who were over every province, and unto the rulers of every people, every province according to the writing thereof, and every people according to the tongue thereof, - in the name of King Ahasuerus, was it written, and sealed with the signet- ring of the king.
And the king took off his signet-ring, which he had taken from Haman, and gave it unto Mordecai, - and Esther set Mordecai over the house of Haman.
Who commandeth the sun, and it breaketh not forth, and, about the stars, he putteth a seal;
Sealed up in a bag, is my transgression, and thou hast glued over mine iniquity.
It transformeth itself like the clay of a seal, so that things stand forth like one arrayed;
A garden barred, is my sister, bride, - a spring barred, a fountain sealed:
Bind thou up the testimony, - Seal the instruction amongst my disciples.
and I wrote in the scroll and sealed it, and took in attestation witnesses, - and weighed the silver in the balances.
And there was brought a certain stone, and laid upon the mouth of the den; and the king sealed it with his own signet-ring, and with the signet-ring of his nobles, that nothing might be changed, as to Daniel.
And, they, went and secured for themselves the sepulchre, sealing the stone, with the guard.
But the father said unto his servants - Quick! bring forth a robe - the best! and put on him, and get out a ring for his hand, and sandals for his feet.
In whom, ye also - hearing the word of the truth, the glad-message of your salvation, - in whom also believing, - were sealed with the Spirit of the promise, the Holy Spirit , Which is an earnest of our inheritance, unto the redemption of the acquisition; - unto his glorious praise.
And be not grieving the Holy Spirit of God, wherewith ye have been sealed unto a day of redemption;
For, if there enter into your synagogue a man wearing gold rings in gay clothing, and there enter a destitute man also, in soiled clothing, -
And I saw, upon the right hand of him that was sitting upon the throne, a scroll; written within, and on the back, sealed up with seven seals.