Glass

Was known to the Egyptians at a very early period of their national history, at least B.C. 1500. Various articles both useful and ornamental were made of it, as bottles, vases, etc. A glass bottle with the name of Sargon on it was found among the ruins of the north-west palace of Nimroud. The Hebrew word zekukith (Job 28:17), rendered in the Authorized Version “crystal,” is rightly rendered in the Revised Version “glass.” This is the only allusion to glass found in the Old Testament. It is referred to in the New Testament in Rev. 4:6; 15:2; 21:18, 21. In Job 37:18, the word rendered “looking-glass” is in the Revised Version properly rendered “mirror,” formed, i.e., of some metal. (Comp. Ex. 38:8: “looking-glasses” are brazen mirrors, R.V.). A mirror is referred to also in James 1:23.

The Hebrew word occurs only in (Job 28:17) where in the Authorized Version it is rendered “crystal.” In spite of the absence of specific allusion to glass in the sacred writings, the Hebrews must have been aware of the invention from paintings representing the process of glass-blowing, which have been discovered at Beni-hassan, and in tombs at other places, we know that the invention vas known at least 3500 years ago. Fragments too of wine-vases as old as the exodus have been discovered in Egypt. The art was also known to the ancient Assyrians. In the New Testament glass is alluded to as an emblem of brightness. (Revelation 4:6; 15:2; 21:18)

GLASS was discovered by the Phoenicians, or perhaps earlier. Representations Egyptian Glass Blowers. (After Wilkinson.) Egyptian Glass Bottles. (After Wilkinson.) of the process of glass-blowing are found on Eyptian monuments, and glass beads and fragments of glass vases have been discovered of very ancient age. The only mention of glass in the O.T. is in Job 28:17, where it is translated "crystal." The mirrors referred to by the word "glass" in 1 Cor 13:12; 2 Cor 3:18; Jas 1:23 were not made of glass. See Looking-glass.

Part of speech: noun (n.)

1. A hard, brittle, translucent, and commonly transparent substance, white or colored, having a conchoidal fracture, and made by fusing together sand or silica with lime, potash, soda, or lead oxide. It is used for window panes and mirrors, for articles of table and culinary use, for lenses, and various articles of ornament.

2. Any substance having a peculiar glassy appearance, and a conchoidal fracture, and usually produced by fusion.

3. Anything made of glass. Especially:

4. A looking-glass; a mirror.

5. A vessel filled with running sand for measuring time; an hourglass; and hence, the time in which such a vessel is exhausted of its sand. She would not live The running of one glass. Shak.

6. A drinking vessel; a tumbler; a goblet; hence, the contents of such a vessel; especially; spirituous liquors; as, he took a glass at dinner.

7. An optical glass; a lens; a spyglass; -- in the plural, spectacles; as, a pair of glasses; he wears glasses.

8. A weatherglass; a barometer.

Part of speech: verb (v.)

1. To reflect, as in a mirror; to mirror; -- used reflexively. Happy to glass themselves in such a mirror. Motley. Where the Almighty's form glasses itself in tempests. Byron.

2. To case in glass. [R.] Shak.

3. To cover or furnish with glass; to glaze. Boyle.

4. To smooth or polish anything, as leater, by rubbing it with a glass burnisher.