Refiner's
Bible Usage:
- Bible Reference: Malachi 3:2
Dictionaries:
- Included in Eastons: Yes
- Included in Hitchcocks: No
- Included in Naves: No
- Included in Smiths: Yes
- Included in Websters: Yes
- Included in Strongs: No
- Included in Thayers: No
- Included in BDB: No
The process of refining metals is referred to by way of illustrations in Isaiah 1:25; Jeremiah 6:29; Zechariah 13:9; Malachi 3:2, 3.
The refiner's art was essential to the working of the precious metals. It consisted in the separation of the dress from the pure ore, which was effected by reducing the metal to a fluid state by the application of heat, and by the aid of solvents, such as alkali, (Isaiah 1:25) or lead, Jeremiah 6:29 Which, amalgamating with the dress, permitted the extraction of the unadulterated metal. The instruments required by the refiner were a crucible of furnace and a bellows or blow-pipe. The workman sat at his work, (Malachi 3:3) he was thus better enabled to watch the process, and let the metal run off at the proper moment.
REFI'NER, noun
1. One that refines metals or other things.
2. An improver in purity and elegance; as a refiner of language.
3. An inventor of superfluous subtilities; one is who over nice in discrimination, in argument, reasoning, philosophy, etc.
REFI'NERY, noun The place and apparatus for refining metals.