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glass and mirrors in the Bible

Is GLASS mentioned in the Bible?

Copyrighted © image / Ancient Roman blown glass urn found in Italy (1-300 AD)
Ancient Roman blown glass urn found in Italy (1-300 AD). Glass-blowing may have begun in Syria before Christ’s birth. (National Archaeological Museum of Spain. Photographer: Luis García.)

Glass was known to the Egyptians at a very early period of their national history, at least 1500 B.C. (with glass beads dating even earlier). 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 northwest palace of Nimroud.

The Hebrew word zekukith (Job 28:17), rendered in the King James Version “crystal,” is rightly rendered in the Revised King James Version “glass.” This is the only allusion to glass found in the Old Testament.

Glass is referred to in the New Testament in Rev. 4:6; 15:2; 21:18, 21.


Ancient Greek pottery. Photo ©
Ancient Greek pottery showing woman holding a hand mirror (dated to approximately 470-460 BC), found at Velanideza, Attica, Greece (on display at National Archaeological Museum in Athens).
Photo License: BY-SA 2.5.

Are MIRRORS mentioned in the Bible?

In Job 37:18, the word rendered “looking-glass” is in the Revised King James Version properly rendered “mirror,” formed, i.e., of some metal. (Compare Exodus 38:8: “looking-glasses” are brass mirrors, Revised King James Version).

A mirror is referred to also in James 1:23.

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