The term "burnished" refers to a process of polishing or making a surface smooth and shiny, often through rubbing or friction. In biblical contexts, "burnished" is frequently used to describe metals, particularly bronze, that have been polished to a bright, reflective finish. This imagery is employed to convey beauty, strength, and divine glory.

Biblical References:

1. Ezekiel 1:7 : "Their legs were straight, and the soles of their feet were like the hooves of a calf, gleaming like polished bronze." In this vision of the cherubim, the burnished bronze symbolizes the purity and divine nature of these heavenly beings. The polished appearance suggests a reflection of God's glory and majesty.

2. Daniel 10:6 : "His body was like beryl, his face like the brilliance of lightning, his eyes like flaming torches, his arms and legs like the gleam of polished bronze, and his voice like the sound of a multitude." Here, the description of the heavenly messenger includes burnished bronze, emphasizing the splendor and awe-inspiring presence of the divine messenger. The polished bronze signifies strength and the radiant glory of the heavenly realm.

3. Revelation 1:15 : "His feet were like polished bronze refined in a furnace, and His voice was like the roar of many waters." In this vision of the glorified Christ, the burnished bronze of His feet represents purity, strength, and the refining power of His judgment. The imagery of burnished bronze underscores the majesty and authority of Christ as the eternal King and Judge.

Symbolism and Interpretation:

In the biblical narrative, burnished bronze often symbolizes divine purity, strength, and glory. The process of burnishing involves refining and purifying, which can be seen as a metaphor for spiritual refinement and sanctification. Just as metal is polished to reveal its true luster, believers are called to undergo spiritual refinement to reflect the glory of God.

The use of burnished bronze in descriptions of heavenly beings and divine visions serves to highlight the otherworldly and transcendent nature of these figures. It conveys a sense of awe and reverence, reminding readers of the holiness and majesty of God and His messengers.

Theological Significance:

From a theological perspective, the imagery of burnished bronze in Scripture points to the transformative power of God's presence. It serves as a reminder of the call to holiness and the process of sanctification that believers undergo. The polished, reflective quality of burnished bronze symbolizes the believer's journey toward reflecting the character and glory of God in their lives.

In summary, the term "burnished" in the Bible is rich with symbolic meaning, representing divine purity, strength, and the transformative power of God's presence. Through the imagery of burnished bronze, Scripture communicates the majesty and holiness of God and His call for believers to reflect His glory.(imp. & p. p.) of Burnish.5474. chalkolibanon -- chalcolibanus (fine copper, bronze or brass ...
... Word Origin from chalkos and libanos Definition chalcolibanus (fine copper, bronze
or brass) NASB Word Usage burnished bronze (2). fine brass. ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/5474.htm - 6k7044. qalal -- burnished
... 7043, 7044. qalal. 7045 . burnished. Transliteration: qalal Phonetic Spelling:
(kaw-lawl') Short Definition: burnished. Word Origin ...
/hebrew/7044.htm - 6k

6731. tsiyts -- perhaps wings
... Or tsits {tseets}; from tsuwts; properly, glistening, ie A burnished plate; also
a flower (as bright-colored); a wing (as gleaming in the air) -- blossom ...
/hebrew/6731.htm - 5k

Introductory Note to Clement of Alexandria
... More of this when we come to Clement, that man of genius who introduced Christianity
to itself, as reflected in the burnished mirror of his intellect. ...
/.../athenagoras/a plea for the christians/introductory note to clement of.htm

Hiram, the Inspired Artificer
... Hiram constructed of bright, burnished brass, an immense laver, called
"a molten sea," to be used for the ablutions of the priests. ...
/.../milligan/men of the bible some lesser-known/hiram the inspired artificer.htm

The Contrast.
... sees". "The Heavenly City, Built of bright and burnished gold, Lying in
transcendent beauty, Stored with treasures all untold. ...
/.../the life of duty a years plain sermons v 2/sermon xxxvi the contrast.htm

Epilogue
... The rich man's halls are nobly furnished; Therein no nook or corner empty seems;
Here stands the brazen laver burnished, And there the golden goblet brightly ...
//christianbookshelf.org/prudentius/the hymns of prudentius/epilogue.htm

Agreement of Plato and Homer.
... not without a double sense does this expression of Phoenix seem to have been used:
"Not even if God Himself were to promise me, that, having burnished off my ...
/.../justins hortatory address to the greeks/chapter xxiv agreement of plato and.htm

The Temple and Its Dedication
... Garnished with precious stones, surrounded by spacious courts with magnificent
approaches, and lined with carved cedar and burnished gold, the temple structure ...
/.../white/the story of prophets and kings/chapter 2 the temple and.htm

That the Eyes of the Soul must be Purged Ere God Can be Seen.
... So also thou, O man, hast the eyes of thy soul overspread by thy sins and evil deeds.
As a burnished mirror, so ought man to have his soul pure. ...
/.../theophilus/theophilus to autolycus/chapter ii that the eyes of.htm

Meaning of the Name Christian.
... is not anointed with oil? And what work has either ornament or beauty
unless it be anointed and burnished? Then the air and all ...
/.../theophilus/theophilus to autolycus/chapter xii meaning of the name.htm

Fix Thou Our Hearing, that it be not Loosed and Wander!
... goodly. When water is confined in channels, desert places drink of it;
brass, silver and gold, when they are burnished shine. 10. ...
/.../ephraim/hymns and homilies of ephraim the syrian/hymn iii fix thou our.htm

The Glory and Honor that Jesus Has Won
... His head and hair were white as wool, white as snow; his eyes were like a flame
of fire, his feet were like burnished bronze melted in the furnace, his voice ...
/.../christianbookshelf.org/sherman/the childrens bible/the glory and honor that.htm

Burnished (6 Occurrences)
... Multi-Version Concordance Burnished (6 Occurrences). Revelation 1:15 His feet were
like burnished brass, as if it had been refined in a furnace. ...
/b/burnished.htm - 8k

Fine (184 Occurrences)
... in a furnace"; in Daniel 10:6 it is nehosheth qalal, the King James Version "polished
brass," the Revised Version (British and American) "burnished" (qalal is ...
/f/fine.htm - 47k

Legs (50 Occurrences)
... (BBE RSV NIV). Ezekiel 1:7 Their feet were straight feet; and the sole of their
feet was like the sole of a calf's foot; and they sparkled like burnished brass. ...
/l/legs.htm - 21k

Brass (168 Occurrences)
... cymbal. (WEB KJV ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT). Revelation 1:15 His feet were like
burnished brass, as if it had been refined in a furnace. His ...
/b/brass.htm - 44k

Burns (34 Occurrences)

/b/burns.htm - 17k

Glow (3 Occurrences)
... Glow (3 Occurrences). Revelation 1:15 His feet were like burnished brass, as if
it had been refined in a furnace. His voice was like the voice of many waters. ...
/g/glow.htm - 8k

Gleamed (2 Occurrences)
... (See NIV). Ezekiel 1:7 Their feet were straight feet; and the sole of their feet
was like the sole of a calf's foot; and they sparkled like burnished brass. ...
/g/gleamed.htm - 7k

Glowing (14 Occurrences)
... (WEY). Revelation 1:15 His feet were like burnished brass, as if it had been refined
in a furnace. His voice was like the voice of many waters. (See NIV). ...
/g/glowing.htm - 11k

Gleam (5 Occurrences)
... body also was like the beryl, and his face as the appearance of lightning, and his
eyes as flaming torches, and his arms and his feet like burnished brass, and ...
/g/gleam.htm - 8k

Torches (18 Occurrences)
... body also was like the beryl, and his face as the appearance of lightning, and his
eyes as flaming torches, and his arms and his feet like burnished brass, and ...
/t/torches.htm - 12k

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