The term "ceiled" refers to the act of covering or paneling a structure, particularly the interior walls or ceilings of a building. In biblical times, this often involved the use of wood or other materials to create a finished surface. The concept of "ceiling" a house or temple is mentioned in several passages of the Bible, highlighting both the physical and spiritual significance of such an act.

Biblical References:

1. Haggai 1:4 : "Is it a time for you yourselves to dwell in your paneled houses, while this house lies in ruins?" This verse from the book of Haggai addresses the Israelites who had returned from exile and were more concerned with beautifying their own homes than rebuilding the temple of the Lord. The term "paneled" here is synonymous with "ceiled," indicating that the people had invested in luxurious living spaces while neglecting the house of God. This passage serves as a rebuke and a call to prioritize spiritual commitments over personal comfort.

2. 1 Kings 6:9 : "So Solomon built the temple and finished it, roofing the temple with beams and planks of cedar." Although the term "ceiled" is not directly used in this translation, the description of Solomon's temple construction involves the use of cedar wood for paneling, which is akin to the process of ceiling. The use of high-quality materials like cedar reflects the reverence and dedication to creating a dwelling place for the Lord that is both beautiful and enduring.

3. Jeremiah 22:14 : "who says, ‘I will build myself a great palace with spacious upper rooms.’ So he cuts windows in it, panels it with cedar, and paints it in vermilion." This passage criticizes the king of Judah for his self-indulgence and pride, as he focuses on constructing an opulent palace for himself. The act of paneling with cedar, or "ceiling," is depicted as a symbol of excessive luxury and misplaced priorities, contrasting with the humility and devotion expected of a leader chosen by God.

Cultural and Spiritual Significance:

In the biblical context, the act of ceiling a building, especially with valuable materials like cedar, often symbolized wealth, status, and a desire for permanence. However, the scriptures frequently use this imagery to challenge the people of God to examine their priorities. The emphasis is placed on the heart's devotion to God rather than the outward appearance of one's dwelling.

The spiritual lesson derived from these references is the call to prioritize the worship and service of God above personal luxury and comfort. The ceiled houses of the Israelites and the opulent palaces of the kings serve as reminders of the potential for material wealth to distract from spiritual responsibilities. The Bible encourages believers to focus on building their spiritual lives and communities, ensuring that their dedication to God is reflected in their actions and choices.(imp. & p. p.) of Ceil.CEILED; CEILING

seld, sel'-ing (the King James Version and the English Revised Version Cieled, Cieling; the Hebrew words for "ceiled" are chippah, caphan, sachiph; for "ceiling," cippun): Ceiling occurs only in 1 Kings 6:15. It comes from the root caphan, meaning "to cover." It has its common meaning of the upper surface of a room; there is, however, some doubt of the textual Ceiled is found in 2 Chronicles 3:5 ((chippah); Jeremiah 22:14 Haggai 1:4 (caphan in both); Ezekiel 41:16 (sachiph)), the text of the last passage being doubtful. In none of these cases does "ceiled" refer to the upper surface of a room, but to the covering or paneling of the inner walls of a house with cedar or other costly wood. This is in accordance with a common early use of the English word, no longer frequent.

George Ricker Berry

5600. sephinah -- a vessel, ship
... ship. From caphan; a (sea-going) vessel (as ceiled with a deck) -- ship. see HEBREW
caphan. 5599b, 5600. sephinah. 5601 . Strong's Numbers.
/hebrew/5600.htm - 6k

That He Instructed the Governors Concerning the Beautifying of the ...
... "With respect to the ceiling [3264] of the church, I wish to know from you whether
in your judgment it should be panel-ceiled, [3265] or finished with any ...
/.../pamphilius/the life of constantine/chapter xxxii that he instructed the.htm

The Abiding of the Spirit the Glory of the Church
... they saw to themselves first, and God's turn was very long in coming; hence the
prophet cried, "Is it time for you, O ye, to dwell in your ceiled houses, and ...
/.../spurgeon/spurgeons sermons volume 32 1886/the abiding of the spirit.htm

Obadiah
... And he had wealth, no doubt, and his fair and great house there among the beautiful
hills of Samaria, ceiled with cedar and painted with vermilion, with its ...
/...//christianbookshelf.org/kingsley/town and country sermons/sermon ix obadiah.htm

Vain Toil
... and honest zeal: but by degrees the hopes faded and became nothing better than
'godly imaginations.' The exiles took to building their own ceiled houses, and ...
//christianbookshelf.org/maclaren/expositions of holy scripture a/vain toil.htm

Brave Encouragements
... They had built for themselves 'ceiled houses,' and were engrossed with their farms.
The Book of Ezra dwells on the external hindrances to the rebuilding. ...
/.../maclaren/expositions of holy scripture a/brave encouragements.htm

Life in Canaan
... Give God the best. We build ourselves ceiled houses and the ark dwells in curtains.
Pagans build elaborate temples, but their houses are hovels. ...
/.../maclaren/expositions of holy scripture k/life in canaan.htm

Christian Sympathy
... without sharing our bread with the starving, if we can be wrapt in comfort and refuse
a garment to the shivering poor, or rest in our ceiled houses and yield ...
/.../spurgeon/spurgeons sermons volume 8 1863/christian sympathy.htm

Providential Guidance
... the night had collected upon my coverlet in the large barn-like upper room, now
subdivided into four or five smaller ones, each of which is comfortably ceiled. ...
/.../taylor/a retrospect/chapter xiv providential guidance.htm

"The Prophets of God Helping Them"
... To those who had become discouraged, Haggai addressed the searching inquiry, "Is
it time for you, O ye, to dwell in your ceiled houses, and this house lie waste ...
/.../white/the story of prophets and kings/chapter 46 the prophets of.htm

The Morning. AD 1100-1250
... The very changes of the seasons came with a sharper contrast to those men in their
rude uncomfortable abodes than we in our ceiled and glazed houses can well ...
/.../winkworth/christian singers of germany/chapter iii the morning a d.htm

Ceiled (3 Occurrences)
... Noah Webster's Dictionary (imp. & pp) of Ceil. Int. Standard Bible Encyclopedia.
CEILED; CEILING. seld, sel'-ing (the King James Version ...
/c/ceiled.htm - 8k

Ceiling (7 Occurrences)
... 4. (n.) The inner planking of a vessel. Int. Standard Bible Encyclopedia.
CEILED; CEILING. seld, sel'-ing (the King James Version ...
/c/ceiling.htm - 10k

Vermillion (1 Occurrence)
... Jeremiah 22:14 Who is saying, 'I build for myself a large house, And airy upper
chambers,' And he hath cut out for himself its windows, Ceiled with cedar, and ...
/v/vermillion.htm - 6k

Fir-wood (4 Occurrences)
... (ASV). 2 Chronicles 3:5 And the greater house he ceiled with fir-wood, which he
overlaid with fine gold, and wrought thereon palm-trees and chains. (ASV). ...
/f/fir-wood.htm - 7k

Palm-trees (23 Occurrences)
... 2 Chronicles 3:5 And the greater house he ceiled with fir-wood, which he overlaid
with fine gold, and wrought thereon palm-trees and chains. ...
/p/palm-trees.htm - 13k

Paint (3 Occurrences)
... Hebrew verb mashach, "to smear," "to anoint," "to paint," describing the painting
of interiors with vermilion, perhaps resembling lacquer: "ceiled with cedar ...
/p/paint.htm - 10k

Painting (5 Occurrences)
... Jeremiah 22:14 Who is saying, 'I build for myself a large house, And airy upper
chambers,' And he hath cut out for himself its windows, Ceiled with cedar, and ...
/p/painting.htm - 9k

Ceilan
Ceilan. Cedron, Ceilan. Ceiled . Int. Standard Bible Encyclopedia CEILAN.
se'-lan. See KILAN. Cedron, Ceilan. Ceiled . Reference Bible.
/c/ceilan.htm - 6k

Airy (1 Occurrence)
... Jeremiah 22:14 Who is saying, 'I build for myself a large house, And airy upper
chambers,' And he hath cut out for himself its windows, Ceiled with cedar, and ...
/a/airy.htm - 7k

Holies (23 Occurrences)
... It was divided from the holy Ceiled by curtains which bore cherubic figures embroidered
in blue and purple and scarlet (Exodus 26:1), it contained no furniture ...
/h/holies.htm - 17k

Ceiled: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.com

Bible Concordance • Bible Dictionary • Bible Encyclopedia • Topical Bible • Bible Thesuarus