Topical Bible: Horse: Bells For

◄ Horse: Bells For ►

Jump to: Nave's • Library • Subtopics • Terms

Topical Encyclopedia

In biblical times, horses were significant animals, often associated with warfare, power, and prestige. The use of bells on horses is specifically mentioned in the prophetic book of Zechariah, which provides a symbolic and eschatological context for their use.

Biblical Reference:

The primary reference to bells on horses is found in Zechariah 14:20, which states: "On that day, 'HOLY TO THE LORD' will be inscribed on the bells of the horses, and the cooking pots in the house of the LORD will be like the sprinkling bowls before the altar."

Symbolism and Significance:

1. Holiness and Consecration:
· The inscription "HOLY TO THE LORD" on the bells signifies a future time when even the most mundane aspects of life, represented by the horses and their bells, will be consecrated to God. This reflects a vision of complete holiness and dedication to the Lord, where all things are set apart for His purposes.

2. Peace and Prosperity:
· In the context of Zechariah 14, the mention of bells on horses comes after a description of the Lord's ultimate victory and the establishment of His kingdom. The bells, therefore, symbolize a time of peace and prosperity, where the implements of war (horses) are transformed into symbols of holiness and divine service.

3. Universal Worship:
· The passage suggests a future where all nations recognize and worship the Lord. The bells on horses, marked with holiness, indicate that every aspect of life, including transportation and daily activities, will be an act of worship and acknowledgment of God's sovereignty.

4. Transformation of the Ordinary:
· The transformation of ordinary objects, such as horse bells, into items of sacred significance underscores the biblical theme of redemption and renewal. It highlights the transformative power of God's kingdom, where the secular becomes sacred.

Cultural and Historical Context:

In ancient Near Eastern cultures, bells were often used on animals for practical purposes, such as identifying and controlling them. However, in the biblical narrative, their use is elevated to a spiritual level, reflecting the broader theme of God's redemptive plan for creation.

Theological Implications:

The inscription on the horse bells serves as a reminder of the ultimate goal of God's redemptive work: the sanctification of all creation. It points to a future where God's holiness permeates every aspect of life, fulfilling the prophetic vision of a world fully reconciled to Him.

In summary, the bells on horses in Zechariah 14:20 symbolize a future era of holiness, peace, and universal worship, where even the most ordinary elements of life are dedicated to the Lord. This imagery serves as a powerful reminder of God's transformative power and the ultimate sanctification of all creation.

Nave's Topical Index

Zechariah 14:20
In that day shall there be on the bells of the horses, HOLINESS UNTO THE LORD; and the pots in the LORD's house shall be like the bowls before the altar.
Nave's Topical Index

Library

A Peal of Bells
... The horse is turning over the furrow with the plough, and if it be held by a godly
husbandman, the bells upon that horse are Holiness unto the Lord. ...
/.../spurgeon/spurgeons sermons volume 7 1861/a peal of bells.htm

The Family Likeness
... 'On the bells of the horses shall be written Holiness to the Lord.' The horse-bells
that make merry music on their bridles are not very sacred things, but they ...
/.../maclaren/expositions of holy scripture ephesians peter/the family likeness.htm

Diamond Became a Great Favourite with all the Men About the Mews. ...
... "It was your own old horse as took you; and me you paid long ago.". ... "I don't know"
said Diamond thoughtfully, "whether Mrs. Coleman had bells on her toes.". ...
/.../macdonald/at the back of the north wind/chapter 17 diamond became a.htm

The Adventures of Saint Anthony of Italy.
... Hearing the bells cease their wonted mournful melody, up started the King of Georgia ...
you, these tender hands of mine shall hang upon your horse's bridle, till ...
/.../kingston/the seven champions of christendom/chapter seven the adventures of.htm

A Terrible Dream
... to England; where, his father having bought him a Cornetcy of horse, he purchased ...
going into Christ Church belfry, in Dublin, just after the bells had been ...
//christianbookshelf.org/wesley/the journal of john wesley/a terrible dream.htm

Sanctified Commonplaces
... in the Book of Zechariah: 'In that day shall there be upon the bells of the ... Some
of you may be heads of houses or domestic servants, horse-drivers or laundry ...
/.../howard/standards of life and service/xvi sanctified commonplaces.htm

A Christmas Question
... The man is a blind rider on a blind horse. ... Why all this ringing of bells
in the church steeples, as if all London were mad with joy? ...
/.../spurgeon/spurgeons sermons volume 6 1860/a christmas question.htm

"For Hereunto were Ye Called; Because Christ Also Suffered for You ...
... It was one of those clock-work bells, and always went off as a clock might go if
it tried to strike ... But I keep only a horse and a cow and do the work myself.". ...
//christianbookshelf.org/sheldon/in his steps/chapter one for hereunto were.htm

The Sixt Part.
... no better then shynesse in a fore-horse, whose eyes men fence on both sides, that ...
in a parish; is not the whole towne in an uprore, as when the bells ring awke ...
/.../ward/a coal from the altar to kindle the holy fire of zeale/the sixt part.htm

The Adventures of Saint George of England.
... This time Saint George kept his spurs in the horse's flanks. ... to be received by the
sovereign and his people as a conqueror, to have heard all the bells in the ...
/.../kingston/the seven champions of christendom/chapter three the adventures of.htm