A plummet, also known as a plumb line, is a tool used in ancient construction and surveying to ensure structures are vertically true. It consists of a weight, usually made of lead, attached to the end of a string or cord. The force of gravity pulls the weight downward, creating a straight vertical line that builders and surveyors can use as a reference.

In the Bible, the plummet is often used metaphorically to represent divine judgment and the standard by which God measures His people. It symbolizes the precision and righteousness of God's assessment, ensuring that His people align with His laws and commandments.

Biblical References:

1. 2 Kings 21:13 : "And I will stretch over Jerusalem the measuring line of Samaria and the plumb line of the house of Ahab, and I will wipe Jerusalem as one wipes a dish—wiping it and turning it upside down." Here, the plummet signifies God's impending judgment on Jerusalem, indicating that the city will be measured and found wanting, leading to its destruction.

2. Isaiah 28:17 : "I will make justice the measuring line and righteousness the plumb line; hail will sweep away your refuge of lies, and water will flood your hiding place." In this passage, the plummet represents God's standard of justice and righteousness. It underscores the idea that God's judgment is precise and unwavering, sweeping away falsehood and deceit.

3. Amos 7:7-8 : "This is what He showed me: The Lord was standing by a wall true to plumb, with a plumb line in His hand. 'What do you see, Amos?' asked the LORD. 'A plumb line,' I replied. Then the Lord said, 'Behold, I am setting a plumb line among My people Israel; I will no longer spare them.'" In this vision given to the prophet Amos, the plummet is a symbol of God's judgment upon Israel. It indicates that God is measuring His people against His standards, and they are found lacking, leading to inevitable consequences.

4. Zechariah 4:10 : "For who has despised the day of small things? These seven eyes of the LORD, which roam throughout the earth, will rejoice when they see the plumb line in Zerubbabel’s hand." In this context, the plummet is a symbol of hope and restoration. It signifies the rebuilding of the temple under Zerubbabel's leadership, with God's approval and guidance ensuring that the work is done according to His divine standards.

Symbolism and Interpretation:

The plummet serves as a powerful symbol of God's exacting standards and His role as the ultimate judge. It emphasizes the importance of aligning one's life with God's will and the consequences of failing to do so. The imagery of the plummet in the Bible calls believers to self-examination and repentance, urging them to live in accordance with divine principles.

In the broader biblical narrative, the plummet also represents the hope of restoration and renewal. When used in the context of rebuilding, it signifies God's faithfulness in guiding His people back to righteousness and ensuring that their efforts are aligned with His purposes.1. (n.) A piece of lead attached to a line, used in sounding the depth of water.

2. (n.) A plumb bob or a plumb line. See under Plumb.

3. (n.) Hence, any weight.

4. (n.) A piece of lead formerly used by school children to rule paper for writing.

PLUMB-LINE; PLUMMET

plum'-lin, plum'-et, plum'-it.

See TOOLS.

594. anak -- to plummet
... 593, 594. anak. 595 . to plummet. Transliteration: anak Phonetic Spelling:
(an-awk') Short Definition: line. Word Origin of uncertain ...
/hebrew/594.htm - 6k

4949. mishqeleth -- a leveling instrument, a level
... level. Word Origin fem. of mishqal Definition a leveling instrument, a level
NASB Word Usage level (1), plummet (1). plummet. Or mishqoleth ...
/hebrew/4949.htm - 6k

913. bedil -- alloy, tin, dross
... plummet, tin. From badal; alloy (because removed by smelting); by analogy, tin -- +
plummet, tin. see HEBREW badal. 912, 913. bedil. 914 . Strong's Numbers
/hebrew/913.htm - 6k

68. eben -- a stone
... From the root of banah through the meaning to build; a stone -- + carbuncle, + mason, +
plummet, (chalk-, hail-, head-, sling-)stone(-ny), (divers) weight(-s). ...
/hebrew/68.htm - 6k

The Handwriting Blotted Out
... As the plummet is held up, we see how much we are out of the perpendicular. As we
measure ourselves by that holy standard, we find how much we are lacking. ...
/.../moody/weighed and wanting/the handwriting blotted out.htm

On Refuges of Lies.
... VII. ON REFUGES OF LIES. "Judgment also will I lay to the line, and righteousness
to the plummet, and the hail shall sweep away the refuge of lies, and the ...
/.../finney/sermons on gospel themes/vii on refuges of lies.htm

Now in Vergilius and in Many of that Time the Human Heart had ...
... Now in Vergilius and in many of that time the human heart had dropped its plummet
into new depths of feeling, the human mind had made a reach for nobler ...
//christianbookshelf.org/bacheller/vergilius/chapter 23 now in vergilius.htm

The Law.
... This is the rule and line and plummet whereby every act of every man shall be measured;
and he whose righteousness is not found every way answerable to this law ...
//christianbookshelf.org/bunyan/the riches of bunyan/v the law.htm

Aspirations of the Soul after God
... I can only be silent and gaze! 'Tis all that is left to me now. Oh, glory in which
I am lost,. Too deep for the plummet of thought; On an ocean of Deity tossed, ...
/.../aspirations of the soul after.htm

The Justice of God
... God has not only authority on his side, but equity. He lays judgement to
the line, and righteousness to the plummet.' Isaiah 28:17. ...
//christianbookshelf.org/watson/a body of divinity/8 the justice of god.htm

On the Way to Thebes
... At noon the next day he stopped to sleep at another town and to buy a lamp, materials
for making fire, ropes and a plummet of bronze sufficiently heavy to ...
//christianbookshelf.org/miller/the yoke/chapter xxi on the way.htm

Isaiah's Discourse
... the porcupine shall possess it; and the owl and the raven shall dwell therein: and
he shall stretch over it the line of confusion, and the plummet of emptiness ...
/.../various/select masterpieces of biblical literature/v isaiahs discourse.htm

Isaiah's Discourse
... And I will make judgement the line, and righteousness the plummet: and the hail
shall sweep away the refuge of lies, and the waters shall overflow the hiding ...
/.../various/select masterpieces of biblical literature/iv isaiahs discourse.htm

Justice Satisfied
... he is not so, he is severely just. He layeth justice to the line, and righteousness
to the plummet.' He is the judge of all the earth, and he must do right. ...
/.../spurgeon/spurgeons sermons volume 5 1859/justice satisfied.htm

Plummet (4 Occurrences)
... Int. Standard Bible Encyclopedia. PLUMB-LINE; PLUMMET. plum'-lin, plum'-et,
plum'-it. See TOOLS. Multi-Version Concordance Plummet (4 Occurrences). ...
/p/plummet.htm - 8k

Plumb (6 Occurrences)
... Noah Webster's Dictionary 1. (n.) A weight attached to a line and used by builders
to indicate a vertical direction; a plummet; a plumb bob. See below. ...
/p/plumb.htm - 9k

Tools (3 Occurrences)
... in Amos 7:7, a symbol of the searching moral investigation which would be followed
by a precise and exact judgment; compare mishkoleth, "plummet," 2 Kings 21 ...
/t/tools.htm - 14k

Plumb-line (2 Occurrences)
Plumb-line. Plumbline, Plumb-line. Plummet . Int. Standard Bible Encyclopedia
PLUMB-LINE; PLUMMET. plum'-lin, plum'-et, plum'-it. See TOOLS. ...
/p/plumb-line.htm - 7k

Upside (7 Occurrences)
... 2 Kings 21:13 I will stretch over Jerusalem the line of Samaria, and the plummet
of the house of Ahab; and I will wipe Jerusalem as a man wipes a dish, wiping ...
/u/upside.htm - 8k

Overwhelm (18 Occurrences)
... Isaiah 28:17 And I will make justice the line, and righteousness the plummet; and
the hail shall sweep away the refuge of lies, and the waters shall overflow ...
/o/overwhelm.htm - 11k

Lead (192 Occurrences)
... lead sulphide. 2. (n.) An article made of lead or an alloy of lead. 3. (n.)
A plummet or mass of lead, used in sounding at sea. 4. (n ...
/l/lead.htm - 42k

Wipes (3 Occurrences)
... 2 Kings 21:13 I will stretch over Jerusalem the line of Samaria, and the plummet
of the house of Ahab; and I will wipe Jerusalem as a man wipes a dish, wiping ...
/w/wipes.htm - 7k

Wiping (4 Occurrences)
... 2 Kings 21:13 I will stretch over Jerusalem the line of Samaria, and the plummet
of the house of Ahab; and I will wipe Jerusalem as a man wipes a dish, wiping ...
/w/wiping.htm - 7k

Measuring (42 Occurrences)
... 2 Kings 21:13 I will stretch over Jerusalem the line of Samaria, and the plummet
of the house of Ahab; and I will wipe Jerusalem as a man wipes a dish, wiping ...
/m/measuring.htm - 22k

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