In biblical literature, the term "polished" is often used metaphorically to describe refinement, beauty, and the process of being made perfect or complete. The imagery of polishing is frequently associated with metals, stones, and other materials that require skillful work to achieve their full potential and luster. This concept is used in various contexts throughout the Bible to convey spiritual truths and moral lessons.

Old Testament References

1. Weapons and Armor: In the Old Testament, the imagery of polished weapons is used to convey readiness and effectiveness in battle. For example, in Isaiah 49:2 , the prophet describes the servant of the Lord as a polished arrow: "He made My mouth like a sharp sword; He hid Me in the shadow of His hand. He made Me like a polished arrow; He hid Me in His quiver." This passage highlights the preparation and precision required for the servant's mission, emphasizing divine craftsmanship and purpose.

2. Beauty and Splendor: The concept of polished beauty is also found in descriptions of the temple and its furnishings. In Ezekiel 1:7 , the prophet's vision of the cherubim includes a description of their feet: "Their legs were straight, and the soles of their feet were like the hooves of a calf, gleaming like polished bronze." This imagery underscores the divine glory and majesty associated with heavenly beings and sacred spaces.

3. Refinement and Purification: The process of polishing is akin to refining, a theme prevalent in the prophetic literature. Malachi 3:3 speaks of the Lord as a refiner and purifier: "He will sit as a refiner and purifier of silver; He will purify the sons of Levi and refine them like gold and silver." Although the term "polished" is not directly used, the concept of refining to achieve purity and brilliance is closely related.

New Testament References

1. Moral and Spiritual Excellence: In the New Testament, the idea of being polished can be seen in the call to moral and spiritual excellence. While the specific term "polished" is not used, the concept is implicit in passages that encourage believers to grow in virtue and holiness. For instance, Philippians 1:10 urges believers to be "pure and blameless for the day of Christ," suggesting a process of spiritual refinement akin to polishing.

2. Christ as the Perfect Example: Jesus Christ is often depicted as the ultimate example of perfection and completeness. Hebrews 1:3 describes Him as "the radiance of God's glory and the exact representation of His nature," reflecting the idea of divine perfection and the ultimate "polished" state of being.

Symbolism and Application

The symbolism of polishing in the Bible serves as a powerful metaphor for the transformative work of God in the lives of His people. Just as a craftsman polishes a piece of metal or stone to reveal its inherent beauty, God works in the hearts of believers to refine and perfect them. This process involves trials, discipline, and growth in righteousness, ultimately leading to a life that reflects the glory and character of God.

In practical terms, the concept of being polished calls Christians to pursue holiness, integrity, and excellence in all aspects of life. It encourages believers to submit to God's refining work, trusting that He is shaping them into vessels of honor for His purposes.1. (imp. & p. p.) of Polish.

2. (a.) Made smooth and glossy, as by friction; hence, highly finished; refined; polite; as, polished plate; polished manners; polished verse.

POLISHED

pol'-isht.

See CORNER-STONE, (2).

2072. esoptron -- a mirror (ie an object for looking into)
... Neuter Transliteration: esoptron Phonetic Spelling: (es'-op-tron) Short Definition:
a mirror Definition: a mirror, looking-glass (made of highly polished metal ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/2072.htm - 7k

3773. Ourbanos -- Urbanus, a Christian
... Word Origin of Latin origin (of the city, polished, etc.) Definition Urbanus,
a Christian NASB Word Usage Urbanus (1). Urbanus. ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/3773.htm - 6k

7044. qalal -- burnished
... burnished. Word Origin from qalal Definition burnished NASB Word Usage
burnished (1), polished (1). burnished, polished. From qalal ...
/hebrew/7044.htm - 6k

1305. barar -- to purify, select
... make bright, choice, chosen, cleanse be clean, clearly, polished, purify, purge
out. A primitive root; to clarify (ie Brighten), examine ...
/hebrew/1305.htm - 6k

4803. marat -- to make smooth, bare or bald, to scour, polish
... to make smooth, bare or bald, to scour, polish. Transliteration: marat Phonetic
Spelling: (maw-rat') Short Definition: polished. Word Origin a prim. ...
/hebrew/4803.htm - 6k

3851. lahab -- flame, blade
... From an usused root meaning to gleam; a flash; figuratively, a sharply polished
blade or point of a weapon -- blade, bright, flame, glittering. 3850b, 3851. ...
/hebrew/3851.htm - 6k

6219. ashoth -- perhaps smooth
... Word Origin from ashath Definition perhaps smooth NASB Word Usage wrought (1). bright.
From ashath; shining, ie Polished -- bright. see HEBREW ashath. ...
/hebrew/6219.htm - 6k

4838. maraq -- to scour, polish
... Word Origin a prim. root Definition to scour, polish NASB Word Usage polish (1),
polished (1), scour (1), scoured (1). bright, furbish, scour. ...
/hebrew/4838.htm - 6k

2481. chali -- an ornament
... jewel, ornament. From chalah; a trinket (as polished) -- jewel, ornament. see
HEBREW chalah. 2480, 2481. chali. 2482 . Strong's Numbers.
/hebrew/2481.htm - 6k

3871. luach -- a tablet, board or plank, a plate
... Or luach {loo'-akh}; from a primitive root; probably meaning to glisten; a tablet
(as polished), of stone, wood or metal -- board, plate, table. 3870, 3871. ...
/hebrew/3871.htm - 6k

2830. chashmal -- perhaps amber
... amber. Of uncertain derivation; probably bronze or polished spectrum metal --
amber. 2829, 2830. chashmal. 2831 . Strong's Numbers.
/hebrew/2830.htm - 5k

Now a Strong Desire for Clearness Sometimes Leads to Neglect of ...
... Book 4 Chapter 24. Now a strong desire for clearness sometimes leads
to neglect of the more polished? 24. Now a strong desire ...
/.../augustine/on christian doctrine in four books/chapter 24 now a strong.htm

Useless Sacrifice
... The furniture is of the very richest, and kept with the most fastidious cleanliness.
The floors of precious wood are polished like mirrors. ...
/.../kingsley/all saints day and other sermons/sermon xxxvi useless sacrifice.htm

The Forgotten Preacher.
... "Isn't he a great preacher? so scholarly, so eloquent, so polished; and all those
classical allusions. ... I wouldn't question it. And a polished orator. ...
/.../gordon/quiet talks on johns gospel/the forgotten preacher.htm

Herein is a Mirror to be Blamed, --If Its Clearness is Darkened ...
... becomes"a covering before them that look on it. R. Blessed be He Who polished
our mirror! 2. For that comeliness is not adorned in it ...
/.../ephraim/hymns and homilies of ephraim the syrian/hymn xvi herein is a.htm

The Earl of Desmond's Castle
... The walls are still firm and entire; and these with the fine carvings of the
windowframes (all of polished marble) give some idea of what it was once. ...
/.../wesley/the journal of john wesley/the earl of desmonds castle.htm

I have Made These Remarks in Reply to the Charges which Celsus and ...
... Celsus and others bring against the simplicity of the language of Scripture, which
appears to be thrown into the shade by the splendour of polished discourse. ...
/...//christianbookshelf.org/origen/origen against celsus/chapter ii i have made.htm

From Apostolic Teaching Tertullian Turns to that of Companions of ...
... stones in which the taint of the leprosy had been to be extracted and cast away
outside the city into an unclean place; and other stones, polished and sound ...
/.../tertullian/on modesty/chapter xx from apostolic teaching tertullian.htm

Impressive Phrases
... genius, intellect, aptitude, and capacity. genteel, refined, polished, and
well-bred. ... polished, deft, superficial, and conventional. ...
/.../kleiser/fifteen thousand useful phrases/section iv impressive phrases.htm

The Cripple at Lystra
... open forum. But here is a polished governor, Sergius Paulus, sitting upon
the judgment-seat. What shall be preached to him? Would ...
/.../spurgeon/spurgeons sermons volume 10 1864/the cripple at lystra.htm

Of the Non-Condemnation of Accused Persons Without a Hearing Of
... And therefore they are despised by those who are willing to hear or read nothing
except that which is polished and eloquent; nor is anything able to remain ...
/.../lactantius/the divine institutes/chap i of the non-condemnation of.htm

Polished (23 Occurrences)
... 2. (a.) Made smooth and glossy, as by friction; hence, highly finished; refined;
polite; as, polished plate; polished manners; polished verse. Int. ...POLISHED. ...
/p/polished.htm - 13k

Flash (19 Occurrences)
... (WEB KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS YLT RSV NIV). Ezekiel 21:10 It has been made sharp to give
death; it is polished so that it may be like a thunder-flame: ... ...
/f/flash.htm - 13k

Marble (5 Occurrences)
... 1. (n.) A massive, compact limestone; a variety of calcite, capable of being
polished and used for architectural and ornamental purposes. ...
/m/marble.htm - 13k

Thunder-flame (6 Occurrences)
... flame. (BBE). Ezekiel 21:10 It has been made sharp to give death; it is
polished so that it may be like a thunder-flame: ... (BBE). ...
/t/thunder-flame.htm - 8k

Polisher (1 Occurrence)
... Ezekiel 21:11 And I have given it to the polisher so that it may be taken in the
hand: he has made the sword sharp, he has had it polished, to put it into the ...
/p/polisher.htm - 6k

Spades (9 Occurrences)
... 1 Kings 7:45 And the pots and the spades and the basins; all the vessels which Hiram
made for King Solomon, for the house of the Lord, were of polished brass. ...
/s/spades.htm - 9k

Potter (14 Occurrences)
... On the rocky plateaus of Upper Egypt, overlooking the Nile valley, are found
the polished red earthenware pots of the prehistoric Egyptians. ...
/p/potter.htm - 28k

Pottery (11 Occurrences)
... On the rocky plateaus of Upper Egypt, overlooking the Nile valley, are found
the polished red earthenware pots of the prehistoric Egyptians. ...
/p/pottery.htm - 27k

Glass (12 Occurrences)
... where in the King James Version "glass" occurs, the reference is to "looking-glass,"
or mirror, which was not made of glass, but of bronze, and polished so as ...
/g/glass.htm - 21k

Corner (60 Occurrences)
... WBS). Leviticus 13:41 and if from the corner of his face his head is polished,
he 'is' bald of the forehead; he 'is' clean. (YLT). ...
/c/corner.htm - 33k

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