the Week of Proper 28 / Ordinary 33
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Bible Dictionaries
Seal
Watson's Biblical & Theological Dictionary
or The ancient Hebrews wore their seals or signets, in rings on their fingers, or in bracelets on their arms, as is now the custom in the east. Haman sealed the decree of King Ahasuerus against the Jews with the king's seal, Esther 3:12 . The priests of Bel desired the king to seal the door of their temple with his own seal. The spouse in the Song of Solomon 8:6 , wishes that his spouse would wear him as a signet on her arm. Pliny observes, that the use of seals or signets was rare at the time of the Trojan war, and that they were under the necessity of closing their letters with several knots. But among the Hebrews they are much more ancient. Judah left his seal as a pledge with Tamar, Genesis 38:25 . Moses says, Deuteronomy 32:34 , that God keeps sealed up in his treasuries, under his own seal, the instruments of his vengeance. Job says, Job 9:7 , that he keeps the stars as under his seal, and allows them to appear when he thinks proper. He says also, "My transgression is sealed up in a bag," Job 14:7 . When they intended to seal up a letter, or a book, they wrapped it round with flax, or thread, then applied the wax to it, and afterward the seal. The Lord commanded Isaiah to tie up or wrap up the book in which his prophecies were written, and to seal them till the time he should bid him publish them, Isaiah 8:16-17 . He gives the same command to Daniel 12:4 . The book that was shown to St. John the evangelist, Revelation 5:1; Revelation 6:1-2 , &c, was sealed with seven seals. It was a rare thing to affix such a number of seals, but this insinuated the great importance and secrecy of the matter. In civil contracts they generally made two originals: one continued open, and was kept by him for whose interest the contract was made; the other was sealed and deposited in some public office.
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Watson, Richard. Entry for 'Seal'. Richard Watson's Biblical & Theological Dictionary. https://www.studylight.org/dictionaries/eng/wtd/s/seal.html. 1831-2.
