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Sunday, December 22nd, 2024
the Fourth Week of Advent
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Bible Encyclopedias
Snuffer

Cyclopedia of Biblical, Theological and Ecclesiastical Literature

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Snyder, George Niver
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(מְזִמֶּרֶת, mezammereth, a cutting instrument; 1 Kings 7:50; 2 Kings 12:14; 2 Kings 25:14; 2 Chronicles 4:22, Jeremiah 52:18; מֶלְקָחִי ם, melkacha'yim, Exodus 37:23; tongs, as elsewhere rendered), an implement for removing the snuff from the lamps of the sacred candelabrum. Judging from the latter of the above Hebrew terms, it was double, but not of the scissors form. Instruments like ours for cutting the wick of a lamp were not anciently known, unless the instrument represented in the cut, copied from one in the British Museum, may be supposed to have been used for such a purpose; but a sort of tweezers was employed to draw up the wick when necessary, and for pinching off any superfluous portion. Everyone is aware that lamps when properly replenished with oil do not need snuffing, like candles. The sort of tweezers we have mentioned is still used in the East for trimming lamps. Snuffers are only known in those parts of Western Asia where candles are partially used during winter. Snuffers are candle, not lamp, instruments; and candles are but little used in any part of Asia, the temperature being generally too warm. (See CANDLESTICK).

Bibliography Information
McClintock, John. Strong, James. Entry for 'Snuffer'. Cyclopedia of Biblical, Theological and Ecclesiastical Literature. https://www.studylight.org/​encyclopedias/​eng/​tce/​s/snuffer.html. Harper & Brothers. New York. 1870.
 
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