A pale, precious metal capable of being hammered or drawn out thin, known to people of Bible lands. Silver was known in the raw state (1Kgs 15:15; Exod 31:4; Exod 35:24, Exod 35:32) as well as mined (Job 28:1) and refined (Prov 10:20; 1Chr 29:4; Mal 3:2, Mal 3:3; Ezek 22:20). Long before coinage, silver was known as a standard of wealth (Gen 13:2; Gen 24:35; Exod 25:3; Num 22:18) and was weighed out for use as payment (Gen 20:16; Exod 21:32; Lev 27:16; Josh 24:32). Silver was used for special articles of value or prestige, such as Joseph’s drinking cup (Gen 44:2), jewelry given to Rebekah (Gen 24:53), booty received from Egyptian women (Exod 3:22), and ornaments for Solomon’s bride (Song 1:11). Silver was often a material for idols (Exod 20:23; Judg 17:4; Isa 2:20; Jer 10:4; Dan 2:32; Dan 2:33; Hos 13:2). Other OT references include silver used for items connected with the tabernacle (Exod 26:19; Exod 27:10; Exod 27:17; Exod 36:24, Exod 36:26; Num 7:13; Num 7:14; Num 10:2) and with the Jerusalem Temple and its treasury (1Kgs 7:51; 1Chr 28:15; 1Chr 28:16; 2Chr 2:7; Ezra 8:26; Ezra 8:28; Neh 7:71). Figuratively, the refining process for silver could be used to show the testing of people’s hearts (Ps 66:10; Isa 48:10); silver could likewise symbolize great abundance (Zech 9:3; Isa 60:17; Job 3:15; Job 22:25; Job 27:16), the brightness of a dove’s wings (Ps 68:13), the purity of God’s word (Ps 12:6), or the corrosive deterioration of God’s people (Jer 6:30; Isa 1:22). The NT mentions silver vessels (2Tim 2:20), idols (Rev 9:20), and shrines to Artemis of Ephesus made by Demetrius the silversmith, who feared Paul’s preaching (Acts 19:23-27). Judas received thirty pieces of silver for his betrayal of Jesus (Matt 26:15; Matt 27:3, Matt 27:5, Matt 27:6, Matt 27:9).
