Easton's Bible Dictionary The process of refining metals is referred to by way of illustrations in Isaiah 1:25; Jeremiah 6:29; Zechariah 13:9; Malachi 3:2, 3. Noah Webster's Dictionary (n.) One who, or that which, refines. Int. Standard Bible Encyclopedia REFINER; REFINING re-fin'-er, re-fin'-ing: Two Hebrew words have been translated "refine": (1) tsaraph, literally, to "fuse" (Zechariah 13:9 Isaiah 48:10 Malachi 3:2, 3, etc.). The same word is rendered also "tried" (Psalm 66:10); "melt" (Jeremiah 6:29 the King James Version); "purge" (Isaiah 1:25). (2) zaqaq, literally, to "strain" or "sift." In the case of silver and gold the term probably referred to some washing process in connection with refining, as in Malachi 3:3 both tsaraph and zaqaq are used (1 Chronicles 28:18; 1 Chronicles 29:4 Job 28:1). The same word in Isaiah 25:6 referred to the straining of wine. Greek puroo, in the passive, literally, "to be ignited," is translated "refined," in Revelation 1:15; Revelation 3:18. The ancient process of refining gold has already been described under METALLURGY (which see). Most of the Bible references are to the refining of silver (Proverbs 25:4 Zechariah 13:9 Isaiah 48:10). The silver used by the ancients was probably obtained by smelting lead sulfide ore, rich in silver (argentiferous galena). After the ore had been reduced to a metallic condition, the lead was separated from the silver by blowing hot air over the surface of the melted metal. The lead was thus changed to lead oxide which, in a powdered condition, was driven away by the air blast. The resulting lead oxide, called in the Bible silver dross, was used for glazing pottery (Proverbs 26:23), a use to which it is still put by Syrian potters. The description of refining in Ezekiel 22:18-22 may indicate that a flux (compare "as with lye," Isaiah 1:25 the American Revised Version margin) was sometimes added to the melted metal to dissolve the oxides of copper, lead, tin and iron as they formed, thus leaving the silver pure. Crude processes similar to those described above are used in the Taurus Mountains today. Figurative: In the various Bible references the refining of precious metals is used figuratively to illustrate the kind of trial God's children are called upon to go through. If they are of the right metal the dross will finally be blown away, leaving pure, clear, shining silver. If of base metal they will be like the dross described in Jeremiah 6:29, 30. The refiner may blow fiercely, but in vain, for nothing but lead dross appears. James A. Patch

Multi-Version Concordance Refiner (10 Occurrences) Judges 17:4 And he giveth back the money to his mother, and his mother taketh two hundred silverlings, and giveth them to a refiner, and he maketh them a graven image, and a molten image, and it is in the house of Micah. (YLT) Nehemiah 3:31 After him hath Malchijah son of the refiner strengthened, unto the house of the Nethinim, and of the merchants, over-against the gate of the Miphkad, and unto the ascent of the corner. (YLT) Proverbs 25:4 Take away the dross from the silver, and material comes out for the refiner; (WEB JPS ASV DBY YLT) Isaiah 40:19 The graven image poured out hath a artizan, And a refiner with gold spreadeth it over, And chains of silver he is refining. (YLT) Isaiah 41:7 And strengthen doth an artizan the refiner, A smoother 'with' a hammer, Him who is beating 'on' an anvil, Saying, 'For joining it 'is' good,' And he strengtheneth it with nails, it is not moved! (YLT) Jeremiah 6:29 The bellows have been burnt, By fire hath the lead been consumed, In vain hath a refiner refined, And the wicked have not been drawn away. (YLT) Jeremiah 10:14 Brutish is every man by knowledge, Put to shame is every refiner by a graven image, For false 'is' his molten image. And there is no breath in them. (YLT) Jeremiah 51:17 Brutish hath been every man by knowledge, Put to shame hath been every refiner by a graven image, For false 'is' his molten image, And there is no breath in them. (YLT) Malachi 3:2 "But who can endure the day of his coming? And who will stand when he appears? For he is like a refiner's fire, and like launderer's soap; (WEB KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV) Malachi 3:3 and he will sit as a refiner and purifier of silver, and he will purify the sons of Levi, and refine them as gold and silver; and they shall offer to Yahweh offerings in righteousness. (WEB KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS YLT RSV NIV)