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<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"><head><meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=utf-8" /><meta name="viewport" content="width=device-width; initial-scale=1.0;"/><title>Topical Bible: Building-material</title><link rel="canonical" href="https://biblehub.com/topical/b/building-material.htm" /><link rel="stylesheet" href="/newtopical.css" type="text/css" media="Screen" /><link rel="stylesheet" href="/print.css" type="text/css" media="Print" /><script type="application/javascript" src="https://scripts.webcontentassessor.com/scripts/8a2459b64f9cac8122fc7f2eac4409c8555fac9383016db59c4c26e3d5b8b157"></script><script src='https://qd.admetricspro.com/js/biblehub/biblehub-layout-loader-revcatch.js'></script><script id='HyDgbd_1s' src='https://prebidads.revcatch.com/ads.js' type='text/javascript' async></script><script>(function(w,d,b,s,i){var cts=d.createElement(s);cts.async=true;cts.id='catchscript'; cts.dataset.appid=i;cts.src='https://app.protectsubrev.com/catch_rp.js?cb='+Math.random(); document.head.appendChild(cts); }) (window,document,'head','script','rc-anksrH');</script></head><body><div id="fx"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" id="fx2"><tr><td><iframe width="100%" height="30" scrolling="no" src="/topical/vmenus/exodus/1-14.htm" align="left" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div><div id="blnk"></div><div align="center"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" class="maintable"><tr><td><div id="fx5"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" id="fx6"><tr><td><iframe width="100%" height="245" scrolling="no" src="//biblehu.com/bmcde/b/building-material.htm" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div></td></tr></table></div><div align="center"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" class="maintable3"><tr><td><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center" id="announce"><tr><td><div id="l1"><div id="breadcrumbs"><a href="/">Bible</a> > <a href="/topical/">Topical</a> > Building-material</div><div id="anc"><iframe src="/anc.htm" width="100%" height="27" scrolling="no" frameborder="0"></iframe></div><div id="anc2"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center"><tr><td><iframe src="/anc2.htm" width="100%" height="27" scrolling="no" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div></div></td></tr></table><div id="movebox2"><table border="0" align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0"><tr><td><div id="topheading"><a href="/topical/naves/b/building--figurative.htm" title="Building: Figurative">◄</a> Building-material <a href="/topical/b/building-paste.htm" title="Building-paste">►</a></div></td></tr></table></div><div align="center" class="maintable2"><table border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center"><tr><td><div id="topverse">Jump to: <a href="#cnc" title="Multiversion Concordance">Concordance</a> • <a href="#thes" title="Bible Thesaurus">Thesaurus</a> • <a href="#lib" title="Library">Library</a> • <a href="#sub" title="Subtopics">Subtopics</a> • <a href="#rel" title="Related Terms">Terms</a></div><div id="leftbox"><div class="padleft"><a name="te" id="te"></a><div class="vheading2">Topical Encyclopedia</div>In the biblical context, building materials are frequently mentioned, reflecting the construction practices and resources available in ancient times. These materials were used for various purposes, including the construction of homes, temples, altars, and city walls. The choice of materials often depended on the geographical location and the specific needs of the structure being built.<br><br><b>Stone</b><br><br>Stone was a primary building material in biblical times, valued for its durability and strength. It was used extensively in the construction of significant structures, such as Solomon's Temple. In <a href="/1_kings/6-7.htm">1 Kings 6:7</a>, it is noted, "The temple was constructed using finished stones cut at the quarry, so that no hammer or chisel or any other iron tool was heard in the temple while it was being built." This highlights the precision and care taken in the preparation of stone for sacred purposes.<br><br><b>Wood</b><br><br>Wood was another essential building material, often used in conjunction with stone. Cedar and cypress were particularly prized for their quality and were imported from regions like Lebanon. In <a href="/1_kings/5-6.htm">1 Kings 5:6</a>, Solomon requests, "So give orders that cedars of Lebanon be cut for me. My servants will work with yours, and I will pay you for your servants according to whatever you say." This passage underscores the importance of wood in constructing the temple and the collaboration between nations to obtain the best materials.<br><br><b>Clay and Brick</b><br><br>In areas where stone was less accessible, clay and brick were commonly used. The Tower of Babel, for instance, was constructed using bricks. <a href="/genesis/11-3.htm">Genesis 11:3</a> states, "They said to one another, 'Come, let us make bricks and bake them thoroughly.' They used brick instead of stone, and tar for mortar." This indicates the adaptability of ancient builders in using available resources to achieve their architectural goals.<br><br><b>Metals</b><br><br>Metals such as gold, silver, bronze, and iron were used for both structural and decorative purposes. The tabernacle and later the temple featured extensive use of metals. <a href="/exodus/25-3.htm">Exodus 25:3-7</a> lists the offerings for the tabernacle, including "gold, silver, and bronze; blue, purple, and scarlet yarn; fine linen and goat hair; ram skins dyed red and fine leather; acacia wood; olive oil for the light; spices for the anointing oil and for the fragrant incense; and onyx stones and other gems to be mounted on the ephod and breastpiece." These materials were integral to the construction and ornamentation of sacred spaces.<br><br><b>Mud and Thatch</b><br><br>For ordinary dwellings, especially in rural areas, mud and thatch were common materials. These were readily available and easy to work with, though less durable than stone or wood. The simplicity of these materials reflects the humble living conditions of many biblical figures.<br><br><b>Conclusion</b><br><br>The use of building materials in the Bible not only provides insight into the technological capabilities of ancient societies but also carries symbolic and theological significance. The materials chosen for sacred structures, in particular, reflect the reverence and care with which these spaces were constructed, serving as a testament to the faith and devotion of the people.<a name="lib" id="lib"></a><div class="vheading2">Library</div><p><a href="/library/kuyper/the_work_of_the_holy_spirit/v_the_principle_of_life.htm"><span class="l">The Principle of Life in the Creature.</span></a> <br><b>...</b> The <b>building material</b> of his palace, its furniture, even the pavement before<br> its gate, either enhance or diminish the royal splendor. <b>...</b> <br><font color="#ff6600" size="-1">/.../kuyper/the work of the holy spirit/v the principle of life.htm</font><p><a href="/library/drummond/the_lowell_lectures_on_the_ascent_of_man/chapter_i_the_ascent_of.htm"><span class="l">The Ascent of the Body</span></a> <br><b>...</b> meant to serve. No new thing, except <b>building material</b>, has entered into<br> the embryo since its first appearing. It seized whatever <b>...</b> <br><font color="#ff6600" size="-1">/.../drummond/the lowell lectures on the ascent of man/chapter i the ascent of.htm</font><p><a href="/library/white/the_story_of_prophets_and_kings/chapter_45_the_return_of.htm"><span class="l">The Return of the Exiles</span></a> <br><b>...</b> The workmen engaged in the preparation of the <b>building material</b>, found among the<br> ruins some of the immense stones brought to the temple site in the days of <b>...</b> <br><font color="#ff6600" size="-1">/.../white/the story of prophets and kings/chapter 45 the return of.htm</font><p><a href="/library/wilson-carmichael/things_as_they_are/chapter_xxvi_from_a_hindu.htm"><span class="l">From a Hindu Point of view</span></a> <br><b>...</b> He does not want something as like his own old religion as possible, but as different<br> as possible from it; and so we have good <b>building material</b> ready to hand <b>...</b> <br><font color="#ff6600" size="-1">/.../wilson-carmichael/things as they are/chapter xxvi from a hindu.htm</font><p><a href="/library/jones/spiritual_reformers_in_the_16th_and_17th_centuries/chapter_i_the_main_current.htm"><span class="l">The Main Current of the Reformation</span></a> <br><b>...</b> As soon as he started constructing he invariably fell back upon the <b>building</b>-<b>material</b><br> which had already been quarried, and which lay at hand. <b>...</b> <br><font color="#ff6600" size="-1">/.../chapter i the main current.htm</font><p><a href="/library/maspero/history_of_egypt_chaldaea_syria_babylonia_and_assyria_v_3/chapter_iithe_temples_and_the.htm"><span class="l">The Temples and the Gods of Chaldaea</span></a> <br><b>...</b> Chaldaean cities: the resemblance of their ruins to natural mounds caused by their<br> exclusive use of brick as a <b>building material</b>"Their city walls: the <b>...</b> <br><font color="#ff6600" size="-1">/.../chapter iithe temples and the.htm</font><p><a href="/library/maspero/history_of_egypt_chaldaea_syria_babylonia_and_assyria_v_3/chapter_iiichaldaean_civilization.htm"><span class="l">Chaldaean Civilization</span></a> <br><b>...</b> were in such constant use for literary purposes in Africa;* yet the same clay which<br> furnished the architect with such an abundant <b>building material</b> appears to <b>...</b> <br><font color="#ff6600" size="-1">/.../chapter iiichaldaean civilization.htm</font><p><a href="/library/maspero/history_of_egypt_chaldaea_syria_babylonia_and_assyria_v_2/chapter_iiithe_first_theban_empire.htm"><span class="l">The First Theban Empire</span></a> <br><b>...</b> formed a parallelogram, whose enclosure wall was often divided into vertical panels<br> easily distinguished by the different arrangements of the <b>building material</b> <b>...</b> <br><font color="#ff6600" size="-1">/.../chapter iiithe first theban empire.htm</font><p><a href="/library/maspero/history_of_egypt_chaldaea_syria_babylonia_and_assyria_v_2/chapter_iithe_memphite_empire.htm"><span class="l">The Memphite Empire</span></a> <br><b>...</b> The latter preferred brick as a <b>building material</b>, except in one place, where he<br> introduced a stone bearing the following inscription: "Do not despise me on <b>...</b> <br><font color="#ff6600" size="-1">/.../chapter iithe memphite empire.htm</font><p><a href="/library/maspero/history_of_egypt_chaldaea_syria_babylonia_and_assyria_v_5/chapter_iithe_reaction_against_egypt.htm"><span class="l">The Reaction against Egypt</span></a> <br><b>...</b> The <b>building</b>-<b>material</b> mainly employed here was the white limestone of Turah, but<br> of a most beautiful quality, which lent itself to the execution of bas-reliefs <b>...</b> <br><font color="#ff6600" size="-1">/.../chapter iithe reaction against egypt.htm</font><a name="thes" id="thes"></a><div class="vheading2">Thesaurus</div><a href="/topical/b/building-material.htm"><span class="l"><b>Building</b>-<b>material</b> (1 Occurrence)</span></a><br><b>Building</b>-<b>material</b>. Building, <b>Building</b>-<b>material</b>. Building-paste .<br> Multi-Version Concordance <b>Building</b>-<b>material</b> (1 Occurrence). <b>...</b><br><font color="#ff6600" size="-1">/b/building-material.htm - 6k</font><p><a href="/topical/m/mortar.htm"><span class="l">Mortar (16 Occurrences)</span></a><br><b>...</b> 3. (n.) A <b>building</b><b>material</b> made by mixing lime, cement, or plaster of Paris, with<br> sand, water, and sometimes other materials; -- used in masonry for joining <b>...</b><br><font color="#ff6600" size="-1">/m/mortar.htm - 14k</font><p><a href="/topical/b/bricks.htm"><span class="l">Bricks (10 Occurrences)</span></a><br><b>...</b> Exodus 1:14 And made their lives bitter with hard work, making <b>building</b>-<b>material</b><br> and bricks, and doing all sorts of work in the fields under the hardest <b>...</b><br><font color="#ff6600" size="-1">/b/bricks.htm - 10k</font><p><a href="/topical/b/building-paste.htm"><span class="l">Building-paste (2 Occurrences)</span></a><br>Building-paste. <b>Building</b>-<b>material</b>, Building-paste. Buildings . Multi-Version<br> Concordance <b>...</b> (BBE). <b>Building</b>-<b>material</b>, Building-paste. Buildings . <b>...</b><br><font color="#ff6600" size="-1">/b/building-paste.htm - 7k</font><p><a href="/topical/c/conditions.htm"><span class="l">Conditions (11 Occurrences)</span></a><br><b>...</b> (BBE). Exodus 1:14 And made their lives bitter with hard work, making <b>building</b>-<b>material</b><br> and bricks, and doing all sorts of work in the fields under the hardest <b>...</b><br><font color="#ff6600" size="-1">/c/conditions.htm - 10k</font><p><a href="/topical/a/asa.htm"><span class="l">Asa (54 Occurrences)</span></a><br><b>...</b> It was at this favorable moment that Asa captured Ramah, and with the vast <b>building</b><br><b>material</b> collected there by Baasha, he built Geba of Benjamin and Mizpah (1 <b>...</b><br><font color="#ff6600" size="-1">/a/asa.htm - 29k</font><p><a href="/topical/s/sorts.htm"><span class="l">Sorts (65 Occurrences)</span></a><br><b>...</b> Exodus 1:14 And made their lives bitter with hard work, making <b>building</b>-<b>material</b><br> and bricks, and doing all sorts of work in the fields under the hardest <b>...</b><br><font color="#ff6600" size="-1">/s/sorts.htm - 26k</font><p><a href="/topical/f/fields.htm"><span class="l">Fields (199 Occurrences)</span></a><br><b>...</b> Exodus 1:14 And made their lives bitter with hard work, making <b>building</b>-<b>material</b><br> and bricks, and doing all sorts of work in the fields under the hardest <b>...</b><br><font color="#ff6600" size="-1">/f/fields.htm - 37k</font><p><a href="/topical/b/babylonia.htm"><span class="l">Babylonia (17 Occurrences)</span></a><br><b>...</b> Architecture: The architecture of Babylonia is influenced by the fact that the <b>building</b><br><b>material</b>, in this alluvial plain, had to be of brick, which was largely <b>...</b><br><font color="#ff6600" size="-1">/b/babylonia.htm - 75k</font><p><a href="/topical/b/building.htm"><span class="l">Building (249 Occurrences)</span></a><br><br><font color="#ff6600" size="-1">/b/building.htm - 47k</font><p><a name="res" id="res"></a><div class="vheading2">Resources</div><a href="https://www.gotquestions.org/Solomon-first-temple.html">What was Solomon's temple / the first temple? How many temples were there? | GotQuestions.org</a><br /><br /><a href="https://www.gotquestions.org/eternal-value.html">What things in this world have a true eternal value? | GotQuestions.org</a><br /><br /><a href="https://www.gotquestions.org/gift-of-teaching.html">What is the spiritual gift of teaching? | GotQuestions.org</a><br /><br /><a href="/concordance/">Bible Concordance</a> • <a href="/dictionary/">Bible Dictionary</a> • <a href="/encyclopedia/">Bible Encyclopedia</a> • <a href="/topical/">Topical Bible</a> • <a href="/thesaurus/">Bible Thesuarus</a></div></div><div id="centbox"><div class="padcent"><a name="cnc" id="cnc"></a><div class="vheading2">Concordance</div><span class="encheading">Building-material (1 Occurrence)</span><p><span class="rtext"><a href="/exodus/1-14.htm">Exodus 1:14</a></span><br />And made their lives bitter with hard work, making <span class="boldtext">building-material</span> and bricks, and doing all sorts of work in the fields under the hardest conditions.<br /><span class="source">(BBE)</span><a name="sub" id="sub"></a><div class="vheading2">Subtopics</div><p class="pspc"><a href="/topical/b/building-material.htm">Building-material</a></p><a name="rel" id="rel"></a><div class="vheading2">Related Terms</div><p class="pspc2"><a href="/topical/c/coat.htm">Coat (54 Occurrences)</a></p><p class="pspc2"><a href="/topical/b/buildings.htm">Buildings (28 Occurrences)</a></p><p class="pspc2"><a href="/topical/b/building-material.htm">Building-material (1 Occurrence)</a></p><p class="pspc2"><a href="/topical/c/coated.htm">Coated (2 Occurrences)</a></p><p class="pspc2"><a href="/topical/c/coating.htm">Coating (1 Occurrence)</a></div></div></td></tr></table></div><div id="left"><a href="/topical/naves/b/building--figurative.htm" onmouseover='lft.src="/leftgif.png"' onmouseout='lft.src="/left.png"' title="Building: Figurative"><img src="/left.png" name="lft" border="0" alt="Building: Figurative" /></a></div><div id="right"><a href="/topical/b/building-paste.htm" onmouseover='rght.src="/rightgif.png"' onmouseout='rght.src="/right.png"' title="Building-paste"><img src="/right.png" name="rght" border="0" alt="Building-paste" /></a></div><div id="botleft"><a href="#" onmouseover='botleft.src="/botleftgif.png"' onmouseout='botleft.src="/botleft.png"' title="Top of Page"><img src="/botleft.png" name="botleft" border="0" alt="Top of Page" /></a></div><div id="botright"><a href="#" onmouseover='botright.src="/botrightgif.png"' onmouseout='botright.src="/botright.png"' title="Top of Page"><img src="/botright.png" name="botright" border="0" alt="Top of Page" /></a></div> <div id="mdd"><div align="center"><div class="bot2"><table align="center" width="100%"><tr><td><div align="center"><script id="3d27ed63fc4348d5b062c4527ae09445"> (new Image()).src = 'https://capi.connatix.com/tr/si?token=51ce25d5-1a8c-424a-8695-4bd48c750f35&cid=3a9f82d0-4344-4f8d-ac0c-e1a0eb43a405'; </script> <script id="b817b7107f1d4a7997da1b3c33457e03"> (new Image()).src = 'https://capi.connatix.com/tr/si?token=cb0edd8b-b416-47eb-8c6d-3cc96561f7e8&cid=3a9f82d0-4344-4f8d-ac0c-e1a0eb43a405'; </script><br /><br />  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-2'> </div><br /><br />  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-0' style='max-width: 300px;'> </div><br /><br />  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-3'> </div><br /><br />  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-1' style='max-width: 300px;'> </div><br /><br />  <div align="center" id='div-gpt-ad-1531425649696-0'> </div><br /><br /> <ins class="adsbygoogle" style="display:inline-block;width:200px;height:200px" data-ad-client="ca-pub-3753401421161123" data-ad-slot="3592799687"></ins> <script> (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); </script></div></td></tr></table></div></div></div> <br /><br /> <div align="center"> <div id="bot"><iframe width="100%" height="1500" scrolling="no" src="/botmenubhnew2.htm" frameborder="0"></iframe></div></td></tr></table></div></body></html>