420. Impressions of Seals

From: Manners and Customs of the Bible By: James M. Freeman

Job 38:14 • 1 min. read • grade level: 8

Job 38:14¹⁴It is turned as clay to the seal; and they stand as a garment. (Job 38:14). It is turned as clay to the seal.

The bricks of Egypt, Babylonia, and Assyria boar marks which have evidently been made with a seal. Egyptian wine jars and mummy pits were sometimes sealed with clay. There have been found in Assyria public documents made of clay, and having the letters stamped in them, and the marks of official sealing. In the East, doors of granaries or of treasure rooms are to this day sometimes sealed with clay, so that it is impossible to enter without first breaking the seal. The sepulcher of Christ was probably sealed in this way. See note on Matthew 27:66⁶⁶So they went, and made the sepulchre sure, sealing the stone, and setting a watch. (Matthew 27:66) (#735). Clay is used in preference to wax because the former hardens with the heat, while the latter melts. The engraving represents a lump of clay from Assyria, having several impressions of seals upon it.

For description of seals, see note on 1 Kings 21:8⁸So she wrote letters in Ahab's name, and sealed them with his seal, and sent the letters unto the elders and to the nobles that were in his city, dwelling with Naboth. (1 Kings 21:8) (#323).

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