Lexical Summary rei: Abundance, overflow Original Word: רְאִי Strong's Exhaustive Concordance looking glass From ra'ah; a mirror (as seen) -- looking glass. see HEBREW ra'ah NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Originfrom raah Definition a mirror NASB Translation mirror (1). Brown-Driver-Briggs רְאִי noun masculine mirror; — מוּצָק ׳כִּר Job 37:18 (simile). Topical Lexicon Semantic Range and ImageryThe noun רְאִי functions as a vivid concrete picture of a polished bronze mirror. In the ancient world mirrors were not made of glass but of beaten metal, highly burnished so that they shone with great brilliance. Thus the word immediately evokes the ideas of dazzling brightness, clarity, and an unyielding, rigid surface that faithfully reflects whatever stands before it. Occurrence in Scripture Job 37:18 is the sole biblical occurrence: “Can you, like Him, spread out the skies to reflect the heat, as a molten mirror of bronze?” (Berean Standard Bible) Elihu employs the image to magnify the Creator’s power. A mirror of cast bronze, immovably hard and gleaming, is the closest human analogue he can muster to describe the vault of heaven. The rhetorical question presses Job to acknowledge the chasm between finite man and the Almighty. Cultural and Historical Background 1. Manufacture of Mirrors 2. Symbolic Associations Theological Significance 1. Divine Transcendence Elihu’s comparison underscores the sky’s incomprehensible scale and solidity. Humanity’s finest craftsmanship—a mirror of poured bronze—remains feeble beside the handiwork of God who “spreads out the heavens like a tent” (Isaiah 40:22). 2. Revelation and Reflection Just as a mirror reflects physical likeness, creation reflects divine glory (Psalm 19:1). The word רְאִי therefore contributes to a broader biblical theology of created things becoming signposts to the Creator. 3. Hardness and Permanence The Hebrew poetry links the firmament’s “hardness” with the steadfast character of God’s decrees. What He establishes cannot be bent or broken (Psalm 148:6). Intertextual Echoes While רְאִי itself is unique to Job 37:18, its imagery reverberates through Scripture: • Exodus 38:8 – polished mirrors given for the laver illustrate consecration of everyday items to sacred service. These passages, though penned in different eras and languages, all exploit the reflective quality of mirrors to communicate truth about God, self-examination, and ultimate restoration. Ministry and Devotional Implications 1. Awe in Worship The mirror-like heavens invite worship rooted in humility. Contemplation of God’s creative power fosters the posture commended in Job 38–42: silence before unsearchable wisdom. 2. Call to Reflection As ancient Israel’s mirrors exposed physical appearance, Scripture now exposes the heart (Hebrews 4:12). Preachers may draw on רְאִי to encourage congregations toward honest self-assessment under the light of God’s Word. 3. Assurance of Stability Believers facing chaos are reminded that the skies remain “hard as a molten mirror.” The same unchanging hand that fashioned them upholds every promise (Lamentations 3:22-23). 4. Evangelistic Bridge The universality of the sky provides a ready point of contact. Conversations can move from common appreciation of its beauty to the greater glory of its Maker, following Elihu’s pattern. Key Insights • רְאִי captures the pinnacle of human artistry in Job’s day and turns it into a humble acknowledgment of divine supremacy. In contemplating רְאִי, the reader moves from the surface of a lustrous ancient implement to the limitless expanse of God’s dominion, finding in both the unmistakable reflection of His glory. Forms and Transliterations כִּרְאִ֥י כראי kir’î kir·’î kirILinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel Texts |
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