King James Bible Dictionary

1. Chald. attun, a large furnace with a wide open mouth, at the top of which materials were cast in (Daniel 3:22, 23; comp. Jeremiah 29:22). This furnace would be in constant requisition, for the Babylonians disposed of their dead by cremation, as did also the Accadians who invaded Mesopotamia.

2. Heb. kibshan, a smelting furnace (Genesis 19:28), also a lime-kiln (Isaiah 33:12; Amos 2:1).

3. Heb. kur, a refining furnace (Proverbs 17:3; 27:21; Ezekiel 22:18).

4. Heb. alil, a crucible; only used in Psalms 12:6.

5. Heb. tannur, oven for baking bread (Genesis 15:17; Isaiah 31:9; Nehemiah 3:11). It was a large pot, narrowing towards the top. When it was heated by a fire made within, the dough was spread over the heated surface, and thus was baked. "A smoking furnace and a burning lamp" (Genesis 15:17), the symbol of the presence of the Almighty, passed between the divided pieces of Abraham's sacrifice in ratification of the covenant God made with him. (See OVEN.)

6. Gr. kamnos, a furnace, kiln, or oven (Matthew 13:42, 50; Revelation 1:15; 9:2).

Uses of:

For refining silver
Ezekiel 22:22; Malachi 3:3

For refining gold
Proverbs 17:3

For melting lead and tin
Ezekiel 22:20

For capital punishment, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego cast into, by Nebuchadnezzar
Daniel 3:6-26

Figurative:

Of affliction
Deuteronomy 4:20; 1 Kings 8:51; Psalms 12:6; Isaiah 48:10; Jeremiah 11:4

Of lust
Hosea 7:4

Of hell
Malachi 4:1; Matthew 13:42; Matthew 13:50; Revelation 9:2

Various kinds of furnaces are noticed in the Bible, such as a smelting or calcining furnace, (Genesis 19:28; Exodus 9:8,10; 19:18) especially a lime-kiln, (Isaiah 33:12; Amos 2:1) a refining furnace, (Proverbs 17:3) Nebuchadnezzar's furnace, a large furnace built like a brick-kiln, (Daniel 3:22,23) with two openings one at the top for putting in the materials, and another below for removing them; the potter's furnace, Ecclus. 27.5; The blacksmith's furnace. Ecclus. 38.28. The Persians were in the habit of using the furnace as a means of inflicting punishment. (Daniel 3:22,23; Jeremiah 29:22)

FUR'NACE, noun [Latin fornax, furnus, either from burning, or the sense is an arch.]

1. A place where a vehement fire and heat may be made and maintained, for melting ores or metals, etc. A furnace for casting cannon and other large operations is inclosed with walls through which a current of air is blown from a large bellows. In smaller operations a vessel is constructed with a chamber or cavity, with a door and a grate.

2. In scripture, a place of cruel bondage and affliction. Deuteronomy 4:20.

3. Grievous afflictions by which men are tried. Ezekiel 22:18.

4. A place of temporal torment. Daniel 3:6.

5. Hell; the place of endless torment. Matthew 13:42.

FUR'NACE, verb transitive To throw out sparks as a furnace