1Co 13:12 now we see by e, darkly
2Co 3:18 beholding .. as in a e the glory of the
Jam 1:23 that considers in an e his natural face
Mirror (Heb. mar’âh, re’î, gilyônîm ; Gr. ésoptron). Ancient mirrors, of which many have been found in excavations in the Near East, especially in Egypt, were made of polished metal, usually an alloy of copper and tin (bronze). Later silver and gold mirrors were used. Their shape was generally round or oval, although some were square; they commonly had a handle which, along with the back of the mirror, was decorated (fig 207). The mirrors that the Hebrew women brought from Egypt were made of bronze, and provided the material for the laver (Exo 38:8; cf 12:35). Glass ones did not come into use until the late Roman period; consequently, the mirrors mentioned by Paul (1Co 13:12) and James (1:23) were probably made of metal. The image in a metal mirror is of lesser quality than that of modern ones, as can be seen from Paul’s statement that a face can be seen only dimly in a mirror, a fact with which he was very familiar (1Co 13:12). . 207. Bronze mirrors from ancient Egypt. On the handle of the mirror on the right is the head of the horned goddess Hathor the ox.
Source: Evangelical Bible Dictionary
Latin speculum. Smooth, polished surface on which objects are reflected. The first e. of the man, surely, it was the water, Pr 27, 19. In the Scriptures the metal mirrors are mentioned, like the bronze ones, of the women who served at the entrance of the Tent of Meeting, with which they made the font and the base of the Sanctuary, Ex 38, 8. Isaiah speaks of the mirrors, among the objects of the vanity of the women of Jerusalem, Is 3, 33. In a figurative sense, it is said that the firmament is hard as an e. of molten metal, Jb 37, 18; You have to distrust the enemy, even if the humble one becomes, because his wickedness is bronze that stains. You have to treat it like someone who polishes the e. until the rust disappears, Si 12, 11. The e., like a dream, is deceptive, Si 34, 3. The apostle Paul says that on earth we see the glory of God, as in an e., later, in we will see heaven face to face, 1 Co 13, 12; 2 Cor 3, 18.
James says that whoever hears the word of God and does not put it into practice is like someone who looks at himself in the e., turns around and forgets what he saw, Jas 1, 22-25.
Digital Bible Dictionary, Grupo C Service & Design Ltda., Colombia, 2003
Source: Digital Bible Dictionary
The mirrors of the women who served were made of bronze (Exo 38:8; Job 37:18). Paul speaks (1Co 13:12) of how inadequate these ancient mirrors were when he says now we see dimly. James compares the hearer of the word, who is not at the same time a doer, to the man who looks at his natural face in a mirror (Jam 1:23-24) and then forgets what he is like. Ancient mirrors were not made of glass but of metal.
Source: Hispanic World Bible Dictionary
type, UTEN
vet, Polished surface, intended to reflect objects and the face (Is. 3:23; 2 Cor. 3:18; Jas. 1:23). The mirrors of antiquity were made of cast metal, bronze and other copper alloys (Ex. 38:8; Jb. 37:18); round, oval or square, with a handle. When they rusted, they re-polished (Eccl. 12:11). These objects were not on a par with modern mirrors, leaving the image somewhat blurred (1 Cor. 13:12). Later, in the West, tin mirrors were made. It is claimed that the inventor of the silver mirror was Praxiteles (Pompey’s time). Gold mirrors were also made.
Source: New Illustrated Bible Dictionary
Ancient hand mirrors (Isa 3:23) were sometimes made of polished stone, though they were usually made of bronze or copper, and later tin, silver, or gold. Glass mirrors probably did not begin to appear until the first century CE. Cast metal mirrors were well polished to reflect the image properly. For this purpose, powdered pumice stone was used, which was then periodically applied with a sponge that used to be hung from the same mirror. However, the old metal mirrors did not reflect the image as clearly as today’s glass mirrors. This is why the apostle Paul wrote: “At the present time we see in hazy outline by means of a metal mirror.” (1Co 13:12.)
figurative use. The Scriptures sometimes refer to mirrors figuratively or illustratively. In Job 37:18 the heavens are compared to a metal mirror whose polished face gives a brilliant reflection. The disciple James used the mirror to represent the Word of God when he urged people to be not only hearers of the Word, but doers of it. (Jas 1: 22-25) And the apostle Paul showed that Christians † œ as mirrors the glory of Jehovah † in his ministry. (2Co 3:18; 4:1.)
Source: Dictionary of the Bible
A. NAME esoptron (e[soptron2072)translated“mirror”.Itisusedtorefertoanysurfacesmoothandregularenoughtouniformlyreflectlightraysandtherebyproduceimagesofobjectswhichbeingactuallyinfrontofthemappeartotheeyeasbeingbehind.Themirrorsofbiblicaltimeswereitseemsmetallic;in1Co13:12thespiritualknowledgeofthislifeisrepresentedmetaphoricallyasanimageperceiveddimlyinametalmirror.Thelistenerwhodoesnotobeyislikethepersonwhohavingconsideredhimselfinamirrorforgetsthereflectedimageaftermovingawayfromit.Theonewhoobeysistheonewholooksatthemirrorandretainsinhissoultheimageofwhatshouldbe.¶B.Verbkatoptrizo(katoptrivzw2734)fromkatoptronmirror(katabelow;opseyeorsight).Itmeansintheactivevoicetoreflect;inthemiddlevoicereflectasamirror;“beholding†¦asinamirror”(2Co3:18).SeeLOOK.
Source: Vine New Testament Dictionary
During the OT period mirrors were made of metal, cast and polished neatly (Job 37.18). Several bronze mirrors dating from the Middle Bronze Age onwards have been found in Palestine. They constitute a common pattern throughout the Near East; see those used by Israelite women in Ex. 38.8 (see ANEP, No. 71). The meaning of the heb. gillayôn in the list of adornments of Isaiah (3.23, translated “table” in Is. 8.1) it is uncertain; could mean mirrors (Tg., °vrv2 ); others suggest chiffon dresses (LXX, rsv). Glass mirrors probably appeared in the ss. I AD Whether they were made of metal or glass, these mirrors never projected a perfect image (1 Cor. 13:12). It is probable that in 2 Co. 3.18 (gr. hemeis … katoptrizomenoi) Paul’s idea is that we see what is reflected simply (°vrv2 ); but it could be that what he means is that we reflect (°bj; see Arndt, pp. 425–426; RVG Tasker, 2 Corinthians, TNTC, 1958, p. 67–68). Santiago offers a simple illustration based on the use of the mirror (1.23).
MRA
Douglas, J. (2000). New Biblical Dictionary: First Edition. Miami: United Bible Societies.
Source: New Bible Dictionary