Definition and General Overview:

Glitter, in a modern context, refers to small, reflective particles that come in a variety of colors and are used for decoration. While the Bible does not specifically mention "glitter" as it is understood today, the concept of shining, sparkling, or reflecting light is present throughout the Scriptures. These instances often symbolize divine glory, purity, and the majesty of God.

Biblical References and Symbolism:

1. Divine Glory and Majesty:
The Bible frequently uses imagery of light and shining to describe the glory of God. In Exodus 34:29-30 , when Moses descended from Mount Sinai, his face shone because he had been speaking with God. This radiance was a reflection of God's glory, much like how glitter reflects light. Similarly, in Revelation 21:11 , the New Jerusalem is described as having "the glory of God, its radiance like a most precious jewel, like a jasper, clear as crystal."

2. Purity and Holiness:
The brilliance associated with glitter can also symbolize purity and holiness. In Psalm 51:7 , David prays, "Cleanse me with hyssop, and I will be clean; wash me, and I will be whiter than snow." The imagery of being "whiter than snow" evokes a sense of purity and brightness, akin to the reflective quality of glitter.

3. Heavenly Splendor:
The heavenly realm is often depicted with imagery that suggests brilliance and splendor. In Ezekiel 1:4 , the prophet describes a vision of God: "I looked, and I saw a whirlwind coming from the north, a great cloud with fire flashing back and forth and a brilliant light all around it." This vision, filled with light and fire, conveys the overwhelming majesty and beauty of the divine presence.

4. Adornment and Beauty:
While the Bible warns against vanity and excessive adornment, it acknowledges the use of beauty to honor God. In Exodus 28:2 , God instructs Moses to make "holy garments for Aaron your brother, for glory and for beauty." These garments, adorned with precious stones and fine materials, were meant to reflect the beauty and holiness of God.

5. Warnings Against Worldly Allure:
The Bible also cautions against being captivated by worldly glitter and allure. In 1 Peter 3:3-4 , believers are advised, "Your beauty should not come from outward adornment such as braided hair or gold jewelry or fine clothes, but from the inner disposition of your heart, the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is precious in God’s sight." This passage emphasizes the importance of inner beauty over external glitter.

Conclusion:

While the Bible does not directly reference glitter, the themes of light, radiance, and beauty are prevalent throughout Scripture. These elements serve as powerful symbols of God's glory, purity, and the heavenly realm, while also providing guidance on the appropriate use of adornment and the importance of inner beauty.1. (v. i.) To sparkle with light; to shine with a brilliant and broken light or showy luster; to gleam; as, a glittering sword.

2. (v. i.) To be showy, specious, or striking, and hence attractive; as, the glittering scenes of a court.

3. (n.) A bright, sparkling light; brilliant and showy luster; brilliancy; as, the glitter of arms; the glitter of royal equipage.

GLITTER; GLITTERING

glit'-er, glit'-er-ing (baraq, "lightning"): The word is used in sense of "glittering" in the Old Testament with "sword," "spear" (Deuteronomy 32:41 Job 20:25 Ezekiel 21:10, 28 Nahum 3:3 Habakkuk 3:11). In Ezekiel 21:10 the Revised Version (British and American) changes "glitter" to "as lightning," and in Deuteronomy 32:41 the Revised Version, margin gives, "the lightning of my sword." In Job 39:23, where the word is different (lahabh), the Revised Version (British and American) has "flashing."

6668. tsaheb -- to gleam
... root Definition to gleam NASB Word Usage shiny (1). fine. A primitive root; to glitter,
ie Be golden in color -- X fine. 6667, 6668. tsaheb or tsahob. 6669 > ...
/hebrew/6668.htm - 5k

6326. Puah -- an Israelite midwife
... midwife NASB Word Usage Puah (1). Puah. From an unused root meaning to glitter;
brilliancy; Puah, an Israelitess -- Puah. 6325, 6326. Puah. 6327 . ...
/hebrew/6326.htm - 5k

5050. nagah -- to shine
... enlighten, cause to shine. A primitive root; to glitter; causatively, to illuminate --
(en-)lighten, (cause to) shine. 5049, 5050. nagah. 5051 . ...
/hebrew/5050.htm - 6k

1300. baraq -- lightning
... bright, glittering sword, lightning. From baraq; lightning; by analogy, a gleam;
concretely, a flashing sword -- bright, glitter(-ing sword), lightning. ...
/hebrew/1300.htm - 6k

5329. natsach -- preeminent or enduring
... A primitive root; properly, to glitter from afar, ie To be eminent (as a superintendent,
especially of the Temple services and its music); also (as ...
/hebrew/5329.htm - 6k

On the Immeasurable Joys of Heaven.
... such bitterness! How exquisitely beautiful will not the wounds and marks
glitter, which here below are received from My love! So ...
/.../suso/a little book of eternal wisdom/chapter xii on the immeasurable.htm

At the Unknown' Feast in Jerusalem, and by the Pool of Bethesda.
... But as one longs to escape from the stifling atmosphere of a scene of worldly pomp,
with its glitter and unreality, into the clearness of the evening-air, so ...
/.../the life and times of jesus the messiah/chapter xii at the unknown.htm

Servants of Sin.
... flesh. He offers us all the flash and glitter of the world, but he does not
let us see the foulness and rottenness which they cover. ...
/.../the life of duty a years plain sermons v 2/sermon xlii servants of sin.htm

Psalm LXII.
... For doth gold glitter in the furnace of the refiner? In a necklace it will
glitter, in an ornament it will glitter: let it suffer ...
/.../augustine/exposition on the book of psalms/psalm lxii.htm

The Saviour's Many Crowns
... They are not self-created. He struck them off like sparks from the anvil of his
omnipotence; and there they glitter, upheld and supported by his might. ...
/.../spurgeon/spurgeons sermons volume 5 1859/the saviours many crowns.htm

On the Public Shows.
... and nights; the moon's orb, designating in its waxings and warnings the courses
of the seasons; the troops of shining stars, and those which glitter from on ...
/.../on the public shows.htm

Picture of a Pauline Church
... The pomp and glitter of the court, the wars waged and the victories won, the changes
in the constitution and the rise and fall of administrations, are ...
/.../stalker/the life of st paul/chapter viii picture of a.htm

A Woman's Memorial
... head of Jesus? But so is it. Jesus values things, not by their glare and glitter,
but by their intrinsic value. He bids his historians ...
/.../spurgeon/spurgeons sermons volume 6 1860/a womans memorial.htm

Exploring Canaan by Faith
... To the north along the ridge is Bethlehem and Jerusalem; to the east the silvery
waters of the Dead Sea glitter in the sun; westward is Gath, where Goliath the ...
/.../berry/adventures in the land of canaan/chapter five exploring canaan by.htm

Hymns of Suffering and Trust.
... will find Him.". She began to teach as well as enjoy the new light so different
from the glitter of the traditional worship. But her ...
/.../brown/the story of the hymns and tunes/chapter v hymns of suffering.htm

Glitter (3 Occurrences)
... 3. (n.) A bright, sparkling light; brilliant and showy luster; brilliancy; as, the
glitter of arms; the glitter of royal equipage. Int. ...GLITTER; GLITTERING. ...
/g/glitter.htm - 8k

Glittering (12 Occurrences)
... Noah Webster's Dictionary (p. pr. & vb. n.) of Glitter. Int. Standard Bible
Encyclopedia. GLITTER; GLITTERING. glit'-er, glit'-er ...
/g/glittering.htm - 11k

Glistering (3 Occurrences)

/g/glistering.htm - 8k

Glint (1 Occurrence)
... 1. (n.) A glimpse, glance, or gleam. 2. (vi) To glance; to peep forth, as a flower
from the bud; to glitter. 3. (vt) To glance; to turn; as, to glint the eye. ...
/g/glint.htm - 6k

Gleam (5 Occurrences)
... 4. (vt) To shoot, or dart, as rays of light; as, at the dawn, light gleams
in the east. 5. (vt) To shine; to cast light; to glitter. ...
/g/gleam.htm - 8k

Contemneth (3 Occurrences)
... (ASV DBY). Ezekiel 21:10 It is sharpened to make a sore slaughter; it is
furbished that it may glitter: should we then make mirth? ...
/c/contemneth.htm - 7k

Carbuncle (6 Occurrences)
... smaragdos; Vulgate, smaragdus; Revised Version, marg., "emerald." The Hebrew word
is from a root meaning "to glitter," "lighten," "flash." When held up to the ...
/c/carbuncle.htm - 10k

Springing (16 Occurrences)
... Nahum 3:3 The horseman springing up, and the glitter of the sword, and the flash
of the spear, and a multitude of slain, and a mass of carcases, and no end of ...
/s/springing.htm - 11k

Sceptre (20 Occurrences)
... lamentation. (KJV JPS ASV DBY YLT). Ezekiel 21:10 It is sharpened for sore
slaughter, it is furbished that it may glitter. Shall ...
/s/sceptre.htm - 17k

Warfare (18 Occurrences)
... the noise of the rumbling wheel and the galloping horse, and the jolting chariot
and the rearing horsemen; and the flash of the sword and the glitter of the ...
/w/warfare.htm - 34k

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