Bible Dictionary
Brimstone
Brimstone is sulfur, an inflammable mineral associated especially with the region around the Dead Sea. In Scripture, fire and brimstone represent divine judgment, destruction, and dreadful punishment.
Definition
Brimstone is sulfur, an inflammable mineral substance that burns readily and gives off a suffocating odor. It was found in considerable quantities around the Dead Sea, where sulfur and bitumen occurred together.
Biblical Usage
Fire and brimstone destroyed the cities of the plain and became figures of destruction, punishment, torment, and divine judgment. The imagery is used in prophetic and apocalyptic passages to express terrible suffering and ruin.
Historical Background
Sulfur deposits occur near the Dead Sea and may be picked up with crystals of gypsum. The burning of sulfur and bitumen in that region provided a vivid image of consuming fire, suffocating fumes, and widespread destruction.
Scripture References
Historical Bible Dictionaries
Easton's Bible Dictionary
An inflammable mineral substance found in quantities on the shores of the Dead Sea. The cities of the plain were destroyed by a rain of fire and brimstone (Gen. 19:24, 25). In Isa. 34:9 allusion is made to the destruction of these cities. This word figuratively denotes destruction or punishment (Job 18:15; Isa. 30:33; 34:9; Ps. 11:6; Ezek. 38:22). It is used to express the idea of excruciating torment in Rev. 14:10; 19:20; 20:10.
Smith's Bible Dictionary
Brimstone, or sulphur, is found in considerable quantities on the shores of the Dead Sea. (Genesis 19:24) It is a well-known simple mineral substance, crystalline, easily melted, very inflammable, and when burning emits a peculiar suffocating odor. It is found in great abundance near volcanoes. The soil around Sodom and Gomorrah abounded in sulphur and bitumen.
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia (ISBE)
<p>brim'-ston, brim'-stun (gophrith; to theion): The word translated "brimstone" probably referred originally to the pitch of trees, like the cypress. By analogy it has been rendered "brimstone" because of the inflammability of both substances. Sulphur existed in Palestine in early times and was known by most of the ancient nations as a combustible substance. In the vicinity of the Dead Sea, even at the present time, deposits of sulphur are being formed. Blanckenhorn (ZDPV, 1896) believes that this formation is due to the action of bituminous matter upon gypsum, as these two substances are found associated with each other in this district. Travelers going from Jericho to the Dead Sea may pick up lumps of sulphur, which are usually encrusted with crystals of gypsum. De 29:23 well describes the present aspect of this region. That the inhabitants of the land had experienced the terrors of burning sulphur is very probable. Once one of these deposits took fire it would melt and run in burning streams down the ravines spreading everywhere suffocating fumes such as come from the ordinary brimstone match. No more realistic figure could be chosen to depict terrible suffering and destruction. It is not at all unlikely that during some of the disastrous earthquakes which took place in this part of the world, the hot lava sent forth ignited not only the sulphur, but also the bitumen, and added to the horrors of the earthquake the destruction caused by burning pitch and brimstone.</p><p>The figurative use of the word brimstone to denote punishment and destruction is illustrated by such passages as De 29:23; Job 18:15; Ps 11:6; Isa 30:33; Eze 38:22; Lu 17:29; Re 9:17.</p><p>James A. Patch</p>