Bible Dictionary
Flint
A very hard stone found abundantly in the lands of the Bible and used for sharp knives. Scripture also uses flint figuratively for firmness, resoluteness, and hardness of face.
Definition
Flint is a very hard variety of quartz or a related hard stone that can strike fire. It was abundant in Palestine and was used for sharp knives and other cutting implements.
Biblical Usage
Flint symbolizes firmness, resoluteness, and hardness. The expression “like a flint” describes a determined face or steadfast purpose, and horse hoofs are compared with flint.
Historical Background
Flint and chert occur abundantly in the limestone rocks of Syria, Palestine, and Egypt. Flint knives were used in ancient Egypt and in circumcision according to the biblical accounts.
Scripture References
Historical Bible Dictionaries
Easton's Bible Dictionary
Abounds in all the plains and valleys of the wilderness of the forty years’ wanderings. In Isa. 50:7 and Ezek. 3:9 the expressions, where the word is used, means that the “Messiah would be firm and resolute amidst all contempt and scorn which he would meet; that he had made up his mind to endure it, and would not shrink from any kind or degree of suffering which would be necessary to accomplish the great work in which he was engaged.” (Comp. Ezek. 3:8, 9.) The words “like a flint” are used with reference to the hoofs of horses (Isa. 5:28).
Smith's Bible Dictionary
a well-known stone, a variety of quartz. It is extremely hard, and strikes fire. It was very abundant in and about Palestine.
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia (ISBE)
<p>flint (challamish (De 8:15; 32:13; Job 28:9; Ps 114:8), tsor (Ex 4:25; Eze 3:9), tser (Isa 5:28), tsur (Job 22:24; Ps 89:43), tsurim (Jos 5:2 f); (= kechlex "pebble"), kochlax ( /APC 1Macc 10:73)):</p><p>The word challamish signifies a hard stone, though not certainly flint, and is used as a figure for hardness in Isa 50:7, "Therefore have I set my face like a flint." A similar use of tsor is found in Eze 3:9, "As an adamant harder than flint have I made thy forehead," and Isa 5:28, "Their horses' hoofs shall be accounted as flint"; and of tsela` in Jer 5:3, "They have made their faces harder than a rock." The same three words are used of the rock from which Moses drew water in the wilderness: challamish (De 8:15; Ps 114:8); tsur (Ex 17:6; De 8:15; Ps 78:20; Isa 48:21); cela` (Nu 20:8; Ne 9:15; Ps 78:16).</p><p>Tsur and cela` are used oftener than challamish for great rocks and cliffs, but tsur is used also for flint knives in Ex 4:25, "Then Zipporah took a flint (the King James Version "sharp stone"), and cut off the foreskin of her son," and in Jos 5:2 f, "Yahweh said unto Joshua, Make thee knives of flint (the King James Version "sharp knives"), and circumcise again the children of Israel the second time." Surgical implements of flint were used by the ancient Egyptians, and numerous flint chippings with occasional flint implements are found associated with the remains of early man in Syria and Palestine. Flint and the allied mineral, chert, are found in great abundance in the limestone rocks of Syria, Palestine and Egypt.</p><p>See ROCK.</p><p>Alfred Ely Day</p>