Bible Dictionary
Garnish
To garnish means to overlay, furnish, arrange, or adorn. Scripture uses the word for beautifying the temple, the heavens, houses, and other objects.
Definition
To garnish means to overlay, furnish, arrange, adorn, or beautify. The word can describe plating a building with precious stones, making the heavens bright, setting a house in order, or decorating an object.
Biblical Usage
Scripture uses the term for the beautifying of the temple, the brightness of the heavens, the adornment of religious monuments, the ordering of a house, and the trimming of lamps.
Historical Background
The supplied material distinguishes senses meaning “to overlay,” “beauty” or “brilliancy,” and “set in order” or “adorn.”
Scripture References
Historical Bible Dictionaries
Easton's Bible Dictionary
Overlay with stones (2 Chr. 3:6), adorn (Rev. 21:19), deck with garlands (Matt. 23:29), furnish (12:44). In Job 26:13 (Heb. shiphrah, meaning “brightness”), “By his spirit the heavens are brightness” i.e., are bright, splendid, beautiful.
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia (ISBE)
<p>gar'-nish (tsippah, shiphrah; kosmeo):</p><p>The word is used twice in the Old Testament. In 2Ch 3:6, tsippah means "to overlay," or "to plate." Thus, he "garnished" the house or "overlaid" it, "studded" it, with precious stones, and thus adorned and beautified it. In Job 26:13, shiphrah is a feminine noun meaning "fairness," "beauty," "brilliancy." "By his Spirit the heavens are garnished," i.e. the clouds are driven off by the wind or breath of Yahweh, and the sky made bright and clear.</p><p>In the New Testament (Mt 12:44; 23:29) the word kosmeo means "set in order," "make ready," "adorn," etc. In Mt 25:7 it is translated "trimmed," and in Re 21:19 "adorned."</p><p>J. J. Reeve</p>