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Tile; Tiling

Artifacts

What is the meaning of Tile; Tiling in the Bible?

The Hebrew word 'tile' (even) denotes a brick or clay slab, appearing in Ezekiel 4:1 to describe a baked brick for siege modeling and in Luke 5:19 regarding the lowering of a paralytic through a roof. Archaeological evidence confirms the widespread use of baked clay tiles in Iron Age Judah and Hellenistic Judea for durable roofing and flooring.

SIGNIFICANCE

Understanding the material composition and construction methods of ancient tiles clarifies the physical realities of biblical narratives, such as the structural integrity required to support a crowd on a roof or the specific materials used in prophetic symbolic acts.

Bible Study Quick-Reference Guide

Physical & Symbolic Reality: Physical objects and natural elements like Tile; Tiling were everyday realities for biblical writers, frequently used as living metaphors for spiritual truths.
Bible Study Reflection Prompts:
  • Why did the biblical author mention Tile; Tiling in this passage?
  • What cultural or historical assumption does Tile; Tiling clarify?
Scripture Passages Mentioned: Ezekiel 4:1Luke 5:19

Source Attribution

Built upon the 1915 International Standard Bible Encyclopedia and Easton's Bible Dictionary (1897). Entries have been modernized, checked for academic truthfulness, and shortened for clarity.

How to Cite This Entry

"Tile; Tiling." Ancient Context Dictionary. Accessed 2026. https://ancientcontext.com/context/tile-tiling/
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