Brick

/BRIK/

Summary

Building blocks made from clay or mud, often mixed with straw and dried in the sun, extensively used in Egypt and Mesopotamia.

☩Egyptian Brick-Making

The Israelites in Egypt were forced to make bricks for Pharaoh's building projects. Egyptian bricks were typically sun-dried, made from Nile mud mixed with chopped straw to prevent cracking. When Pharaoh cruelly demanded that the Israelites gather their own straw while maintaining the same quota, their burden increased greatly.

Key verses:Exodus 1:14Exodus 5:7-19

☩Babylonian Bricks

The Tower of Babel was built with bricks and bitumen as mortar. Babylonian bricks were often kiln-fired and bore inscriptions of the kings who built with them. Ancient Babylon's walls and structures were primarily brick construction.

Key verses:Genesis 11:3

☩Palestinian Usage

In Palestine, sun-dried brick was commonly used for houses, though considered inferior to hewn stone. Isaiah's prophecy speaks of those who boast they will replace fallen bricks with hewn stone.

Key verses:Isaiah 9:10Isaiah 65:3

Related Verses13 mentions

Exodus· 8 verses

1:11 1:14 5:7 5:8 5:14

Isaiah· 2 verses

9:10 65:3

Genesis· 1 verse

11:3

Jeremiah· 1 verse

43:9

References

1.John McClintock and James Strong, "Brick," in Cyclopedia of Biblical, Theological and Ecclesiastical Literature, vol. I (Harper & Brothers, 1867–1887).
2.James Orr (ed.), "Brick," in International Standard Bible Encyclopedia, vol. I (Howard-Severance Company, 1915).
3.F. N. Peloubet & M. A. Peloubet (ed.), "Brick," in Smith's Bible Dictionary (Porter & Coates, 1884).