Ink
Summary
A liquid preparation used for writing, made in biblical times from soot or lampblack mixed with gum.
☩Composition and Use
Ancient ink was typically made from soot or lampblack mixed with gum arabic as a binding agent. This carbon-based ink was remarkably durable, as evidenced by manuscripts surviving thousands of years. Jeremiah refers to 'the pen of the scribes' writing, while Paul mentions writing with paper and ink.
☩The Inkhorn
Ezekiel's vision includes a man 'clothed with linen, with a writer's inkhorn by his side.' The inkhorn was a case or container for carrying pens and ink, typically worn at the girdle. This figure was sent to mark the foreheads of those who sighed over Jerusalem's abominations, demonstrating the recording function of divine judgment.
☩Figurative Usage
Paul uses ink metaphorically when he tells the Corinthians they are his epistle 'written not with ink, but with the Spirit of the living God.' This contrast between ink and Spirit highlights the difference between external religion and internal transformation. The apostle expressed preference for personal communication over written letters.