Test
Vine's Expository Dictionary of OT Words [1]
A. Verb.
Tsâraph ( צָרַף , Strong'S #6884), “to refine, try, smelt, test.” This root with the basic meaning of smelting and refining is found outside the Old Testament in Akkadian, Phoenician, and Syriac. In Arabic an adjective derived from the verb means “pure, unmixed,” describing the quality of wine. Tsâraph has maintained the meaning “to refine” in rabbinic and modern Hebrew, but lost the primary significance of “to smelt” in modern Hebrew.
The verb occurs fewer than 35 times in the Old Testament, mainly in the prophets and in the Book of Psalms. The first occurrence is in the story of Gideon, where 10,000 are “being tested” and only 300 are chosen to fight with Gideon against the Midianites: “And the Lord said unto Gideon, The people are yet too many; bring them down unto the water, and I will try them for thee there …” (Judg. 7:4). The meaning in this context is “to test,” to find out who is qualified for battle. The only other occurrence of the verb in Judges is equivalent to a noun in English: “smith,” in this context a silversmith (17:4). Jeremiah describes the process of smelting and refining: “The bellows [blow fiercely], the lead is consumed of the fire; the founder melteth in vain: for the wicked are not plucked away” (Jer. 6:29), and the failure of refining the silver leads to rejection (Jer. 6:30). The process (smelting) and the result (refining) are often considered together. It is difficult to separate them in biblical usage. Hence, the work of the smith involves smelting, refining, and particularly the use of the refined metals in making the final product: “The workman melteth a graven image, and the goldsmith spreadeth it over with gold, and casteth silver chains” (Isa. 40:19). He used a hammer and anvil in making fine layers of gold used in plating the form (Isa. 41:7).
Tsâraph is also used metaphorically with the sense “to refine by means of suffering.” The psalmist describes the experience of Israel in this way: “For thou, O God, hast proved us: thou hast tried us, as silver is tried. Thou … laidst affliction upon our loins.… We went through fire and through water: but thou broughtest us out into a wealthy place” (Ps. 66:10-12). God’s judgment is also described as a process of refining: “And I will … purely purge away thy dross, and take away all thy tin” (Isa. 1:25). Those who were thus purified are those who call on the name of the Lord and receive the gracious benefits of the covenant (Zech. 13:9). The coming of the messenger of the covenant (Jesus Christ) is compared to the work of a smith: “But who may abide the day of his coming? and who shall stand when he appeareth? for he is like a refiner’s fire.… And he shall sit as a refiner and purifier of silver: and he shall purify the sons of Levi, and purge them as gold and silver …” (Mal. 3:2-3). The believer can take comfort in the Word of God which alone on earth is tried and purified and by which we can be purified: “Thy promise is well tried, and thy servant loves it” (Ps. 119:140, RSV; cf. Ps. 18:30; Prov. 30:5).
Tsâraph has the following translations in the Septuagint: purao (“to burn; to make red hot”) and chruso-o (“to gild; to overlay with gold”). The KJV gives the following translations: “to refine; try; melt; founder; goldsmith.” In the Rsv, Nasb and NIV the verb “to test” is given instead of “to try.”
B. Nouns.
Two nouns derived from the verb tsâraph occur rarely. Tsorpi —occurs once to mean “goldsmith” (Neh. 3:31). Matsrep occurs twice and refers to a “crucible”: “The fining pot is for silver, and the furnace is for gold: but the Lord trieth the hearts” (Prov. 17:3; cf. Prov. 27:21).
King James Dictionary [2]
TEST, n. L. testa, an earthen pot.
1. In metallurgy, a large cupel, or a vessel in the nature of a cupel, formed of wood ashes and finely powdered brick dust, in which metals are melted for trial and refinement. 2. Trial examination by the cupel hence, any critical trial and examination.
Thy virtue, prince, has stood the test of fortune.
Like purest gold--
3. Means of trial.
Each test and every light her muse will bear.
4. That with which any thing is compared for proof of its genuineness a standard.
--Life, force and beauty must of all impart,
At once the source, the end and test of art.
5. Discriminative characteristic standard.
Our test excludes your tribe from benefit.
6. Judgment distinction.
Who would excel, when few can make a test
Betwixt indifferent writing and the best?
7. In chimistry, a substance employed to detect any unknown constituent of a compound, by causing it to exhibit some known property. Thus ammonia is a test of copper, because it strikes a blue color with that metal, by which a minute quantity of it can be discovered when in combination with other substances.
TEST, n. L. testis, a witness, properly one that affirms.
In England, an oath and declaration against transubstantiation, which all officers, and military, are obliged to take within six months after their admission. They were formerly obliged also to receive the sacrament, according to the usage of the church of England. These requisitions are made by Stat. 25 Charles II. which is called the test act. The test of 7 Jac 1 was removed in 1753.
TEST, To compare with a standard to try to prove the truth or genuineness of any thing by experiment or by some fixed principle or standard as, to test the soundness of a principle to test the validity of an argument.
The true way of testing its character, is to suppose it the system will be persevered in.
Experience is the surest standard by which to test the real tendency of the existing constitution.
To test this position--
In order to test the correctness of this system--
This expedient has been already tested.
1. To attest and date as a writing tested on such a day. 2. In metallurgy, to refine gold or silver by means of lead, in a test, by the destruction, vitrification or scarification of all extraneous matter.
Webster's Dictionary [3]
(1): ( n.) Judgment; distinction; discrimination.
(2): ( n.) A reaction employed to recognize or distinguish any particular substance or constituent of a compound, as the production of some characteristic precipitate; also, the reagent employed to produce such reaction; thus, the ordinary test for sulphuric acid is the production of a white insoluble precipitate of barium sulphate by means of some soluble barium salt.
(3): ( v. t.) To put to the proof; to prove the truth, genuineness, or quality of by experiment, or by some principle or standard; to try; as, to test the soundness of a principle; to test the validity of an argument.
(4): ( n.) Discriminative characteristic; standard of judgment; ground of admission or exclusion.
(5): ( n.) A cupel or cupelling hearth in which precious metals are melted for trial and refinement.
(6): ( n.) That with which anything is compared for proof of its genuineness; a touchstone; a standard.
(7): ( n.) Means of trial; as, absence is a test of love.
(8): ( v. t.) To examine or try, as by the use of some reagent; as, to test a solution by litmus paper.
(9): ( v. t.) To refine, as gold or silver, in a test, or cupel; to subject to cupellation.
(10): ( n.) Examination or trial by the cupel; hence, any critical examination or decisive trial; as, to put a man's assertions to a test.
(11): ( v. i.) To make a testament, or will.
(12): ( n.) A witness.
(13): ( n.) Alt. of Testa
Cyclopedia of Biblical, Theological and Ecclesiastical Literature [4]
the imposition of an oath, or any other act by which the religious principles of any individual are put to proof. Tests and disabilities are distinct from penalties properly so called: it would be absurd to talk of punishing any one for being a woman, a minor, a person destitute of natural capacity, or opportunities of education, etc., on the ground that these are excluded as unfit for certain offices and privileges. Yet test laws do operate as a punishment; not because they are cause of pain, but inasmuch as they tend to produce that change of conduct which punishment is designed to produce.
