What is a plumb line in the Bible?

Answer

A plumb line, also known as a plummet, is a cord with a non-magnetic weight attached to one end. When the cord is held in a way that allows the weight to hang freely, an exact vertical line can be determined. Painters and carpenters utilize plumb lines to maintain the straightness of their work. It can be challenging, during a project, to establish a true horizontal or vertical line without an objective measuring tool, hence the use of a plumb line. A plumb line leverages the force of gravity to identify right angles, show the most direct path from top to bottom, and ensure things are perfectly vertical. Unlike the whims of a carpenter, a plumb line remains constant and unchanging. All work must align with it to avoid being skewed.

The term plumb line is referenced in Scripture in various contexts. In Isaiah 28, the Lord portrays Himself as a builder: “See, I lay a stone in Zion, a tested stone, a precious cornerstone for a sure foundation” «therefore thus saith the Lord GOD, Behold, I lay in Zion for a foundation a stone, a tried stone, a precious corner stone, a sure foundation: he that believeth shall not make haste. », (Isaiah 28:16). This signifies a promise of an unwavering kingdom under the leadership of the Messiah. Jesus Christ is referred to as the “precious cornerstone” (see Mark 12:10;Acts 4:11;Romans 9:33;1 Peter 2:6). As the Lord constructs His kingdom, He ensures its perfection in every aspect: “I will make justice the measuring line and righteousness the plumb line” «Judgment also will I lay to the line, and righteousness to the plummet: and the hail shall sweep away the refuge of lies, and the waters shall overflow the hiding place. », (Isaiah 28:17)

). There will be no crookedness or sin in the kingdom of Christ.

When the Jews returned from captivity in Babylon, they began to rebuild the temple in Jerusalem. For a time, the work languished, and God sent the prophets Zechariah and Haggai to spur the people on to finish the rebuilding. The message was encouraging: do not despair over the small beginnings; God will ensure that the temple is completed, and Zerubbabel the governor will oversee the project. “Whoever has despised the day of small things shall rejoice, and shall see the plumb line in the hand of Zerubbabel” «For who hath despised the day of small things? for they shall rejoice, and shall see the plummet in the hand of Zerubbabel with those seven; they are the eyes of the LORD, which run to and fro through the whole earth. », (Zechariah 4:10, ESV).

Amos 7:7–8 says, “This is what he showed me: The Lord was standing by a wall that had been built true to plumb, with a plumb line in his hand. And the Lord asked me, ‘What do you see, Amos?’ ‘A plumb line,’ I replied. Then the Lord said, ‘Look, I am setting a plumb line among my people Israel; I will spare them no longer.’” When God said He was setting a plumb line among His people, He was declaring an end to their attempts to justify their crooked ways. The Lord was setting the standard. God does not negotiate His laws. He does not change with the whims of culture «God is not a man, that he should lie; Neither the son of man, that he should repent: Hath he said, and shall he not do it? Or hath he spoken, and shall he not make it good? », (Numbers 23:19). God’s moral law is the plumb line against which we determine right and wrong «Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth. », (John 17:17). Just as a

A carpenter’s plumb line is not influenced by the opinions or frustrations of the worker, just as God’s moral standards are not influenced by human opinions. Wise individuals are those who align their lives with God’s plumb line instead of attempting to adjust it to suit their own agendas.