Bible Dictionaries
Bitumen
Holman Bible Dictionary
A mineral pitch or asphalt (KJV has “slime”; NAS, NIV, “tar pits”) found in solid black lumps in the cretaceous limestone on the west bank of the Dead Sea (see Genesis 14:10 ). Other forms are found in Asia Minor. Bitumen was used as a mortar in setting bricks in the buildings and ziggurats in Mesopotamia (see Genesis 11:3 ) and as a caulking for rafts and basket boats on the Euphrates (see Exodus 2:3; compare Genesis 6:14 ). See Pitch .
Copyright Statement
These dictionary topics are from the Holman Bible Dictionary, published by Broadman & Holman, 1991. All rights reserved. Used by permission of Broadman & Holman.
Bibliography Information
Butler, Trent C. Editor. Entry for 'Bitumen'. Holman Bible Dictionary. https://www.studylight.org/dictionaries/eng/hbd/b/bitumen.html. 1991.