to refine
za.qaq describes refining metals or other materials, and in one water-image clause the distilling of rain.
The dominant attested use describes something made refined, especially gold and silver, and extends to refined dregs and the refining of the sons of Levi. A separate water-image in Job 36:27 describes rain being distilled; Psalm 12:7 contains a passive participle whose specific contribution is not represented in the supplied translation.
Senses in use
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Refining metals and other things · dominant
Passive participles describe refined gold in 1 Chronicles 28:18 and refined silver in 1 Chronicles 29:4; Isaiah 25:6 similarly speaks of dregs as refined. In Job 28:1 the imperfect occurs in the clause about a place where gold is refined, while Malachi 3:3 uses a Piel sequential perfect when the sons of Levi are refined like gold and silver.
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Distilling water into rain · rare
In Job 36:27, the Qal imperfect occurs in the water sequence: drops of water are drawn off and rain is distilled into mist. The APB renders the clause, “they distill rain into his mist.”
In the Anselm Project Bible: The APB uses “refined” for gold, silver, and dregs, “refined” for the place of gold in Job 28:1, and “refine” in Malachi 3:3; Job 36:27 has “distill.” Psalm 12:7 does not visibly represent the participle in the supplied translation.