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BAAL Lord. — (1.) The name appropriated to the principal male God of the Phoenicians. It is found in several places in the …

Baalah — mistress; city. (1.) A city in the south of Judah (Joshua 15:29), elsewhere called Balah (Joshua 19:3) and Bil…

Baalath — a town of the tribe of Dan (Joshua 19:44). It was fortified by Solomon (1 Kings 9:18; 2 Chronicles 8:6). Some …

BAALATH-BEER Baalah — of the well, (Joshua 19:8, probably the same as Baal, mentioned in 1 Chronicles 4:33, a city of Simeon.…

Baalbec — called by the Greeks Heliopolis i.e., “the city of the sun”, because of its famous Temple of the Sun, has by s…

Baal-Berith — covenant Lord, the name of the God worshipped in Shechem after the death of Gideon (Judges 8:33; 9:4). In 9:46…

Baale Of Judah — lords of Judah, a city in the tribe of Judah from which David brought the ark into Jerusalem (2 Samuel 6:2). E…

BAAL-GAD Lord — of fortune, or troop of Baal, a Canaanite city in the valley of Lebanon at the foot of Hermon, hence called Ba…

Baal-Hamon — place of a multitude, a place where Solomon had an extensive vineyard (Cant. 8: 1 1). It has been supposed to …

BAAL-HANAN Lord — of grace. (1.) A king of Edom, son of Achbor (Genesis 36:38, 39; 1 Chronicles 1:49, 50). (2.) An overseer of “…

Baal-Hazor — having a courtyard, or Baal’s village, the place on the borders of Ephraim and Benjamin where Absalom held the…

BAAL-HERMON Lord — of Hermon. (1.) A city near Mount Hermon inhabited by the Ephraimites (1 Chronicles 5:23). Probably identical …

BAALImy — Lord, a title the prophet (Hos. 2:16) reproaches the Jewish church for applying to Jehovah, instead of the mor…

Baalim — plural of Baal; images of the God Baal (Judges 2:11; 1 Samuel 7:4).…

Baalis — king of the Ammonites at the time of the Babylonian captivity (Jeremiah 40:14). He hired Ishmael to slay Gedal…

BAAL-MEON Lord — of dwelling, a town of Reuben (Numbers 32:38), called also Beth-meon (Jeremiah 48:23) and Beth-baal-meon (Josh…

BAAL-PEOR Lord — of the opening, a God of the Moabites (Numbers 25:3; 31:16; Joshua 22:17), worshipped by obscene rites. So cal…

BAAL-PERAZIM Baal — having rents, bursts, or destructions, the scene of a victory gained by David over the Philistines (2 Samuel 5…

BAAL-SHALISHA Lord — of Shalisha, a place from which a man came with provisions for Elisha, apparently not far from Gilgal (2 Kings…

BAAL-TAMAR Lord — of palm trees, a place in the tribe of Benjamin near Gibeah of Saul (Judges 20:33). It was one of the sanctuar…

Baal-Zebub — fly-Lord, the God of the Philistines at Ekron (2 Kings 1:2, 3, 16). This name was given to the God because he …

BAAL-ZEPHON Baal — of the north, an Egyptian town on the shores of the Gulf of Suez (Exodus 14:2; Numbers 33:7), over against whi…

Baana — son of affliction. (1.) One of Solomon’s purveyors (1 Kings 4:12). (2.) Son of Hushai, another of Solomon’s pu…

Baanah — son of affliction. (1.) One of the two sons of Rimmon the Beerothite, a captain in Saul’s army. He and his bro…

Baasha — bravery, the third king of the separate kingdom of Israel, and founder of its second dynasty (1 Kings 15; 16; …

Babe — used of children generally (Matthew 11:25; 21:16; Luke 10:21; Romans 2:20). It is used also of those who are w…

Babylon — the Greek form of BABEL; Semitic form Babilu, meaning “The Gate of God.” In the Assyrian tablets it means “The…

Babylonish Garment — a robe of rich colours fabricated at Babylon, and hence of great value (Joshua 7:21).…

BACKBITE In Psalm — 15:3, the rendering of a word which means to run about tattling, calumniating; in Proverbs 25:23, secret taleb…

Backslide — to draw back or apostatize in matters of religion (Acts 21:21; 2 Thessalonians 2:3; 1 Timothy 4:1). This may b…

Badger — this word is found in Exodus 25:5; 26:14; 35:7, 23; 36:19; 39:34; Numbers 4:6, etc. The tabernacle was covered…

Bag — (1.) A pocket of a cone-like shape in which Naaman bound two pieces of silver for Gehazi (2 Kings 5:23). The s…

Bahurim — young men, a place east of Jerusalem (2 Samuel 3:16; 19:16), on the road to the Jordan valley. Here Shimei res…

Bajith — house, probably a city of Moab, which had a celebrated idol-temple (Isaiah 15:2). It has also been regarded as…

BAKE The — duty of preparing bread was usually, in ancient times, committed to the females or the slaves of the family (G…

Bake- M E Ats — baked provisions (Genesis 40:17), literally “works of the baker,” such as biscuits and cakes.…

BALAAM Lord — of the people; foreigner or glutton, as interpreted by others, the son of Beor, was a man of some rank among t…

Baladan — he has given a son, the father of the Babylonian king (2 Kings 20:12; Isaiah 39:1) Merodach-baladan (q.v.).…

Balah — a city in the tribe of Simeon (Joshua 19:3), elsewhere called Bilhah (1 Chronicles 4:29) and Baalah (Joshua 15…

Balak — empty; spoiler, a son of Zippor, and king of the Moabites (Numbers 22:2, 4). From fear of the Israelites, who …

Balance — occurs in Leviticus 19:36 and Isaiah 46:6, as the rendering of the Hebrew kanch’, which properly means “a reed…

Baldness — from natural causes was uncommon (2 Kings 2:23; Isaiah 3:24). It was included apparently under “scab” and “scu…

Balm — contracted from Bal’sam, a general name for many oily or resinous substances which flow or trickle from certai…

Bamah — a height, a name used simply to denote a high place where the Jews worshipped idols (Ezekiel 20:29). The plura…

Bamoth — heights, the forty-seventh station of the Israelites (Numbers 21:19,20) in the territory of the Moabites.…

Bamoth-Baal — heights of Baal, a place on the river Arnon, or in the plains through which it flows, east of Jordan (Joshua 1…

Bands — (1) of love (Hos. 11:4); (2) of Christ (Psalm 2:3); (3) uniting together Christ’s body the church (Colossians …

Bani — built. (1.) 1 Chronicles 6:46. (2.) One of David’s thirty-seven warriors, a Gadite (2 Samuel 23:36). (3.) Ezra…

Banner — (1.) The flag or banner of the larger kind, serving for three tribes marching together. These standards, of wh…

Banquet — a feast provided for the entertainment of a company of guests (Esther 5; 7; 1 Peter 4:3); such as was provided…

Baptism For The Dead — only mentioned in 1 Corinthians 15:29. This expression as used by the apostle may be equivalent to saying, “He…

BAPTISM OF Christ Christ — had to be formally inaugurated into the public discharge of his offices. For this purpose he came to John, who…

Bar — used to denote the means by which a door is bolted (Nehemiah 3:3); a rock in the sea (Jonah 2:6); the shore of…

Barabbas — i.e., son of Abba or of a father, a notorious robber whom Pilate proposed to condemn to death instead of Jesus…

Barachel — whom God has blessed, a Buzite, the father of Elihu, one of Job’s friends (Job 32:2, 6).…

Barak — lightning, the son of Abinoam (Judges 4:6). At the summons of Deborah he made war against Jabin. She accompani…

Barbarian — a Greek word used in the New Testament (Romans 1:14) to denote one of another nation. In Colossians 3:11, the …

BARBER Found — only once, in Ezekiel 5:1, where reference is made to the Jewish custom of shaving the head as a sign of mourn…

BAREFOOT To — go barefoot was a sign of great distress (Isaiah 20:2, 3, 4), or of some great calamity having fallen on a per…

Bariah — fugitive, one of Shemaiah’s five sons. Their father is counted along with them in 1 Chronicles 3:22.…

Bar- Jesus — son of Joshua, the patronymic of Elymas the sorcerer (Acts 13:6), who met Paul and Barnabas at Paphos. Elymas …

Bar-Jona — son of Jonah, the patronymic of Peter (Matthew 16:17; John 1:42), because his father’s name was Jonas. (See PE…

Barkos — painter, (Ezra 2:53; Nehemiah 7:55). The father of some of the Nethinim.…

Barley — a grain much cultivated in Egypt (Exodus 9:31) and in Palestine (Leviticus 27:16; Deuteronomy 8:8). It was usu…

Barn — a storehouse (Deuteronomy 28:8; Job 39:12; Hag. 2:19) for grain, which was usually under ground, although also…

Barnabas — son of consolation, the surname of Joses, a Levite (Acts 4:36). His name stands first on the list of prophets …

Barrel — a vessel used for keeping flour (1 Kings 17:12, 14, 16). The same word (cad) so rendered is also translated “p…

BARREN For — a woman to be barren was accounted a severe punishment among the Jews (Genesis 16:2; 30:1-23; 1 Samuel 1:6, 27…

Barsabas — son of Saba, the surname (1) of Joseph, also called Justus (Acts 1:23), some identify him with Barnabas; (2) o…

Bartholomew — son of Tolmai, one of the twelve apostles (Matthew 10:3; Acts 1:13); generally supposed to have been the same …

Bartemaeus — son of Timaeus, one of the two blind beggars of Jericho (Mark 10:46; Matthew 20:30). His blindness was miracul…

Baruch — blessed. (1.) The secretary of the prophet Jeremiah (32:12; 36:4). He was of the tribe of Judah (51:59). To hi…

Barzillai — of iron. (1.) A Meholathite, the father of Adriel (2 Samuel 21:8). (2.) A Gileadite of Rogelim who was disting…

Bashan — light soil, first mentioned in Genesis 14:5, where it is said that Chedorlaomer and his confederates “smote th…

Bashan-Havoth-Jair — the Bashan of the villages of Jair, the general name given to Argob by Jair, the son of Manasseh (Deuteronomy …

Bashemath — sweet-smelling. (1.) The daughter of Ishmael, the last of Esau’s three wives (Genesis 36:3, 4, 13), from whose…

Basilisk — (in R.V., Isaiah 11:8; 14:29; 59:5; Jeremiah 8:17), the “king serpent,” as the name imports; a fabulous serpen…

Basin — or Bason. (1.) A trough or laver (Hebrews aggan’) for washing (Exodus 24:6); rendered also “goblet” (Cant. 7:2…

Basket There — are five different Hebrew words so rendered in the Authorized Version: (1.) A basket (Hebrews sal, a twig or o…

BASTARD In — the Old Testament the rendering of the Hebrew word mamzer’, which means “polluted.” In Deuteronomy 23:2, it oc…

Bastinado — beating, a mode of punishment common in the East. It is referred to by “the rod of correction” (Proverbs 22:15…

BAT The Hebrew — word (atalleph’) so rendered (Leviticus 11:19; Deuteronomy 14: 18) implies “flying in the dark.” The bat is re…

Bath — a Hebrew liquid measure, the tenth part of an homer (1 Kings 7:26, 38; Ezekiel 45:10, 14). It contained 8 gall…

Bath-Rabbim — daughter of many, the name of one of the gates of the city of Heshbon, near which were pools (Cant.7:4).…

Baths The — use of the bath was very frequent among the Hebrews (Leviticus 14:8; Numbers 19:19, ect.). The high priest at …

Bath-Sheba — daughter of the oath, or of seven, called also Bath-shu’a (1 Chronicles 3:5), was the daughter of Eliam (2 Sam…

Battering-Ram — (Ezekiel 4:2; 21:22), a military engine, consisting of a long beam of wood hung upon a frame, for making breac…

Battle-Bow — the war-bow used in fighting (Zechariah 9:10; 10:4). “Thy bow was made quite naked” (Habakkuk 3:9) means that …

Battlement — a parapet wall or balustrade surrounding the flat roofs of the houses, required to be built by a special law (…

Bay — denotes the estuary of the Dead Sea at the mouth of the Jordan (Joshua 15:5; 18:19), also the southern extremi…

Bay T REE — named only in Psalm 37:35, Authorized Version. The Hebrew word so rendered is ereh, which simply means “native…

Bdellium — occurs only in Genesis 2:12, where it designates a product of the land of Havilah; and in Numbers 11:7, where …

Beacon — a pole (Hebrews to’ren) used as a standard or ensign set on the tops of mountains as a call to the people to a…

Bealiah — whose Lord is Jehovah, a Benjamite, one of David’s thirty heroes of the sling and bow (1 Chronicles 12:5).…

Bealoth — citizens, a town in the extreme south of Judah (Joshua 15:24); probably the same as Baalath-beer (19:8). In 1 …

Beam — occurs in the Authorized Version as the rendering of various Hebrew words. In 1 Samuel 17:7, it means a weaver…

Beans — mentioned in 2 Samuel 17:28 as having been brought to David when flying from Absalom. They formed a constituen…

Bear — a native of the mountain regions of Western Asia, frequently mentioned in Scripture. David defended his flocks…

BEARD The — mode of wearing it was definitely prescribed to the Jews (Leviticus 19:27; 21:5). Hence the import of Ezekiel’…

Beast This — word is used of flocks or herds of grazing animals (Exodus 22:5; Numbers 20:4, 8, 11; Psalm 78:48); of beasts …

Beaten Gold — in Numbers 8:4, means “turned” or rounded work in gold. The Greek Version, however, renders the word “solid go…

Beaten Oil — (Exodus 27:20; 29:40), obtained by pounding olives in a mortar, not by crushing them in a mill. It was reckone…

Beautiful Gate — the name of one of the gates of the temple (Acts 3:2). It is supposed to have been the door which led from the…

Becher — first-born; a youth, the second son of Benjamin (Genesis 46:21), who came down to Egypt with Jacob. It is prob…

Bed — (Hebrews mittah), for rest at night (Exodus 8:3; 1 Samuel 19:13, 15, 16, etc.); during sickness (Genesis 47:31…

Bedan — one of the judges of Israel (1 Samuel 12:11). It is uncertain who he was. Some suppose that Barak is meant, ot…

Bed-Chamber — an apartment in Eastern houses, furnished with a slightly elevated platform at the upper end and sometimes alo…

Bedstead — used in Deuteronomy 3:11, but elsewhere rendered “couch,” “bed.” In 2 Kings 1:4; 16:2; Psalm 132:3; Amos 3:12,…

BEE First — mentioned in Deuteronomy 1:44. Swarms of bees, and the danger of their attacks, are mentioned in Psalm 118:12.…

Beelzebub — (Gr. form Beel’zebul), the name given to Satan, and found only in the New Testament (Matthew 10:25; 12:24, 27;…

Beer — well. (1.) A place where a well was dug by the direction of Moses, at the forty-fourth station of the Hebrews …

Beer-Elem — well of heroes, probably the name given to Beer, the place where the chiefs of Israel dug a well (Numbers 21:1…

Beeri — illustrious, or the well-man. (1.) The father of Judith, one of the wives of Esau (Genesis 26:34), the same as…

Beer-Lahai-Roi — i.e., “the well of him that liveth and seeth me,” or, as some render it, “the well of the vision of life”, the…

Beeroth — wells, one of the four cities of the Hivites which entered by fraud into a league with Joshua. It belonged to …

Beeroth Of The Children Of Jaakan — (Deuteronomy 10:6). The same as Bene-jaakan (Numbers 33:31).…

Beersheba — well of the oath, or well of seven, a well dug by Abraham, and so named because he and Abimelech here entered …

Beetle — (Hebrews hargol, meaning “leaper”). Mention of it is made only in Leviticus 11:22, where it is obvious the wor…

Beeves — (an old English plural of the word beef), a name applicable to all ruminating animals except camels, and espec…

Beg That — the poor existed among the Hebrews we have abundant evidence (Exodus 23:11; Deuteronomy 15:11), but there is n…

Behead — a method of taking away life practised among the Egyptians (Genesis 40:17-19). There are instances of this mod…

Behemoth — (Job 40:15-24). Some have supposed this to be an Egyptian word meaning a “water-ox.” The Revised Version has h…

BEKAH Both — the name and its explanation, “a half shekel,” are given in Exodus 38:26. The word properly means a “division,…

Bel — the Aramaic form of Baal, the national God of the Babylonians (Isaiah 46:1; Jeremiah 50:2; 51:44). It signifie…

Bela — a thing swallowed. (1.) A city on the shore of the Dead Sea, not far from Sodom, called also Zoar. It was the …

B Elia L — worthlessness, frequently used in the Old Testament as a proper name. It is first used in Deuteronomy 13:13. I…

B — ell The bells first mentioned in Scripture are the small golden bells attached to the hem of the high priest’s…

Bellows — occurs only in Jeremiah 6:29, in relation to the casting of metal. Probably they consisted of leather bags sim…

B El Ly — the seat of the carnal affections (Titus 1:12; Phil. 3:19; Romans 16:18). The word is used symbolically for th…

BELSHAZZAR Bel — protect the king!, the last of the kings of Babylon (Daniel 5: 1). He was the son of Nabonidus by Nitocris, wh…

BELTESHAZZAR Beltis — protect the king!, the Chaldee name given to Daniel by Nebuchadnezzar (Daniel 1:7).…

Benaiah — built up by Jehovah. (1.) The son of Jehoiada, chief priest (1 Chronicles 27:5). He was set by David over his …

Ben-Ammi — son of my kindred; i.e., “born of incest”, the son of Lot by his youngest daughter (Genesis 19:38).…

Bench — deck of a Tyrian ship, described by Ezekiel (27:6) as overlaid with box- wood.…

Bene- Jaakan — children of Jaakan (Numbers 33:31, 32), the same as Beeroth.…

Ben-Hadad — the standing title of the Syrian kings, meaning “the son of Hadad.” (See HADADEZER.) (1.) The king of Syria wh…

Benjamin — son of my right hand. (1.) The younger son of Jacob by Rachel (Genesis 35:18). His birth took place at Ephrath…

Beor — a torch. (1.) The father of Bela, one of the kings of Edom (Genesis 36:32). (2.) The father of Balaam (Numbers…

Bera — gift, or son of evil, king of Sodom at the time of the invasion of the four kings under Chedorlaomer (Genesis …

Berachah — blessing. (1.) A valley not far from Engedi, where Jehoshaphat overthrew the Moabites and Ammonites (2 Chronic…

Berea — a city of Macedonia to which Paul with Silas and Timotheus went when persecuted at Thessalonica (Acts 17:10, 1…

Berechiah — blessed by Jehovah. (1.) Son of Shimea, and father of Asaph the musician (1 Chronicles 6:39; 15:17). (2.) One …

Bered — hail. (1.) A town in the south of Palestine (Genesis 16: 14), in the desert of Shur, near Lahai-roi. (2.) A so…

Beriah — a gift, or in evil. (1.) One of Asher’s four sons, and father of Heber (Genesis 46:17). (2.) A son of Ephraim …

Bernice — bearer of victory, the eldest daughter of Agrippa I., the Herod Agrippa of Acts 12:20. After the early death o…

Berodach-Baladan — the king of Babylon who sent a friendly deputation to Hezekiah (2 Kings 20:12). In Isaiah 39:1 he is called Me…

Beryl — the rendering in the Authorized Version of the Hebrew word tarshish , a precious stone; probably so called as …

Besom — the rendering of a Hebrew word meaning sweeper, occurs only in Isaiah 14:23, of the sweeping away, the utter r…

Besor — cold, a ravine or brook in the extreme south-west of Judah, where 200 of David’s men stayed behind because the…

Bestead — the rendering in Isaiah 8:21, where alone it occurs, of a Hebrew word meaning to oppress, or be in circumstanc…

Betah — confidence, a city belonging to Hadadezer, king of Zobah, which yielded much spoil of brass to David (2 Samuel…

Beth — occurs frequently as the appellation for a house, or dwelling-place, in such compounds as the words immediatel…

Bethabara — house of the ford, a place on the east bank of the Jordan, where John was baptizing (John 1:28). It may be ide…

Beth-Anath — house of response, one of the fenced cities of Naphtali (Joshua 19:38). It is perhaps identical with the moder…

Beth-Anoth — house of answers, a city in the mountainous district of Judah (Joshua 15:59). It has been identified with the …

Bethany — house of dates. (1.) The Revised Version in John 1:28 has this word instead of Bethabara, on the authority of …

Beth-Arabah — house of the desert, one of the six cities of Judah, situated in the sunk valley of the Jordan and Dead Sea (J…

Beth- Aram — house of the height; i.e., “mountain-house”, one of the towns of Gad, 3 miles east of Jordan, opposite Jericho…

Beth- Arbel — house of God’s court, a place alluded to by Hosea (10:14) as the scene of some great military exploit, but not…

BETH-AyEN — house of nothingness; i.e., “of idols”, a place in the mountains of Benjamin, east of Bethel (Joshua 7:2; 18:1…

Beth-Barah — house of crossing, a place south of the scene of Gideon’s victory (Judges 7:24). It was probably the chief for…

Beth-Car — sheep-house, a place to which the Israelites pursued the Philistines west from Mizpeh (1 Samuel 7:11).…

Beth-Dagon — house of Dagon. (1.) A city in the low country or plain of Judah, near Philistia (Joshua 15:41); the modern Be…

Beth-Diblathaim — house of two cakes of figs, a city of Moab, upon which Jeremiah (48:22) denounced destruction. It is called al…

BkI HEL ITE — a designation of Hiel (q.v.), who rebuilt Jericho and experienced the curse pronounced long before (1 Kings 16…

B E T He R — dissection or separation, certain mountains mentioned in Cant. 2:17; probably near Lebanon.…

Bethesda — house of mercy, a reservoir (Gr. kolumbethra, “a swimming bath”) with five porches, close to the sheep-gate or…

Beth-Gamul — camel-house, a city in the “plain country” of Moab denounced by the prophet (Jeremiah 48:23); probably the mod…

Beth-Gilgal — house of Gilgal, a place from which the inhabitants gathered for the purpose of celebrating the rebuilding of …

Beth-Haccerem — house of a vineyard, a place in the tribe of Judah (Nehemiah 3:14) where the Benjamites were to set up a beaco…

Beth-Horon — house of the hollow, or of the cavern, the name of two towns or villages (2 Chronicles 8:5; 1 Chronicles 7:24)…

Beth-Jeshimoth — house of wastes, or deserts, a town near Abel-shittim, east of Jordan, in the desert of Moab, where the Israel…

Beth-Le-Aphrah — (R.V. Micah 1:10), house of dust. The Authorized Version reads “in the house of Aphrah.” This is probably the …

Bethlehem — house of bread. (1.) A city in the “hill country” of Judah. It was originally called Ephrath (Genesis 35:16, 1…

Beth-Peor — house of Peor; i.e., “temple of Baal-peor”, a place in Moab, on the east of Jordan, opposite Jericho. It was i…

Beth-Phage — house of the unripe fig, a village on the Mount of Olives, on the road from Jerusalem to Jericho (Matthew 21:1…

Bethsaida — house of fish. (1.) A town in Galilee, on the west side of the sea of Tiberias, in the “land of Gennesaret.” I…

Beth-Shean — house of security or rest, a city which belonged to Manasseh (1 Chronicles 7:29), on the west of Jordan. The b…

Beth-Shemesh — house of the sun. (1.) A sacerdotal city in the tribe of Dan (Joshua 21:16; 1 Samuel 6:15), on the north borde…

Beth-Tappuah — house of apples, a town of Judah, now Tuffuh, 5 miles west of Hebron (Joshua 15:53).…

Bethuel — man of God, or virgin of God, or house of God. (1.) The son of Nahor by Milcah; nephew of Abraham, and father …

Bethzur — house of rock, a town in the mountains of Judah (Joshua 15:58), about 4 miles to the north of Hebron. It was b…

Betroth — to promise “by one’s truth.” Men and women were betrothed when they were engaged to be married. This usually t…

Beulah — married, is used in Isaiah 62:4 metaphorically as the name of Judea: “Thy land shall be married,” i.e., favour…

Bewray — to reveal or disclose; an old English word equivalent to “betray” (Proverbs 27:16; 29:24, R.V., “uttereth;” Is…

Beyond — when used with reference to Jordan, signifies in the writings of Moses the west side of the river, as he wrote…

Bezaleel — in the shadow of God; i.e., “under his protection”, the artificer who executed the work of art in connection w…

Bezek — lightning. (1.) The residence of Adoni-bezek, in the lot of Judah (Judges 1:5). It was in the mountains, not f…

Bible — Bible, the English form of the Greek name Biblia, meaning “books,” the name which in the fifth century began t…

BlER — the frame on which dead bodies were conveyed to the grave (Luke 7:14).…

BlGTHA — garden, or gift of fortune, one of the seven eunuchs or chamberlains who had charge of the harem of Ahasuerus …

BlGTHAN — one of the eunuchs who “kept the door” in the court of Ahasuerus. With Teresh he conspired against the king’s …

BlLDAD — son of contention, one of Job’s friends. He is called “the Shuhite,” probably as belonging to Shuah, a distric…

Bilgah — cheerful. (1.) The head of the fifteenth sacerdotal course for the temple service (1 Chronicles 24:14). (2.) A…

BlLHAH — faltering; bashful, Rachel’s handmaid, whom she gave to Jacob (Genesis 29:29). She was the mother of Dan and N…

BlLSHAN — son of the tongue; i.e., “eloquent”, a man of some note who returned from the Captivity with Zerubbabel (Ezra …

BIRD Birds — are divided in the Mosaic law into two classes, (1) the clean (Leviticus 1:14-17; 5:7-10; 14:4-7), which were …

Birsha — son of wickedness, a king of Gomorrah whom Abraham succoured in the invasion of Chedorlaomer (Genesis 14:2).…

BIRTH As — soon as a child was born it was washed, and rubbed with salt (Ezekiel 16:4), and then swathed with bandages (J…

BlRTH-DAY The — observance of birth-days was common in early times (Job 1:4, 13, 18). They were specially celebrated in the la…

Birthright — (1.) This word denotes the special privileges and advantages belonging to the first-born son among the Jews. H…

Bishop — an overseer. In apostolic times, it is quite manifest that there was no difference as to order between bishops…

Bit — the curb put into the mouths of horses to restrain them. The Hebrew word (metheg) so rendered in Psalm 32:9 is…

BlTH-RON — the broken or divided place, a district in the Arabah or Jordan valley, on the east of the river (2 Samuel 2:2…

BlTHYNIA — a province in Asia Minor, to the south of the Euxine and Propontis. Christian congregations were here formed a…

BITTER Bitterness — is symbolical of affliction, misery, and servitude (Exodus 1:14; Ruth 1:20; Jeremiah 9:15). The Chaldeans are …

Bittern — is found three times in connection with the desolations to come upon Babylon, Idumea, and Nineveh (Isaiah 14:2…

BITUMEN Genesis — 11:3, R.V., margin, rendered in the A.V. “slime”), a mineral pitch. With this the ark was pitched (6:14. See a…

Black — properly the absence of all colour. In Proverbs 7:9 the Hebrew word means, as in the margin of the Revised Ver…

Blade — applied to the glittering point of a spear (Job 39:23) or sword (Nah. 3:3), the blade of a dagger (Judges 3:22…

Blains — occurs only in connection with the sixth plague of Egypt (Exodus 9:9, 10). In Deuteronomy 28:27, 35, it is cal…

BLASPHEMY In — the sense of speaking evil of God this word is found in Psalm 74:18; Isaiah 52:5; Romans 2:24; Revelation 13:1…

Blastus — chamberlain to king Herod Agrippa I. (Acts 12:20). Such persons generally had great influence with their maste…

Blemish — imperfection or bodily deformity excluding men from the priesthood, and rendering animals unfit to be offered …

Bless — (l.) God blesses his people when he bestows on them some gift temporal or spiritual (Genesis 1:22; 24:35; Job …

BLIND Blind — beggars are frequently mentioned (Matthew 9:27; 12:22; 20:30; John 5:3). The blind are to be treated with comp…

Blood — (l.) As food, prohibited in Genesis 9:4, where the use of animal food is first allowed. Comp. Deuteronomy 12:2…

Bloody Sweat — the sign and token of our Lord’s great agony (Luke 22:44).…

Blot — a stain or reproach (Job 31:7; Proverbs 9:7). To blot out sin is to forgive it (Psalm 51:1, 9; Isaiah 44:22; A…

Blue — generally associated with purple (Exodus 25:4; 26:1, 31, 36, etc.). It is supposed to have been obtained from …

Boanerges — sons of thunder, a surname given by our Lord to James and John (Mark 3:17) on account of their fervid and impe…

Boar — occurs only in Psalm 80: 13. The same Hebrew word is elsewhere rendered “swine” (Leviticus 11:7; Deuteronomy 1…

Boaz — alacrity. (1.) The husband of Ruth, a wealthy Bethlehemite. By the “levirate law” the duty devolved on him of …

Bochim — weepers, a place where the angel of the Lord reproved the Israelites for entering into a league with the peopl…

Boil — (rendered “botch” in Deuteronomy 28:27, 35), an aggravated ulcer, as in the case of Hezekiah (2 Kings 20:7; Is…

Bolled — (Exodus 9:31), meaning “swollen or podded for seed,” was adopted in the Authorized Version from the version of…

BOLSTER The Hebrew — word kebir, rendered “pillow” in 1 Samuel 19:13, 16, but in Revised Version marg. “quilt” or “network,” probab…

Bond — an obligation of any ki nd (Numbers 30:2, 4, 12). The word means also oppression or affliction (Psalm 116:16; …

Bondage — of Israel in Egypt (Exodus 2:23, 25; 5), which is called the “house of bondage” (13:3; 20:2). This word is use…

Bonnet — (Hebrews peer), Exodus 39:28 (R.V., “head-tires”); Ezekiel 44:18 (R.V., “tires”), denotes properly a turban wo…

Book This — word has a comprehensive meaning in Scripture. In the Old Testament it is the rendering of the Hebrew word sep…

Booth — a hut made of the branches of a tree. In such tabernacles Jacob sojourned for a season at a place named from t…

Booty — captives or cattle or objects of value taken in war. In Canaan all that breathed were to be destroyed (Deutero…

BORROW The Israelites — “borrowed” from the Egyptians (Exodus 12:35, R.V., “asked”) in accordance with a divine command (3:22; 11:2). …

Bosom In — the East objects are carried in the bosom which Europeans carry in the pocket. To have in one’s bosom indicate…

Bosor — the Chaldee or Aramaic form of the name Beor, the father of Balaam (2 Peter 2:15).…

Bosses — the projecting parts of a shield (Job 15:26). The Hebrew word thus rendered means anything convex or arched, a…

Botch — the name given in Deuteronomy 28:27, 35 to one of the Egyptian plagues (Exodus 9:9). The word so translated is…

Bottle — a vessel made of skins for holding wine (Joshua 9:4. 13; 1 Samuel 16:20; Matthew 9:17; Mark 2:22; Luke 5:37, 3…

BOW The — bow was in use in early times both in war and in the chase (Genesis 21:20; 27:3; 48:22). The tribe of Benjamin…

Bowels — (Phil. 1:8; 2: 1 ; Colossians 3:12), compassionate feelings; R.V., “tender mercies.”…

Bowing — a mode of showing respect. Abraham “bowed himself to the people of the land” (Genesis 23:7); so Jacob to Esau …

BOWL The — sockets of the lamps of the golden candlestick of the tabernacle are called bowls (Exodus 25:31, 33, 34; 37:17…

Box — for holding oil or perfumery (Mark 14:3). It was of the form of a flask or bottle. The Hebrew word (pak) used …

Box-Tree — (Hebrews teashshur), mentioned in Isaiah 60:13; 41:19, was, according to some, a species of cedar growing in L…

Bozrah — enclosure; fortress. (1.) The city of Jobab, one of the early Edomite kings (Genesis 36:33). This place is men…

Bracelet — (1.) Anklets (Numbers 31:50; 2 Samuel 1:10), and with reference to men. (2.) The rendering of a Hebrew word me…

Bramble — (1.) Hebrew atad. Judges 9:14; rendered “thorn,” Psalm 58:9. The LXX. and Vulgate render by rhamnus, a thorny …

Branch — a symbol of kings descended from royal ancestors (Ezekiel 17:3, 10; Daniel 11:7); of prosperity (Job 8:16); of…

Brass — which is an alloy of copper and zinc, was not known till the thirteenth century. What is designated by this wo…

Bravery — (Isaiah 3: 1 8), an old English word meaning comeliness or beauty.…

Breach — an opening in a wall (1 Kings 11:27; 2 Kings 12:5); the fracture of a limb (Leviticus 24:20), and hence the ex…

Bread — among the Jews was generally made of wheat (Exodus 29:2; Judges 6:19), though also sometimes of other grains (…

Breastplate — (1.) That piece of ancient armour that protected the breast. This word is used figuratively in Ephesians 6:14 …

Breeches — (Exodus 28:42), rather linen drawers, reaching from the waist to a little above the knee, worn by the priests …

BRIBE None — to be taken; “for the gift maketh open eyes blind, and perverteth the cause of the righteous” (Exodus 23:8, li…

Bricks — the making of, formed the chief labour of the Israelites in Egypt (Exodus 1:13, 14). Those found among the rui…

Bride — frequently used in the ordinary sense (Isaiah 49:18; 61:10, etc.). The relation between Christ and his church …

BRIDLE Three Hebrew — words are thus rendered in the Authorized Version. (1.) Hebrews mahsom’ signifies a muzzle or halter or bridle…

BRIER This — word occurs frequently, and is the translation of several different terms. (1.) Micah 7:4, it denotes a specie…

Brigandine — (Jeremiah 46:4; 51:3), an obsolete English word denoting a scale coat of armour, or habergeon, worn by light-a…

Brimstone — an inflammable mineral substance found in quantities on the shores of the Dead Sea. The cities of the plain we…

Brook — a torrent. (1.) Applied to small streams, as the Arnon, Jabbok, etc. Isaiah (15:7) speaks of the “book of the …

Brother — (1.) In the natural and common sense (Matthew 1:2; Luke 3:1, 19). (2.) A near relation, a cousin (Genesis 13:8…

Bruit — a rumour or report (Jeremiah 10:22, R.V. “rumour;” Nah. 3: 19).…

Bucket — a vessel to draw water with (Isaiah 40:15); used figuratively, probably, of a numerous issue (Numbers 24:7).…

Buckler — (1.) A portable shield (2 Samuel 22:31; 1 Chronicles 5:18). (2.) A shield surrounding the person; the targe or…

Building — among the Jews was suited to the climate and conditions of the country. They probably adopted the kind of arch…

Bul — rainy, the eighth ecclesiastical month of the year (1 Kings 6:38), and the second month of the civil year; lat…

Bullock — (1.) The translation of a word which is a generic name for horned cattle (Isaiah 65:25). It is also rendered “…

Bulrush — (1.) In Isaiah 58:5 the rendering of a word which denotes “belonging to a marsh,” from the nature of the soil …

Bulwarks — mural towers, bastions, were introduced by king Uzziah (2 Chronicles 26:15; Zephaniah 1:16; Psalm 48:13; Isaia…

Bunch — (1.) A bundle of twigs (Exodus 12:22). (2.) Bunch or cake of raisins (2 Samuel 16:1). (3.) The “bunch of a cam…

Burden — (1.) A load of any ki nd (Exodus 23:5). (2.) A severe task (Exodus 2:11). (3.) A difficult duty, requiring eff…

BURIAL The — first burial we have an account of is that of Sarah (Genesis 23). The first commercial transaction recorded is…

BURNT OFFERING Hebrew — olalr, i.e., “ascending,” the whole being consumed by fire, and regarded as ascending to God while being consu…

Bush — in which Jehovah appeared to Moses in the wilderness (Exodus 3:2; Acts 7:30). It is difficult to say what part…

Butler — properly a servant in charge of the wine (Genesis 40:1-13; 41:9). The Hebrew word, mashkeh, thus translated is…

Butter — (Hebrews hemah), curdled milk (Genesis 18:8; Judges 5:25; 2 Samuel 17:29), or butter in the form of the skim o…

Buz — contempt. (1.) The second son of Nahor and Milcah, and brother of Huz (Genesis 22:21). Elihu was one of his de…

Buzi — the father of the prophet Ezekiel (1:3).…

By — in the expression “by myself” (A.V., 1 Corinthians 4:4), means, as rendered in the Revised Version, “against m…

By AND BY — immediately (Matthew 13:21; R.V., “straightway;” Luke 21:9).…

By — -WAYS only in Judges 5:6 and Psalm 125:5; literally “winding or twisted roads.” The margin has “crooked ways.”…

BY-WORD Hebrew — millah (Job 30:9), a word or speech, and hence object of talk; Hebrew mashal (Psalm 44:14), a proverb or parab…