Baal (ba'al),
a local god, often a god of fertility and the soil, hence held to be a false
god by the Hebrews: a Baal god seems to have been thought of as the god of a
particular locality or community; therefore, there were as many Baal gods
as there were communities devoted to their worship. This can be seen in the
prevalent use of Baal in forming place names, such as Baal-hermon (Judg.
3:3), Baal-peor (Deut. 4:3), etc. Eventually the worship of these local
deities became centered in the worship of a common Baal god, such as that
challenged by Elijah (I Kings 18:21).
Baalim (ba'al-im)
plural of Baal (Judg. 2:11; 3:7).
Babel (ba'bal), probably, a name for "Babylon, the chief city of Babylonia which was an empire in the lower valley of the Tigris and Euphrates rivers: it was the site of a huge temple tower in the form of a terraced pyramid with each story smaller than the one below it. The traditional account of the building of this structure (Gen. 11:1-9) describes how the men of Babel attempted to build a tower to reach heaven; God punished them for this presumption, and prevented them from finishing it by causing them all suddenly to speak in different languages so that they could not understand one another. Since the people were then scattered about the, earth this story had been popularly looked upon as explaining the origin of the dispersion of the races and tribes across the earth, and the reason for their speaking different languages.
Babylonish garment (bab"al-o'nish),
probably, a costly embroidered robe or mantle: due to its extensive export
it became proverbial for any valuable article of clothing. In Josh. 7 :21
some such garment was a part of the booty which had
been concealed by Achan during the conquest of Canaan: the appropriation of
such property was a violation of the law which stated that the spoils of war
were sacred to God. For this sin Achan was stoned to death and his property
burned.
backbite (bak'bit),
to speak maliciously about a person (not present); the term implies that the
statements are false and
harmful to the person's character, hence, slander. Ps. 15:3; II Cor. 12:20.
backsliding (bak'slid-ing), regressing in morals and religious enthusiasm; turning away from God and becoming less virtuous, less pious, etc.: said of Israel or the people of Israel. Jer. 3:6,8,11,12; Hos. 14:4.
bakemeats (bak'mets), unleavened white bread: fine flour baked with oil and salt: Gen. 40:17; Lev. 2:4-13.
balances (bal'an-saz), an instrument for weighing, consisting of two matched scales hanging from either end of a rod or beam supported exactly in the middle: used for weighing money or foodstuffs (Lev. 19:36; Jer. 32:10). A stone piece of known weight and value was placed on one of the scales and the money or food to be weighed was placed on the other. Also balance (Prov. 11:1; Isa. 46:6).
bald locust, a kind of edible locust existing in Palestine, probably so called because of its appearance: Lev. 11:22.
balm (bam),
an aromatic gum resin obtained from certain trees and plants possibly
growing in Gilead but more likely brought there by traders coming from
Arabia: it was used in medicine (for its reputed healing qualities), in
perfumes,
anointing oils, and in embalming. Gen. 37:25, Jer. 51:8.
baptism (bap'tizm),
a sacred act (sacrament) by which a person is admitted in the Christian
Church: regarded by some
as a means of grace through which the Holy Spirit communicates forgiveness
of sins and a new life; by others, as a symbol
for the washing away of sin. Jesus, however, allowed Himself to be baptized
by John the Baptist (Mark 1:9) as an act of
ceremonial righteousness. He commanded His disciples to baptize others (
Matt. 28:19) as He sent them out on their missions. St. Paul suggests that
in baptism the believer is symbolically identified with Jesus Christ in His
death, burial and resurrection, and as He was raised from the dead, so the
Christian is raised from the death of sin to a new life in Christ (Rom.
6:4-11). The use of water in ceremonial cleansing has its foundation in the
0ld Testament (Ex. 19:10-14; Lev. 8:6).
Bar- (bar),
an Aramaic prefix meaning "son": found in several proper names, as Bar-jona
(son of Jona), a surname of the
Apostle Peter: Matt. 16:17.
barbarian (bar-bar'i-an), anyone not a member of one's own national, religious, or cultural group (Acts 28:4; I Cor. 14:11), especially one who was not a Greek (Rom. 1:14); foreigner: usually not a derogatory term.
bason (ba'san), a basin or bowl, sometimes a cup: basons were often made of pottery or wood, but also of gold, silver or bronze (II Chr. 4:8). They were used as religious vessels (Ex. 24:6) and as household utensils (II Sam. 17:28). In John 13:5, Jesus used a bason to hold water for washing the disciples' feet.
Bath- (bath), a Hebrew prefix meaning "daughter of": found in proper names, as Bath-sheba (daughter of Sheba): II Sam. 12:24.
bay tree, an evergreen tree regarded by most authorities as laurel: Ps. 37 :35.
bdellium (del'i-um), a precious substance: either, a) a myrrh like gum resin, or b) a precious stone, variously interpreted as a carbuncle, crystal, or pearl; Gen. 2: 12. Manna is pictured as having the color of bdellium: Num. 11:7.
beaten oil, oil obtained from ripe olives by gently pounding them in a mortar with a pestle: Ex. 29:40; Lev. 24:2; Num. 28:5. This differs from the usual method of extracting the oil which was done by grinding or crushing the pulp.
Beatitudes (bi-at'a-tudz), the statements or descriptions of blessedness in the Sermon on the Mount, which begin "Blessed are the poor in spirit" (Matt. 5:3-12): they are thought to outline the qualities of an ideal believer. (They appear in briefer form in Luke 6:20-23.) Sometimes the term is applied to similar phrases appearing elsewhere in the New Testament as "Blessed is he that shall eat bread in the kingdom of God" (Luke 15: 16) and "It is more blessed to give than to receive" (Acts 20:35). These are sayings of Jesus pointing to instances of exemplary conduct. Beatitude is derived from the Latin beams meaning "happy" or "blessed."
Beelzebub (be-el'ze-bub), the chief devil; Satan: also called prince of devils. In the Old Testament, identified with Baalzebub, a god (literally, lord of the flies) of Ekron, a Philistine city: II Kings 1:2. Its precise original meaning is not clear.
Beer- (ber),
a Hebrew prefix meaning "a well": found in compounds, as Beer-elim ( well
of mighty heroes) Isa. 15:8;
Beer-sheba (well of the oath), Judg. 20:1.
beeves (bevz), cattle: Lev. 22:19; Num. 31:28.
behemoth (be'a-math), a huge animal, probably the hippopotamus. God refers to this creature (Job 40: 15) to demonstrate His amazing power of creation.
be'kah (be'ka),
a silver weight equal to a half shekel: it was the amount paid by every male
over 20, for furnishing the
Temple (Ex. 38:26).
Bel (baI), one of the principal gods of Babylon with the meaning "lord"; the god of heaven and earth: Jer. 51:44: sometimes used symbolically for Babylon: Isa. 46:1.
Belial (be'li-aI),
1. wickedness or worthlessness as an evil force: used in the phrases "sons,
daughters, etc. of Belial"
meaning descendants of godlessness, or very wicked people: I Sam. 1:16; I
Kings 21: 10. 2. wickedness personified; Satan: II Cor. 6:15.
Ben- (ben ), a Hebrew prefix meaning "son of": found in proper names, as Ben-hadad (son of Hadad): I Kings 20: 1.
beryl (ber'il),
a precious stone of uncertain identity: it may have been a topaz, emerald,
or aquamarine: Ex. 28:20; Rev.
21:20.
besom (be'zum), a broom: Isa. 14:23.
bestead (be-sted'), situated; placed: the phrase "hardly bestead" (lsa. 8:21) means in a difficult situation.
Beth- (beth, bath),
a Hebrew prefix meaning "house of" or "place of": found in many compounds,
as Bethlehem (house
of bread) Matt. 2:1; Beth-el (house of God) I Kings, 12:29: by extension
Beth- came to mean "family."
beth (beth, bath), the second letter of the Hebrew alphabet: it appears at the beginning of the second section of Psalm 119.
betimes (be-tirnz'), 1. early: Gen. 26: 31. 2. in good time or before it is too late: Job 8:5; Prov. 13:24.
Beulah (bu'la), the land of Israel: the name that Israel would bear when in the right relationship with God: Isa. 62:4.
bewray (bi-ra'),
to make known; reveal; disclose; betray: Isa. 16:3; Prov. 29:24.
birthright (burth'rit),
the rights of the first-born son, which involved the inheritance of a double
portion of the father's
wealth and, usually, succession to the father's position as head of the
family: Gen. 25:31-34; 43:33.
bishop (bish'ap), a church official who was to watch over and direct the work of the Christian community in a particular area (I Tim. 3:1'-7): the bishop's position pertained to local congregations, but as the churches multiplied the authority of his office extended over a larger area. Figuratively applied to Jesus (I Pet. 2:25) as the spiritual overseer of man.
bishoprick (bish'ap-rik), the office or position of a bishop or overseer: Acts 1:20.
bitter herbs,
one of the elements of the Passover meal commemorating the Exodus of the
Jews from Egypt: the herbs
were probably endive, lettuce, watercress, etc., and are thought to have
been included as Part of the feast in order to
symbolize the suffering of their people in Egypt. Ex. 12:8; Num. 9:11.
bittern (bit'arn), a bird or animal: some authorities suggest porcupine or even lizard, but in context heron or pelican seems preferable: Isa. 34: 11; Zeph. 2: 14.
bitter water,
the water used in a trial by ordeal which a woman was compelled to undergo
when her husband suspected her
of being unfaithful (Num. 5:11:-.31).
blain (blan), an inflamed sore, Or swelling; pustule: Ex. 9:9,10.
blemish (blem'ish),
a defect or imperfection, especially one in an animal rendering it unfit for
offering as, a sacrifice
to God: any broken, diseased, or malformed Part was classified as a blemish.
Lev. 22:19; Deut. 15:21. Priests were required to be without blemish (Lev.
21: 16-24 ).
bless (bles),
1. to make holy by a spoken formula or sign; consecrate: Gen. 2:3; Matt.
26:26. 2. to call holy; set apart for a holy purpose: I Sam. 9: 13. 3. to
ask divine favor for or bestow divine favor on: Gen. 9:1; 27:34; Num.
6:23,24. 4. to
praise God and express thanks to Him for kindness, riches, prosperity, good
health, etc.: Deut. 8:10; Neh. 9:5; Ps. 100:4.
blessed (bles'id), adj. 1. having received the favor of God, hence enjoying great happiness: Ps. 84:4; Luke 11:28. 2. receiving praise and an expression of thanks: said of God: Job 1:21; Ps. 119:12.
blessing (bles'ing),
1. a favor or gift bestowed by God and bringing joy to the recipient: Ex.
32:29; Deut. 33:1,7; Heb. I
6:7. 2. any gift or present: Josh. 15:19; II Kings 5:15. 3. a wish for
prosperity, success, etc.: I Pet. 3:9.
bloodgui1tiness (blud-gil'te-nis), the state of being guilty of bloodshed or murder: originally, there was no distinction between accidental and premeditated homicide: Gen. 9:6. The law of blood guiltiness automatically required revenge upon a slayer: Num. 35: 19,21,27: however, cities of sanctuary were provided for his refuge, if lack of intent could be proved: Deut. 19:5--6.
bloody flux, dysentery: Acts 28:8.
bolled (bold), seedy; ruined: Ex. 9:31.
bondman (bond'man), a man or boy who is legally a slave: Gen. 44:33.
bondwoman (bond'wum-an), a woman or girl who is legally a slave: Gen. 21: 10.
bonnet (bon'it), 1. an ornamental headdress worn by a priest: Ex. 28:40; Ezek. 44:18. 2. a woman's headdress: Isa. 3:20: see tire.
book of life,
a book, mentioned in Psalm 69:28, kept by God for use at the last Judgment:
it was thought to contain the
names of those who were to have eternal life, live in the heavenly
Jerusalem, or enjoy life in the next age (Phil. 4:3; Rev.
20:12,15; 22:19).
book of the law,
the book of Deuteronomy, especially chapters five through twenty-six in
which the law of Moses is
set down for the second time: Deut. 29:21; II Kings 22:8. To be contrasted
With the "book of the law of Moses" which
was the Pentateuch (Genesis-Deuteronomy): Neh.8:1.
booth (booth), a tent like structure made of leafy tree branches, built by a farmer in the field as a shelter for himself or his cattle: Gen. 33:17; Jon. 4:5. Some booths were large enough to serve as summer homes for the farmer's family: they provided shelter from the hot summer sun, and were used as watchtowers from which the family guarded against the loss of crops by theft or fire. A hut made of the branches of a tree. In such tabernacles Jacob sojourned for a season at a place named from this circumstance Succoth (Gen. 33:17). Booths were erected also at the feast of Tabernacles (q.v.), Lev. 23:42, 43, which commemorated the abode of the Israelites in the wilderness.
| boss (bos), the projecting center part of a shield: Job 15:26. |
|
botch (boch),
an inflamed sore or swelling on the skin, as a boil: often looked upon as an
indecent word describing an
affliction that was to be feared: Deut. 28:27,35.
bottomless pit,
hell (Rev. 9:2,11); especially, the abyss into which Satan is cast to mark
the beginning of a new age (Rev.
20:3).
box tree, a tree resembling the cypress, which was common m Lebanon: God promised to plant it in the desert along with the fir and pine (Isa. 41:19) in order to beautify the place of His sanctuary (1sa.60:13).
brasen (bra'zan), made of brass or bronze: as brazen rings (Ex. 27:4), brazen shields (I Kings 14:27).
brasen sea, a large brass basin in the Temple, thought to have contained water with which the priests cleansed themselves and the flesh of sacrificial victims before beginning the service: II Kings 25:13.
bray (bra), 1. to make a loud, harsh sound, as a donkey: Job 6:5. 2. to crush or pound into a powder: Prov. 27:22.
breastplate (brest'plat),
1. an embroidered cloth set with twelve jewels representing the twelve
tribes of Israel, worn
on the breast by the Jewish high priest: Ex. 28:4-30. 2. a piece of armor
for the breast: it was part of a sleeveless jacket
usually of leather and, often, strengthened with plates of iron (Rev. 9:9):
same as the harness in I Kings 22:34; II Chr. 18:33.
breeches (brich'iz), short linen drawers worn by priests: Ex. 38:42; Lev. 16:4.
bridechamber (brid'cham-bar), the room prepared especially for a bride. -children (or sons) of the bridechamber, the friends of the bridegroom who visited for a week to celebrate his marriage: Mark 2:19; Luke 5:34.
brigandine ( brig'an-den), a coat of armor, with metal plates fastened to leather or fabric: Jer. 46:4.
brimstone (brim'ston),
su1fur: used in its literal sense: Deut. 29:23: also, the noxious su1furic
gases that sometimes accompany earthquakes and volcanic eruptions: Gen.
19:24. It is sometimes used figuratively to mean "destruction" or
"punishment," as in Job 18:15; Rev. 9:17.
broad place, an open place within a city, usually near a gate, where the people met to conduct the business of the community: Jer. 5:1.
broidered (broi'dard),
1. having many different colors arranged in a pattern, as of streaks or
squares: Ezek. 16:10. 2.
checkered: Ex. 28:4.
bruit (brut), rumor; report: Jer. 10:22; Nah. 3:19.
| buckler (buk'lar), a small, round shield carried in the hand or strapped on the arm: II Sam. 22:31; Song 4:4. |
|
Bul (bul), the eighth month (October-November) of the Hebrew calendar (I Kings 6:38), having 29 or 30 days. It is the second month of the modern Hebrew calendar and is called Cheshvan.
bullock (bul'ak), a young bull, often used as a sign of youthful strength and energy: Ex. 29:3. A bullock "without blemish" refers to a whole, or noncastrated, bull; bullock in modem usage means a castrated bull."
burning ague (a'ga), a fever, possibly malaria: Lev. 26:16.
burnt offering, the sacrifice of an unblemished male animal taken from the flock, ceremonially slain, cut up, washed, and burnt on the altar, as a symbol of the adoration of God: Gen. 22:7,8. The ceremonial is given in detail in Leviticus 6:9.
burnt sacrifice, same as burnt offering: Ex. 30:9; Ps. 66:15.
byword (bi'wurd),
an object of ridicule; contemptible person or thing: II Chr. 7:20; Ps.
44:14.
