Glossary of Biblical Terms and Expressions

Achaia - The Roman province of Achaia was created when the country of Greece was divided into two provincial territories, Macedonia and Achaia, by Emperor Augustus in 27 B.C.

Anakim – a race of giants – sons of Anak - men of great stature.

Antinomian - an antinomian is one who takes the principle of salvation by faith and divine grace to the point of asserting that the saved are not bound to follow the moral law contained in the Ten Commandments. (See Nicolaitans)

Aphek – meaning “strength”. The term was applied to several forts or strongholds in the OT.

Aram – Another or alternate name for Syria. Both names refer to the same nation. Following the Noahic flood (Gen. 6:13-9:19), Shem became the father of Aram, whose descendants became the people known as Arameans (Gen,19:22). Abraham’s brother lived in Aram, near the Tigris and Euphrates Rivers. There was often conflict between Aram/Syria and Israel.

Asherah - a fertility goddess. Asherah poles were wooden poles, often erected in pairs, and worshipped as idols representing Asherah.

Bath - liquid measure – about 5.8 gallons (6 hins)

Beget – to father, or sire;  (past tense: begat or begot fathered or became the father (of))

Beka - weight measure – about 2 tenths of an ounce (1/2 shekel)

Belial  - a name for Satan, Devil

Buckler – a small round shield gripped by a center handle, or worn on the forearm, and used to parry or ward off blows, usually against one opponent.

Cab -.dry measure – about 1.1 dry quarts

Cherethites – The Cherethites, like the Pelethites, were bodyguards to David and known for their loyalty to David, especially during times of crisis.

Cherubim – a celestial being representing strength and majesty. Note that the suffix “im” in the bible indicates the plural nouns, so it refers to more than one cherub.

Chinneroth, Sea of (Chinnereth)– The Sea of Galilee

Chrysoprase (Rev. 21:20) – A stunning apple-green type of quartz gemstone.

Cor - liquid measure – about 58 gallons (10 baths)

Cor (NT) -. dry measure – about 10 bushels

Cor -. dry measure – about 6¼ bushels (10 ephahs)

Cubit - length measure – about 18 inches

Day of the Lord - in prophetic writing, is the day of judgment when God will intervene directly in world affairs.

Denarius - money measure – about a day’s wage

Ephah – dry measure – about two thirds of a bushel – (ten omers)

Ephod – a sacred vestment worn originally by the high priest, beginning with Aaron, and later by ordinary priests. Some scholars suggest that it contained stones used to cast lots.

Fathom - length measure – about 6 feet

Fear – The word “fear” appears frequently in scripture, most often in the context of fear of the LORD. And while the word can mean dread or terror, it implies much more. Fear of God is a healthy thing: if there is not an element of fear in our relationship with God, our view of Him in anemic. Even a casual read of scripture will reveal that dread is just one of many aspects of what this word connotes regarding God: it means to honor, respect, hold in awe and reverence, among others. Fear (of God) should be tempered with our understanding of many other attributes of God, some of the others being: loving, gracious, merciful, forgiving, faithful, and long-suffering (patient).

Fortress - typically, a mountain castle. But not every fortress mentioned in the Bible fits our image of a lofty and precipitous cliff with the castle upon its crest. It can be a metaphor for a refuge - a person or faith as seen in the scenes and events in David’s early life.

Furlong - length measure – about 1/8 mile (660 feet)

Gerah - weight measure – about 2 hundredths of an ounce (1/20 shekel)

Gittith - a stringed instrument of music. The Targum speaks of “a harp which David brought from Gath.” It is the only stringed instrument named in the titles of the Psalms.

Hellenists - people of the ancient world who spoke Greek and embraced Greek cultural ideals.

High tower - The LXX. and Vulgate have “helper.” (Comp. Psalm 9:9.) The word comes in so abruptly, that doubtless the addition in Samuel, “and my refuge, my Savior, thou savest me from violence,” was part of the original hymn, completing the rhythm.

Hin - liquid measure – about 1 gallon (12 logs)

Homer - liquid measure – about 58 gallons (10 baths)

Homer -.dry measure – about 6¼ bushels (10 ephahs)

Idolaters - idol worshippers. Most idols spoken of in the Bible were 3-dimensional images made of gold, silver, stone and wood; but idols can be in many forms – anything that takes God’s place as the object of our devotion and worship.

Horn of my salvation - The allusion seems to be not to a means or weapon of attack, like the horn of an animal, but to a mountain peak (called “horn” in many languages) - which often afforded David a safe retreat. In such instances, it could be rendered “my peak of safety.” Horns were also a prominent feature of the alter in the Holy Temple – again, signifying the power of God‘s salvation.

Hyssop – A herb in the mint family that was prolific in the Middle East. It was used for cleansing, medicinal, and flavoring purposes.  The Bible mentions hyssop several times, mostly in the Old Testament.  In Leviticus, God commanded His is people to use hyssop in the ceremonial cleansing of people and houses. It was sometimes used in conjunction with cedar wood.

Jeshurun - A poetic name for Israel. It occurs only 4 times in the Bible:  in Deut. 32:15; 33:4-5; 33:26; and in Is.44:2. It is believed to symbolize righteousness and the ideal state of the nation under God's guidance.

Judaizer - Those in the early church who taught a combination of God’s grace and human effort was required. They reasoned that such a grand gift as forgiveness from a holy God must require some kind of payment from us.

Kadesh – Holy city (generally used as a prefix – such as “Kadesh-Barnea”

Kilometer - length measure – 3280.84 feet

Kiriath – Kiriath in Hebrew means “city’ or “town”, and is a prefix found in the OT, as in “Kiriath-arba” (in Joshua) and Kiriath-sepher (in Judges 1).

Let – This common word can have an uncommon meaning in the Bible. The common meaning of this verb is to allow or permit. But in some instances in the Bible, it can have the opposite meaning – to restrain or prevent!

Leviathan - A biblical sea monster. Often mistakenly identified as a whale, this creature is perceived as larger and meaner than a whale.

Log - liquid measure – about 1/3 quart

Long Cubit - length measure – about 21 inches

LXX – The Septuagint, a Greek translation of the Old Testament

Macedonia - The Roman province of Macedonia was created when the country of Greece was divided into two provincial territories, Macedonia and Achaia, by Emperor Augustus in 27 B.C.

Maschil – (Maskil) - a literary or musical term of uncertain meaning found in the book of Psalms.

Meunites - The Meunites were an ancient people group who likely lived somewhere south of Judah that occasionally engaged in battle with Judah and had some descendants numbered among them after the exile. They are mentioned several times in the Old Testament, but historical details are scarce. They are first mentioned in 1 Chr. 4:41, when some Meunites were destroyed by descendants of Simeon looking for pasture. They are mentioned again in 2 Chr.20:1, when they apparently joined the Moabites and Ammonites in attacking Judah during the reign of King Jehoshaphat. Later in the story (2 Chr.20:10, 22, 23), they appear to be associated with Mount Seir. Later, King Uzziah fought the Meunites in 2 Chr.26:7, gaining the victory due to God’s help. Finally, Ezra 2:50 and Neh.7:52 list descendants of Meunim among those returning from the Babylonian exile.

Michtam – A writing; (a poem or song) found in the titles of some psalms. Some translate the word "golden" (precious). It is also rendered "tablet inscription" The root of the word means to stamp or engrave, thus regarded as a composition so precious as to be worthy to be engraved on a durable tablet for preservation.

Mile - length measure – 5280 feet

Mina - weight measure – about 1¼ pounds (50 shekels)

Negev - a desert and semidesert region of southern Israel. The Negev's largest city is Beersheba, in the northern part. Its southern boundary is the Gulf of Aqaba and the port city of Eilat.

Neginoth - songs with instrumental accompaniment, found in the titles some psalms; rendered "stringed instruments," It denotes all kinds of stringed instruments, as the "harp," "psaltery," "viol," etc. The "chief musician on Neginoth" is the leader of that part of the temple choir which played on stringed instruments.

Nicolaitans - The word "Nicolaitans" occurs only in chapter 2 of Revelation, where, because of  their beliefs and practices, God says “which I hate” twice! (2:6 and 2:15). The Nicolaitans subscribed to a repulsive doctrine that apparently prevailed at Pergamos as well as at Ephesus. They taught that God’s grace gives license to engage in all manner of wickedness - that under the gospel dispensation of grace, the moral law did not apply because faith alone is necessary for salvation; and so they condoned the most abominable practices of the lewdness and adultery, as well as sacrificing to idols. (See Antinomian)

Omer -.dry measure – about 2 dry quarts

Omer -.dry measure – about 2 dry quarts – (one tenth of an ephah)

Palsy – Paralysis – often accompanied by involuntary tremors

Pelethites – The Pelethites, like the Cherethites, were bodyguards to David and known for their loyalty to David, especially during times of crisis.

Pentateuch - The first five books of the Old Testament.

Psaltery - an ancient musical instrument like a dulcimer but played by plucking the strings with the fingers.

Raca – (Mt.5:22) an Aramaic word conveying the sense of “empty,” “worthless,” or “fool.” - devoid of sense or value.

Rod - length measure – about 10.5 feed (6 long cubits)

Saints – As used in the Old Testament: People who put their belief and trust in God, their Heavenly Father. As used in the New Testament: People who put their belief and trust in Jesus, the risen Christ, the Son of God, as their Redeemer.

Scythians – A nomadic group from north of the Black Sea. From about 800 BC to 200 AD, they were known for their horse-riding and archery skills, and as fierce fighting.

Selah – A Hebrew word found primarily in psalms which may be a musical instruction calling for a pause in the singing of the psalm to allow contemplation; or it may mean “forever.”

Septuagint – Latin for 70, the number of translators, each in isolation, who are said to have translated the Hebrew texts into Greek in the third to first century BC, and getting identical results. 70 (LXX Roman numeral for 70), is therefore a name for the Greek translation of the Old Testament.

Shechem – A town SW of Samaria, where Abram (Abraham) received God’s promise of the ‘promised land.’ In the Promised Land, it was given to the Kohathites as a Levitical city of refuge; and where Joseph’s remains were buried, and where Joshua later renewed Israel’s covenant with God. Shechem was a place where both man’s sinfulness; and God’s faithfulness were revealed.

Shekel - weight measure – about 4 tenths of an ounce (20 Gerahs)

Sheol – The Hebrew underworld of the dead.  Possible synonyms: grave, hades, hell.

Shield – a larger shield intended to protect the entire body; and sometimes used part of a “shield wall formation” to protect multiple warriors. It differs from a buckler, which is smaller, round and lighter form of protection gripped by a center handle, or worn on the forearm, and used to parry or fend off blows.

Shihor River – A river described as lying “before Egypt” (KJV) or “east of Egypt” (RSV) and cited as the southern extremity of the land which remained to be conquered in Joshua’s old age (Josh 13:3). The identification of Shihor depends on the location of the city of Raamses, which has been identified with the modern San el-Hagar (Tanis) and with Qantir, fifteen miles south of San el-Hagar. At any rate, Shihor appears to have been one of the (easternmost) arms of the Nile, as it approaches the Mediterranean Sea, perhaps the Pelusiac or the Bubastite.

Shoshannim-Eduth - It seems to be the name of a musical instrument.

Song of degrees – A song of steps, a title given to each of the fifteen psalms, 120-134 inclusive. The probable origin of this name is the circumstance that these psalms came to be sung by the people ascending steps up to Jerusalem to attend the three great festivals (Deuteronomy 16:16). They were well fitted for being sung by the way from their peculiar form, and from the sentiments they express. "They are characterized by brevity, by a key-word, by epanaphora (repetition), and by their epigrammatic style. More than half of them are cheerful, and all of them hopeful." They are sometimes called "Pilgrim Songs." Four of them were written by David, one (127) by Solomon, and the rest are anonymous.

Sons of Belial – worthless fellows

Span - length measure – about 9 inches

Stadion - length measure – about 607 feet

Syria – Another or alternate name for Aram. Both names refer to the same nation. Following the Noahic flood (Gen. 6:13-9:19), Shem became the father of Aram (Syria), whose descendants became the people known as Arameans (Gen,19:22).Abraham’s brother lived in Aram, near the Tigris and Euphrates Rivers. There was often conflict between Aram/Syria and Israel.

Talent - gold – about 75.4 pounds

Talent - silver – about 75.4 pounds

Talent - weight measure – about 75 pounds (60 minas)

Teraphim – Idols or figures of human form used for worshipping false gods.

Tetrarch – The governor of one of the four Roman divisions or provinces of a country.

Urim and Thummim – First mentioned in Exodus 28:30, they were objects placed in the breastplate of judgement worn by Aaron and his successors and used to seek God’s will and judgment. The words are literally interpreted as: Urim (lights); and Thummim (perfections). Taken together, they are regarded as meaning ‘revelations and truth’.

 

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