In the Bible, the term "leech" is mentioned specifically in the book of Proverbs. The leech is a bloodsucking worm, often found in freshwater environments, and is known for its parasitic behavior. In biblical times, leeches were likely familiar to the people of the ancient Near East, both as a natural phenomenon and for their use in medical practices.

Biblical Reference:

The primary reference to the leech in the Bible is found in Proverbs 30:15. The verse in the Berean Standard Bible reads:

"The leech has two daughters: 'Give, Give!' they cry. There are three things that are never satisfied, four that never say, 'Enough!'"

In this passage, the leech is used metaphorically to illustrate insatiable greed and desire. The imagery of the leech's daughters crying "Give, Give!" suggests an unending appetite, reflecting the nature of the leech itself, which feeds on the blood of its host without apparent satisfaction. This metaphor serves as a moral lesson on the dangers of unchecked greed and the perpetual dissatisfaction that can accompany it.

Symbolism and Interpretation:

In the context of Proverbs, the leech symbolizes the human tendency towards avarice and the relentless pursuit of more, whether it be wealth, power, or other worldly desires. The leech's insatiable nature is a cautionary emblem, warning against the spiritual and moral decay that can result from a life driven by greed.

The mention of the leech alongside other insatiable entities in Proverbs 30:15-16—such as Sheol, the barren womb, the earth that is never satisfied with water, and fire that never says, "Enough"—emphasizes the theme of unquenchable desire. These images collectively serve to remind the faithful of the importance of contentment and the dangers of allowing material or selfish desires to dominate one's life.

Cultural and Historical Context:

In ancient times, leeches were not only known for their natural behavior but also used in medical practices, particularly for bloodletting. This practice was based on the belief that removing blood could cure or prevent various ailments. While the medical use of leeches is not directly referenced in the Bible, their presence in the text reflects an awareness of their characteristics and the broader cultural understanding of their role in both nature and medicine.

Moral and Spiritual Lessons:

The biblical reference to the leech serves as a powerful metaphor for the spiritual teachings found throughout Scripture. It underscores the importance of recognizing and curbing one's desires, fostering a spirit of contentment, and seeking fulfillment in God rather than in material possessions or worldly achievements. The leech's portrayal in Proverbs encourages believers to examine their own lives for areas where greed or insatiable desires may be taking root, and to seek God's guidance in cultivating a heart of gratitude and satisfaction in His provision.Leech

[HORSE-LEECH]

1. (n.) See Leach.

2. (v. t.) See Leach.

3. (n.) The border or edge at the side of a sail.

4. (n.) A physician or surgeon; a professor of the art of healing.

5. (n.) Any one of numerous genera and species of annulose worms, belonging to the order Hirudinea, or Bdelloidea, esp. those species used in medicine, as Hirudo medicinalis of Europe, and allied species.

6. (n.) A glass tube of peculiar construction, adapted for drawing blood from a scarified part by means of a vacuum.

7. (v. t.) To treat as a surgeon; to doctor; as, to leech wounds.

8. (v. t.) To bleed by the use of leeches.

5936. aluqah -- a leech
... 5935, 5936. aluqah. 5937 . a leech. Transliteration: aluqah Phonetic
Spelling: (al-oo-kaw') Short Definition: leech. Word Origin ...
/hebrew/5936.htm - 5k

1 John iv. 17-21
... The fear of God so wounds as doth the leech's knife; [2457] it takes away
the rottenness, and seems to make the wound greater. Behold ...
/.../ten homilies on the epistle of john to the parthians/homily ix 1 john iv.htm

The Tenth Commandment
... defines covetousness Plus velle quam sat est; to desire more than enough;' to aim
at a great estate; to be like the daughter of the horse-leech, crying, Give ...
/.../watson/the ten commandments/2 1 the tenth commandment.htm

Letter L
... Lee, Silas "Received 1827, Located 1838 * Lee, Timothy "Received 1805, Located 1812 *
Lee, Wilson "Received 1784, Died 1804 * Leech, Samuel "Received ...
/.../christianbookshelf.org/bangs/an alphabetical list of m e preachers/letter l.htm

Jesus Christus Unser Heiland. Christ, who Freed Our Souls from ...
... 7. Lo! he saith himself, "Ye weary, Come to me, and I will cheer ye;" Needless
were the leech's skill To the souls that be strong and well. ...
/.../bacon/the hymns of martin luther/xiv jesus christus unser heiland.htm

The Murket's Sacrifice
... The gods blast him in his knavery! Now is my precious amulet in his hands. Would
it were white-hot and clung to him like a leech!". Kenkenes said nothing. ...
/...//christianbookshelf.org/miller/the yoke/chapter xxxvi the murkets sacrifice.htm

The Tomb of the Pharaoh
... On the eastern side of the river there was only a feeble glimmer from a window where
some chanting leech stood by a bedside, or where a feast was still on. ...
//christianbookshelf.org/miller/the yoke/chapter xxiii the tomb of.htm

Of the Words Themselves in General.
... The avaricious man is not satisfied with gold, nor the ambitious man with honour;
but still they are crying with the loch leech, give, give! ...
/.../brown/christ the way the truth and the life/chapter ii of the words.htm

The Margin of the Nile
... "Not so. I am hunting herbs to make simples for the sick.". "Of a truth? Then never
before now have I craved for an illness that I might select my leech.". ...
//christianbookshelf.org/miller/the yoke/chapter xiv the margin of.htm

The Bliss of the Glorified
... It is as insatiable as the horse-leech, and for ever cries, "Give, give!" But such
hunger was never known in heaven, and never can be, for they are satisfied ...
/.../spurgeon/spurgeons sermons volume 62 1916/the bliss of the glorified.htm

Receiving Agents.
... Lebanon, A. Bradshaw. Hillsboro, GW Richardson, PM Farmington, SW Calvert.
ALABAMA. Huntsville, William Leech. Perry, CH, GW Brame. ...
/.../leland/the national preacher vol 2 no 7 dec 1827/receiving agents.htm

Leech (1 Occurrence)
... 7. (vt) To treat as a surgeon; to doctor; as, to leech wounds. 8. (vt) To bleed
by the use of leeches. Multi-Version Concordance Leech (1 Occurrence). ...
/l/leech.htm - 7k

Horse-leech (1 Occurrence)
Horse-leech. Horseleech, Horse-leech. Horseman . ... 1. (n.) A large blood-sucking
leech (Haemopsis vorax), of Europe and Northern Africa. ...
/h/horse-leech.htm - 7k

Horseleach (1 Occurrence)
... hors'-lech (`aluqah; compare Arabic `aluqah, "ghoul," and `alaqah, "leech," from
root `aliq, "to cling"; Septuagint bdella, "leech"): The word occurs only once ...
/h/horseleach.htm - 7k

Horseleech (1 Occurrence)
... The medicinal leech (Hirudo medicinalis), besides other species of leeches,
are common in the waters of Syria. Multi-Version Concordance ...
/h/horseleech.htm - 7k

Leach (1 Occurrence)
... Noah Webster's Dictionary 1. (n.) See Leech. ... 6. (vi) To part with soluble
constituents by percolation. 7. (n.) See Leech, a physician. Int. ...
/l/leach.htm - 7k

Lee (3 Occurrences)

/l/lee.htm - 7k

Horseman (13 Occurrences)

/h/horseman.htm - 11k

Leek

/l/leek.htm - 7k

Touch (82 Occurrences)
... 22. (vi) To be brought, as a sail, so close to the wind that its weather leech shakes.
23. (n.) The act of touching, or the state of being touched; contact. ...
/t/touch.htm - 35k

Sufficiency (18 Occurrences)
... (YLT). Proverbs 30:15 To the leech 'are' two daughters, 'Give, give, Lo, three things
are not satisfied, Four have not said 'Sufficiency;' (YLT). ...
/s/sufficiency.htm - 12k

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