Sparrow.
SPAR'ROW. The original word might properly have been always translated, as it is generally, "bird " or "fowl." It denotes, indefinitely, some of the sparrow-like (passerine) species, which in multitu…
Sparta
a celebrated city of Greece, between whose inhabitants and the Jews a relationship was believed to subsist. Between the two nations a correspondence ensued.—Whitney. The act of the Jews and Spartans,…
Spear.
SPEAR. 1 Sam 13:22. See Arms.
Spearmen.
SPEAR'MEN. The word so translated in Acts 23:23 is of rare occurrence and of doubtful meaning, but it most probably refers to light-armed troops.
Speckled Bird
SPECK'LED BIRD. Jer 12:9. See Hyaena.
Spicery
Heb. nechoth, identified with the Arabic naka’at, the gum tragacanth, obtained from the astralagus, of which there are about twenty species found in Palestine. The tragacanth of commerce is obtained …
Spicery, Spices.
SPI'CERY, SPICES. The former word occurs in Gen 37:25, and should be the rendering instead of "spices" in Gen 43:11. It is believed to denote gum-tragacanth, the product of several species of Astraga…
Spices
Aromatic substances, of which several are named in Ex. 30. They were used in the sacred anointing oil (Ex. 25:6; 35:8; 1 Chr. 9:29), and in embalming the dead (2 Chr. 16:14; Luke 23:56; 24:1; John 19…
Spider,
SPI'DER, a well-known little creature of very singular structure and habits. The thinness and frailty of its web are made emblematic of a false hope and of the schemes of wicked men. Job 8:14; Isa 59…
Spies
When the Israelites reached Kadesh for the first time, and were encamped there, Moses selected twelve spies from among the chiefs of the divisions of the tribes, and sent them forth to spy the land o…
Spikenard,
SPIKE'NARD, an aromatic plant from which was made the costly ointment poured on Jesus' head and feet. Song 1:12; Song 4:13-14; Mark 14:3; John 12:3. There is little question that the spikenard was th…
Spin
SPIN, SPIN'NING. The nations of antiquity placed great stress upon this womanly occupation - indeed, it was a necessary duty, since the preparation of the materials, no less than the making of the dr…
Spin, Spinning.
SPIN, SPIN'NING. The nations of antiquity placed great stress upon this womanly occupation - indeed, it was a necessary duty, since the preparation of the materials, no less than the making of the dr…
Spinning
The notices of spinning in the Bible are confined to (Exodus 35:25,26; Proverbs 31:19; Matthew 6:28) The latter passage implies (according to the Authorized Version) the use of the same instruments w…
Spirit, Holy
See HOLY GHOST.
Spirit.
SPIR'IT. Both in Greek and Hebrew the word for this implies a "blowing" or "breathing;" its primary sense is "wind." In 2 Thess 2:8 it is used for breath, in Eccl 8:8 for the vital principle; while i…
Spiritual Body
SPIRITUAL BODY. Paul so calls the resurrection body, 1 Cor 15:44, which will be divested of all sensual and animal appetites, and be perfectly fitted for pure spiritual exercises and enjoyments, in p…
Spoil
SPOIL. Ex 3:22. The original word in this passage means "to recover property taken away by violence." 1 Sam 30:22.
Sponge,
SPONGE, a submarine substance, composed of fibres interwoven in a surprising manner, and surrounded by thin membranes, which arrange themselves in a cellular form. Matt 27:48. It absorbs a great quan…
Spouse.
SPOUSE. See Marriage.
Spring
(Heb. ‘ain, “the bright open source, the eye of the landscape”). To be carefully distinguished from “well” (q.v.). “Springs” mentioned in Josh. 10:40 (Heb. ‘ashdoth) should rather be “declivities” or…
Sprinkling
SPRINKLING, BLOOD OF. Heb 12:24. The Jewish high priest, on the great day of atonement, carried blood into the inner sanctuary and sprinkled it upon the mercy-seat. It was by this sprinkling of blood…
Sprinkling, Blood Of.
SPRINKLING, BLOOD OF. Heb 12:24. The Jewish high priest, on the great day of atonement, carried blood into the inner sanctuary and sprinkled it upon the mercy-seat. It was by this sprinkling of blood…
Stachys
Spike; an ear of corn, a convert at Rome whom Paul salutes (Rom. 16:9).
Stacte
(Heb. nataph), one of the components of the perfume which was offered on the golden altar (Ex. 30:34; R.V. marg., “opobalsamum”). The Hebrew word is from a root meaning “to distil,” and it has been b…
Standards
The Assyrian standards were emblematic of their religion, and were therefore the more valuable as instruments for leading and guiding men in the army. The forms were imitations of animals (1), emblem…
Star Of The Wise Men.
STAR OF THE WISE MEN. Matt 2:1-21. There are two theories in regard to this episode in our Lord's infancy. The first theory is that the star which the wise men saw was a miraculous star beyond astron…
Star, Morning
A name figuratively given to Christ (Rev. 22:16; comp. 2 Pet. 1:19). When Christ promises that he will give the “morning star” to his faithful ones, he “promises that he will give to them himself, th…
Stargazers
(Isa. 47:13), those who pretend to tell what will occur by looking upon the stars. The Chaldean astrologers “divined by the rising and setting, the motions, aspects, colour, degree of light, etc., of…
Stars.
STARS. Under the name of stars the Hebrews comprehended constellations, planets, and heavenly bodies - indeed, all luminaries except the sun and moon. The Psalmist, to exalt the power and omniscience…