Viper.
VI'PER. This word in the O.T. possibly designates some particular species of hissing and venomous serpent, but its exact application cannot be determined. In the N.T. the Greek word thus rendered was…
Virgin
In a prophecy concerning our Lord, Isaiah (7:14) says, “A virgin [R.V. marg., ‘the virgin’] shall conceive, and bear a son” (comp. Luke 1:31-35). The people of the land of Zidon are thus referred to …
Vision.
VIS'ION. Num 24:4. In former times God was pleased to reveal himself, and communicate his will in visions, which were caused either in the night in ordinary sleep, Dan 7:1, or by day in a temporary t…
Vophsi
(rich), father of Nahbi, the Naphtalite spy. (Numbers 13:14) (B.C. before 1490.)
Vow
VOW, in the scriptural use, means a solemn religious promise or covenant by which one binds himself to do or suffer certain things, depending on God for power to accomplish them. The first instance o…
Vows
Voluntary promises which, when once made, were to be kept if the thing vowed was right. They were made under a great variety of circumstances (Gen. 28: 18-22; Lev. 7:16; Num. 30:2-13; Deut. 23:18; Ju…
Vulgate, The
the Latin version of the Bible. The influence which it exercised upon western Christianity is scarcely less than that of the LXX. upon the Greek churches. Both the Greek and the latin Vulgate have be…
Vulture.
VUL'TURE. In Lev 11:14, Deut 14:13, and Isa 34:15, in place of this word, we should probably read "black kite" (Milvus migrans). This is a bird which, except in the winter months, collects in Palesti…
Wafers
Thin cakes (Ex. 16:31; 29:2, 23; Lev. 2:4; 7:12; 8:26; Num. 6:15, 19) used in various offerings.
Wages.
WA'GES. When wages are first mentioned in the O.T., they were paid, not in money, but in kind. Gen 29:15, Ruth 4:20; Gen 30:28; Gen 31:7-8, Gen 31:41. But the Law was very strict in requiring daily p…
Wagon.
WAG'ON. The Egyptian wagon, which is well known to us from pictorial representations, consisted of two solid wooden discs connected with an axle, on which a body very similar to that of our wheelbarr…
Wail
WAIL, to mourn with loud and violent expressions of distress and despair. Eze 32:18.
Wailing-place, Jews’
A section of the western wall of the temple area, where the Jews assemble every Friday afternoon to bewail their desolate condition (Ps. 79:1, 4, 5). The stones in this part of the wall are of great …
Wall
Cities were surrounded by walls, as distinguished from “unwalled villages” (Ezek. 38:11; Lev. 25:29-34). They were made thick and strong (Num. 13:28; Deut. 3:5). Among the Jews walls were built of st…
Wall Of Partition
WALL OF PARTITION. Eph 2:14. See Temple.
Walls.
WALLS. The walls with which, in ancient times, all cities were surrounded, in contradistinction from open or unwalled villages, were generally built of earth or clay or sun-dried brick. Hence it was …
Wandering
Of the Israelites in the wilderness in consequence of their rebellious fears to enter the Promised Land (Num. 14:26-35). They wandered for forty years before they were permitted to cross the Jordan (…
Wandering In The Wilderness.
WANDERING IN THE WILDERNESS. See Wilderness, the, of the Wandering.
War.
WAR. From the nature of the arms and the customs of the ancients, their battles were truly murderous. Scarcely ever was any quarter given, except where the vanquished was retained as a slave, and con…
Ward,
WARD, a prison, or an apartment thereof. Gen 40:3; Acts 12:10. Also a garrison or military post, Neh 12:25, or a class or detachment of persons for any particular service. 1 Chr 9:23; 1 Chr 25:8; Neh…
Wardrobe
WARD'ROBE, the place where the royal robes or priests' vestments were deposited. 2 Kgs 22:14.
Wares
WARES. See Commerce.
Wars Of The Lord, The Book Of The
(Num. 21:14, 15), some unknown book so called (comp. Gen. 14:14-16; Ex. 17:8-16; Num. 14:40-45; 21:1-3, 21-25, 33-35; 31. The wars here recorded might be thus designated).
Washing
(Mark 7:1-9). The Jews, like other Orientals, used their fingers when taking food, and therefore washed their hands before doing so, for the sake of cleanliness. Here the reference is to the ablution…
Washing Of The Hands And Feet
WASHING OF THE HANDS AND FEET, THE, was rendered necessary and refreshing by Oriental customs and climate. The hands should be scrupulously clean, inasmuch as all persons at table put their fingers i…
Washing Of The Hands And Feet, The,
WASHING OF THE HANDS AND FEET, THE, was rendered necessary and refreshing by Oriental customs and climate. The hands should be scrupulously clean, inasmuch as all persons at table put their fingers i…
Washing The Hands And Feet
As knives and forks were not used in the East, in Scripture times, in eating, it was necessary that the hand, which was thrust into the common dish, should be scrupulously clean; and again, as sandal…
Watches
The periods into which the time between sunset and sunrise was divided. They are so called because watchmen relieved each other at each of these periods. There are frequent references in Scripture to…
Watches Of Night
The Jews, like the Greeks and Romans, divided the night into military watches instead of hours, each watch representing the period for which sentinels or pickets remained on duty. The proper Jewish r…
Watches Of The Night
WATCH'ES OF THE NIGHT. The original division of the night was into three watches - " the beginning of the watches," from sunset to 10 o'clock, Lam 2:19; "the middle watch," from 10 to 2 o'clock, Jud …