Sacred Scripture
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Baasha (Hebrew: Ba'āh, 'Bold' or 'Wicked') (BAASA (EBR. BA'ĀH « ARDITTO » O « MALEFICO »))
BAASHA (Hebrew: Ba'āh, 'Bold' or 'Wicked'). - Third king of Israel (908-885 B.C.), son of Ahijah, of Issachar, commander of the army of… -
Babylonians (BABILONESI)
BABYLONIANS. - Peoples who, from the dawn of history, inhabited the "land between the two rivers" (Mesopotamia), the Tigris and Euphrates,… -
Bacuez, Nicolas-Louis
BACUEZ, NICOLAS-LOUIS. - Sulpician exegete and ascetical writer, b. at Loisan in Picardy (France) on 3 Feb. 1820, d. at Paris, in the… -
Baeza, Diego de
BAEZA, Diego de. - Spanish Jesuit, b. at Ponferrada (León) in 1582, entered the novitiate of Salamanca in 1600, taught philosophy at… -
Bahrdt, Karl Friedrich
BAHRDT, KARL FRIEDRICH. - Protestant theologian, the "enfant terrible" of theological "Aufklärung," b. 20 Aug. 1741 at Bischofswerda, d. at… -
Bahurim
BAHURIM. - A locality (Heb. Bahurim "young men": district of the young men; according to J. Fürst and J. P. van Kasteren: "deep place") of… -
Bala
BALAH. - 1. Servant (Heb. Bilhah; Septuagint: Βαλλή) given to Rachel by her father Laban at her marriage. Seeing herself barren, her… -
Balaam (Hebrew: Bil'ām) (BALAAM (EBR. BIL'ÂM))
BALAAM (Hebrew: Bil'ām). - Magician, son of Beor, from the city of Pethor on the right bank of the Euphrates, in Mesopotamia (Num. 22:5-6;… -
Balak (BALAC)
BALAK. - Moabite king, son of Zippor, at the time when the Hebrews were about to take possession of Palestine (Num. 22-24; mentioned in… -
Balbi (Balbus, De Balbis), Giovanni
BALBI (Balbus, De Balbis), Giovanni. - Dominican scholar, famous author of the Catholicon, about which we have the few biographical notices… -
Baldad (Hebrew: Bildadh) (BALDAD (EBR. BILDADH))
BALDAD (Hebrew: Bildadh). - One of the three figures (with Eliphaz and Zophar) who went to their common friend Job (v.) to comfort him in… -
Balestri, Giuseppe
BALESTRI, GIUSEPPE. - Augustinian Coptologist and biblical scholar, b. 2 Dec. 1866 at Vernio (Florence), d. 29 Apr. 1939. His teacher was… -
Bamah (Heb. "height"; plural Bāmāth) (BAMÁH (EBR. «ALTURA»; PLURALE BĀMĀTH))
BAMAH (Heb. "height"; plural Bāmāth). - In biblical language, these are places of worship - idolatrous and Yahwistic - often erected on… -
Banaiah (Heb. Bēnāyāh[ā]) (BANAIA (EBR. BĒNĀJĀH[Ā]))
BANAIAH (Heb. Bēnāyāh[ā]). - Son of the priest Jehoiada, the most illustrious of the thirty mighty men who made up David's bodyguard (II… -
Baptism of Jesus (BATTESIMO DI GESÙ)
BAPTISM OF JESUS. - The scene narrated by the Synoptics (Mt. 3:13-17; Mk. 1:9-13; Lk. 3:21-22) and alluded to by John (Jn. 1:32-34) can… -
Baptism of John (BATTESIMO DI GIOVANNI)
BAPTISM OF JOHN. - It is the baptism that the precursor (whence the epithet "Baptist" = "baptizer") administered on the banks of the… -
Barabbas (in Aramaic means "son of the father"; spelling uncertain in the Greek text) (BARABBA (IN ARAMAICO SIGNIFICA «FIGLIO DEL PADRE»; ORTOGRAFIA INCERTA NEL TESTO GRECO))
BARABBAS (in Aramaic it means "son of the father"; the spelling is uncertain in the Greek text). - A criminal whose release the Jews asked… -
Barachiah (Heb. Berekhjāh[ā] = "blessed by Jahweh") (BARACHIA (EBR. BEREKHJĀH[Ā] = «BENEDETTO DA JAHWEH»))
BARACHIAH (Heb. Berekhjāh[ā] = "blessed by Jahweh"). - Name of eight biblical figures: a son of Zerubbabel (1 Chron. 3:20), the father of… -
Barak (Heb. Bāraq "lightning") (BARAC (EBR. BĀRAQ «FULMINE»))
BARAK (Heb. Bāraq "lightning"). - Collaborator of Deborah (v.), son of Abinoam, born at Kedesh of Naphtali (Judg. 4, 5). Called by Deborah,… -
Bārāythā' (BĀRĀJTHĀ')
BĀRĀYTHĀ'. - Teaching that is "exterior, extraneous" (cf. in canon law the Extravagantes), that is, not included in the Miñāh (v.), the… -
Barcellona, Antonino
BARCELLONA, ANTONINO. - Oratorian theologian, b. in Palermo on 22 Nov. 1726, d. there on 28 June (5 May, according to A. Narbone) 1805.… -
Bar Iesu (Βαρησοῦς: "son of Jesus") (BAR IESU (ΒΑΡΙΗΣΟΎΣ: « FIGLIO DI GESÙ »))
BAR IESU (Βαρησοῦς: "son of Jesus"). - A Jew devoted to magic, a "pseudoprophet" nicknamed Elymas ('Εὐχάς'), a term of Arabic origin… -
Bar Iona (Bariona) (BAR IONA (ΒΑΡΙΩΝΑ͂Σ))
BAR IONA (Bariona). - Patronymic surname of the apostle Simon surnamed Peter (Mt. 16:17); it is an Aramaic form (bar Jōnā) to be translated… -
Bar Kōkhēbhā
BAR KŌKHĒBHĀ. - Leader of the last revolt of the Jews under the emperor Hadrian. His name has come down to us in various forms. Christian… -
Bar Qappara
BAR QAPPARA. - Palestinian rabbi (early 3rd century AD), one of the oldest disciples of R. Jehudhah han-Nasi, whom he assisted in the… -
Barradas, Sebastião
BARRADAS, SEBASTIÃO. - Portuguese Jesuit, b. in Lisbon in 1542, entered the novitiate there (1558), d. at Coimbra on 14 April 1615.… -
Barret, John
BARRET, JOHN. - English Carmelite, a native of King's Lynn (Norfolk), d. 12 July 1593 at Norwich. He took his degree in 1533 at the… -
Barsabbas (Gr. Barasbâs, "Son of Saba or Šēbhā") (BARSABA (GR. ΒΑΡΑΣΒΑ͂Σ «FIGLIO DI SABA O ŠĒBHĀ»))
BARSABBAS (Gr. Barasbâs, "Son of Saba or Šēbhā"). - A patronymic surname of two disciples of the Apostles, who are supposed by some (e.g.,… -
Bartimaeus (Gr. Bartimaîos) (BARTIMEO (ΒΑΡΤΙΜΑ͂Σ))
BARTIMAEUS (Gr. Bartimaîos). - A blind beggar, healed by Jesus in the territory of Jericho during his last journey to Jerusalem. Only Mk.… -
Baruch (Heb. "Benedetto") (BARUCH (EBR. «BENEDETTO»))
BARUCH (Heb. "Benedetto"). - Son of Neriah, secretary of Jeremiah (v.), whose oracles he wrote down, and his faithful companion during the… -
Barzillai (Hebrew Barzillai) (BERZELLAI (EBR. BARZILLAJ))
BARZILLAI (HEBREW BARZILLAI). - A wealthy landowner of Rogelim in Gilead. He hosted David as a fugitive because of Absalom's rebellion (II… -
Basam (BASAN)
BASAM. - Region of northern Transjordan (northeast of Palestine). The Hebrew name Bāfān is generally used with the article; it was a land… -
Batanea
BATANEA. - A district (toparchy) of northern Transjordan in the Greco-Roman period, one of the three (along with Trachonitis and Auranitis)… -
Bath Qol (BATH QÓL)
BATH QOL. - A supernatural voice manifesting a divine warning to man, according to the belief that spread in Judaism around the 2nd century… -
Bathsheba (Hebrew Bath-Sheba'; Septuagint: Βηραθβέε and Βηθαθβέε) (BETHSAIBA (EBR. BATH-SEBA'; SETTANTA: ΒΗΡΑΤΒΈΕ E ΒΗΘΑΤΒΈΕ))
BATHSHEBA (Hebrew Bath-Sheba'; Septuagint: Βηραθβέε and Βηθαθβέε). - Wife of Uriah the Hittite (II Sam. 11, 3). She was sinfully loved by… -
Bathuel (Hebrew: Bethá'el) (BATHUEL (EBR. BÉTHÁ'ÉL))
BATHUEL (Hebrew: Bethá'el). - Son of Nahor and father of Rebekah (Gen. 22:23; 24:24). When Eliezer, Abraham's servant, asked for Rebekah as… -
Baur, Ferdinand Christian
BAUR, FERDINAND CHRISTIAN. - Protestant theologian, b. at Schmieden on 22 June 1792, d. at Tübingen on 2 Dec. 1860. He studied at the… -
Beatitudes, Evangelical (BEATITUDINI EVANGELICHE)
BEATITUDES, EVANGELICAL. - Proclamations (Mt. 5:3-10) that begin the "Sermon on the Mount" (Mt. 5-7), addressed by Jesus to the "disciples"… -
Beatty, Chester, Papiri
BEATTY, CHESTER, papiri. - A group of 12 lots of Greek papyri, purchased in 1930 and 1931 in Egypt by A. Chester B., coming perhaps from… -
Bebo of Bamberg (BÉBO DI BAMBERG)
BEBO OF BAMBERG. - A deacon of the 11th century, probably a member of the famous "Schola Bambergensis" founded by St. Henry the Emperor.… -
Beck, Christian Daniel
BECK, CHRISTIAN DANIEL. - Lutheran theologian and philologist, b. in Leipzig on 22 Jan. 1757, d. there on 13 Dec. 1832. He studied ancient… -
Beelen, Johann Theodor
BEELEN, JOHANN THEODOR. - Exegete, b. in Amsterdam on 12 Jan. 1807, canon at Liège, doctor and professor at the Catholic University of… -
Beelphegor (Hebrew Ba'al-Pe'or) (BEELPHEGOR (EBR. BA'AL-PE'ÔR))
BEELPHEGOR (Hebrew Ba'al-Pe'or). - It was originally the name of a divinity, the Phoenician Ba'al (v.), which took various titles from the… -
Beelsephon (Hebrew Ba'al Şephon) (BEELSEPHON (EBR. BA'AL ŞÉPHÔN))
BEELSEPHON (Hebrew Ba'al Şephon). - A locality on the Isthmus of Suez toward the Red Sea, not better identified, near which the Hebrews… -
Beelzebub
BEELZEBUB. - Form of the Vulgate based on the reading of a few Greek codices of the New Testament, for which Beelzebul is to be preferred,… -
Behemoth (BĒHĒMÖTH)
BEHEMOTH. - Plural of bēhēmāh, a Hebrew word of generic meaning (= "beast"). Among the ancient translators, some simply transliterated the… -
Belial
BELIAL. - A term that in the Hebrew Bible (28 times) indicates the hidden wickedness at work in the world, later becoming the name of the… -
Belser, Johannes EV
BELSER, JOHANNES EV. - New Testament exegete, b. at Billingendorf in Württemberg on 20 Oct. 1850, d. there on 20 Oct. 1916. Ordained priest… -
Belshazzar (Greek and Vulgate version; Heb. Bēl-Šar-Šar, from Assyrian Bēl-Šar-Ṣur: "Bel protects the king") (BALTASSAR (VERSIONE GRECA E VOLGATA; EBR. BĒL-ŠAR-SAR, DALL'ASSIRO BĒL-ŠAR-SUR: «BĒL PROTEGGE IL RE»))
BELSHAZZAR (Greek and Vulgate version; Heb. Bēl-Šar-Šar, from Assyrian Bēl-Šar-Ṣur: "Bel protects the king"). - King of the Neo-Chaldean… -
Ben 'Asher (BEN 'ASÉR)
BEN 'ASHER. - A family of Masoretes of Tiberias, perhaps belonging to the sect of the Karaites (v.), to whom is due the present vocalic and… -
Benedictus
BENEDICTUS. - Canticle that Zechariah uttered at the birth of his son John the Precursor (Lk. 1:67-79), so named from the first word in the… -
Ben-Hadad (Hebrew Ben-Hâdhad "Son of Hadad"; Septuagint ΥἹῸΣ ἈΔΈΡ) (BENADAD (EBR. BEN-HÂDHAD «FIGLIO DI HADAD»; SETTANTA ΥἹῸΣ ἈΔΈΡ))
BEN-HADAD (Hebrew Ben-Hâdhad "Son of Hadad"; Septuagint ΥἹῸΣ ἈΔΈΡ). - Three kings of Aram-Damascus: B. I, son of Tabrimmon, because of the… -
Benjamin (Heb. Binyamīn) (BENIAMIN (EBR. BINJAMĪN))
BENJAMIN (Heb. Binyamīn). - The last son of Jacob. Rachel, dying, when giving birth to him near Ephrath (Bethlehem), had called him Ben-oni… -
Ben-Naphtali, Mōsheh Ben-Dāwīdh (BEN-NAPHTĀLĪ, MŌŠEH BEN-DĀWĪDH)
BEN-NAPHTALI, MŌSHEH BEN-DĀWĪDH. - Masorete who lived around the middle of the 10th century in Palestine, not in Baghdad, as some… -
Berea
BEREA. - Ancient name of three cities. 1) B. of MACEDONIA (Lat. Beroea). An important city at the foot of Mount Bermius (present-day… -
Berenice (Bernice)
BERENICE (BERNICE). - Sister of Agrippa II, daughter of King Herod Agrippa I (d. 44 AD). She married Herod, king of Chalcis, her father's… -
Berossus (BEROSSO)
BEROSSUS. - Priest of Bel (Marduk) at the Babylonian temple É-sag-ila, b. ca. 340, d. at Cos, it seems, where in old age he repaired… -
Bersabea
BERSABEA. - One of the most ancient localities of Palestine, to which are linked the names of the first Patriarchs, who repeatedly pitched… -
Bestiaries (BESTIARI)
BESTIARIES. - Didactic-moral books of the Middle Ages, in Latin or in the vernacular, in verse or in prose, containing the description of… -
Bethabara
BETHABARA. - Name that Origen (PG 14, 270) substituted for "Bethany" in Jn. 1:28, since he had not traced any locality of this name on the… -
Bethania
BETHANIA. - Name of two localities in Palestine. 1) A village near Jerusalem on the eastern slope of the Mount of Olives, 15 stadia (about… -
Bethel (Hebrew Bēth-'Ēl = "House of God") (BETHEL (EBR. BĚTH-'ĚL = « CASA DI DIO »))
BETHEL (Hebrew Bēth-'Ēl = "House of God"). - Name given by Jacob to the place where he had the vision of the ladder and the angels while he… -
Bethlehem (Hebrew Beth-Lehem = "House of Bread"; Greek more commonly Βαβλή and Βηβλή; Vulgate Bethlehem; Arabic Bayt-Laḥm = "House of Meat") (BETLEMME (EBR. BETH-LEHEM = «CASA DEL PANE»; GR. PIÙ COMUNEMENTE ΒΑΒΛΈΗ E ΒΗΒΛΈΗ; VOLG. BETHLEHEM; ARAB. BAJT-LAHM = «CASA DELLA CARNE»))
BETHLEHEM (Heb. Beth-lehem = "house of bread"; Gk. more commonly Βαβλέη and Βηβλέη; Vulg. Bethlehem; Arab. Bajt-lahm = "house of meat"). -… -
Bethlehem of Galilee (BETLEMME DI GALILEA)
BETHLEHEM OF GALILEE. - A city of the tribe of Zebulun. In Jos. 19:15, among the cities assigned to this tribe, a locality named B. is… -
Bethoron (Hebrew Hab-Bithrōn) (BETHORON (EBR. HAB-BITHRÓN))
BETHORON (Hebrew Hab-Bithrōn). - Name of a district, probably a valley, to be sought east of the Jordan (II Sam. 2:29), and of a double… -
Bethphage (Hebrew Beth = "House"; Paggim = "Unripe Figs") (BETHPHAGE (EBR. BETH = « CASA »; PAGGIM = « FICHI NON MATURI »))
BETHPHAGE (Hebrew Beth = "House"; Paggim = "Unripe Figs"). - Village to which Jesus sent two of his disciples to fetch the donkey on which… -
Bethsaida (Aramaic: "House of the Fisherman") (BETHSAIDA (ARAMAICO: « CASA DELLA PESCA »))
BETHSAIDA (Aramaic: "House of the Fisherman"). - A locality in Galilee, the homeland of Philip, Andrew and Peter (Jn. 1:44; 12:21). In Mk.… -
Bethsaida (Bethesda, Bezatha, Bethzatha)
BETHSAIDA (Bethesda, Bezatha, Bethzatha). - Pool in Jerusalem, near which Jesus healed the paralytic who had been ill for 38 years (Jn.… -
Beth-shan (Hebrew Beth-Šē'ān or Beth-Šān; Septuagint Βαθθάγ, Βηθάγ; Arabic Bejān) (BETHSAN (EBR. BETH-ŠĒ'AN O BETH-ŠĀN; SETTANTA ΒΑΤΘΆΓ, ΒΗΘΆΓ, ARABO BEJĀN))
BETH-SHAN (Hebrew Beth-Šē'ān or Beth-Šān; Septuagint Βαθθάγ, Βηθάγ; Arabic Bejān). - A Palestinian city, whose Hebrew name means "house of… -
Bethshemesh (Hebrew Bēth-Ēmef = "House of the Sun") (BETHSAMES (EBR. BÉTH-ÉMEF « CASA DEL SOLE »))
BETHSHEMESH (Hebrew Bēth-Ēmef = "House of the Sun"). - Name of three Palestinian localities. 1. - A priestly city on the northern border of… -
Bethsur
BETHSUR. - Palestinian city (Heb. Beth-šūr "house of the rock"), Gk. Βεθαούρ(α), Arabic Bejt Šūr. It belonged to the tribe of Judah (Jos.… -
Bethulia (Greek Βαθθαούρ with variants) (BETHULIA (GR. ΒΑΤΘΑΟΎΡ CON VARIANTI))
BETHULIA (Greek Βαθθαούρ with variants). - The place where Judith lived, situated on a mountain with a spring at its foot, overlooking the… -
Bezalel (Hebrew Bēṣal'ēl, "In the Shadow of God") (BESELEEL (EBR. BĒṢAL'ĒL, « ALL'OMBRA DI DIO »))
BEZALEL (Hebrew Bēṣal'ēl, "In the Shadow of God"). - Son of Uri, of the tribe of Judah, he was the chief craftsman (Ex. 31:1-11; 35:30-35;… -
Bianchini, Giuseppe
BIANCHINI, GIUSEPPE. - Historian, archaeologist, b. in Verona on 9 Sept. 1704, d. in Rome on 13 Oct. 1764. In 1732 he entered the… -
Bible (BIBBIA)
BIBLE. - Collection of books held sacred, in a number differing between the Hebrews and the Christians. SUMMARY: I. Names and divisions. -… -
Biblia Pauperum
BIBLIA PAUPERUM. - A devotional book containing representations of the principal scenes of the life of Jesus, depicted according to the… -
Biblical Anthropomorphism (ANTROPOMORFISMO BIBLICO)
BIBLICAL ANTHROPOMORPHISM. - It is the depiction of God made in the sacred books, especially of the Old Testament, in "human form," either… -
Biblical Archaeology (ARCHEOLOGIA BIBLICA)
BIBLICAL ARCHAEOLOGY. - The science of biblical antiquities, that is, of the civilization of the Jewish people in the time of the Old and… -
Biblical Chains (CATENE BIBLICHE)
BIBLICAL CHAINS. - A title, neither original nor appropriate, given to commentaries on the Bible formed from extracts from various authors.… -
Biblical Chronology (CRONOLOGIA BIBLICA)
BIBLICAL CHRONOLOGY. - A) OLD TESTAMENT. - The Old Testament, not being a history book that presents events systematically and in… -
Biblical Concordances (CONCORDANZE BIBLICHE)
BIBLICAL CONCORDANCES. - Collections, arranged in alphabetical order, of the various words or ideas of the Bible. The individual words or… -
Biblical Correctors (Correctoria Biblica) (CORRETTORI BIBLICI (CORRECTORIA BIBLICA))
BIBLICAL CORRECTORS (Correctoria Biblica). - Critical works carried out in the 13th-15th centuries to eliminate from the codices of the… -
Biblical Cosmography (COSMOGRAFIA BIBLICA)
BIBLICAL COSMOGRAPHY. - The ancient Hebrews had ideas about the structure of the world consonant with those then widespread in the East.… -
Biblical Criticism (CRITICA BIBLICA)
BIBLICAL CRITICISM. - Criticism, or the art of distinguishing the true from the false, when applied to a literary work, sets out to… -
Biblical Interpretation (INTERPRETAZIONE BIBLICA)
BIBLICAL INTERPRETATION. - The science that studies and expresses the principles and norms for rightly understanding the Bible, and is… -
Biblical Introduction (INTRODUZIONE BIBLICA)
BIBLICAL INTRODUCTION. - The science that provides the knowledge necessary for the reading and interpretation of the Bible (v.). The name… -
Biblical Senses (SENSI BIBLICI)
BIBLICAL SENSES. - "Sense" is the name given to the meaning that a given phrase takes on when considered in its context, or to the thing… -
Bickell, Gustav
BICKELL, GUSTAV. - Orientalist, b. in Protestantism on July 7, 1838 in Kassel, d. January 15, 1906 in Vienna. In 1862 a Privatdozent of… -
Billerbeck, Paul
BILLERBECK, PAUL. - German exegete, b. in 1853, d. in Frankfurt on the Oder, where he was a Protestant pastor, on 23 Dec. 1932. From 1906… -
Bithynia (BITINIA)
BITHYNIA. - Western region of northern Anatolia, bordering to the north on the Black Sea, to the east on Paphlagonia, to the west on the… -
Bludau, Augustin
BLUDAU, AUGUSTIN. - New Testament exegete and philologist, b. 6 March 1862 at Guttstadt in East Prussia, d. as bishop of Ermland on 9 Feb.… -
Boanerges (ΒΟΑΝΗΡΓΕΣ) (BOANERGES (ΒΟΚΝΗΡΓΈΣ))
BOANERGES (ΒΟΑΝΗΡΓΕΣ). - Nickname given by Jesus to the two apostles, sons of Zebedee: James and John, according to Mk. 3:17, where it is… -
Boaz (Heb. Bô'az) (BOOZ (EBR. BÔ'AZ))
BOAZ (Heb. Bô'az). - 1. - Ancestor of David and of the Messiah. He owned in Bethlehem the field in which the widow Ruth (v.) used to go to… -
Bocchi, Girolamo
BOCCHI, GIROLAMO. - Scholar, often wrongly called "Boutrius", "Bourti", etc., b. in Florence ca. 1595. He was first a Conventual… -
Bochart, Samuel
BOCHART, SAMUEL. - French Protestant pastor, illustrator of the natural history of the Bible, b. at Rouen on 30 May 1599, d. at Caen on 16… -
Boethos
BOETHOS. - Progenitor of the Boethusians, who formed a distinct group within the party of the Sadducees. A priest of Alexandria, B. was the… -
Bonaccorsi, Giuseppe
BONACCORSI, GIUSEPPE. - Missionary of the Sacred Heart, b. in Rome on 18 Dec. 1874, d. there on 7 March 1935. He founded and directed for… -
Bonfrère, Jacques
BONFRÈRE, JACQUES. - Belgian Jesuit, exegete, b. at Dinant on 12 April 1573, d. at Tournai on 9 May 1642. A worthy disciple of Cornelius a… -
Bonini, Alessandro da Alessandria
BONINI, ALESSANDRO da ALESSANDRIA. - Franciscan, b. at Alessandria (Piedmont) around 1270, d. at Rome on 5 Oct. 1314. Having taken the… -
Bonjour, Guillaume
BONJOUR, GUILLAUME. - Orientalist and exegete, b. at Toulouse in 1670, d. in China on 23 Dec. 1714. He belonged to the Order of the Hermits… -
Bonsignori, Benedetto
BONSIGNORI, BENEDETTO. - Benedictine abbot, biblical exegete, b. ca. 1510, d. at Florence in 1567. Even in the world he distinguished… -
Book of L (LIBRO DI L)
BOOK OF L. - Apocryphal, mentioned in a biblical catalogue of the 10th century (cod. Vat. 423, f. 415), after the books of the Old and New… -
Bosor (Heb. Bēšer) (BOSOR (EBR. BĒŠER))
BOSOR (Heb. Bēšer). - 1. - A Levitical city, counted among the cities of refuge (Deut. 4:43; Josh. 20:8; 21:30; 1 Chron. 6:78), commonly… -
Bosra
BOSRA. - Name of various localities, with uncertain spelling in Greek and Latin: Bosra(h), Bozra, Bostra. 1. - Ancient capital of the… -
Botta, Paul-Émile
BOTTA, PAUL-ÉMILE. - Archaeologist and Assyriologist of Italian origin, b. in Turin on 6 Dec. 1802; he followed his father in his political… -
Bousset, Wilhelm
BOUSSET, WILHELM. - Orientalist, b. Sept. 2, 1865 in Lübeck, to a Protestant pastor of Huguenot origin, d. in Giessen on March 8, 1916. He… -
Bretschneider, Karl Gottlieb
BRETSCHNEIDER, KARL GOTTLIEB. - German Protestant theologian and critic, b. at Gersdorf (Saxony) on 11 Feb. 1776, d. at Gotha on 22 Jan.… -
Briggs, Charles Augustus
BRIGGS, CHARLES AUGUSTUS. - Orientalist and theologian, b. in New York on 15 Jan. 1841, d. there in Jan. 1913. Until 1893 he belonged to… -
Bronze Sea (MARE DI BRONZO)
BRONZE SEA. - A vast water reservoir resting on 12 bronze oxen arranged in groups of three at the four cardinal points. Circular in shape,… -
Bronze Serpent (SERPENTE DI BRONZO)
BRONZE SERPENT. - On the march of some months that brought the Israelites from Moses to the Arnon, in view of the "steppes of Moab," the… -
Brothers of Jesus (FRATELLI DI GESÙ)
BROTHERS OF JESUS. - Blood relatives of Jesus who in the Gospels (Mt. 12:46; 13:55; Mk. 3:31; 6:3; Lk. 8:19-21; Jn. 2:12; 7:3-5) and Acts… -
Brugsch, Heinrich Karl
BRUGSCH, HEINRICH KARL. - Egyptologist, b. in Berlin on 18 Feb. 1827 and d. in Charlottenburg on 9 Sept. 1894; he was given the title of… -
Bruyne, Donatien de
BRUYNE, DONATIEN de. - Benedictine philologist (of the Latin Bible) and patrologist, b. at Neuve-Eglise (West Flanders, Belgium) on 7 Oct.… -
Bucchi, Geremia
BUCCHI, GEREMIA. - Theologian and biblical scholar of the Conventual Friars Minor, b. at Udine in the first half of the sixteenth century,… -
Budde, Karl
BUDDE, KARL. - Protestant theologian, b. 23 April 1850 at Bensberg (Cologne); in 1873 he became a Privatdozent, in 1879 extraordinary… -
Budge, Sir Ernest Alfred Wallis
BUDGE, sir ERNEST ALFRED WALLIS. - English Orientalist, b. at Bodmin (Cornwall) on 27 July 1857; d. on 23 Nov. 1934. From 1893 to 1924 he… -
Buonriccio, Angelico
BUONRICCIO, ANGELICO. - Venetian theologian, who entered as a young man the Canons Regular of the Most Holy Savior of Bologna, of which he… -
Burchard (Brocard) of Mount Zion (of Saxony) (BURCARDO (BROCARDO) DEL MONTE SION (DI SASSONIA))
BURCHARD (Brocard) of Mount Zion (of Saxony). - Traveller in the Holy Land, author of a famous Descriptio Terrae Sanctae, b. at Barby in… -
Burkitt, Francis Crawford
BURKITT, FRANCIS CRAWFORD. - Anglican critic and exegete of the New Testament, b. in London on 3 Sept. 1864, from 1905 holder of the Norris… -
Burning Bush (ROVETO ARDENTE)
BURNING BUSH. - The expression recalls the miraculous event of Ex. 3:2-22, containing the account of the "vocation of Moses" (v.). The… -
Byblos (BIBLOS)
BYBLOS. - One of the most ancient cities of Phoenicia, called in Greek Βόβλος, Assyrian Gubal (in the el-'Amārnah letters: Gubla), Egyptian… -
Caath (Heb. Qēhāth) (CAATH (EBR. QÉHÁTH))
CAATH (Heb. Qēhāth). - According to Exodus 6:16, Numbers 3:17, and 1 Chronicles 5:27-29 [6:1-3], the second son of Levi, born in Canaan… -
Cabul (Heb. Kābhūl; Flavius Josephus Χαβούλων or Χαβώλων) (CABUL (EBR. KĀBHŪL; FLAVIO GIUSEPPE ΧΑΒΟΎΛΩΝ O ΧΑΒΏΛΩ))
CABUL (Heb. Kābhūl; Flavius Josephus Χαβούλων or Χαβώλων). - A city of the tribe of Asher (Josh. 19:27) and a district of Galilee… -
Cades (Cades-Barne)
CADES (CADES-BARNE). - A locality situated at the extreme southern limit of the Promised Land, previously called 'En Mishpash (Gen. 14:7)… -
Caesarea Philippi (CESAREA DI FILIPPO)
CAESAREA PHILIPPI. - A city at the southern foot of Mount Hermon, where in the time of Joshua Ba'al Gādh stood. In antiquity the city and… -
Cahana
CAHANA. — Various Jewish doctors among the Amoraim (v.) bear this name, an Aramaic form of the Hebrew kōhēn ("priest"). It is difficult to… -
Cainan
CAINAN. - 1. Heb. Qēnān, Gk. Καϊναν (-αμ), son of Enosh (Gen. 5:9; 1 Chron. 1:2), grandson of Seth, great-grandson of Adam, died at the age… -
Cain (Heb. Qajin = Ar. Qajn «Smith», Name Linked in Gen. 4:1 by Folk Etymology to Qānāh «To Possess») (CAINO (EBR. QAJIN = AR. QAJN « FABBRO », NOME RIALLACCIATO IN GEN. 4, 1, PER ETIMOLOGIA POPOLARE, A QĀNĀH « POSSEDERE »))
CAIN (Heb. Qajin = Arab. qajn "smith", a name connected in Gen. 4:1, by popular etymology, with qānāh "to possess"). - First son of Adam… -
Caius (Gaius, Γάιος) (CAIO (CAIUS, GAIUS, ΓΆΛΟΣ))
CAIUS (Gaius, Γάιος). - Name of several disciples of the Apostles. In the Greek New Testament the name Γάιος occurs five times: in three… -
Calasio, Mario da
CALASIO, MARIO da. - Friar Minor, b. at Calasio in the Abruzzi in 1550, d. at Rome on 24 Jan. 1620. He entered the Franciscan Order young… -
Caleb (Heb. «Dog») (CALEB (EBR. «CANE»))
CALEB (Heb. «Dog»). - A contemporary and collaborator of Joshua. Of the tribe of Judah, he was, along with Joshua, among the twelve sent by… -
Calmet, Augustin
CALMET, AUGUSTIN. - One of the most famous among the commentators of the Bible and historians of the Church of the 18th century, b. at… -
Calusco, Taddeo
CALUSCO, TADDEO. - Preacher and biblical scholar, b. in Milan in the second half of the 17th century, d. there on 21 April 1720. He became… -
Calvary (CALVARIO)
CALVARY. - Place where Jesus "suffered outside the gates (of Jerusalem)" (Hebr. 13, 2), called the "place of the skull" (κρανίου τόπος) and… -
Camiti
CAMITI. - The "ethnographic table" in Gen. 10, after listing the three sons of Noah, Shem, Ham and Japheth, resumes in reverse order and… -
Camozzi, Carlo Francesco
CAMOZZI, CARLO FRANCESCO. - Franciscan Orientalist, b. at Breno on 17 Sept. 1672; on 16 Dec. 1690 he took his religious vows in the Order… -
Cana
CANA. - A locality "of Galilee" (Jn. 2:1, 11; 4:46; 21:2), distinct from the C. of the tribe of Asher (Josh. 19:28) and from the homonymous… -
Canaan and the Canaanites (CANAAN E CANANEI,)
CANAAN and CANAANITES, - People who in ancient times inhabited Palestine. I. NAME - It is one of those by which the Old Testament… -
Candace
CANDACE. - 1. A legendary queen of India in the time of Alexander the Great, by whom, on his expedition into India, she is said to have… -
Candelabrum With Seven Branches (CANDELABRO A SETTE BRACCI)
CANDELABRUM WITH SEVEN BRANCHES. - A candlestick of purest gold, of a single piece, placed on the southern side (Ex. 26:35) of the… -
Canini, Angelo
CANINI, ANGELO. - Distinguished Semitic scholar, b. at Anghiari, near Arezzo, in 1521, d. in Paris in 1557. He taught, at least as an… -
Cantini, Tommaso
CANTINI, TOMMASO. - Carthusian, d. 18 Nov. 1649. A doctor of theology, he left the Society of Jesus to enter the Carthusian Order in the… -
Capernaum (CAFARNAO)
CAPERNAUM. - A city "of Galilee" (Luke 4:23; Καφαρναούμ, Latin Capharnaum) mentioned sixteen times in the Gospels (4 in Mt., 3 in Mk., 4 in… -
Capponi, Serafino
CAPPONI, SERAFINO. - Dominican theologian, b. at Porretta in 1536. He entered the Dominican Order at Bologna on 25 Oct. 1552 and took the… -
Capro Emissary (CAPRO EMISSARIO)
Three works of his are known: Adoration of the Shepherds, 1518 (Treviso, picture gallery); Assumption, 1520 (Treviso, cathedral); Portrait… -
Cara
CARA. - French Jewish family (qārā = the reader), of which three rabbis are to be remembered: MENĀHEM BEN HELBŌ (11th century), the… -
Caraiti
CARAITI. - In the 9th century, through the impetus of Binjamin da Nahāwend, the Jewish sect that broke away from traditional rabbinism… -
Carbonelli (Carbonell), Poncio
CARBONELLI (CARBONELL), PONCIO. - Franciscan, b. around 1260, d. in 1350 at Barcelona. In 1278 he entered the Franciscan Order, and was… -
Carcamis
CARCAMIS. - A very ancient city on the right bank of the Euphrates (Vulgate Charcamis, Assyrian inscriptions Gar-ga-miš, or Kar-ga-miš,… -
Cardahi (Qardāhi), Gabriele
CARDAHI (Qardāhi), GABRIELE. - Born in Fajtrūn (Lebanon) on 20 February 1845, died in Rome on 7 November 1931. He entered the Aleppine… -
Cariathaim (Hebrew Qirjāthajim, dual form: "Two Cities") (CARIATHAIM (EBR. QIRJĀTHAJIM, FORMA DUALE: «DUE CITTÀ»))
CARIATHAIM (Hebrew Qirjāthajim, dual form: "Two Cities"). - A city northeast of the Dead Sea, belonging to the tribe of Reuben (Josh.… -
Cariathiarim (Hebrew Qirjāth Jā 'Ārīm) (CARIATHIARIM (EBR. QIRJĀTH JĀ 'ĀRIM))
CARIATHIARIM (Hebrew Qirjāth Jā 'Ārīm). - A city also called Qirjāth ba'al, a recent name for the ancient Ba'alāh (Josh. 15, 9), a border… -
Carioth (Hebrew *Qéríjjōth*) (CARIOTH (EBR. *QÉRÍJJÓTH*))
CARIOTH (Hebrew Qéríjjōth). - 1) A city in the tribe of Judah on the border of Edom, probably Hirbet el-Qarjatçin, 20 km south of Hebron.… -
Carmeli, Michelangelo
CARMELI, MICHELANGELO. - Franciscan philologist, b. Sept. 27, 1705 at Cittadella (Venice), d. at Padua on Dec. 15, 1766. On Oct. 25, 1723… -
Caro, Joseph (CARO, JÓSEPH)
CARO, JOSEPH. - Rabbi, b. in Toledo in 1488. After the expulsion of the Jews from Spain his family settled in Adrianople. Here C. began his… -
Casleu (Hebrew: Kislev) (CASLEU (EBR. KISLEW))
CASLEU (Hebrew: Kislev). - Name of the ninth month of the Hebrew calendar, counting from Nisān (= second half of Nov. and first half of… -
Caspari, Karl Paul
CASPARI, KARL PAUL. - Theologian and orientalist, b. in Dessau (Germany) on 8 Feb. 1814, d. in Christiania, today Oslo, on 11 Apr. 1892.… -
Castelli, David
CASTELLI, DAVID. - Jewish exegete, b. at Livorno on 30 Dec. 1836, d. at Florence on 31 Jan. 1901. He was at first a private teacher and… -
Castiglioni, Vittorio
CASTIGLIONI, VITTORIO. - Jewish Hebraist and educationist, b. in Trieste on 25 March 1840 and d. in Rome on 1 August 1911. He first taught… -
Catalogues of the Apostles (CATALOGHI DEGLI APOSTOLI)
CATALOGUES OF THE APOSTLES. - In Mt. 10:2-4; Mk. 3:14-19; Lk. 6:14-16 and Acts 1:13 is found the list of the names of the twelve Apostles.… -
Catholic Letters (CATTOLICHE, LETTERE)
CATHOLIC LETTERS. - Title given to seven apostolic writings which, in current editions of the New Testament, follow the 14 letters of St.… -
Cedar (CEDRO)
CEDAR. - A majestic tree, with prized wood, mentioned in many biblical passages, generally with the local designation "of Lebanon," where… -
Cedar (Hebrew Qēdhār = "Bronzed by the Sun") (CEDAR (EBR. QÉDHĀR = «ABBRONZATO» DAL SOLE))
CEDAR (Hebrew Qēdhār = "Bronzed by the Sun"). - According to Genesis 25:13, the second son of Ishmael, from whom the Arab tribe that… -
Cedron
CEDRON. - Torrent or valley (Heb. Naḥal Qidhrān, in Greek ὁ γειμαρος τῶν Κεδρῶν; opp. ὁ Κεδρῶν). It rises from Mount Scopus to the… -
Ceila (Hebrew Qē'lláh; spelled in the letters of El-Amarna) (CEILA (EBR. QÉ'LLÁH; KIILTI NELLE LETTERE DI EL-AMARNA))
CEILA (Hebrew Qē'lláh; spelled in the letters of El-Amarna). - A fortified city in the lowland of Judah (Josh. 15:44; 1 Chron. 4:19),… -
Cellini, Adolfo
CELLINI, ADOLFO. - Exegete, b. at Ripatransone (Ascoli Piceno) on 25 Feb. 1857, d. there on 10 Feb. 1920. He taught letters, then biblical… -
Celsius, Olof (Olaus)
CELSIUS, OLOF (OLAUS). - Swedish botanist and Lutheran exegete, b. in 1670 and d. on 24 June 1756. He knew Arabic, which he used to… -
Cencre (Greek Ketzilí, Cenchrae) (CENCRE (ΚΕΤΖΗΛΊ, CENCHRAE))
CENCRE (Greek Ketzilí, Cenchrae). - Currently Kehris, the ancient port of Corinth that served for communications with the East. At C. St.… -
Cereseto, Giovanni Giacinto
CERESETO, GIOVANNI GIACINTO. - Biblicist, b. in Genoa in 1840, d. there on 28 Dec. 1920. From 1875 to 1892 he taught Sacred Scripture and… -
Cerethei (Hebrew Kērethī) (CERETEI (EBR. KĒRĒTHĪ))
CERETHEI (Hebrew Kērethī). - Mercenary troops, often listed in the Bible together with the Pelethites. Since the country of origin of the… -
Ceriani, Antonio Maria
CERIANI, ANTONIO MARIA. - Milanese paleographer and orientalist, b. at Uboldo (Milan) on 2 May 1828, d. at Milan on 2 March 1907. Of humble… -
Chalannēh (Hebrew Kalnēh) (CHALANNE (EBR. KALNÈH))
CHALANNĒH (Hebrew Kalnēh). - In Gen. 10:10 it is the fourth city of the southern tetrapolis of Mesopotamia, which constituted the kingdom… -
Chalcis (CALCIDE)
CHALCIS. - Center of a kingdom already existing in the 14th century B.C. in upper Syria, as appears from the letters of Tell el-Amarna. In… -
Chaldea (CALDEA)
CHALDEA. - Hebrew: Kašdim, 'ères Kašdim; Septuagint: Χαλδαίοι, Χαλδαία; Vulgate: Chaldei and terra Chaldaeorum; in cuneiform texts: Kasdu… -
Champollion, Jean-François, Il Giovane
CHAMPOLLION, JEAN-FRANÇOIS, IL GIOVANE. - Founder of modern Egyptology, b. at Figeac (Lot) on 23 Dec. 1790, d. at Paris on 4 March 1832. He… -
Chapman, John Henry Palmer
CHAPMAN, JOHN HENRY PALMER. - English Benedictine historian and critic, b. at Ashfield (Suffolk) on 25 April 1865, d. in London on 7 Nov.… -
Charisms (CARISMI)
CHARISMS. - The word c. (χάρισμα) occurs 16 times in the letters of Paul and once in 1 Pt. (4:10). Sometimes it has the generic meaning of… -
Cherubim (Hebrew Plural Hērubhîm) (CHERUBINO (EBR. PLUR. HĒRUBHÎM))
CHERUBIM (Hebrew Plural Hērubhîm). - An invisible spirit and minister of God, executor of his wills, of which he further manifests the… -
Cherubino of San Giuseppe (CHERUBINO DI SAN GIUSEPPE)
CHERUBINO OF SAN GIUSEPPE. - French Discalced Carmelite, in the world Alessandro de Boria, b. 5 Aug. 1639 at Martel (Lot) and d. at… -
Cheyne, Thomas Kelly
CHEYNE, THOMAS KELLY. - Protestant exegete, b. in London on 18 Sept. 1841, d. there on 16 Nov. 1915. Professor at Oxford from 1886 to 1908… -
Childhood of Jesus (INFANZIA DI GESÙ)
CHILDHOOD OF JESUS. - I. THE GOSPEL OF THE INFANCY OF JESUS. - The first two chapters of Matthew and of Luke constitute the canonical… -
Chloe (CLOE)
CHLOE. - In I Cor. 1:11, St. Paul writes: "It was reported to me concerning you, my brethren, by those of C. (ὑπὸ τῶν Χλόης) that there are… -
Chobar (Heb. Kēbhār) (CHOBAR (EBR. KĒBHĀR))
CHOBAR (Heb. Kēbhār). - River of the "land of the Chaldeans," on whose bank arose the place called Tēl-ʿĀbhibh ("hill of ears of grain"),… -
Chodorlahomor (Heb. Kēdhorlā'ōmer) (CHODORLAHOMOR (EBR. KĒDHORLĀ'ŌMER))
CHODORLAHOMOR (Heb. Kēdhorlā'ōmer). - King of Elam, who held Palestine subject for twelve years, until it rebelled against him. He then… -
Christ (CRISTO)
CHRIST. - Greek equivalent (χριστός "anointed," verbal adjective of χρῶ "I anoint") of the Hebrew māšīah or "messiah." Māšīah, a passive… -
Christian (CRISTIANO)
CHRISTIAN. - Name of the followers of Jesus. Acts 11:26 relates: "And it came to pass for them (Paul and Barnabas)... that it was first in… -
Chus
CHUS. - Geographical term (Heb. Kúf), fairly frequent in the Bible. In Gen. 2:13 the land traversed by the river Gihon is called C. This… -
Chusa (Chouzē) (CHUSA (ΧΟΥΖΈ))
CHUSA (Chouzē). - A high dignitary of Herod Antipas (v. ANTIPA JULIUS HERODES), mentioned by Lk. 8:3, where ἐπίτροπος means something like… -
Chusai (Heb. Ḥúšaj) (CHUSAI (EBR. ḤÚŠAJ))
CHUSAI (Heb. Ḥúšaj). - Archite (2 Sam. 14:32; 17:5, 14), friend and intimate counselor of David (2 Sam. 15:37; 16:16), whose full trust he… -
Chusan Rasathaim (Heb. Kūfan Rīš'āthajim) (CHUSAN RASATHAIM (EBR. KŪFAN RĪŠ'ĀTHAJIM))
CHUSAN RASATHAIM (Heb. Kūfan Rīš'āthajim). - King, according to the Vulgate, of Mesopotamia and Syria (Judg. 3:8, 10). The Hebrew text… -
Cinnamon (Heb. Qinnāmōn, Greek κυνάμωμον) (CINNAMOMO (EBR. QINNĀMŌN, GRECO ΚΥΝΆΜΩ-ΜΟΝ))
CINNAMON (Heb. Qinnāmōn, Greek κυνάμωμον). - An aromatic element of the anointing oil (Ex. 30:23). It is often joined in enumeration with… -
Cis (Heb. Qif) (CIS (EBR. QIF))
CIS (Heb. Qif). - Name of several biblical figures, the best known of whom is the father of Saul (v.) of the tribe of Benjamin, living in… -
Cison (Heb. Qîšōn, "Tortuous") (CISON (EBR. QĪŠŌN, « TORTUOSO »))
CISON (Heb. Qîšōn, "Tortuous"). - Biblical name of the torrent that rolled in its murky whirlpools the corpses of the army of Sisera… -
Clario, Isidoro
CLARIO, ISIDORO. - Bishop, exegete and orator, b. at Chiari (Brescia) in 1495 and d. at Foligno on 28 May 1555. His name was Taddeo Cucchi:… -
Cleofa
CLEOFA. - A name which in the Vulgate (Cleophas) corresponds to two different names in the Greek New Testament. While Κλεόπας (Lk. 24:18)… -
Clermont-Ganneau, Charles
CLERMONT-GANNEAU, CHARLES. - Orientalist, b. in Paris on 17 February 1846, d. there on 15 February 1923. From 1890 he taught Semitic… -
Cohort (COORTE)
COHORT. - Gruppo di soldati (ca. 600), formanti la decima parte di una legione romana. In the New Testament the term (σπείρα, cohors) is… -
Colletta in the New Testament (COLLETTA NEL NUOVO TESTAMENTO)
COLLETTA IN THE NEW TESTAMENT. - The Church of Jerusalem, during the first decades of its life, lived in destitution and in constant need… -
Colossians, Epistle to the (COLOSSESI, EPISTOLA AI)
COLOSSIANS, Epistle to the. - One of the "captivity epistles," addressed by St. Paul to the faithful of Colossae (v.). SUMMARY: I. The… -
Comma Ioanneum (COMMA GIOVANNEO)
COMMA IOANNEUM. - Famous verse inserted in the first epistle of St. John concerning the three heavenly witnesses who attest to the divinity…