Sacred Scripture
Sacra Scrittura · 1,403 articles · Principal contributors · All subjects-
Communal Theory (GEMEINDETHEORIE)
COMMUNAL THEORY. - Theory of the "creative collectivity" formulated by the "sociological school," founded by E. Durkheim, heir to the… -
Concordism (CONCORDISMO)
CONCORDISM. - A method used by those who sought to determine the lines of a positive concord between the Bible and the modern sciences.… -
Condamin, Albert
CONDAMIN, ALBERT. - Jesuit exegete and orientalist, b. in Marseille on 7 Sept. 1862, d. on 3 July 1940. He devoted himself mainly to the… -
Contant, Philippe de La Miette du (CONTANT, PHILIPPE DE LA MOLETTE DU)
CONTANT, Philippe de La Miette du. - Exegete, b. in the Dauphiné on 29 Aug. 1739, doctor of the Sorbonne and vicar general of Vienne,… -
Corban (CORBAN (EBR. QORBĀN, GR. ΚΟΡΒΆΝ; VOLG. CORBAN E CORBONA))
CORBAN. - In Hebrew c., like its Akkadian counterpart qurbān, means "offering" or, according to the etymology, "presentation of a gift to… -
Cornelius (CORNELIO)
CORNELIUS. - A Roman centurion, stationed at Caesarea in Palestine, converted to Christianity through the direct intervention of God and… -
Cornely, Karl Joseph Rudolph
CORNELY, KARL JOSEPH RUDOLPH. - Distinguished Jesuit exegete, b. at Breyell in the Rhineland on 19 April 1830, d. at Trier on 3 March 1908.… -
Corozain
COROZAIN. - A city of Galilee visited several times by the Savior, but which did not receive his message and was, together with Capernaum… -
Crampon, Joseph-Théodore-Augustin
CRAMPON, JOSEPH-THÉODORE-AUGUSTIN. - French exegete, b. at Franvillers (diocese of Amiens) on 4 Feb. 1826, d. at Paris on 16 Aug. 1894. At… -
Crelier, Henry-Joseph
CRELIER, HENRY-JOSEPH. - Exegete, b. at Bure near Porrentruy (diocese of Basel) on 16 Nov. 1816, d. parish priest at Bressancourt on 22… -
Crescas, Ḥasdai (CRESCAS, ḤASDAJ)
CRESCAS, ḤASDAI. - Anti-Aristotelian Jewish philosopher, b. in Barcelona in 1340; d. in Zaragoza in 1412. He enjoyed the favors of the… -
Cubitus (CUBITO)
CUBITUS. - A linear unit of measure of the ancient Hebrews, as of other Oriental peoples, corresponding to the length of the forearm, from… -
Cureton, William
CURETON, WILLIAM. - English Orientalist, b. at Westbury (Wiltshire), in 1804, d. in London on 17 June 1864. His name is linked to an… -
Cuthah (Hebrew Kútháh) (CUTHA (EBR. KÚTHÁH))
CUTHAH (Hebrew Kútháh). - Region from which, besides Babylon, Avah, Emath, and Sepharvaim, Sargon deported inhabitants to Samaria to… -
Cyrene (CIRENE)
CYRENE. - Ancient and most important city of Cyrenaica, from which the region took its name, situated on the edge of the plateau at 622 m.… -
Dagon
DAGON. - In the Old Testament it is the name of a god of the Philistines, whose cult is attested at Gaza (Judg. 16:23), at Ashdod (1 Sam.… -
Dalmanutha
DALMANUTHA. - Locality where, according to Mk. 8:10, Jesus landed with his disciples after the second multiplication of the loaves (Mt.… -
Damaris (Damaride, ΔΆΜΑΡΙΣ, var. ΔΆΜΑΛΙΣ)
DAMARIS (DAMARIDE, Δάμαρις, var. Δάμαλις). - A woman converted by the preaching of St. Paul in Athens (Acts 17:34). Δάμαρις, as a woman's… -
Dan
DAN. - 1. Fifth son of Jacob and first of Bilhah, Rachel's maidservant (Gen. 30:6; 35:25). At his birth Rachel, playing on the term dan "he… -
Daniel (Dan'el) (DANEL (DÂN'EL))
DANIEL (Dan'el). - An Oriental figure, mentioned in Ex. 14:14-20, to demonstrate the inexorability of God's judgment against an unfaithful… -
Daniele
DANIELE. - Prophet, who gave his name to a sacred book of the Old Testament. SUMMARY: I. The prophet. - II. The book. - III. Critical… -
Daprà, Agapito
DAPRÀ, AGAPITO. - Franciscan Orientalist, b. May 22, 1653 at Tesoro (Val di Fiemme, Trento), d. in Nov. 1687 at Padua. In 1680 he was in… -
Darius the Mede (DARIO IL MEDO)
DARIUS THE MEDE. - Figure mentioned in the book of Daniel (v.) as king of Babylon between the end of the Neo-Babylonian dynasty, in the… -
Dathan
DATHAN. - An Israelite of the tribe of Reuben who in the desert, together with his brother Abiram, rebelled against Moses, accusing him of… -
David, Clément-Joseph
DAVID, CLÉMENT-JOSEPH. - Syriac Archbishop of Damascus. Born in 1829 at Amadia ('Irāq) into the Zebungi family, he pursued his studies at… -
David (Heb. Dāwīdh "Beloved, Dear") (DAVID (CBR. DĀWĪDH «VEZZEGGIATO, DILETTO»))
DAVID (Heb. Dāwīdh "Beloved, Dear"). - Second king of the people of Israel (c. 1000-960 B.C.), who brought it to the height of prosperity;… -
Dead Sea (MORTO, MARE)
DEAD SEA. - Lake of Palestine at the end of the Jordan River, set among the steep mountains of Moab to the east and the desert of Judah to… -
Deborah (Heb. Dēbhōrāh «bee»; LXX Δεββόρζ; Vulg. Debora) (DÉBORA (EBR. DĒBHORĀH «APE»; SETTANTA ΔΕΒΒΌΡΖ; VOL. DEBORA))
DEBORAH (Heb. Dēbhōrāh «bee»; LXX Δεββόρζ; Vulg. Debora). - Prophetess, heroine and poetess, third along with Barak among the "Judges" of… -
Decalogue (DECALOGO)
DECALOGUE. - The ten commandments (δέκα λόγοι "the ten words", Ex. 34:28), given by God to Moses on Sinai, as obligations of the covenant… -
Decapolis (DECAPOLI)
DECAPOLIS. - A name which in the Gospels (Mt. 4:25; Mk. 5:20; 7:31), in Flavius Josephus (Vita, 65, 341), Pliny (Hist. nat., 5, 18, 74),… -
Decima
DECIMA. - I. IN THE BIBLE. - The part (originally, the 10th part) of the produce that the Israelites had to pay over to the Temple and its… -
Dedan (Dadan) and Dedanites (DEDAN (DADAN) E DEDANIM)
DEDAN (DADAN) AND DEDANITES. - Name of a locality and of a tribe. The latter is listed by Gen. 10:7 together with the Sabeans among the… -
Delilah (Heb. Dillah = "Exile, Delicate", According to the Most Probable Etymology; Septuagint: Δαλ88) (DALILA (EBR. DËLLAH = « ESILE, DELICATA », SECONDO L'ETIMOLOGIA PIÙ PROBABILE; SETTANTA: ΔΑΛ88))
DELILAH (Heb. Dillah = "Exile, Delicate", According to the Most Probable Etymology; Septuagint: Δαλ88). - A woman, debated whether Hebrew… -
Delitzsch, Franz Julius
DELITZSCH, FRANZ JULIUS. - Lutheran exegete and Hebraist, b. in Leipzig on 23 February 1813, d. there on 4 March 1890. Despite his poverty… -
Della Torre, Lelio
DELLA TORRE, LELIO. - Learned rabbi, b. in Cuneo on 11 Jan. 1805, d. in Padua on 9 July 1871. He taught from 1823 to 1829 at the… -
Del Pas, Angel, Venerable (DEL PAS, ANGEL, VENERABILE)
DEL PAS, Angel, Venerable. - Spanish Friar Minor, theologian, exegete, preacher and ascetical writer, b. at Perpignan (Catalonia) in 1540,… -
Deluge (DILUVIO)
DELUGE. - Cataclysm that struck humanity in the time of Noah. I. BIBLICAL ACCOUNT (Gen. 6:1-9:19). - God saw that human wickedness had… -
Demas
DEMAS. - Disciple of St. Paul, mentioned in II Tim. 4:10 with a rather unflattering note: "D. has abandoned me out of love for the present… -
Demetrius (DEMETRIO)
DEMETRIUS. - Nome di due personaggi del Nuovo Testamento. 1. Orefice di Efeso, che suscitò il tumulto contro s. Paolo (Act. 19, 23-40).2.… -
Demoniacs in the Bible (INDEMONIATI NELLA BIBBIA)
DEMONIACS IN THE BIBLE. - In the Gospels (and Acts) numerous healings of demoniacs are narrated. With possession, a demon (v.) or several… -
Denarius (DENARO (LAT. DENARIUS))
DENARIUS. - Roman silver coin (10 asses or 2 1/2 sesterces), equal to the Attic drachma. It was the 25th part of an aureus; but under Nero… -
Denk, Josef
DENK, JOSEF. - Philologist and collator of the Vetus Latina, b. in Munich on 9 Aug. 1849, d. there on 22 Jan. 1927. He was a pious priest… -
Derbe
DERBE. - A small town in Lycaonia, visited several times by St. Paul. Stephanus of Byzantium wrongly calls it a fortress and port of… -
De Rossi, Azaria
DE ROSSI, AZARIA. - One of the most learned rabbis of the 16th century, b. at Mantua ca. 1514, d. at Ferrara in 1578. He lived in the major… -
De Rossi, Gian Bernardo
DE ROSSI, GIAN BERNARDO. - The greatest Hebraist of Christian Italy, b. 25 Oct. 1742 at Villa Castelnuovo (diocese of Ivrea), d. at Parma… -
Deuteronomy (DEUTERONOMIO)
DEUTERONOMY. — Fifth book of the Pentateuch, called by the Hebrews, from its opening words, 'ēlēh had-dēbhārīm ("these are the words") or… -
Devil (DIAVOLO)
DEVIL. - An invisible personal power, mentioned in the Bible, that directs the forces of evil, in opposition to God's designs and to man's… -
Diaspora
DIASPORA. - The term διασπορά ("dissemination," "dispersion") occurs 7 times in the Greek Bible (Deut. 28:25 [cod. B]; Ps. 146:2; Jud. 5:19… -
Diatessaron (DIATÉSSARON)
DIATESSARON. - Work of Tatian, who fused the text of the four Gospels into a single orderly narrative. The fact is reported to us by the… -
Dibon (Heb. Dibbân) (DIBON (EBR. DIBBÂN))
DIBON (Heb. Dibbân). - A Moabite city, a stop or station of the Israelites on their journey toward the Promised Land (Num. 33:45),… -
Didrachma (DIDRAMMA)
DIDRACHMA. - A silver coin worth two drachmas, also designated by the term stater (στατής). It corresponded to half a shekel of the Hebrew… -
Dinah (Heb. Dīnāh) (DINA (EBR. DĪNĀH))
DINAH (HEB. DĪNĀH). - Daughter of the patriarch Jacob, born to him by Leah (Gen. 30:21) while he was in Mesopotamia. In Palestine, in the… -
Dinei (Aram. Dīnājē; Vulg. Dinae) (DINEI (ARAM. DINĀJĒ; VOLG. DINAEI))
DINEI (Aram. Dīnājē; Vulg. Dinae). - In Ezra 4:9 they are named in the series of exiles from Babylon, from Susa, etc., transplanted by the… -
Diotrephes
DIOTREPHES. - A figure remembered with reproach in III John 9 ff. The name (Διοτρεφής) is found in inscriptions and in Greek authors (J.… -
Disciples Of The Lord (DISCEPOLI DEL SIGNORE)
DISCIPLES OF THE LORD. - This title (μαθηταί Κυρίου) in the Gospel often designates the Apostles (v.), in Acts all believers. In a stricter… -
Docking, Tommaso
DOCKING, TOMMASO. - Franciscan theologian, d. after 1269. His surname was Good, and he took his name from his native village in Norfolk.… -
Dodanim
DODANIM. - A Greek people, mentioned in the ethnological list of Gen. 10:4 (Masoretes, Peshitta, 'Onkelos, Vulgate) as the fourth son of… -
Doeg (Hebrew Dō'ēgh, "Sad") (DOEG (EBR. DŌ'ĒGH « TRISTE »))
DOEG (Hebrew Dō'ēgh, "Sad"). - Chief of Saul's herdsmen, an Edomite (perhaps an Aramean, according to the Septuagint and the non-Hebraized… -
Döller, Johannes
DÖLLER, JOHANNES. - Exegete and historian of religions, b. at Thuma (Lower Austria) on 27 Apr. 1868, d. at Raabs (ibid.) on 31 Oct. 1928. A… -
Domenico, Germano, of Silesia (DOMENICO, GERMANO, DI SLÉSIA)
DOMENICO, GERMANO, OF SILESIA. - Franciscan Arabist, b. in 1588 at Schurgast (Silesia), d. on 28 Sept. 1670 at the Escorial. He entered the… -
Döring, Matthias
DÖRING, MATTHIAS. - Theologian, biblical scholar and historian of the Conventual Franciscans, b. at Kyritz in Brandenburg between 1390 and… -
Dormition (Assumption) of Mary (TRANSITO (DORMIZIONE) DI MARIA)
DORMITION (ASSUMPTION) OF MARY. - An apocryphon, very widespread in antiquity, on the death and assumption of the Virgin. After narrating… -
Dothain
DOTHAIN. - A city north of Shechem (Gen. 37:12-17) and Samaria (II Kings 6:13), on a plain facing Esdrelon (Judg. 4:6; 7:3) and near the… -
Douai Bible (DOUAI, BIBBIA DI)
DOUAI BIBLE. – English Catholic translation of Holy Scripture, made between 1578 and 1610. During the reign of Elizabeth (1558-1603) the… -
Drach, David Paul
DRACH, DAVID PAUL. - Hebraist, b. in Strasbourg on 16 March 1791, d. in Rome in Jan. 1865. Son of a well-known rabbi and Talmudist, at the… -
Dragone
DRAGONE. - A (mythical) monster that in the ancient East symbolized the cosmic forces hindering human life and well-being; it represents… -
Drama (Ἄρχιμῆ) (DRAMMA (ἌΡΧΙΜΉ))
DRAMA (Ἄρχιμῆ). - Hellenic coin. According to the Greek translation of the Septuagint and the Vulgate, it already appears in the 5th… -
Drusilla (Δροσώλια)
DRUSILLA (Δροσώλια). - Third daughter of Herod Agrippa I, sister of Agrippa II, of Berenice and of Mariamme. She was 6 years old at the… -
Dupondius (Dupondio) (DIPONDIO (DUPONDIO))
DUPONDIUS (DUPONDIO). - Roman coin worth two asses or half a sestertius. During the empire it was struck in brass with a weight between 11… -
Durand, Alfred
DURAND, ALFRED. - Jesuit, exegete, b. at Chantemerle (Drôme) on 12 March 1858; d. at Lyon on 31 July 1928. He studied Semitic languages and… -
Earthly Paradise (PARADISO TERRESTRE)
EARTHLY PARADISE. - A most fertile garden, the cradle of the human race, prepared by the Creator so that Adam and Eve might lead there, in… -
Ecce Homo
"ECCE HOMO." — Words spoken by Pilate (John 19:5), presenting Jesus to the people after the flagellation. I. ARCH OF THE ECCE HOMO. - This… -
Ecclesiastes (ECCLESIASTE)
ECCLESIASTES. - Fourth of the didactic books of the Old Testament, in 12 chapters, "a philosophical masterpiece of satire, irony, good… -
Ecclesiastical (ECCLESIASTICO)
ECCLESIASTICAL. - The most remarkable of the wisdom books of the Old Testament, for the number and diversity of its teachings; it may well… -
École Biblique (ECOLE BIBLIQUE)
ÉCOLE BIBLIQUE. - The first Catholic center for scientific biblical studies, founded by the Dominican M.-J. Lagrange in Jerusalem in 1890,… -
Eden
EDEN. - The place where the earthly paradise was located (Gen. 2:8, 15). The Hebrew "edhen," according to the ancients, means "delight,… -
Edom (Idumea)
EDOM (IDUMEA). - Name by which are called: 1) the adult Esau (Gen. 25, 30; 36, 19); 2) his descendants and their land (Ex. 15, 15; Num. 20,… -
Edomites (EDOMITI)
EDOMITES. - Inhabitants of Edom (v.), also called Idumeans (Septuagint: Iḍhūm). Esau, having abandoned the land of Canaan, came to settle… -
Edrai (Hebrew 'Edhre') (EDRAI (EBR. 'EDHRE'))
EDRAI (Hebrew 'Edhre'). - 1. City of Transjordan, residence of Og, king of Bashan (Deut. 1:4; Josh. 12:3; 13:12). Occupied by the… -
Egerton Papyri (EGERTON, PAPIRI)
EGERTON PAPYRI. - A group of papyri acquired by purchase by the British Museum and coming perhaps in part from Oxyrhynchus and in part from… -
Eglon
EGLON. - 1. King of Moab, who oppressed the southern part of Israel for 18 years (Judg. 3:12-22). Aided by bands of Ammonites and… -
El
EL. - The primitive and personal name of God among all the ancient Semites: Hebrew and Aramaic 'E., Akkadian ilu, Arabic ilāh, as proved by… -
Elah (Heb. 'Elâh = "Oak", "Terebinth") (ELA (EBR. 'ELÂH = « QUERCIA », « TEREBINTO »))
ELAH (Heb. 'Elâh = "Oak", "Terebinth"). - Name of several figures of the Old Testament, among them a king of Israel killed after two years… -
Elam
ELAM. - Territory (Akkadian Nim-ma-ki "the high country", Greek Ἐλαμαΐς), bordering to the south on the Persian Gulf, to the west on… -
Elath
ELATH. - A city on the Elamite gulf (Heb. 'Elath and 'Elâth). It is mentioned for the first time in Deut. 2:8 as a stopping place of the… -
Eldad ('Eldād, "God Has Loved") (ELDAD ('ELDĀDH « DIO AMÒ »))
ELDAD ('Eldād, "God Has Loved"). - One of the 70 elders whom Moses associated with himself for the government of Israel. E. together with… -
Eleazar (Heb. 'El'āzār, "God Has Helped") (ELEAZARO (CBR. 'EL'ĀZĀR, « DIO AIUTO »))
ELEAZAR (Heb. 'El'āzār, "God Has Helped"). - Name of various biblical figures. 1. - Third son of Aaron, brother of Moses (Ex. 6:25). He was… -
Elephantine (ELEFANTINA)
ELEPHANTINE. - A granite island situated at the mouth of the first cataract of the Nile, from where the river becomes navigable down to its… -
Eletta
ELETTA. - Nell'intestazione di II Io. si legge: « Il presbitero a una E. Signora (ἐκλεκτῆ, κυρία) e si figli di lei ». Nell'epilogo: « Ti… -
Eliab (Heb. "Il My God Is Father") (ELIAB (EBR. «IL MIO DIO È PADRE»))
ELIAB (Heb. "Il My God Is Father"). - Name of seven persons of the Old Testament. 1. Son of Helon and chief of the tribe of Zebulun at the… -
Eliakim (ELIACIM)
ELIAKIM. - Son of Hilkiah, chosen by God in place of the impious and proud Shebna, according to Is. 22:20-25. A faithful servant of Yahweh,… -
Eliam
ELIAM. - Father of Bathsheba ('Elī'am in II Sam. 11:3; I Chron. 3:5 = by transposition 'amun'el': "my uncle or relative is 'El"). He is… -
Eliasaph (Heb. 'Eljasaph "God Increases") (ELIASAPH (EBR. 'ELJASAPH « DIO ACCRESCE »))
ELIASAPH (Heb. 'Eljasaph "God Increases"). - 1. Son of Duel (De'ā'el), chief of the tribe of Dan at the time of the census carried out by… -
Eliasib (Heb. 'Eljā'ībh) (ELIASIB (EBR. 'ELJĀ'IBH))
ELIASIB (Heb. 'Eljā'ībh). - High priest of the time of Ezra and Nehemiah, son of Joiakim and father of Joiada (Neh. 3:1, 20; 12:10). He… -
Eliel (Heb. 'Elī'el "My God Is 'El") (ELIEL (EBR. 'ELĪ'EL « MIO DIO È 'EL »))
ELIEL (Heb. 'Elī'el "My God Is 'El"). - Nine Israelites of this name appear in the Bible. 1. One of the chiefs of the tribe of Manasseh (I… -
Eli (Heb. 'Eli, vulg. Heli) (ELI (EBR. 'ELF, VOLG. HELF))
ELI (Heb. 'Eli, vulg. Heli). - Ancestor of Jesus (only in Lk. 3:25), the penultimate of the "Judges"; of his judgeship, however, which… -
Elihu (Heb. 'Elīhā, Septuagint 'Elīhā) (ELIU (EBR. 'ELĪHĀ, SETTANTA 'ELĪHĀ))
ELIHU (Heb. 'Elīhā, Septuagint 'Elīhā). - An interlocutor of Job (Job 32-37), who speaks after the three friends Eliphaz, Bildad and… -
Elijah (ELIA)
ELIJAH. - Greatest among the prophets of action in Israel, whose name ('Elifjah[d] "my God is Yahweh") constitutes a whole program of life… -
Elimelech (Heb. 'Elimeleḥh "My God Is King") (ELIMELECH (EBR. 'ELIMELEHH «MIO DIO È RE»))
ELIMELECH (Heb. 'Elimeleḥh "My God Is King"). - Husband of Naomi and relative of Boaz. He was of the tribe of Judah, in the time of the… -
Eliphaz
ELIPHAZ. - The most eloquent of Job's friends (Job 2:11), a native of Teman, a region whose tribe descended from Esau's grandson (Gen.… -
Elisa (Heb. 'Elīsa) (ELISA (EBR. 'ELÍSA'))
ELISA (Heb. 'Elīsa). - Firstborn of Javan (Gen. 10:4). The name returns in Ezek. 27:7: the "isles of E." carried on the purple trade with… -
Elisama (Heb. 'Elīlāmā' "God Hears") (ELISAMA (EBR. 'ELĪLĀMĀ' « DIO ESAUDI »))
ELISAMA (Heb. 'Elīlāmā' "God Hears"). - Name of various biblical figures. 1. A leader of the tribe of Ephraim (Num. 1:10; 2:18; 7:48;… -
Elisaphan
ELISAPHAN. - 1. Levite, son of Uzziel, head of the family of the Kohathites (Num. 3:30) at the time of the census of the people of Israel… -
Elisha ('Elīlā' = "God Saves") (ELISEO ('ELĪLĀ' = « DIO SALVA »))
ELISHA ('Elīlā' = "God Saves"). - Prophet, successor of Elijah (v.). He was the son of Shaphat, a native of Abel-meholah, southeast of… -
Elkanah (Heb. 'Elqāhāh, "God Has Possessed") (ELCANA (EBR. 'ELQĀHĀH, « DIO HA POSSEDUTO »))
ELKANAH (Heb. 'Elqāhāh, "God Has Possessed"). - Father of the prophet Samuel (1 Sam. 1-2; 1 Chron. 6:27). Of Levitical descent, but not… -
Elohim (Vulgate Deus) (ĒLÖHIM (VOLGATA DEUS))
ELOHIM (VULGATE DEUS). - Generic Hebrew name for the God of Israel, used like Ēl (v.), of which it is a synonym and the plural form (F.… -
Eman (Heb. Hēmān) (EMAN (EBR. HÉMÁN))
EMAN (Heb. Hēmān). - 1. One (Vulg. Heman) of the 4 sages inferior to Solomon. He was the son, like Chalcol and Darda, of Mahol (metathesis… -
Emath (Heb. Hāniṯ) (EMATH (EBR. HÁNITH))
EMATH (Heb. Hāniṯ). - 1. A very ancient city of Syria, connected with the ports of Aradus (Arvad) and Simyra (Gen. 18:8), mentioned in the… -
Emmanuel (Hebrew 'Immanā'ēl "God Is With Us", Septuagint 'Εμμανουήλ") (EMANUELE (EMMANUELE; EBRAICO 'IMMANĀ'ĒL «CON NOI [È] DIO», SETTANTA 'ΕΜΜΑΝΟΥΉΛ»))
EMMANUEL (EMMANUELE; Hebrew 'Immanā'ēl "God [is] with us", Septuagint 'Εμμανουήλ). - Symbolic name (from a customary expression of good… -
Emmaus
EMMAUS. - 1. A city famous in the history of the Maccabees (1 Macc. 3:40; 4:3; 9:50), capital of a toparchy in 47 B.C. (Fl. Josephus, Bell.… -
Enacim (Hebrew 'Anāqīm) (ENACIM (EBR. 'ANĀQĪM))
ENACIM (Hebrew 'Anāqīm). - An indigenous Canaanite population, driven out of the country by Joshua (Josh. 11:21). The expulsion of the sons… -
Endor
ENDOR. - A city in the territory of the tribe of Issachar, but given to the tribe of Manasseh (Josh. 17:11). Sisera and Jabin "were… -
Engaddi (Hebrew 'En Gādhī', Fountain of the Goat) (ENGADDI (EBR. 'EN GĀDHI' FONTE DEL CAPRETTO »))
ENGADDI (Hebrew 'En Gādhī', Fountain of the Goat). - A city of the desert of Paran (Josh. 15:62), surrounded by steep cliffs (1 Sam. 24:3),… -
Enoch, Book of (HENOCH, LIBRO DI)
ENOCH, Book of. - Name of three different apocrypha (v.), having as their protagonist the patriarch H., distinguished according to the… -
Enoch (Hebrew: Hānōkh) (HENOCH (EBR. HĀNŌHH))
ENOCH (Hebrew: Hānōkh). - 1. Antediluvian patriarch, son of Jared. Of him, who according to Gen. 5:23 reached the age of 365 years (the… -
Enos (Hebrew Enōš = « humanity », « man ») (ENOS (EBR. ENŌI = « UMANITÀ », « UOMO »))
ENOS (Hebrew Enōš = « humanity », « man »). - A very ancient patriarch. In Gen. 4:26 - the Yahwistic document according to the critics -… -
Epaphras (Vulg. Epaphras) (EPAFRA (VOLG. EPAPHRAS))
EPAPHRAS (Vulg. Epaphras). - Disciple and collaborator of Paul (Col. 1:7; 4:12; Philem. 23). That his name (Ἐπασρᾶς) is an abbreviated form… -
Epaphroditus (EPAFRODITO)
EPAPHRODITUS. - Disciple and collaborator of St. Paul, known only from the Letter to the Philippians, if he is considered, as is almost… -
Epenetus (EPENETO)
EPENETUS. - A Christian mentioned in Rom. 16:5. The name (Ἐπέλωνος, "praiseworthy") was not borne, as far as is known, by any Jew, whereas… -
Ephesians, Epistle to the (EFESINI, EPISTOLA AGLI)
EPHESIANS, Epistle to the. - Letter of St. Paul, the first, in the Tridentine canon, of the group of the captivity. SUMMARY: I. Content. -… -
Ephod (Heb. אֵרֶד) (EPHOD (EBR. ἘΡΘΆΔΙ))
EPHOD (Heb. אֵרֶד). - Among the sacred vestments of Aaron there appear (Ex. 28:4) the ῥόξειν ("breastpiece," Vulg. rationale), and the e.… -
Ephraim
EPHRAIM. - 1. Second-born son of Joseph and Aseneth (v.). Born in Egypt "before the year of famine came" (Gen. 41:50), he was given the… -
Ephrata
EPHRATAH. - Appellation of Bethlehem (v.), which after the time of el-'Amarna (15th century B.C.) was part of the territory of E. with… -
Ephrem
EPHREM. - A town near the desert, where Jesus withdrew with his disciples after the miracle of the resurrection of Lazarus (Jn. 11:54). It… -
Epimenides (EPIMÈNIDE)
EPIMENIDES. - Greek poet, who lived in the 6th century B.C. According to legend, he was born at Knossos, on the island of Crete, and was… -
Epistles I-II to the Thessalonians (TESSALONICESI, EPISTOLE I-II AI)
EPISTLES I-II TO THE THESSALONIANS. - The first two letters written by St. Paul, in 50-51 A.D., from Corinth, a few months apart from each… -
Epistles of the Captivity (PRIGIONIA, EPISTOLE DELLA)
EPISTLES OF THE CAPTIVITY. - The Pauline letters to the Colossians (v.), Ephesians (v.), Philippians (v.) and to Philemon (v.), which… -
Epistle to the Philippians (FILIPPESI, EPISTOLA AI)
EPISTLE TO THE PHILIPPIANS. - One of the four captivity letters, addressed by St. Paul to the community of Philippi. SUMMARY: I. Character.… -
Erastus (ERASTO)
ERASTUS. - A name that occurs three times in the New Testament: 1) Acts 19:22; 2) Rom. 16:23; 3) 2 Tim. 4:20; but it is uncertain whether… -
Esau (Hebrew: עֵשָׂו) (ESAU (EBR. ÈFAW))
ESAU (Hebrew: עֵשָׂו). - Firstborn of Isaac and Rebecca. The Bible explains this name, whose scientific etymological meaning escapes us, by… -
Esdraelon (ESDRELON)
ESDRAELON. - A plain of Palestine, between the Jordan and the Mediterranean, Galilee and Samaria, thus called (Judg. 1:8; 4:5; 7:3) in a… -
Eshcol ('Eshōl' 'Grape Cluster') (ESCHOL ('ESHŌL «GRAPPOLO D'UVA»))
ESHCOL ('Eshōl' 'Grape Cluster'). - Aramean, brother of Mamre, one of Abraham's allies, who followed him in the raid against Chedorlaomer,… -
Essenes (ESSENI)
ESSENES. - A Jewish religious association that existed in Palestine from about 150 B.C. to A.D. 70. Pliny, Philo, and Josephus speak of it… -
Ess, Leander van
ESS, LEANDER van. - Translator and propagator of the Bible, b. at Warburg (Westphalia) on 15 Feb. 1772, d. at Affolderbach (Odenwald) on 13… -
Esther (Heb. 'Estēr; Vulg. Esther) (ESTER (EBR. 'ESTÉR; VOLG. ESTHER))
ESTHER (Heb. 'Estēr; Vulg. Esther). - Jewish heroine after whom the 8th of the Hagiographa is named, in the Hebrew Bible the 5th of the… -
Etam (Heb. 'Ējām, Vulg. Etam) (ETAM (EBR. 'ÉJĀM, VOLG. ETAM))
ETAM (Heb. 'Ējām, Vulg. Etam). - Name of two Libyan localities. 1. City of southern Judah, near 'En-Rimnūn, transferred by Judah to Simeon… -
Etham (Heb. 'Ethām) (ETHAM (EBR. 'ETHĀM))
ETHAM (Heb. 'Ethām). - The second stage or station of the Israelites on their journey toward the Promised Land (Ex. 13:20; Num. 33:6). The… -
Ethan (Heb. 'Ethān = Firm, Stable) (ETHAN (EBR. 'ETHĀN = FERMO, STABILE '))
ETHAN (Heb. 'Ethān = Firm, Stable). - Three or four biblical figures. 1. Descendant of Zerah (Heb. Zerah), famous for his wisdom. In 1… -
Ethiopian Eunuch (EUNUCO ETIOPE)
ETHIOPIAN EUNUCH. - Minister of Candace, queen of Ethiopia, converted and baptized by the deacon Philip (Acts 8:26-39). Whether this… -
Ethnic (ETNICO)
ETHNIC. - A Greek term (ἐθνικός, Vulgate ethnicus or gentilis) with which Hellenistic Jews designated the pagan, a member of the "nations"… -
Ethnic-Christians (ETNICO-CRISTIANI)
ETHNIC-CHRISTIANS. - Name by which one customarily designates the non-Jews converted to Christianity in the apostolic age ("Ἕλληνες: Acts… -
Ethnographic Table (ETNOGRAFICA, TAVOLA)
ETHNOGRAPHIC TABLE. - A name derived from Gen. 10, because in the form of a grandiose genealogical tree, whose progenitors are the three… -
Eubulus (EUBULO)
EUBULUS. A prominent member of the community of Rome, remembered in 2 Tim. 4:21. He is the first of the group who greets Timothy: there… -
Eunice
EUNICE. - Mother of Timothy, disciple of St. Paul. Luke (Acts 16:1) presents Timothy as the son of a "faithful Jewish woman," that is,… -
Eupolemus (EUPOLEMO)
EUPOLEMUS. - A Palestinian Hebrew, son of John, mentioned in I Macc., 8:17 and II Macc., 4:11. Sent to Rome around 161 B.C. by Judas… -
Eutychus (Εὐτύχος) (EUTICO ("ΕΥ̓ΑΥΤΌΣ"))
EUTYCHUS (Εὐτύχος). - A young man raised from the dead by St. Paul at Troas (Acts 20:9-12). With the recklessness proper to his age (he is… -
Evangelist (EVANGELISTA)
EVANGELIST. - A title, in the writings of the New Testament, of the preacher or propagator of the Gospel (v.). While the terms "Gospel"… -
Eve (EVA)
EVE. - Progenitress of the human race. Eve was created so that man might have "a help meet for him" (Gen. 2:18-20). She was called Eve by… -
Ewald, Heinrich Georg August
EWALD, HEINRICH GEORG AUGUST. - Protestant Orientalist and exegete, b. at Göttingen on 16 Nov. 1803, d. there on 4 May 1875. At first… -
Exodus (Ἐξοδος 'Exit') (ESODO (ἘΞΟΔΌΣ « USCITA »))
EXODUS (Ἐξοδος 'Exit'). - Second book of the Pentateuch (v.), so called by the Septuagint because of the subject matter of its first part;… -
Ezechias (EZECHIA)
EZECHIAS. - 1. King of Judah (Heb. Ḥizqijjāh [6], Gk. 'Eẕnīz, Akkadian Ḥazaqijau) from c. 718 to 689 B.C. Succeeding his father Ahaz at the… -
Ezekiel (Heb. Jēḥezqēl «God is strong» or «God strengthens») (EZECHIELE (EBR. JĒḤEZQĒL «DIO È FORTE» O «DIO FORTIFICA»))
EZEKIEL (Heb. Jēḥezqēl «God is strong» or «God strengthens»). - Third of the great writing prophets, who lived among the exiles of Babylon… -
Ezra (ESDRA)
EZRA. - Priest and scribe (Heb. 'Esrā'; Septuagint 'Eσ[ē]σ[ē] = 'E[σ]σ; Vulgate Esdras) who played a leading part in the Jewish restoration… -
Ezra, Fourth Book of (ESDRA, IV LIBRO DI)
EZRA, Fourth Book of. - One of the most important apocrypha of the Old Testament. A true jewel of Jewish apocalyptic literature, it enjoyed… -
Ezra, Third Book of (ESDRA, III LIBRO DI)
EZRA, Third Book of. - An apocryphal book, whose material is found almost entirely in the canonical books: II Par. 35, 1-36, 21 = ch. 1;… -
Feast of the Tabernacles (TABERNACOLI, FESTA DEI)
FEAST OF THE TABERNACLES. - One of the three annual feasts of Israel, together with Passover and Pentecost, at which "every male" had to… -
Federici, Giacomo
FEDERICI, GIACOMO. - Bolognese doctor and professor of theology and law, d. at Trieste on 8 Sept. 1652. In the De electione et potestate… -
Felice, Antonio
FELICE, ANTONIO. - Procurator of Judea from 52 to 60 A.D. A slave emancipated by Antonia, mother of the emperor Claudius (v.). Supported at… -
Felix of Prato (FELICE DA PRATO)
FELIX OF PRATO. - Augustinian exegete, b. in Prato in the second half of the 15th century to Jewish parents, d. in Rome around 1560. For… -
Felten, Joseph
FELTEN, JOSEPH. - Exegete and scholar of modern New Testament criticism, b. at Düren on 9 February 1851, d. at Bonn on 11 December 1929.… -
Ferrar Group (Family 13) (FERRAR, GRUPPO DI (FAMIOLIA 13))
FERRAR GROUP (FAMILY 13). - A group of 13 Greek codices of the Gospels (H. von Soden: I in the introduction, then I¹). They are the… -
Ferrer, Bonifacio
FERRER, BONIFACIO. - Carthusian, brother of St. Vincent, b. at Valencia in 1355, d. in holiness at the charterhouse of Vall de Cristo on 29… -
Figurism (FIGURISMO)
FIGURISM. - A system of interpreting Holy Scripture, according to which the events and figures of the Bible would be prefigurations of… -
Firstborn (PRIMOGENITO)
FIRSTBORN. - Every male that was the first birth (Heb. bēkhār, whose synonym is pēter rēhem, rendered exactly by the Vulgate as "qui aperit… -
Fonck, Leopold
FONCK, LEOPOLD. - Exegete, b. at Wissen (Rhenish Prussia) on 14 Jan. 1865, d. at Vienna on 19 Oct. 1930. After completing his gymnasium and… -
Fontaine, Nicolas
FONTAINE, NICOLAS. - Biblicist and Jansenist historian, b. in Paris in 1625, d. at Melun on 28 Jan. 1709. Around the age of 25 he withdrew… -
Forum Appii (Market of A.) (FORO APPIO (MERCATO DI A.))
FORUM APPII (MARKET OF A.). - A village south of Rome, mentioned in Acts 28:15 as the place where St. Paul, a prisoner, met the delegation… -
Fouard, Henri-Constant
FOUARD, HENRI-CONSTANT. - Priest, biblical scholar, b. at Elbeuf (Rouen) on 6 Aug. 1837, d. there on 3 Dec. 1903. During his theological… -
Fracassini, Umberto
FRACASSINI, UMBERTO. - Historian and biblical scholar, b. at Cortona on 28 Jan. 1862, d. at Perugia on 30 July 1950. A pupil of the… -
Francis Maria of Lecce (FRANCESCO MARIA DA LECCE)
FRANCIS MARIA OF LECCE. - A Franciscan from Apulia. From the province of St. Nicholas of Bari, he studied at the missionary College of St.… -
Frey, Jean-Baptiste
FREY, JEAN-BAPTISTE. - Religious of the Congregation of the Holy Spirit, Hebraist, b. at Ingersheim (diocese of Strasbourg) on 26 April… -
Gaal (Heb. Ga'al «Fastidio») (GAAL (EBR. GA'AL «FASTIDIO»))
GAAL (Heb. Ga'al «Fastidio»). - Leader of the people, who rebelled against Abimelech (v.). He was the son of Obed, while from his words his… -
Gabaa
GABAA. - Name of several biblical localities situated on hills (Heb. Gibh'ah, construct state Gibh'ath, Vulgate Gabaa, Gabaath "hill"). 1.… -
Gabelo (Gr. Gabaēlós, «Ecciso è Dio», According to Hebrew) (GABELO (GR. ΓΑΒΑΉΛΟΣ, «ECCISO È DIO», SECONDO L'EBRAICO))
GABELO (Gr. Gabaēlós, «Ecciso è Dio», According to Hebrew). - A relative and a punctual debtor, according to the Vulgate, of Tobit. In the… -
Gadd, Chronicle of (GADD, CRONACA DI)
GADD, Chronicle of. - A cuneiform tablet preserved in the British Museum (no. 21901) in London is so called from the name of its first… -
Gad (Heb. Gad «Fortune») (GAD (EBR. GADH « FORTUNA »))
GAD (Heb. Gad «Fortune»). - Son of Jacob and of Zilpah, Leah's maidservant (Gen. 30:10, 11), and ancestor of the tribe of the same name. Of… -
Galatians, Epistle to the (GALATI, EPISTOLA AL)
GALATIANS, Epistle to the. - One of the four major letters of St. Paul, addressed to the Churches of Galatia, deeply disturbed by Judaizing… -
Galilee (GALILEA)
GALILEE. - Historical name designating the portion of the Palestinian plateau north of the plain of Esdrelon. The name Gálíl ("circle,"… -
Gallione
GALLIONE. - Brother of Seneca; proconsul at Corinth: he sent away the Jews who were accusing St. Paul, refusing to involve himself in their… -
Gamaliel I (GAMALIELE I)
GAMALIEL I. - Tannaite (v.) of the first generation, patriarch in the years c. 25-50 A.D., called the "Elder" to distinguish him from his… -
Garizim (Arabic Gebel et-Tôr) (GARIZIM (ARABO GEBEL ET-TÔR))
GARIZIM (Arabic Gebel et-Tôr). - Mountain (868 m.) of central Palestine, dominating to the north the biblical city of Shechem (near… -
Gasquet, Francis Aidan
GASQUET, FRANCIS AIDAN. - Cardinal, Benedictine, b. in London on 5 Oct. 1846 to a distinguished Catholic family of French origin that had… -
Gaulon
GAULON. - A Levitical city and city of refuge in the territory of the half-tribe of Manasseh, in Bashan in Transjordan (Josh. 20:8; 21:27).… -
Gaza (Hebrew Azzah, Arabic Ghazzah) (GAZA (EBR. AZZAH, AR. GAZZAH))
GAZA (Hebrew Azzah, Arabic Ghazzah). - A Canaanite city (Gen. 10:19; Deut. 2:23) in the southwestern corner of Palestine, 4 km from the… -
Gazophilacium (Gazophylakion) (GAZOFILACIO (ΓΑΖΟΦΥΛΆΚΩΝ))
GAZOPHILACIUM (Gazophylakion). - From γάζα (cf. Acts 8:27; which in Persian means "treasure") and φυλάκιον (= "to guard"): in the… -
Gedaliah (Hebrew Gédhaljâh[â] « Greatness of Jahweh ») (GODOLIA (EBR. GÉDHALJÂH[Â] « GRANDEZZA DI JAHWEH »))
GEDALIAH (Hebrew Gédhaljâh[â] « Greatness of Jahweh »). - A member of the party favorable to an agreement with the Babylonians and the… -
Gehazi (Heb. Gēḇāzī; Septuagint = Giezí) (GIEZI (GĒBĀZĪ; SETTANTA = ΓΙΕΖΊ))
GEHAZI (Heb. Gēḇāzī; Septuagint = Giezí). - Servant of the prophet Elisha (v.). When the latter wishes to reward the generous hospitality… -
Gehenna
GEHENNA. - Valley of Ennom, and of the sons of Ennom (Heb. gē hēnē-Hinnōm and gē Hinnōm; Aram. gē hinnōm, whence γέενα with the suppression… -
Gehon (Hebrew Gibōn) (GEHON (EBR. GIBÓN))
GEHON (Hebrew Gibōn). - The second of the four rivers into which the current divides upon leaving Eden; it flows through the whole land of… -
Gelbanus (Heb. Bēbēdhēn, Gr. Chalbánē) (GALBANO (EBR. ΒΕΒΈΔΗΝ, GR. ΧΑΛΒΆΝΗ))
GELBANUS (Heb. Bēbēdhēn, Gr. Chalbánē). - A resin, extracted from the ferula galbaniflua of the family Umbelliferae, with a strong and… -
Gelboe
GELBOE. - Nome biblico del gruppo di colline - termine nord-est della montagna d'Ephraim e della Samaria - che orlano a sud-est la pianura… -
Gemara' (GEMÄRÄ')
GEMARA'. - An Aramaic masculine word meaning "completion of the teaching." In general, however, one says "the g.," as if it were a Hebrew… -
Genazzano, Elia di Beniamin da
GENAZZANO, ELIA di BENIAMIN da. - Rabbi of the second half of the 15th century, author of a kabbalistic work ('Iggereth bāmādhōth), of a… -
Genesis (GENESI)
GENESIS. - Name of the book with which the series of the Old Testament opens. It is derived from the Greek γένεσις and passed through the… -
Genizah (GÉNIZĀH)
GENIZAH. - Hebrew term from gānaz, of Persian origin, meaning "(deposit of the) treasure," "storeroom." The sacred scrolls of the… -
Gennesaret (Hebrew Kinnereth) (GENESARETH (EBR. KINNERETH))
GENNESARET (Hebrew Kinnereth). - A Canaanite city (Kinnereth in the list of Thutmose III) assigned by Joshua to the tribe of Naphtali… -
Gentiles (GENTILI)
GENTILES. - A term that in the Latin New Testament (Vulgate: gentes, gentiles, Graeci) designates all the non-Jewish peoples, participants… -
Gerard of Huy (de Hojo) (GERARDO DA HUY (DE HOJO))
GERARD OF HUY (de Hojo). - French Franciscan scholar of the 13th century, born at Huy (Hojum), it seems, in the diocese of Liège (Belgium).… -
Gerar (Hebrew Gerar, Septuagint Germar) (GÉRARA (EBR. GÉRÂR, SETTANTA ΓΕΡΜΑΡ))
GERAR (Hebrew Gerar, Septuagint Germar). - Ancient city of the Negeb in Palestine, on the road to Egypt, southeast of Gaza and west of… -
Gerson
GERSON. - The firstborn son of Moses (Ex. 2:22 and 18:3), whose name is explained there: "A stranger (gër) am I in a foreign land"…