Sacred Scripture
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Nebuchadnezzar II (NABUCHODONOSOR II)
NEBUCHADNEZZAR II. - Second Neo-Babylonian king (Babylonian 'Nabū-kudurri-uṣur = "Nabū protect the heir son"; Hebrew Nēbhūkhadhre'sar, the… -
Nechao
NECHAO. - Pharaoh of Egypt of the XXVI dynasty (609-595 B.C.), the second of his name, son of Psammetichus I, whose work he continued.… -
Neghebh
NEGHEBH. - In the Hebrew language (from an ancient Semitic root ngb "to be dry, arid") it means an arid region, and, as a general term of… -
Nehemiah (Hebr. Nēḥemyāh, Septuagint Nemía[s], Vulg. Nehemias) (NEEMIA (EBR. NĒHEMJĀH, SETTANTA ΝΕΜΊΑ[Σ], VOLG. NEHEMIAS))
NEHEMIAH (Hebr. Nēḥemyāh, Septuagint Nemía[s], Vulg. Nehemias). - Restorer of Jerusalem (5th century B.C.) after the exile; he was the son… -
Nergel (Hebr. Nèrghal, Sept. 'Ergél) (NERGEL (EBR. NÈRGHAL, SETT. 'ΕΡΓΈΛ))
NERGEL (Hebr. Nèrghal, Sept. 'Ergél). - Name of the idol that the Assyrian colonists, sent to populate the Samaritan city of Cuthah, "made"… -
New Covenant (NUOVA ALLEANZA)
NEW COVENANT. - A Jewish sect, about which information is given by an incomplete Hebrew codex, discovered in the winter of 1896-97 and… -
Nicanor (NICANORE)
NICANOR. - Syrian general, son of Patroclus, elephantarch and then commander-in-chief of the army of the Seleucid kings (I Macc. 3:38;… -
Nicholas (Nikólaos «Victor of the People») (NICOLA (ΝΙΚΌΛΑΟΣ « VINCITORE DEL POPOLO »))
NICHOLAS (Nikólaos «Victor of the People»). - A deacon, bearing a Hellenistic name, the last of the 7 ordained by the Apostles in Jerusalem… -
Nicodemus (NICODEMO)
NICODEMUS. - A noble Jew, a disciple of Jesus, mentioned in the Gospel of St. John: he was a Pharisee, a ruler of the Jews (John 3:1), a… -
Nicolaites (NICOLAITI)
NICOLAITES. - A libertine-Gnostic sect, mentioned in Rev. 2:6 and 16 ("false apostles": v. 2), which infested the Asian communities of… -
Nilus (NILO)
NILUS. - River of Egypt. It is mentioned in many passages of the Bible and is indeed often called simply "the river" by antonomasia (Gen.… -
Nimrod (Hebr. Nimrādh, Septuagint Neṣnā) (NEMROD (EBR. NIMRĀDH, SETTANTA NEṢṆĀ))
NIMROD (Hebr. Nimrādh, Septuagint Neṣnā). - Son of Cush, of Hamitic stock, of whom it is said that he was a great hunter and founded an… -
Nineveh (NINIVE)
NINEVEH. - Capital city of Assyria. The name of the city is at first Ninuwā, in the middle of the 2nd millennium Ninuwa, but along with… -
Nippur
NIPPUR. - City of ancient Babylonia. The various hills (= tell) of N. - situated between Kūt el-Amārah and Dīwānijjeh (in the desert… -
Nisān (From Babylonian Nisannu) (NISĀN (DAL BABILONESE NISANNU))
NISĀN (From Babylonian Nisannu). - First month of the year in Israel; in the oldest biblical literature, it is identified with ḥōdheṣ… -
Noah (Heb. Nōah; Septuagint Nōe; cf. Old Babylonian Nuḫīja) (NOÈ (EBR. NŌAH, SETTANTA NŌE; CF. ANTICO BABIL. NUHIJA))
NOAH (Heb. Nōah; Septuagint Nōe; cf. Old Babylonian Nuḫīja). - The tenth of the "antediluvian patriarchs" (Gen. 5:28-31), son of Lamech,… -
Nobili, Flaminio De
NOBILI, FLAMINIO de. - Theologian and biblical scholar, b. ca. 1530, d. at Lucca in 1590. He concerned himself especially with the Greek… -
Numbers (NUMERI)
NUMBERS. - Literal translation of the Greek Ἀριθμοί, in the sense of "censuses," with which the translator of the Septuagint entitled the… -
Obadiah (Hebrew 'servant of Yahweh'; Masoretic text 'Obadyāh, form used by Jews and by Luther and followers) (ABDIA (EBR. « SERVO DI JAHWEH»; NEL TESTO MASSORETICO 'OBADYĀH, FORMA RITENUTA DAGLI EBREI E DA LUTERO E SEGUACI))
OBADIAH (Hebrew 'servant of Yahweh'; Masoretic text 'Obadyāh, form used by Jews and by Luther and followers). - Fourth of the minor… -
Obededom ("Servant of [the God] Edom") (OBEDEDOM (« SERVITORE DEL [DIO] EDOM »))
OBEDEDOM ("Servant of [the God] Edom"). - A Philistine native of Gath (v.), living in the vicinity of Jerusalem and perhaps a "bodyguard"… -
Obed (Hebrew 'Ōbhedh, "Servant") (OBED (EBR. 'ÖBHEDH « SERVITORE »))
OBED (Hebrew 'Ōbhedh, "Servant"). - Name of several figures of the Old Testament. 1. Son of Boaz and Naomi and grandfather of David (Ruth… -
Obicini, Tommaso
OBICINI, TOMMASO. - Franciscan Palestinian scholar and Arabist, b. at Noni, diocese of Novara, and therefore called Thomas of Novara, d. in… -
Ochozia (Joachaz) (OCHOZIA (IOACHAZ))
OCHOZIA (JOACHAZ). - King of Judah, son of Jehoram (v.) and Athaliah; he reigned only one year (842 B.C.). He was among the few members of… -
Octateuch (OTTATEUCO)
OCTATEUCH. - Il termine (ὁκτώ «otto» e τοῦτος «scrigno» o custodia per libri e quindi «libro») appare la prima volta in Cassiodoro (De… -
Odollam (Hebrew 'Adhullām; cf. Arabic 'Adula, "To Take Refuge") (ODOLLAM (EBR. 'ADHULLĀM; CF. ARABO 'ADULA «METTERSI AL SICURO»))
ODOLLAM (Hebrew 'Adhullām; cf. Arabic 'Adula, "To Take Refuge"). - A Canaanite city, often mentioned in the Bible from the time of the… -
Old Testament Studies ("Studia Anticotesamentaria") (OUDTESTAMENTISCHE STUDIEN («STUDI ANTICOTESTAMENTARI»))
OLD TESTAMENT STUDIES ("Studia Anticotesamentaria"). - A series of memoirs of the "Oudtestamentisch Werkgezelschap in Nederland," which… -
Olshausen, Hermann
OLSHAUSEN, HERMANN. - Protestant exegete of a positive stance in theology, opponent of rationalism, idealism, and Romanticism, b. at… -
Omri (Hebrew 'Omri'; Septuagint 'Αμβρί) (AMRI (EBR. 'OMRI'; SETTANTA 'ΑΜΒΡΊ'))
OMRI (Hebrew 'Omri'; Septuagint 'Αμβρί). - Sixth king of Israel (884-873 B.C.), founder of the fourth dynasty, who ascended the throne in… -
Onan
ONAN. - Second son of Judah, son of the patriarch Jacob, born to him by his Canaanite wife, Shua. Since his brother Er had died without… -
Onesimus (ONESIMO)
ONESIMUS. - A fugitive slave, probably Phrygian and from Colossae (Col. 4:9), on whose behalf St. Paul wrote the Epistle to Philemon (v.).… -
Onesiphorus (ONESIFORO)
ONESIPHORUS. - A figure of the Church of Ephesus, mentioned in II Tim. 1:16 ff. and 4:19 (the "house of O."). From the whole context it… -
Onyx (Lat. Onyx) (ONICE (LAT. ONYX))
ONYX (Lat. Onyx). — A term that in the Vulgate denotes both a perfume and a precious stone. In Ex. 30:34 it is the perfume of the fragrant… -
Oolla and Ooliba (OOLLA E OOLIBA)
OOLLA AND OOLIBA. - Symbolic names chosen by Ezekiel (ch. 23) to designate Samaria and Jerusalem. Both are transcriptions of the Hebrew… -
Ophel
OPHEL. - The southeastern hill of Jerusalem. The name, from the root 'áphal = "to swell," properly "protuberance," "prominence" (Deut.… -
Ophir
OPHIR. - Region reached by Solomon's fleet (1 Kings 9:28; 10:22), which King Jehoshaphat attempted to renew (ibid. 22:49) — with its base… -
Oreb and Zeb (OREB E ZEB)
OREB AND ZEB. - Totemic names ('ôrêbh "raven"; zê'êbh "wolf") of two Midianite chiefs, captured by the Israelites of Gideon's time (v.)… -
Ornan (Heb. 'Ornān; in 2 Sam. 24:16-25 Vulg. Araunah, Heb. 'Arawnāh) (ORNAN (EBR. 'ORNĀN; IN II SAM. 24, 16-25 VOLG. AREUNA, EBR. 'ARAWNĀH))
ORNAN (Heb. 'Ornān; in 2 Sam. 24:16-25 Vulg. Araunah, Heb. 'Arawnāh). - Name, of Hurrian or Hittite origin, of a Jebusite living in… -
Osorio, Girolamo
OSORIO, GIROLAMO. - Portuguese theologian and exegete, b. in Lisbon in 1506, d. at Tavira on 20 Aug. 1580. He completed his classical… -
Ostrakon
OSTRAKON. - Sherds of amphorae and vases, used on the convex side for writing purposes, generally for votes (the Athenian "ostracism" is… -
Othniel (Heb. 'Othniel') (OTHONIEL (EBR. 'OTHNIEL'))
OTHNIEL (Heb. 'Othniel'). - Judge of Israel, son of Kenaz and brother of Caleb. He conquered Kiriath-sepher and obtained in marriage his… -
Pagnini, Santi (Sante)
PAGNINI, SANTI (SANTE). - A distinguished Orientalist and exegete, who was the first translator of the Bible from the original texts after… -
Pannier, Eugene
PANNIER, EUGENE. - Exegete and orientalist, b. at Amicus in 1854, d. at Lille on 13 Jan. 1937. Substitute professor (1893) and holder… -
Parable (Parabolē from paraballō "to place near, compare, liken") (PARABOLA (ΠΑΡΑΒΟΛΉ DA ΠΑΡΑΒΌΛΛΟΙ «PORRE VICINO, CONFRONTARE, PARAGONARE»))
PARABLE (Parabolē from paraballō "to place near, compare, liken"). - A literary genre not unknown to Greek and Roman authors (cf.… -
Paraclete (PARACLITO)
PARACLETE. - Attribute of the Holy Spirit. It means literally "he who is called near" (παράκλητος, from παρακαλέω = "I call near"),… -
Paralipomena (PARALIPOMENI)
PARALIPOMENA. - Biblical book, the last in the Hebrew canon (kethubhim); in the Septuagint and the Vulgate it is placed before Ezra and… -
Paralytic (PARALITICO)
PARALYTIC. - St. John the Evangelist (5:1-15) relates that Jesus, having come to Jerusalem, stopped at a place near the present-day church… -
Parasceve
PARASCEVE. - Day of preparation for the Sabbath. The Greek term Παρασκευή literally means "preparation." The Vulgate simply transcribes the… -
Parmenas ("Constant") (PARMENAS (« COSTANTE »))
PARMENAS ("Constant"). - Sixth of the seven deacons chosen and consecrated by the Apostles to attend to the widows of the converted… -
Parthians (PARTI)
PARTHIANS. - A people of the Iranian group, living between the Caspian and the central Persian desert (the northern part of present-day… -
Pastoral Letters (PASTORALI, LETTERE)
PASTORAL LETTERS. - Common appellation for the Pauline I and II Timothy (v.) and Titus (v.), - in the 17th century also called pontificiae… -
Patmos
PATMOS. - Island in the Aegean, belonging to the Sporades group, south of Samos and west of Miletus. Of volcanic origin, it measures at… -
Patriarchs, Biblical (PATRIARCHI BIBLICI)
PATRIARCHS, BIBLICAL. - Descendants of Adam down to Noah (antediluvian) and of Shem down to Terah (postdiluvian). Also called P. are… -
Patrobas
PATROBAS. - A member of the community of Rome whom Paul greets (Rom. 16:14) together with Asyncritus, Phlegon, Hermes... Hermas (some… -
Pella
PELLA. - Ancient city east of the Jordan (Bihil in the letters of el-'Amārnah, p'-hjr' in the list of Thutmosis III and in the stele of… -
Pellegrini, Alessandro
PELLEGRINI, ALESSANDRO. - Preacher and exegete, b. at Matelica in 1600, d. at Rome on 28 Aug. 1647. He entered the Society of Jesus in… -
Pelten, Theodorus
PELTEN, THEODORUS. - Jesuit, theologian, b. at Pelta (Overpelt, Belgium), from which he took his name, ca. 1510, d. at Augsburg on 2 May… -
Penitential Psalms (PENITENZIALI, SALMI)
PENITENTIAL PSALMS. - A group of psalms (Ps. 6; 31; 37; 50; 101; 129; 142 [Vulg.]) that express trust in God's infinite mercy toward the… -
Pentapolis (Gk. ΠΕΝΤΆΠΟΛΙΣ) (PENTAPOLI (GR. ΠΕΝΤΆΠΟΛΙΣ))
PENTAPOLIS (Gk. ΠΕΝΤΆΠΟΛΙΣ). - The "five cities" (called P. in Wis. 10:6) that stood in Abraham's time in the Jordan region (Gen. 13:10)… -
Pentateuch (PENTATEUCO)
PENTATEUCH. - A great narrative and legislative work, which occupies the first place among the books that make up the Bible, composed of… -
Perea
PEREA. - Region east of the Jordan, which remained Jewish after the conquest and the new organization of Syria carried out by Pompey in… -
Pereyra, Benito
PEREYRA, BENITO. - Theologian and exegete, b. at Ruzafa, near Valencia, ca. 1535, d. at Rome on 6 March 1610. He entered the Society of… -
Pergamum (PERGAMO)
PERGAMUM. - In the New Testament, P. is mentioned in Rev. 1:11 and 2:12 (Πέργαμος) as the seat of a flourishing Christian community, which… -
Perizei (Heb. Pērizai; Septuagint ΦΕΡΕΙ͂ΑΊΟΙ) (FEREZEI (EBR. PĒRIZAI; SETTANTA ΦΕΡΕΙ͂ΑΊΟΙ))
PERIZEI (Heb. Pērizai; Septuagint ΦΕΡΕΙ͂ΑΊΟΙ). - One of the ethnic groups that inhabited Palestine before the Hebrew occupation (Gen. 13:7;… -
Persepolis (PERSEPOLI)
PERSEPOLIS. - Persian city (Iranian Parsa), built by Darius I Hystaspes (521-485 B.C.) and enlarged by Xerxes I (485-465 B.C.), who made it… -
Peshitta, Biblical Version (PESHITTA, VERSIONE BIBLICA)
PESHITTA, BIBLICAL VERSION: V. SIRIACHE, VERSIONI DELLA BIBLIA. -
Peter of Alfonso (PIETRO D'ALFONSO)
PETER OF ALFONSO. - Jewish physician (Moshe Sephardi), b. in Huesca (Aragon) in 1062, converted at the age of 44, d. ca. 1110. A profound… -
Peters, Norbert
PETERS, NORBERT. - Exegete, b. at Allendorf (Westphalia) on 5 Aug. 1863, d. at Paderborn on 20 Jan. 1938. A priest in 1887, following… -
Petra
PETRA. - A city of Transjordan, characteristically built on sheer rocks, and therefore called Sela ("rock"), in Greek P. It was inhabited… -
Phacee (Heb. Pēqāh) (PHACEE (EBR. PÉQÁH))
PHACEE (Heb. Pēqāh). - King of Israel (736-732 B.C.), 18th after the division of the Kingdom, insistently called "son of Remaliah" (II… -
Phaceia (Heb. Pēqāhyāh) (PHACEIA (EBR. PÉQÁHJÁH))
PHACEIA (Heb. Pēqāhyāh). - King of Israel, 17th after the division of the Kingdom. He succeeded his father Menahem (v.), and reigned for… -
Phaleg (Heb. Pēlegh) (PHALEG (EBR. PÉLEGH))
PHALEG (Heb. Pēlegh). - A descendant of Shem and son of Heber; brother of Joktan and father of Reu, one of the ancestors of Abraham. He was… -
Phanuel (Heb. Pēnî'ēl, "Face [Appearance] of God") (PHANUEL (EBR. PÊNI'ËL, « FACCIA [APPARIZIONE] DI DIO »))
PHANUEL (Heb. Pēnî'ēl, "Face [Appearance] of God"). - Name given to the place where Jacob wrestled with the angel (Gen. 32:30). P. was… -
Pharan
PHARAN. - Desert of Arabia Petraea, called today Badjet et-Tih. It is formed by a broad plain bordering to the east on the valley 'Arabah,… -
Pharaoh (FARAONE)
PHARAOH: V. MAR ROSSO, PASSAGGIO del. -
Pharaoh (Egypt. Par-ō [pr-ʕo] « elevated house », i.e. the palace; Heb. Par'ōh, Gr. Φαραώ, Lat. Pharao[n]) (FARAONE (EGIZ. PAR-Ō [PRƩʰIƩ] « CASA ELEVATA », CIOÈ LA REGGIA; EBR. PAR'ŌH, GR. ΦΑΡΑΏ[Ν], LAT. PHARAO[N]))
PHARAOH (Egyptian Par-ō [prʃʰiʃ] "elevated house," that is, the royal palace; Hebrew par'ōh, Greek Φαραώ[ν], Latin Pharao[n]). - A term… -
Phares
PHARES. - One of the twins born to the Canaanite Tamar by her father-in-law Judah, son of Jacob. He was to have been the second-born, but… -
Pharisees (FARISEI)
PHARISEES. - In Greek Φαρισαῖοι, from the Aramaic Ρέντζαϊδ, a plural adjective meaning "divided," "separated." It seems that by this name… -
Phasga (Heb. Pisgâh) (PHASGA (EBR. PISGÂH))
PHASGA (Heb. Pisgâh). - Western spur of Mount Nebo (v.), today Sijâgâh (Aramaic: "monastery"), consecrated to the memory of Moses' vision.… -
Philemon, Epistle to (FILEMONE, EPISTOLA N)
PHILEMON, EPISTLE TO. - Letter written by St. Paul to the disciple and friend Ph., on behalf of the fugitive slave Onesimus. This writing,… -
Philip Herod (FILIPPO ERODE)
PHILIP HEROD. - Son of Herod the Great and of Mariamne II, husband of Herodias. He is called only F. in Mk. 6:17, whereas Flavius Josephus… -
Philip The Deacon (FILIPPO DIACONO)
PHILIP THE DEACON. - Second of the 7 deacons ordained by the Apostles (Acts 6:9), also called Philip the evangelist (Acts 21:8) to… -
Philistines (FILISTEI)
PHILISTINES. - A people known almost exclusively from the books of the Old Testament. In the time of the Judges and the first kings, Saul… -
Philo (FILONE)
PHILO. - The greatest writer of the Jews of Alexandria, b. ca. 30 B.C., d. ca. A.D. 50. Of a distinguished family (Fl. Josephus, Antiq.… -
Philoxenian, Biblical Version (FILOSSENIANA, VERSIONE BIBLICA)
FILOSSENIANA, VERSIONE BIBLICA: V. SIRIACHE, VERSIONI, DELLA BIBBIA. -
Phineas (PHINEES)
PHINEAS. - Son of Eleazar and grandson of Aaron, third high priest of Israel. His mother was a daughter of Phutiel, whom the Targum of… -
Phoebe (Φώβη "Radiant") (PHOEBE (ΦΏΒΩΙ «RAGGIANTE»))
PHOEBE (Φώβη "Radiant"). - A woman commended by St. Paul to the Romans (Rom. 16:1-2) on three counts: 1) as "our sister," that is, as a… -
Phoenicia and Phoenicians (FENICIA E FENICI)
PHOENICIA AND PHOENICIANS. - Phoenicians (Φοίνιτζες) is the name given by the Greeks to the inhabitants of the coastal region west of… -
Phogor (Heb. Pē'ōr) (PHOGOR (EBR. PĒ'ŌR))
PHOGOR (Heb. Pē'ōr). - A mountain in Moab (Num. 23:28) north of Phasga (v.), which seems to be identifiable with the present-day range of… -
Phul
PHUL. - King of Assyria (II Kings 15:19 and I Chron. 5:26), to be identified "with absolute certainty" (O. Hellmann) with the great king… -
Phylacteries (Greek: ΦΙΛΑΚΤΗΡΙΑ « Smultei ») (FILATTERIE (GR. ΦΙΛΑΚΤΉΡΙΑ « SMULTEI »))
PHYLACTERIES (Greek: ΦΙΛΑΚΤΗΡΙΑ « Smultei »). - Strips of parchment on which passages of the Mosaic Law are written. This custom, attested… -
Pianciani, Giambattista
PIANCIANI, GIAMBATTISTA. - Physicist and philosopher, b. at Spoleto on 17 Oct. 1784, d. at Rome on 23 March 1862. A Jesuit from 2 June… -
Pilate, Pontius (PILATO, PONZIO)
PILATE, PONTIUS. - I. LIFE. - Roman procurator of Judea, at the time of Jesus. A descendant of the family of the Pontii, of Samnite origin,… -
Pineda, Juan de
PINEDA, JUAN de. - Spanish exegete, b. in 1558 at Seville, d. there in 1637. A Jesuit from 1572, even before his priesthood he taught… -
Pirot, Louis
PIROT, LOUIS - New Testament exegete, b. at Châteauroux on 10 July 1881, d. at Lille on 5 Dec. 1939. He was professor of Sacred Scripture… -
Pithom (PHITHOM)
PITHOM. - A city of northern Egypt (Hebr. Pitōm; Egyptian pr-jtm; Coptic πεθομί or πειθομί; Septuagint Πειθώ). According to Ex. 1:11, an… -
Plagues of Egypt (PIAGHE DI EGITTO)
PLAGUES OF EGYPT. - Punitive portents wrought by God through Moses and Aaron in Egypt following Pharaoh's repeated refusals to let the… -
Porcius Festus (PORCIO FESTO)
PORCIUS FESTUS. - Procurator of Judea from 60 to 61-62 A.D. (dates of U. Holzmeister), of whom Acts 24:27-27:1 speaks. He is praised for… -
Praetorium (PRETORIO)
PRAETORIUM. - Etymologically, it is the place where the Roman praetor established the office of judge. Originally, in mobile camps, it was… -
Prat, Ferdinand
PRAT, FERDINAND. - Exegete, b. at La Préterie (Aveyron, France) on 10 Feb. 1857, d. at Toulouse on 4 Aug. 1938. Having entered the Society… -
Probatica
PROBATICA. - The "sheep" gate (προβατική), in Jerusalem. An ancient tradition, both Eastern and Western, has identified, on the basis of… -
Prochorus (Prochorus, Πρόχορος) (PRÓCORO (PROCHORUS, ΠΡΌΓΟΡΕΣ))
PROCHORUS (Prochorus, Πρόχορος). - One of the seven deacons (Acts 6:5) ordained by the Apostles for the service of the community of… -
Procula, Claudia
PROCULA, CLAUDIA. - Name attributed to Pilate's wife by an ancient tradition. She was readily held to belong to the gens Procula, which,… -
Prophet (PROFETA)
PROPHET. - I. NELLA S. SCRITTURA. - (Heb. nābhi; Lat. propheta from Gk. προφήτης). One who, by divine vocation, speaks in the place and in… -
Propitiatory (Heb. Happōreth, Septuagint Ἐναστήρων) (PROPIZIATORIO (EBR. HAPPŌRETH, SETTANTA ἘΝΑΣΤΉΡΩΝ))
PROPITIATORY (Heb. Happōreth, Septuagint Ἐναστήρων). - A gold plate that covered the upper part of the Ark of the Covenant (v.). Of… -
Proposition, Breads of the (PROPOSIZIONE, PANI DELLA)
PROPOSITION, Breads of the. - Twelve ritual loaves offered to God every Sabbath on a special table in the Sanctuary, where they remained… -
Proselyte (PROSELITO)
PROSELYTE. - A believer of non-Israelite origin who had embraced the Mosaic religion (προσήλυτος "one who has come over, added"). Philo… -
Protoevangelium (PROTOEVANGELO)
PROTOEVANGELIUM. - This is the customary designation for Gen. 3:15, because it contains the "first joyful announcement" of salvation for… -
Proverbs, Book of (PROVERBI, LIBRO DEI)
PROVERBS, Book of. - Third (after Job and the Psalms) of the didactic books of the Old Testament, first of the "sapiential" books.… -
Psalms (SALMI)
PSALMS. - Poetic compositions, of prayer or instruction, used in both Israelite and Christian worship, whose collection of 150 forms the… -
Psalms of S. (SALMI DI S)
PSALMS OF SOLOMON. - An apocryphon comprising a group of 18 brief religious compositions, inserted among the "Solomonic" books in certain… -
Psalter (Psaltery) (SALTERIO (SALTERO))
PSALTER (PSALTERY). - This was the name given (from ψαλτήριον, psalterium, a stringed musical instrument, and hence, by analogy, the… -
Pseudepigrapha (PSEUDEPIGRAFI)
PSEUDEPIGRAPHA. - This is the name given (Gr. φεσθειάγραφος "with a false title") by Protestants to the books called apocrypha (v.) of the… -
Ptolemais (TOLEMAIDE)
PTOLEMAIS. - A maritime city of northern Palestine, 16 km. northwest of Haifa, situated on a rocky promontory that bounds its bay to the… -
Publicans (Telōnai) (PUBLICANI (ΤΕΛΏΝΑΙ))
PUBLICANS (Telōnai). - Persons commissioned, by contract of lease, to collect the taxes of the State. In Rome a distinction was made… -
Pumbeditā (PUMBÉDITÀ)
PUMBEDITĀ. - City in Babylonia, near the Euphrates; for about eight centuries it was the seat of a famous Talmudic academy, founded around… -
Purity And Legal Impurity (PURITÀ E IMPURITÀ LEGALE)
PURITY AND LEGAL IMPURITY. - From the ritual or legal point of view, most non-Christian religions consider "pure" whatever they regard as… -
Putifare
PUTIFARE. - Name of two Egyptian figures who appear in the story of the patriarch Joseph. A double Hebrew name corresponds to them:… -
Qeniti (Cinei) (CINEI (QENITI))
QENITI (CINEI). - From the Hebrew qêni or qajin, a collective singular, plural qênim. A tribe mentioned for the first time in Gen. 15:19,… -
Qeturah (Hebrew Qetûrah) (CETURA (EBR. QÉTÚRAH))
QETURAH (Hebrew Qetûrah). - Second wife of Abraham (Gen. 25:1), probably a Canaanite, whom Abraham is said to have married after Sarah's… -
Qimḥī, David (QIMHĪ, DAVID)
QIMḤĪ, DAVID. - Rabbi (called Radaq = RDQ), grammarian, lexicographer and exegete, b. at Narbonne ca. 1160, d. there in 1235. His father,… -
Quarantine, Mount of the (QUARANTENA, MONTE DELLA)
QUARANTINE, Mount of the. - Mount (Arabic Gebel Qurantal) to the west of Jericho, to which is linked the memory of the fast and the… -
Quaresmio (Quaresmi), Francesco
QUARESMIO (QUARESMI), FRANCESCO. - Franciscan Palestinologist, b. at Lodi on 4 April 1583, d. at Milan on 25 October 1656. President of the… -
Quarto (Quartus, Kouvétos) (QUARTO (QUARTUS, ΚΟΥΒΈΤΟΣ))
QUARTO (Quartus, Kouvétos). - A Christian who in Rom. 16:23 sends greetings, from Corinth, to the community of Rome. His name and his… -
Quirinius (Κυρίνας, Κυρήνας), Publius Sulpicius (QUIRINIO (ΚΥΡΊΝΑΣ, ΚΥΡΉΝΑΣ), PUBLIO SULPICIO)
QUIRINIUS (Κυρίνας, Κυρήνας), Publius Sulpicius. - Imperial legate in Syria in the time of Augustus, known also for Lk. 2:2: «this census… -
Rabbath (Rabbath) of Ammon (RABBA (RABBATH) DI AMMON)
RABBATH (Rabbath) of Ammon. - Ancient city (Deut. 3:11) east of the Jordan, today 'Ammān, capital of Jordan and formerly of the Ammonites… -
Rabbi (RABBINO)
RABBI. - Title belonging to the doctors of Jewish law: rabh "master"; rabbî "my master". Rabbân was the title given to a very eminent… -
Rabsaces (Heb. Rabh-Šāqēh, Assyrian Rab Šāqē, According to Etymology "Great Cupbearer" of Beer) (RABSACE (EBR. RABH-ŠĀQĒH, ASSIRO RAB ŠĀQĒ, SECONDO L'ETIMOLOGIA « GRAN COPPIERE » DI BIRRA))
RABSHAKEH (Heb. rabh-šāqēh, Assyrian rab šāqē, according to the etymology "great cupbearer" of beer). - A name designating a high Assyrian… -
Raca
RACA. - Transcription into Greek (ḥuxā), then into Latin, of an Aramaic word (rēqā). Etymologically (cf. Hebrew rīq; Akkadian rēqu or rāqu)… -
Rachel (Heb. Rāḥēl) (RACHELE (EBR. RĀHĒL))
RACHEL (Heb. Rāḥēl). - Wife of the patriarch Jacob (v.). At the suggestion of his mother Rebecca (Gen. 27:46), Jacob goes to Mesopotamia to… -
Rages
RAGES. - In the book of Tobit (4:21; 5:14; 9:3) there is mention of R., a city of the Medes, where Gabael (v.) resided. The Greek text has… -
Raguel (Heb. Rē'ḏēl = "Friend of God") (RAGUEL (EBR. RÉ'D'ĒL = «AMICO DI DIO»))
RAGUEL (Heb. Rē'ḏēl = "Friend of God"). - Name of several figures of the Old Testament. 1. Priest of Midian and father of Zipporah, wife of… -
Rahab (Heb. Rāḥāb) (RAHAB (EBR. RĀḤĀBH))
RAHAB (Heb. Rāḥāb). - A harlot of Jericho, who received and hid two spies sent by Joshua (v.), encamped beyond the Jordan. Impressed by… -
Rahmānī, Ignatius Ephrem II (RAHMĀNĪ, IGNAZIO EFREM II)
RAHMĀNĪ, IGNATIUS EPHREM II. - Catholic Patriarch of Antioch of the Syrians, orientalist, b. 12 Oct. 1848 at Mosul, d. 7 May 1929 at Cairo.… -
Rainbow (ARCOBALENO)
RAINBOW. - 1. THE RAINBOW IN THE BIBLE. - The phenomenon - called simply "bow" in the Hebrew text - is mentioned for the first time after… -
Ramah (Heb. Hā-Rāmāh = "The Height") (RAMA (EBR. HĀ-RĀMĀH « L'ALTURA »))
RAMAH (Heb. Hā-Rāmāh = "The Height"). - Name of several biblical localities situated on hills. 1. R. in the tribe of Benjamin (Josh. 18:25)… -
Ramleh
RAMLEH. - City in Palestine, southeast of Jaffa. According to Arab writers, the founding of the city is attributed to the Umayyad caliph… -
Ramoth-Gilead (RAMOTH IN GALAAD)
RAMOTH-GILEAD. - A Levitical and city of refuge in the tribe of Gad (Deut. 4:13; Josh. 20:8; 21:38; 1 Chron. 6:66), capital of the… -
Raphaim
RAPHAIM. - A more generic descriptive term for the race that in the Stone Age populated Transjordan and some parts of Palestine (v.… -
Raphaim, Valley of (RAPHAIM, VALLE DI)
RAPHAIM, Valley of. - Fertile (Is. 17:5) plain southwest of Jerusalem, called today Baqā (in Hebrew 'ēmeq rêphâ'im). According to Josh.… -
Raphidim
RAPHIDIM. - An encampment of the Israelites on their itinerary from the Red Sea to Sinai, situated between the steppe of Sin and Sinai (Ex.… -
Rasin (Heb. Rēṣīn; Septuagint Pāṇḍaṣ; Assyrian Rasūṇṇ) (RASIN (EBR. RĒṢĪN; SETTANTA PĀṆḌAṢ; ASSIRO RASŪṆṆ))
RASIN (Heb. Rēṣīn; Septuagint Pāṇḍaṣ; Assyrian Rasūṇṇ). - Last king of Damascus (ca. 740-732 B.C.). He was a usurper. In 738 he appears as… -
Razon
RAZON. - Founder of the Aramean kingdom of Damascus, son of a certain Eliada (Heb. Rezon ben 'Eliadha; in the Greek, codices B, L and in… -
Rebecca
REBECCA. - Daughter of Bethuel, niece of Nahor (Gen. 22:23) and wife of Isaac (Hebr. Ribhqāh). According to the prayer made to God by… -
Recabites (RECABITI)
RECABITES. - A nomadic clan, descended from the Kenites or Quenites (I Chron. 2:55), which in the 9th century B.C. received from Jonadab,… -
Red Sea (Gr. Ἡ Ἔρυθρά Θάλασσα; Heb. Jām Sūph) (ROSSO, MARE (GR. Ἡ ἜΡΥΘΡΑ ΘΆΛΑΣΣΑ; EBR. JĀM SŪPH))
RED SEA (Gr. Ἡ Ἔρυθρά Θάλασσα; Heb. Jām Sūph). - A large stretch of sea extending from the entrance of Bāb el-Mandeb, between southwestern… -
Reggio, Isacco Samuel (REGGIO, ISACCO SAMUELE)
REGGIO, ISACCO SAMUEL. - Hebraist, b. in Gorizia in 1784, d. there in 1855. From 1810 professor of history and geography at that Liceo,… -
Rehoboam (ROBOAM)
REHOBOAM. - King of Judah for 17 years (932-915 B.C.), son and successor of Solomon (v.). At the beginning of his reign occurred the schism… -
Reinke, Laurentius
REINKE, LAURENTIUS. - Catholic exegete, b. 6 Feb. 1797 in Langförden (Germany), d. at Münster in Westphalia on 4 June 1879. Ordained a… -
Remigius Of Auxerre (REMIGIO DI AUXERRE)
REMIGIUS OF AUXERRE. - Benedictine, exegete, theologian, grammarian, b. shortly after 841, d. in Paris before 908. A monk in the abbey of… -
Reuben (RUBEN)
REUBEN. - Firstborn of Jacob and of Leah his first wife (Gen. 29:32). In giving birth to him, the mother exclaimed: "God saw my… -
Reubeni, David (DAVID REUBENI)
REUBENI, DAVID. - That is, "D., descendant of Reuben." A strange figure of an Eastern Jew, whose place of origin and many details of his… -
Revue Biblique
REVUE BIBLIQUE. - A quarterly journal, founded in Paris in 1893 through the work of the Dominican Father Lagrange (v.), and published under… -
Ribera, Francisco De
RIBERA, FRANCISCO de. - Exegete, b. in Villacastín (Segovia) in 1537, d. in Salamanca in 1591. Already a priest and doctor in theology, he… -
Rießler, Paul
RIESSLER, PAUL. - Catholic exegete, b. 16 Sept. 1865 in Stuttgart, in 1898 parish priest at Blaubeuren, from 1907 to 1933 professor of the… -
Rifugio, City of (RIFUGIO, CITTÀ DI)
RIFUGIO, City of. - One of the Mosaic laws dating from the period of the stay in the "steppes of Moab" (Num. 21:1 ff.; 35:1 ff.) prescribes… -
Rogel (Hebrew 'En-Righèl "Fountain of the Fuller" or "of the Wayfarer") (ROGEL (EBR. 'EN-RIGHÈL « FONTE DEL GUALCHERAIO » O « DEL PASSANTE » ?))
ROGEL (Hebrew 'En-Righèl "Fountain of the Fuller" or "of the Wayfarer"). - Name of a spring marking the boundary, south of the ancient city… -
Rohling, August
ROHLING, AUGUST. - Catholic exegete, who compromised himself through two prolonged controversies, one "antisemitic," the other… -
Romans, Epistle to the (ROMANI, EPISTOLA AI)
ROMANS, Epistle to the. - The first letter of St. Paul in the order of the Vulgate and of the Tridentine canon, the most important for… -
Rosellini, Ippolito
ROSELLINI, IPPOLITO. - Egyptologist, b. in Pisa on 13 Aug. 1800, d. there on 4 June 1843. Having earned his degree in theology in his… -
Rosenmüller, Johann Georg (ROSENMUELLER, JOHANN GEORG)
ROSENMÜLLER, JOHANN GEORG. - Protestant pastor and prolific writer of a rather rationalist tendency, b. 18 Dec. 1736 at Ummersstadt… -
Rufus (Rufus, 'Ροῦφος) (RUFO (RUFUS, 'ΡΟΥ͂ΦΟΣ))
RUFUS (Rufus, 'Ροῦφος). - A name common among slaves and, generally, among persons of humble condition; it occurs twice in the New… -
Ruth
RUTH. - A virtuous Moabite woman, wife of Boaz, ancestress of David (Mt. 3, 3-6), from the time of the Judges (Ruth 1, 1), whose story is… -
Ryland, Papiri of (RYLAND, PAPIRI DI)
RYLAND, Papiri of. - The Library dedicated to the memory of John R. was founded in Manchester in 1899 and within a few years gained a place… -
Sa'adjah ben Jōsēph (SA'ADJĀH BEN JŌSĒPH)
SA'ADJAH BEN JŌSĒPH. - Gaonite, b. at Fajjūm in 882, d. in 942. He was a grammarian, exegete, translator of the Bible into Arabic,… -
Saba
SABA. - Name of a state in ancient Yemen. Mentions of S. are found in certain passages of the Old Testament: besides some genealogical… -
Sabaoth
SABAOTH. - A Hebrew term (ṣābhā'ōth), often transcribed in Greek, especially in Isaiah (more than 50 times). In the Vulgate it is… -
Sabatier, Pierre
SABATIER, PIERRE. - Maurist theologian, b. in 1682 at Poitiers, made his profession among the Benedictines on 30 June 1700, d. on 22 (24?)… -
Sabbath (Hebrew: Šabbāth) (SABATO (EBR. ŠABHĀTH))
SABBATH (Hebrew: Šabbāth). - In the Bible this is the name given to every seventh day, which bore a special social-religious character,… -
Sabbatical Year (SABBATICO, ANNO)
SABBATICAL YEAR. - The last of a week of years, among the Hebrews. In Ex. 23:10 ff. it is prescribed that in such a period the land was to… -
Šabbēthaj Zēbhī
ŠABBĒTHAJ ZĒBHĪ. - Pseudo-messiah and Jew, b. at Smyrna on 7 July 1626, d. at Berat (Albania) on 30 Sept. 1675. As a young man he devoted… -
Saboreans (SABOREI)
SABOREANS. - "Reasoners" or "interpreters," a class of scholars whose activity lasted only a few decades and aimed at smoothing out the… -
Sacco, Giuseppe
SACCO, GIUSEPPE. - Orientalist, b. at Sciacca (Agrigento) on 5 Nov. 1871, d. at Chianciano (Siena) on 5 May 1950. Ordained in 1895, he… -
Sadducees (SADDUCEI)
SADDUCEES. - Members of a Jewish political-religious party from the time of Christ. The name Σαβδοπούζα seems to derive from the proper… -
Sadoc (Heb. Ṣādhōq «Just») (SADOC (EBR. ṢĀDHŌQ «GIUSTO»))
SADOC (Heb. Ṣādhōq «Just»). - High priest who lived in the time of David (v.), ca. 1000 B.C. He was descended from Aaron through the line… -
Salathiel (Heb. Sē'alt'ēl - «Asked of God») (SALATHIEL (EBR. SÉ'ALTL'EL - « DOMANDATO DA DIO »))
SALATHIEL (Heb. Sē'alt'ēl - «Asked of God»). - Father of Zerubbabel (v.) in Ezra 3:2; 5:2; Neh. 12:1; Hag. 1:1, 12, 14; 2:3, 24; 1 Chron.… -
Salem (Heb. Šālēm, Septuagint Σαλήμ) (SALEM (EBR. ŠÁLÊM, SETTANTA ΣΑΛΗ͂Μ))
SALEM (Heb. Šālēm, Septuagint Σαλήμ). - A Canaanite city, whose king was Melchizedek (Gen. 14:18; Heb. 7:1-2) and which corresponds to… -
Sales, Marco
SALES, MARCO. - Theologian and exegete, b. at Sommariva Bosco (Turin) on 2 Oct. 1877, d. there on 7 June 1936. In 1892 he entered the Order… -
Salmana (Heb. Salmunnā') (SALMANA (EBR. SALMUNNĀ'))
SALMANA (Heb. Salmunnā'). - Prince of the Midianites, who together with Zebah killed the brothers of Gideon. The latter, having vainly… -
Salome (SALOMÈ)
SALOME. - Name of several Jewish women. The best known are: 1. S., wife of Alexander Jannaeus (v.); she reigned after him under the name… -
Samaia
SAMAIA. - A name (Heb. Šēma'yah) fairly frequent in the Bible, rendered twice as S. in the Vulgate, which elsewhere prefers Semeia (v.). In… -
Samaria (Heb. Šōmērōn) Ass (SAMARIA (EBR. ŠŌMĒRŌN) ASS)
SAMARIA (Heb. Šōmērōn) Ass. - City founded in 880 B.C. by Omri (v. AMRI), sixth king of Israel, at the center of his kingdom, on the top of… -
Samaria (Hē Samareitis) (SAMARIA (Ἡ ΣΑΜΑΡΕΙ͂ΤΙΣ))
SAMARIA (Hē Samareitis). - One of the three historical regions of Palestine, in the center of the plateau, having the Jordan as its… -
Samaritan Pentateuch (SAMARITANO, PENTATEUCO)
SAMARITAN PENTATEUCH. - The five books of Moses, which for the Samaritans are the whole Bible, limited as it was to the initial stage of… -
Samaritans (Heb. Sōmērōnīm; Gr. Οἱ Σαμαρεῖται) (SAMARITANI (EBR. SŌMRŌNĪM; GR. ΟἹ ΣΑΜΑΡΕΙ͂ΤΑΙ))
SAMARITANS (Heb. Sōmērōnīm; Gr. Οἱ Σαμαρεῖται). - At first this name designated the inhabitants of the city and kingdom of the same name of… -
Samgar (Heb. Samgar) (SAMGAR (EBR. SAMGAR))
SAMGAR (Heb. Samgar). - Judge of Israel. The only mention of him is in Judg. 3:31, where it is said that "he was after Ehud" (v.), the… -
Samuel (Heb. Šēmîšēl) (SAMUELE (EBR. ŠĒMIŠEL))
SAMUEL (Heb. Šēmîšēl). - The last "judge" (v.) of Israel, founder of the monarchy, prophet, who lived in the 11th century B.C. He gave his… -
Sanballat (Heb. Sanballat, in Akkadian Sin-uballit "[the god] Sin gave life") (SANABALLAT (EBR. SANBALLAT, IN ACCADICO SIN-UBALLIT « [IL DIO] SIN DIEDE LA VITA »))
SANBALLAT (Heb. Sanballat, in Akkadian Sin-uballit "[the god] Sin gave life"). - Governor (pehāh) of Samaria at the time of Artaxerxes I,… -
Sánchez (Sanctius), Gaspar
SÁNCHEZ (Sanctius), GASPAR. - Spanish Jesuit exegete, b. in Ciempozuelos (Madrid) in 1553 to very devout parents (see the eulogy of his… -
Sansone
SANSONE. - The last of the Israelite judges, son of Manoah (Mānōah) of the tribe of Dan, a native of Zorah (Heb. Ṣor'āh, today Ṣar'āh,… -
Sapphira (SAFFIRA)
SAFFIRA: V. ANANIA E SAFFIRA. -
Sarah (Heb. Šārah = Princess) (SARA (EBR. ŠĀRAH = PRINCIPESSA « SETTANTA ΣΈ222 »))
SARAH (Heb. Šārah = Princess). - 1. Wife of Abraham; she was his sister on his father's side, but the daughter of another mother (Gen.… -
Saraiah (Heb. Šērājah) (SARAIA (EBR. ŠERĀJĀH))
SARAIAH (Heb. Šērājah). - Name of several figures of the Old Testament. 1. Secretary (literally "scribe") at the court of David (2 Sam.… -
Sargon II
SARGON II. - One of the greatest kings of Assyria (Assyrian Šarru-ukēn[u] and Šarru-kēn[u]; Septuagint 'Αρχέανος, from arkā "the second,"… -
Sarug (Heb. Šērāgh) (SARUG (EBR. ŠĒRĀGH))
SARUG (Heb. Šērāgh). - A descendant of Shem, presented as the son of Reu and the father of Nahor; he would therefore have been the… -
Sarvia (Heb. Šērājah) (SARVIA (EBR. ŠĒRĀJĀH, « FERITA »?, « PROFUMATA CON STORACE »?))
SARVIA (Heb. Šērājah). - Sister, or rather half-sister (cf. II Sam. 16, 9; 19, 21), of David (v.), remembered only as the mother of Joab,… -
Satan (Heb. Šāṭan) (SATANA (EBR. ŠĀTAN))
SATAN (Heb. šātan). An invisible personal agent, the enemy of man who leads him to perdition by drawing him away from God. The term (from… -
Satanism (SATANISMO)
SATANISM. - The state of that which is satanic, that is, subject to the action of Satan, or consecrated to the antagonist of God, or… -
Saul (Heb. Šāʾūl "Obtained with Prayer") (SAUL (EBR. ŠĀ'ŪL « OTTENUTO CON LA PREGHIERA »))
SAUL (Heb. Šāʾūl "Obtained with Prayer"). - First king of Israel (ca. 1040-1000 B.C.). With his father Kish (Qīš), of the tribe of… -
Scerbo, Francesco
SCERBO, FRANCESCO. - Hebraist, b. at Marcellinara (Catanzaro) in 1849, d. at Florence in 1927. He entered the Seminary of Nicastro at the… -
Schegg, Peter Johann
SCHEGG, PETER JOHANN. - Catholic exegete, b. June 6, 1815 at Kaufbeuren in the Allgäu (Bavaria), d. at Munich on July 9, 1885. A priest in…