Sacred Scripture
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Scheide, Papiri di
SCHEIDE, Papiri di. - The Greek papyri that the American John H. S. deposited in Princeton University consist of 21 sheets, that is 42… -
Schlatter, Adolf
SCHLATTER, ADOLF. - Protestant theologian, among the most influential in recent times, typical for his manner of reconciling criticism with… -
Schlögl, Nivard
SCHLÖGL, NIVARD. - In the world Johannes; an exegete of great gifts and great defects, b. June 4, 1864 in Gaaden (near Mödling, Lower… -
Schürer, Emil Johann
SCHÜRER, EMIL JOHANN. - Protestant historian, critic and theologian, of the Abricht Ritschl (v.) tendency, b. at Augsburg on 2 May 1844, d.… -
Scribe (Heb. Sôphêr, pl. Sôphêrîm; Gr. Γραμματεύς) (SCRIBA (EBR. SÔPHÊR, PLUR. SÔPHÊRÎM, GR. ΓΡΑΜΜΑΤΕΌΣ))
SCRIBE (Heb. Sôphêr, pl. Sôphêrîm; Gr. Γραμματεύς). - I. In the sense of "scribe, copyist, secretary" there were "scribes" in Israel from… -
Sebha (Heb. Šebha', "Oath"?; "The Seven [Deities]"?) (SEBA (EBR. ŠEBHA', « GIURAMENTO »?, « LE SETTE [DIVINITÀ] »?))
SHEBA (Heb. Šebha', "oath"?, "the seven [deities]"?). - A Benjaminite, son of Bichri (Gen. 46:21), the "pestilent man" of whom 2 Sam. 20… -
Sedechia (Heb. Sidhāyijāhā "Justice of Jahweh") (SEDECIA (EBR. SIDHĀYIJĀHĀ « GIUSTIZIA DI JAHWEH »))
SEDECHIA (Heb. Sidhāyijāhā "Justice of Jahweh"). - Last king of Judah (597-86), son of King Josiah (v.) and brother of Jehoahaz (v.); he… -
Segor (Heb. Ṣā'ar; Gr. Σηγώρ) (SEGOR (EBR. ṢĀ'AR; GR. ΣΉΓΩΡ))
SEGOR (Heb. Ṣā'ar; Gr. Σηγώρ). - An ancient city of Palestine, south of the Dead Sea (Gen. 13:10; Deut. 34:3), first called Bala (Bela:… -
Seir
SEIR. - Geographical name in use in the Old Testament (Heb. Sē'ir; cf. Sā'ir "hairy, shaggy" and "goat"; also "wild demonic being": Is.… -
Seleucia
SELEUCIA. - A maritime city of Syria, mentioned twice in the Bible (1 Macc. 11:8; Acts 13:4); the most important among the various cities… -
Seleucids (SELEUCIDI)
SELEUCIDS. - Dynasty that reigned in Asia Minor from 312 to 65 B.C. The Seleucid kingdom, which underwent many territorial changes during… -
Semeia (Semeias)
SEMEIA (SEMEIAS). - Name (Heb. Šēma'īāh = "Yahweh has heard") of various figures of the Old Testament. > (courtesy of Msgr. P. Paschini) >… -
Semitic Languages (SEMITICHE, LINGUE)
SEMITIC LANGUAGES. - A group of languages characterized by a large number of common phonetic, morphological, syntactic and lexical elements… -
Semma (Heb. Šammā' or Šammāh; Vulgate Semma or Semmaa) (SEMMA (EBR. ŠAMMĀ' O ŠAMMĀH; VOLGATA SEMMA O SEMMAA))
SEMMA (Heb. Šammā' or Šammāh; Vulgate Semma or Semmaa). - Name of several figures of the Old Testament. 1. Son of Jesse, brother of David… -
Sennacherib
SENNACHERIB. - Assyrian king (Assyrian Šin-ahhē-eriba "Sin has given me a substitute for the [dead] little brothers"; Hebrew Sanhērībh),… -
Sephardim (SEFARDITI)
SEPHARDIM. - Descendants of the Spanish and Portuguese Jews who emigrated from the Iberian peninsula, after the massacre of 1491 and the… -
Sepharvaim
SEPHARVAIM. - A city of the Assyrian Empire, from which the "king of Assyria," probably Sargon II, as from the centers of Cuthah, Avah and… -
Sephora
SEPHORA. - 1. (Heb. Siphrâh, Septuagint Σεπφωρά). One of the Hebrew midwives, to whom Pharaoh ordered the killing of the male Israelite… -
Septuagint, Version of the (SETTANTA, VERSIONE DEI)
SEPTUAGINT, Version of the. - The oldest Greek version, and the oldest of all the versions of the Old Testament. The name, in its full form… -
Seraphim (SERAFINO)
SERAPH - St. in Isaiah's vision (Is. 6:2-7), Ministura of the end of the 9th century. Detail of fol. 67v of the Greek ms. 510, of the… -
Seraphim (Heb. Iāraph, pl. Iēraphim) (SERAFINO (EBR. IĀRĀPH, PLUR. IĒRĀPHIM))
SERAPHIM (Heb. Iāraph, pl. Iēraphim). - The only biblical text that speaks of S. is the vision with which Isaiah's prophetic ministry is… -
Serarius, Nicolaus
SERARIUS, NICOLAUS. - Jesuit theologian, b. at Rambervillers (Metz) in 1555, d. at Mainz in 1609. After his philosophical studies at… -
Sergius Paulus (SERGIO PAOLO)
SERGIUS PAULUS. - Roman proconsul in Cyprus during the first missionary journey of St. Paul (Acts 13:7-12). Luke praises his intelligent… -
Servant of Yahweh (Heb. 'Ēbhedh Yahweh) (SERVO DI JAHWEH (EBR. 'ÉBHEDH JAHWEH))
SERVANT OF YAHWEH (Heb. 'Ēbhedh Yahweh). - A figure described in four songs of Isaiah: I) 42:1-7 (9); II) 49:1-7 (9); III) 50:4-9; IV)… -
Seth (Heb. Šēth) (SETH (EBR. ŠĒTH))
SETH (Heb. Šēth). - Son of Adam, after Cain and Abel, whose name is interpreted by assonance: "God gave me (Jāth "set") another son instead… -
Settim
SETTIM. - Two biblical localities, so named from the acacias (šittīm; Egyptian šist, later fonte; Assyrian samtu) planted there; not… -
Shallum (Heb. Šallūm) (SELLUM (EBR. ŠALLŪM))
SHALLUM (Heb. Šallūm). - Name of about fifteen figures of the Old Testament. The principal ones are: 1. S. son of Jabesh, king of Israel… -
Shalmaneser (Šulmānu-Ašarid [I]) (SALMANASAR ("ŠULMĀNU-ASARID [N]))
SHALMANESER (Šulmānu-Ašarid [I]). - The name ("Šulmān [a warrior god of the Ninurta type] is pre-eminent"; Heb. Salman'ēser) belonged to 5… -
Shammai (ŠAMMAJ)
SHAMMAI. - A distinguished Jewish doctor who taught between 20 B.C. and 25/30 A.D. He was a contemporary of Hillel (v.) and his rival. In… -
Sharon (Heb. Haš-Šarōn) (SARON (EBR. HAŠ-ŠARÓN, GR. Ὁ ΣΑΦΏΝ, LAC. SARONAS))
SHARON (Heb. Haš-Šarōn). - 1. Biblical name of the stretch of the Palestinian plain that extends along the coast from Carmel as far as… -
Shechem (Heb. Šēḥḥem «Nuca»; Gr. Sychem or Sychima) (SICHEM (EBR. ŠĒHHEM « NUCA »; GR. ΣΥΧΈΜ O ΣΎΧΗΜΑ))
SHECHEM (Heb. Šēḥḥem «Nuca»; Gr. Sychem or Sychima). - Ancient city of Palestine in the center of the tribe of Ephraim, between Mounts Ebal… -
Shekel (Heb. Šéqel) (SICLO (EBR. ŠÉQEL))
SHEKEL (Heb. Šéqel). - A weight and coin used in the ancient Mediterranean East. In the biblical texts referring to the pre-exilic period,… -
Shekinah (ŠEKHĪNĀH)
SHEKINAH. - "Dwelling," a Neo-Hebrew term (from the biblical verb šākhan, "to dwell") that indicates the presence and abode of God in… -
Shem (Hebrew: Šēm) (SEM (EBR. ŠĒM))
SHEM (Hebrew: Šēm). - One of the sons of Noah, perhaps the firstborn, since he appears in first place in the enumerations (S., Ham [v.] and… -
Sheol (ŠĒ'ÖL)
SHEOL. - A term (feminine) that in Israel (not among the other Semites) designated the subterranean region where the dead dwell. The… -
Shephelah (Heb. Haš-Šephēlāh "Lowland") (SEPHELA (EBR. HAŠ-ŠEPHĒLAH « BASSOPIANO »))
SHEPHELAH (Heb. Haš-Šephēlāh "Lowland"). - Term (often translated by the Septuagint as ἡ πεδινὴ [τῆ] = Vulgate campestris [terra], or τὸ… -
Sheshbazzar (Heb. Šēlbašsar) (SASSABASAR (EBR. ŠĒLBAŠSAR))
SHESHBAZZAR (Heb. Šēlbašsar). - A figure who played an important part in the first return of the Jews exiled from Babylonia to the land of… -
Shiloh (Heb. Šilô or Šilôh; Gr. Sēlō, Sēlōn) (SILO (EBR. ŠILŌ O ŠILŌH, GR. ΣΗΛΏ, ΣΗΛΏΝ))
SHILOH (Heb. Šilô or Šilôh; Gr. Sēlō, Sēlōn). - An ancient locality in Palestine in the tribe of Ephraim, corresponding, according to the… -
Shimei (Heb. Šim'î "[The Lord] Has Heard Me") (SEMEI (EBR. ŠIM'T «[IL SIGNORE] MI HA ASCOLTATO»))
SHIMEI (Heb. Šim'î "[The Lord] Has Heard Me"). - Name of many people in the Bible. The best known is the Benjaminite who on the Mount of… -
Shinar (Heb. Šin'ār) (SENNAAR (EBR. ŠIN'ĀR))
SHINAR (Heb. Šin'ār). - A geographical term that in certain biblical passages means the land of Babylonia, e.g., Gen. 10:10 ff. (even in… -
Shulamite (Heb. Šûlammîth, Septuagint Σουναμίτις) (SULAMITE (EBR. ŠÚLAMMĪTH, SETTANTA ΣΟΥΝΑΜΊΤΙΣ))
SHULAMITE (Heb. Šûlammîth, Septuagint Σουναμίτις). - Name given to the bride of the Song of Songs (6:12; 7:1), the shepherdess who loves a… -
Shunem (Sunam) (SUNEM (SUNAM))
SHUNEM (SUNAM). - A Canaanite city of Palestine (Heb. Sūndam; Gk. Σουσάμ), occupied by Thutmose III (no. 38) and of notable importance… -
Siceleg (Heb. Şiqlagh) (SICELEG (EBR. ŞIQLAGH))
SICELEG (Heb. Şiqlagh). - A city assigned to the tribe of Judah in the division of the Promised Land (Josh. 15:31), then given to that of… -
Sichar (Gr. Sychar) (SICHAR (GR. ΣΥΧΆΡ))
SICHAR (Gr. Sychar). - A small town in the center of Palestine, mentioned only once, in Jn 4:5, as the homeland of the Samaritan woman,… -
Sickenberger, Joseph
SICKENBERGER, JOSEPH. - Catholic exegete, b. at Kempten (Bavaria) on 19 March 1872, d. at Kitzbühel on 27 March 1945. He pursued… -
Sidon (Heb. Sidhôn) (SIDONE (EBR. SIDHÔN))
SIDON (Heb. Sidhôn). - One of the oldest and most important maritime cities of Phoenicia, whose name, perpetuated in present-day Sajdā, 35… -
Sihon (Heb. Sīhôn; Gr. Σηδών) (SEHON (EBR. SĪHÔN; GR. ΣΗΔΌΝ))
SIHON (Heb. Sīhôn; Gr. Σηδών). - Amorite king of Heshbon, beyond the Jordan. Even before their arrival from the desert to Canaan, the… -
Sila
SILAS. - Companion of St. Paul and his beloved collaborator. While in the Acts of the Apostles he is always called by this name, in the… -
Siloe
SILOE. - Name designating a spring, today 'Ajn Siṭṭī Marjam, east of Jerusalem, as well as the channel beneath the hill of Ophel through… -
Simeon (Heb. Šim'ôn; Gr. Symzōn) (SIMEONE (EBR. ŠIM'ÔN, GRECO ΣΥΜΖΌΝ))
SIMEON (Heb. Šim'ôn; Gr. Symzōn). - Second son of Jacob (v.) and Leah (Gen. 29:33; 35:22; 48:5), from whom one of the tribes of Israel took… -
Simon (SIMONE)
SIMON. - Two Gospel figures who invited Jesus to dine, wrongly identified with each other by some. 1. St. "the Pharisee" invited Jesus to… -
Simon, Brother of the Lord (SIMONE, FRATELLO DEL SIGNORE)
SIMON, Brother of the Lord. - One of the four listed by the Nazarenes (with James, Joseph [Joses] and Jude) as "brothers of Jesus" (v.) in… -
Simon Called Niger (Niger) (SIMONE DETTO NERO (NIGER))
SIMON CALLED NIGER (Niger). - A Christian named among the "prophets and teachers" of the Church of Antioch, together with Barnabas and Saul… -
Simon of Cyrene (SIMONE IL CIRENEO)
SIMON OF CYRENE. - A Jew originally from Cyrene (v.), a city of the Pentapolis of Libya, where a flourishing Jewish colony was in… -
Simon, Richard
SIMON, RICHARD. - French biblical scholar, b. at Dieppe on 13 May 1638, d. there on 11 April 1712. In October 1659 he entered the Oratory,… -
Simon the Zealot (SIMONE IL CUOTATO)
SIMON THE ZEALOT. - A Christian who for many days offered hospitality to St. Peter in his own house in Joppa or Jaffa (Acts 9:43). There… -
Sin
SIN. - Name of three biblical localities. 1. Desert (Heb. Sin) crossed by the Israelites on their itinerary from Elim and the Red Sea to… -
Sinai
SINAI. - Mountainous region, also called Horeb (v.), where the Israelites, three months after their departure from Egypt (Ex. 19:1),… -
Sinaitic Inscriptions (SINAITICHE, ISCRIZIONI)
SINAITIC INSCRIPTIONS. - Inscriptions found in 1905 by Flinders Petrie at Serâbît al-Hâdim (Sinai), in the turquoise mines near the temple… -
Siphrā, Siphrē
SIPHRĀ, SIPHRĒ. - Midrashic commentaries on Leviticus and on Numbers-Deuteronomy. Siphrā' (= the book) is a midrash (v.) of a preceptive… -
Sisera (Heb. Šišerā’) (SISARA (EBR. ŠIŠERĀ'))
SISERA (Heb. Šišerā’). - 1. Military commander under Jabin, king of the Canaanite city of Hazor, who had his headquarters at… -
Sisith
SISITH. - "Fringes" which, together with the gèdhilim ("tassels"), the Israelites attach to the corners of their outer garments (Num.… -
Smits, Willem
SMITS, WILLEM. - Flemish exegete, b. 27 Jan. 1704 at Kevelaer (Belgium), d. 1 Dec. 1770 at Antwerp. In 1722 he entered the Franciscan… -
Soba (Heb. Ṣābhāh, Ṣābhā', LXX Σοφά,-᾿Αλ) (SOBA (EBR. ṢĀBHĀH, ṢĀBHĀ', SETTANTA ΣΟΦΆ,-ἈΛ))
SOBA (Heb. Ṣābhāh, Ṣābhā', LXX Σοφά,-᾿Αλ). - An Aramaic kingdom (more precisely Aram [v.] of S.) to the northwest of Damascus, in the… -
Sobna (Heb. Šebhnā', LXX Σόφυζε) (SOBNA (EBR. ŠEBHNĀ', SETTANTA ΣΌΦΥΖΕ))
SOBNA (Heb. Šebhnā', LXX Σόφυζε). - Steward of the royal house of Judah and prime minister (cf. 2 Chron. 26:21 etc.) in the time of… -
Soden, Hermann Freiherr von
SODEN, HERMANN FREIHERR von. - New Testament critic, b. in Cincinnati (United States) on 16 Aug. 1852, d. in Berlin on 15 Jan. 1914. He… -
Sodom and Gomorrah (SODOMA E GOMORRA)
SODOM AND GOMORRAH. - Names of the first two cities of the Pentapolis (v.) destroyed by divine justice for the lust and unnatural vices of… -
Solomon (SALOMONE)
SALOMONE - Ferrarese miniature (2nd half of the 15th century), attributed to Guglielmo Giraldi Magri or del Magro - Cleveland (Ohio),… -
Song of Songs (CANTICO DEI CANTICI)
SONG OF SONGS. - A poetic book of the Bible, included in the third class known as the Kethōbhim, or Hagiographa; in the Hebrew Bible, it is… -
Son of Man (FIGLIO DELL'UOMO)
«SON OF MAN». — A Semitic expression normally meaning "man." In Hebrew ben 'ādhām ("s. of m.") is found in parallelism with 'ādhām or 'ēnās… -
Sosthenes (Σοσθένης, Sosthenes) (SOSTENE (ΣΟΣΘΈΝΕΣ, SOSTHENES))
SOSTHENES (Σοσθένης, Sosthenes). - In the New Testament this name occurs twice; but it is uncertain whether it is a question of the same… -
Spartans (SPARTANI)
SPARTANS. - In the books of Maccabees one reads with surprise that Jews and Spartans considered themselves "brothers." In II Macc. 5:9… -
Spirit and Flesh (SPIRITO E CARNE)
SPIRIT AND FLESH. - Antithesis of biblical anthropology between the perishable and the enduring in man, analogous to the antithesis between… -
Strack, Hermann Lebrecht
STRACK, HERMANN LEBRECHT. - Protestant exegete and orientalist, who while remaining a "positive theologian" made very broad concessions to… -
Strauss, David Friedrich
STRAUSS, DAVID FRIEDRICH. - Protestant theologian, loyal to the principles and presuppositions of the "rational-mythical" school… -
Sura
SURA. - A Mesopotamian city, on the left bank of the Euphrates, opposite Callinicum in Osroene, at the beginning of the Diocletian road… -
Sur (Heb. Šûr "Wall") (SUR (EBR. ŠÛR « MURAGLIA »))
SUR (Heb. Šûr "Wall"). - Desert crossed by the Israelites after a three days' march following the crossing of the Red Sea (Ex. 15:22),… -
Suriano, Francesco
SURIANO, FRANCESCO - Palestinian scholar, known for the Trattato di Terra Santa e dell'Oriente, b. in Venice in 1450, d. after 1529. He was… -
Susa
SUSA - Capital of Elam (v.). The very ancient Šūfan ("lily" or "whiteness"), situated at the southern foot of the mountain range of… -
Susanna
SUSANNA. - Protagonist of a story that forms part of the complex of biographical traditions about the prophet Daniel (v.), daughter of… -
Synoptic Gospels (SINOTTICI, VANGELI)
SYNOPTIC GOSPELS. - Title given to the Gospels of Matthew, Mark and Luke because, transcribed in parallel columns, they can easily be taken… -
Szczepański, Ladislao
SZCZEPAŃSKI, LADISLAO. - Orientalist and exegete, b. at Biała Małopolska (Poland) on 21 May 1877, d. at Innsbruck on 30 May 1927. In 1891… -
Tabeel
TABEEL. - With the name "son of T." there is indicated, with a deliberately somewhat mysterious allusion, in Is. 7:6, a personage whom the… -
Tabernacle (Tent) of Meeting (Hebrew 'Ohel, usually followed by Me'eth: "Tabernacle of Convene") (TABERNACOLO (TENDA) DI RIUNIONE (EBR. 'ŌHEL, PER LO PIÙ SEGUITO DA MĒ'ĒDH: « T. DA CONVEGNO »))
TABERNACLE (TENT) OF MEETING (Heb. 'ōhel, mostly followed by mē'ēdh: "t. of meeting"). - A dismantlable and transportable sanctuary… -
Tabitha (Tabitha) (TABITHA (ΤΑΒΙΔΆ))
TABITHA (Tabitha). - A Christian woman (μαθήτρια, "disciple") of the primitive Church of Joppa, raised from the dead by St. Peter (Acts… -
Taglione (Talion) (TAGLIONE (TALIONE))
TAGLIONE (TALION). - Use and penal law first set forth in the "Code of the Covenant" (Ex. 20:24; 23:12), where it deals with the… -
Talent (Greek: Talanton) (TALENTO (GR. ΤΆΛΑΝΤΟΝ))
TALENT (Greek: Talanton). - A weight used among many ancient peoples. Among the Hebrews, according to Ex. 28:25-27, it was equivalent to… -
Tammuz (TAMMŪZ)
TAMMUZ. - Mesopotamian god (Sumerian DUMU-ZI, Akkadian Tamūzu) of vegetation, young, flourishing again in spring after the winter death (=… -
Tanis
TANIS. - Ancient Egyptian city, about 25 km from present-day es-Salihijjah near the village of Şan el-Hağar on a canal that was once part… -
Taphnes (Hebrew: Taphranas; in Ezek. 30:18, Tephranas) (TAPHNE (EBR. ΤΑΦΡΑΝΆΣ; IN EZ. 30, 18 ΤΕΦΑΡΝΆΣ))
TAPHNES (Hebrew: Taphranas; in Ezek. 30:18, Tephranas). - An Egyptian city (Ez. 30:18) where, after the assassination of Gedaliah, many… -
Targum (TARGŪM)
TARGUM. - Aramaic paraphrase of the Old Testament. The term is a participle from the Aramaic root tirghēm (or rather rāgham) "to interpret,… -
Tarphon, Rabbi (TARPHÔN, RABBÎ)
TARPHON, RABBI. - Tannaite of the third generation, also mentioned by St. Jerome (In Is., 8, 11 ff.; PL 24, 122), who calls him Telphon… -
Tarshish (THARSIS)
TARSHISH. - A maritime city (or region) frequently mentioned in the Hebrew Bible, located in the far West (Is. 66, 19), in the direction of… -
Tarsus (Ταχάς) (TARSO (ΤΑΧΆΣ))
TARSUS (Ταχάς). - A city of Cilicia (Acts 22:3), on a plain, once fertile, irrigated by the Cydnus, which in ancient times ran through the… -
Tel Abhibh (TEL' ABHIBH)
TEL ABHIBH. - A center of Jewish deportees in Babylonia (Ezek. 3:15). The Hebrew term means "hill of the ear of grain," with an allusion to… -
Temple of Jerusalem (TEMPIO DI GERUSALEMME)
TEMPLE OF JERUSALEM. - A permanent sanctuary, the only one for the conduct of Israelite worship, conceived by King David and built by… -
Temptations of Jesus Christ (TENTAZIONI DI GESÙ CRISTO)
TEMPTATIONS OF JESUS CHRIST. - Jesus was tempted by Satan in the desert of Judea, between Jericho, Jerusalem and the Dead Sea. The exact… -
Teraphim (THERAPHIM)
TERAPHIM. - Latin transcription (Vulgate) of the Hebrew tērāphim in Judg. 17:5; 18:14, 17; Hos. 3:4, which occurs, variously translated, in… -
Tertius (ΤΈΡΤΙΟΣ, Tertius) (TERZIO (ΤΈΡΤΙΟΣ, TERTIUS))
TERTIUS (ΤΈΡΤΙΟΣ, Tertius). - A Christian of Corinth, a disciple of St. Paul and his amanuensis for the Epistle to the Romans (Rom. 16:22).… -
Tertullus (ΤΈΡΤΥΛΛΟΣ) (TERTULLO (ΤΈΡΤΥΛΛΟΣ))
TERTULLUS (ΤΈΡΤΥΛΛΟΣ). - Orator, chosen, because of his experience in Roman forensic practice and in the Greek language, as advocate of the… -
Teseo, Ambrogio
TESEO, AMBROGIO. - Orientalist, b. at Albonese in the Lomellina in 1469, d. at Pavia in 1540. After attending the law school at Pavia, he… -
Testament in Sacred Scripture (TESTAMENTO NELLA SACRA SCRITTURA)
TESTAMENT IN SACRED SCRIPTURE. - The term testamentum in the Vulgate often translates the Hebrew berith, by which is indicated both a pact… -
Testi di Freer (FREER, TESTI DI)
TESTI DI FREER. - Greek biblical manuscripts (of the Septuagint version and of the New Testament), forming part of the collection of C. L.… -
Tetrarch (TETRARCA)
TETRARCH. - Originally, and according to etymology, the head of one of the four regions of a province, or also one who shared command with… -
Thadal (Heb. Tidh'al, Septuagint Θαργάλ) (THADAL (EBR. TIDH'AL, SETTANTA ΘΑΡΓΆΛ))
THADAL (Heb. Tidh'al, Septuagint Θαργάλ). - King of the gōyim, or "of the nations," who with Amraphel (v.) of Shinar and Arioch (v.) of… -
Thamar (Heb. Tāmār «Palm») (THAMAR (EBR. TĀMĀR « PALMA »))
THAMAR (Heb. Tāmār «Palm»). - Name of three women and one locality of the Old Testament. 1. Wife of Er, firstborn of Judah (v.), son of… -
Thanach (Heb. Ta'ānākh and Ta'nākh; Septuagint Gevez) (THANACH (EBR. TA'ANĀKH E TA'NĀKH; SETTANTA GEVEZ))
THANACH (Heb. Ta'ānākh and Ta'nākh; Septuagint Gevez). - A vanished city of Palestine, identified with Tell Ta'annek, on the southern edge… -
Thare (Heb. Térah, Septuagint Θάξα, Θάξα) (THARÉ (EBR. TÉRAH, SETTANTA ΘΆΞΑ, ΘΆΞΑ))
THARE (Heb. Térah, Septuagint Θάξα, Θάξα). - Father of Abraham and of his two brothers Nahor and Haran, to whom together some historians… -
Thebes (TEBE)
THEBES. - City of ancient Egypt called Θῶσι by the Greeks; its Egyptian name is Wóse and later Nī'e "the city" par excellence; in Hebrew N'… -
Thecua (Heb. Tēqōā; Septuagint Θεκώ and Θεκούς) (THECUA (EBR. TĒQŌĀ; SETTANTA ΘΕΚΩ͂ E ΘΕΚΟΥ͂Σ))
THECUA (Heb. Tēqōā; Septuagint Θεκώ and Θεκούς). - A city of Palestine in the tribe of Judah (Josh. 16:60 Gk.; 1 Chron. 2:24; 4:5) situated… -
The Disciples of G (I DISCEPOLI DI G)
The disciples of G. B., who were not organized like the Apostles, perhaps passed over to Christianity after the master's death. According… -
Theglathphalasar III
TIGLATH-PILESER III. - King of Assyria from 745 to 727 B.C. (Assyrian Tuhulti-apil-Ešarra "My trust is the heir son of Ešarra," or the… -
The Gospel of G. I (IL VANGELO DI G. I)
THE GOSPEL OF G. I. - An apocryphon, of which there is mention in St. Irenaeus (I, 31, 1: PG 7, 704) and in St. Epiphanius (Haer., 38, 1,… -
Thema (Heb. Tēma'; Gr. Θαψάν) (THEMA (EBR. TĒMA'; GR. ΘΑΨΆΝ))
THEMA (Heb. Tēma'; Gr. Θαψάν). - Name of an Ishmaelite tribe (Gen. 25:15; 1 Chron. 1:30) and of the district they inhabited, in northern… -
Theman (Heb. Tēmān, Gr. Θαψάν) (THEMAN (EBR. TĒMĀN, GR. ΘΑΨΆΝ))
THEMAN (Heb. Tēmān, Gr. Θαψάν). - Name of the most famous Edomite tribe, descended from Eliphaz, grandson of Esau (Gen. 36:11, 15, 42; 1… -
Theophilus (Θεόφιλος, 'Friend of God') (TEOFILO (ΘΕΌΦΙΛΟΣ «AMICO DI DIO»))
THEOPHILUS (Θεόφιλος, 'Friend of God'). - The person to whom the evangelist St. Luke dedicated his books (the third Gospel, the Acts of the… -
Theory of Implicit Citations (CITAZIONI IMPLICITE, TEORIA DELLE)
THEORY OF IMPLICIT CITATIONS. - They consist in reporting the thoughts or words of others without naming the source. In this sense there… -
Thersa (Heb. Tirzah; Gr. Θεραΐ) (THERSA (EBR. TIRZĀH; GR. ΘΕΡΑΪ́))
THERSA (Heb. Tirzah; Gr. Θεραΐ). - A city of ancient Palestine (Josh. 12:24), located in the territory of the tribe of Manasseh (Num.… -
Thessalonica (now Thessaloniki) (TESSALONICA (OGGI SALONICO))
THESSALONICA (now Thessaloniki). - A city on the Aegean Sea, a still-frequented port and a populous city. In antiquity it bore the name of… -
The Two Thieves (LADRONI, I DUE)
THE TWO THIEVES. - Malefactors (λῆσταί) crucified with Jesus "one on the right and one on the left" (Mt. 27:38; Mk. 15:27; Lk. 23:33; Jn.… -
Thiras (Heb. Tīrās) (THIRAS (EBR. TĪRĀS))
THIRAS (Heb. Tīrās). - Seventh of the sons of Japheth in the table of peoples (Gen. 10:2). Like the names of his brothers, e.g. Javan,… -
Thubal (Heb. Tûbhal; Septuagint Θοβήλ) (THUBAL (EBR. TÙBHAL; SETTANTA ΘΟΒΈΛ))
THUBAL (Heb. Tûbhal; Septuagint Θοβήλ). - One of the sons of Japheth in the ethnographic table, where he is mentioned between Javan and… -
Thutmose III and IV (THUTMOSE III E IV)
THUTMOSE III AND IV. - Pharaohs of the XVIIIth dynasty, one of whom is sometimes named in order to identify with one of them the pharaoh of… -
Thyatira (TIATIRA)
THYATIRA. - City of Lydia, founded or rather embellished and enlarged by Seleucus I (v.), who settled Macedonian colonists there, where… -
Tiberias (TIBERIADE)
TIBERIAS. - A city of Palestine, almost at the center of the western shore of the lake of the same name, founded near ancient Rakkath… -
Tigris (TIGRI)
TIGRIS. - One of the two great rivers - the eastern one - that flow from the eastern borders of Asia Minor in a south-easterly direction to… -
Tobiadi
TOBIADI. - A powerful family of Ammonitis (v. AMMONITES). Numerous documents concerning it survive from the 3rd-2nd centuries B.C., but in… -
Tobias (TOBIA)
TOBIAS. - A pious Jew who gives his name to the deuterocanonical book of the Old Testament that narrates his story. In the Vulgate the… -
Tola (Heb. Tōlā' « worm ») (THOLA (EBR. TŌLĀ' « VERME »))
TOLA (Heb. Tōlā' « worm »). - Name of two figures of the Old Testament. 1. Firstborn of Issachar (Gen. 46:13; 1 Chron. 7:1) and father of… -
Tolomei
TOLOMEI. - Nine kings (of the "Lagid" dynasty) of Hellenistic Egypt, from 305 to 51 B.C., bore the name Πτολεμαίος; Dan. 11:4-29 alludes to… -
Tondelli, Leone
TONDELLI, LEONE. - Exegete and historian, b. at S. Bartolomeo (Reggio Emilia) on 5 May 1883, d. at Reggio Emilia on 5 Jan. 1953. After… -
Torah (TÔRÂH)
TORAH. - A Hebrew term which in the Bible means a directive authoritatively imparted (by God, by the priest, by the prophet, by the king,… -
Torrent of Egypt (Heb. Naḥal Miṣráyim) (TORRENTE D'EGITTO (EBR. NÁHAL MIṢRÁJM))
TORRENT OF EGYPT (Heb. Naḥal Miṣráyim). - The southern frontier of the land of Canaan (Num. 34:5), of the tribe of Judah (Josh. 15:4-7) and… -
Torres y Amat, Félix
TORRES Y AMAT, FÉLIX. - Bishop of Astorga, b. at Sallent (diocese of Vich) on 6 Aug. 1772, d. at Madrid on 29 Dec. 1847. A professor in the… -
Tower of Babel (BABELE, TORRE DI)
BABEL, TOWER OF - Ricostruzione della torre di B. rod") and of Sargon's palace at Khorsabad seven stories; at the top there was the "cella"… -
Trachonitis (Gr. Hē Trachōnítēs Chōra) (TRACONITIDE (GR. Ἡ ΤΡΑΧΩΝΊΤΗΣ ΧΏΡΑ))
TRACHONITIS (Gr. Hē Trachōnítēs Chōra). - Territory east of the Jordan, which together with that of Iturea formed the tetrarchy of Philip… -
Transfiguration (Gr. Metamórphōsis) (TRASFIGURAZIONE (GR. ΜΕΤΑΜΌΡΦΩΣΙΣ))
TRANSFIGURATION (Gr. Metamórphōsis). - I. THE EVENT. - Miraculous apparition of Jesus Christ, toward the end of his preaching, to the three… -
Tree of Life (ALBERO DELLA VITA)
TREE OF LIFE. - Tree "in the midst" of the earthly paradise, to which the Creator had given the power to preserve man's life and to keep… -
Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil (ALBERO DELLA SCIENZA DEL BENE E DEL MALE)
TREE OF THE KNOWLEDGE OF GOOD AND EVIL. - Tree of the earthly paradise, appointed by the Creator to make the first parents know… -
Tribes (TRIBÙ)
TRIBES. - A simple social group, of fundamental ethnic significance, yet different in the classical world (Lat. tribus; Gk. φιδές), in the… -
Tryphena and Tryphosa (Τρύφωνα καὶ Τρυφῶσα) (TRIFENA E TRIFOSA (ΤΡΎΦΩΝΑ ΚΑῚ ΤΡΥΦΩ͂ΣΑ))
TRYPHENA AND TRYPHOSA (Τρύφωνα καὶ Τρυφῶσα). - Christians of Rome, greeted by St. Paul in Rom. 16:12 as women "who labored for the Lord,"… -
Tubal-Cain (Heb. Túbhal Qájin, Septuagint Θοβέλ καὶ Ἦν) (TUBALCAIN (EBR. TÚBHAL QÁJIN, SETTANTA ΘΟΒΈΛ ΚΑῚ ἮΝ))
TUBAL-CAIN (Heb. Túbhal Qájin, Septuagint Θοβέλ καὶ Ἦν). - Son of Lamech (v.), a descendant in the fifth degree from Cain. He "sharpened… -
Tychicus (Τυχικός « fortunate », Tychicus) (TICHICO (ΤΥΧΙΚΌΣ « FORTUNATO », TYCHICUS))
TYCHICUS (Τυχικός « fortunate », Tychicus). - A Christian of proconsular Asia, probably from Ephesus, a faithful companion and collaborator… -
Typical, Sense (TIPICO, SENSO)
TYPICAL, SENSE. - That of the biblical senses (v.) which, beyond the literal sense, expresses a reality (person, event, institution)… -
Ubaldi, Ubaldo
UBALDI, UBALDO. - Prelate and biblical scholar, b. in Rome in 1838, d. there on 12 Dec. 1884. A pupil of the Roman Seminary, he obtained… -
Ugduelena, Gregorio (UGDULENA, GREGORIO)
UGDUELENA, GREGORIO. - Orientalist, b. at Termini Imerese on 30 Apr. 1815, d. at Rome on 7 June 1872. In 1843, being already a priest, U.… -
Ugolini, Biagio
UGOLINI, BIAGIO. - Hebraist, b. in Venice ca. 1700. His life is almost entirely unknown. He was a converted Jew, who accomplished a very… -
Ungarelli, Luigi
UNGARELLI, LUIGI. - Barnabite, one of the first Italian Egyptologists, b. in Bologna on 14 February 1779, d. in Rome on 21 August 1845.… -
Unleavened (Greek: ἀζημός, from privative α and ζῆν, «without leaven»; Hebrew: maṣṣāḥ, pl. maṣṣōth) (AZIMO (ἈΖΗΜΌΣ, DA À PRIV. E ΖΗ͂Ν, «SENZA FERMENTO»; EBR. MAṢṢĀH, PLUR. MAṢṢŌTH))
UNLEAVENED BREAD (ἀζημός, from à priv. and ζῆν, "without leaven"; Heb. maṣṣāh, plur. maṣṣōth). - The Old Testament alludes to unleavened… -
Uppsala, School of Exegesis (UPPSALA, SCUOLA ESEGETICA DI)
UPPSALA, SCHOOL OF EXEGESIS. — A school of Lutheran exegesis that emerged during and after the last world war, led by Ivan Engnell of the… -
Ur
UR. - A very ancient Mesopotamian city (Sumerian URIM⁴⁰, later URI⁴¹, Akkadian URG⁴²), named in the Bible in Gen. 11:28-31; 15:7; Neh. 9:7… -
Uria (« My Light is Jahweh »?) (URIA (« LA MIA LUCE È JAHWEH »?))
URIA (« My Light is Jahweh »?). - A man of war, one of David's thirty gibbārīm (II Sam. 23:39). He was Hittite by origin; his name may be… -
Urim and Thummim (URIM E TUMMIM)
URIM AND THUMMIM. - Mysterious objects used in ancient Israel to cast the sacred lots (I Sam. 28:6). The most probable meaning of the two… -
Ur-Nammu, Code of (UR-NAMMU, CODICE DI)
UR-NAMMU, Code of. - A legislative text, deciphered in 1952, which today can be considered the oldest known "code" of law, and already… -
Uzzah (Heb. 'Uzzā') (OZA (EBR. 'UZZĀ'))
UZZAH (Heb. 'Uzzā'). - Son of Abinadab, who fell struck dead for having dared to touch the Ark of the Covenant while he was transporting it… -
Uzziah (Azariah; Heb. 'Uzzijjah) (OZIA (AZARIA; EBR. 'UZZIJJAH))
UZZIAH (Azariah; Heb. 'Uzzijjah). - Tenth king of Judah after the schism of the northern tribes. He succeeded his father Amaziah (v.) at… -
Uzziel (Heb. 'Uzziel') (OZIEL (EBR. 'UZZIEL'))
UZZIEL (Heb. 'Uzziel'). - Name of several figures of the Old Testament. 1. Son of Kohath the Levite (Ex. 6:18, 22; Num. 3:19). 2.… -
Vacca Rossa
VACCA ROSSA. - A particular rite ordained by God during the Israelites' journey from Sinai to Kadesh. A "red heifer, without blemish,… -
Valley of Siddim (Heb. 'Ēmeq Šiddim) (SIDDIM, VALLE DI (EBR. 'ĒMEQ ŠIDDIM))
VALLEY OF SIDDIM (Heb. 'Ēmeq Šiddim). - A valley full of bitumen pits (Gen. 14:10), where Chedorlaomer with his allies defeated the king of… -
Vashti (VASTHI)
VASHTI. - Wife, among those of second rank, and for a short time a favorite, of the Persian king Ahasuerus (v.) or Xerxes I (486-65), who… -
Vence, Bible of (VENCE, BIBBIA, DI)
VENCE, Bible of. - French edition of the Bible with commentary, edited by Henri François V. (ca. 1675-1749), which appeared at Nancy… -
Vercellone, Carlo Giuseppe
VERCELLONE, CARLO GIUSEPPE. - Biblical scholar, b. at Sordevolo near Biella on 10 Jan. 1814, d. at Rome on 19 Jan. 1869. In 1829 he entered… -
Vetter, Paul Alexander
VETTER, PAUL ALEXANDER. - Catholic Armenologist and exegete, b. 14 July 1850 in Oberdettingen (near Biberach, Württemberg), d. at Tübingen… -
Vigouroux, Fulcran-Grégoire
VIGOUROUX, FULCRAN-GRÉGOIRE. - Sulpician, biblical scholar, b. at Nant (diocese of Rodez) on 13 Feb. 1837, d. at Rome on 21 Feb. 1915. In… -
Vosté, Jacques-Marie
VOSTÉ, JACQUES-MARIE. - Exegete and Orientalist, b. at Bruges on 3 May 1883, a Dominican from 1900, a priest from 1906, d. at Rome on 2… -
Vulgate (VOLGATA)
VULGATE. - Official version of the Bible in the Latin Church, called Vulgata editio librorum sacrorum from the Council of Trent (1545-63)… -
Wandering Jew (EBREO ERRANTE)
WANDERING JEW. - A popular myth, which under the name "Ahasuerus" personifies the eternal wanderer, who after the drama of Calvary has… -
Weitenauer, Ignaz
WEITENAUER, IGNAZ. - Jesuit, polyglot and exegete, b. at Ingolstadt on 1 November 1709, d. at Salem on 4 February 1783. Having entered the… -
Wellhausen, Julius
WELLHAUSEN, JULIUS. - Protestant historian and philologist, b. 17 May 1844 at Hameln (Hanover), d. 7 Jan. 1918 at Göttingen. In 1872 full… -
Westcott, Brooke Foss
WESTCOTT, BROOKE FOSS. - Protestant exegete, b. in Birmingham on 12 Jan. 1825, d. in Auckland on 27 July 1901. He studied at Cambridge… -
Wettstein, Johannes Jakob
WETTSTEIN, JOHANNES JAKOB. - Philologist and textual critic, Protestant, b. in Basel on 5 March 1693, d. in Amsterdam on 22 March 1754. The… -
Wetzer, Heinrich Joseph
WETZER, HEINRICH JOSEPH. - Historian and orientalist, b. 19 March 1801 at Anzefahr (Kurhessen), d. at Freiburg im Breisgau on 5 Nov. 1853.… -
William the Breton (GUGLIELMO IL BRETONE)
WILLIAM THE BRETON. - Franciscan, theologian and biblicist, who lived in the 13th century, of whom Fra Salimbene da Parma speaks in his… -
Wisdom Books (SAPIENZIALI, LIBRI)
WISDOM BOOKS. - In the division of the writings of the Old Testament into historical, prophetic and wisdom books, the latter designation… -
Wisdom (in the Bible) (SAPIENZA (NELLA BIBBIA))
WISDOM (in the Bible). - An ideological-ethical attitude among the ancient Israelites (Heb. hokhmáh); it was not merely an intellectual… -
Wittmann, Georg Michael
WITTMANN, GEORG MICHAEL. - Bishop, b. 22 Jan. 1760 at Finkenhammer (Upper Palatinate), d. 8 March 1833 at Regensburg. Ordained priest at… -
Wutz, Franz Xaver
WUTZ, FRANZ XAVER. - Philologist and scholar of biblical textual criticism, b. in Eichstätt on 21 Oct. 1882, d. there on 19 March 1938.… -
Yahweh (JAHWEH)
YAHWEH. - Divine name, called the "tetragrammaton" because it has 4 letters, the most used in the Hebrew Bible (ca. 6823 times), revealed… -
Zaccaria (Heb. Zēhharjâh « Jahweh si è ricordato ») (ZACCARIA (EBR. ZÉHHARJÂH « JAHWEH SI È RICORDATO »))
ZACCARIA (Heb. Zēhharjâh « Jahweh si è ricordato »). - Name of a king, of a prophet of Israel, and of various minor figures of the Old… -
Zacchaeus (ZACCHEO)
ZACCHAEUS. - Chief of the publicans (ἀρχιτελώνης), that is, of the tax collectors in the border town of Jericho, at the time of Christ.… -
Zahn, Theodor
ZAHN, THEODOR. - Protestant exegete and patrologist, b. at Mörs (Rhineland) on 10 Oct. 1838, d. at Erlangen on 15 March 1933. He studied… -
Zapletal, Vincenz
ZAPLETAL, VINCENZ. - Dominican Hebraist and exegete, b. at Vilimov (Moravia) on 15 Jan. 1867, d. at Kemmelbach (Austria) on 21 Jan. 1938.… -
Zarephath (Heb. Sāréphath) (SAREPTA (EBR. SÁRÉPHATH; SETTANTA ΣΆΡΕΠΤΑ))
ZAREPHATH (Heb. Sāréphath). - Formerly a city of Phoenicia, 15 km south of Sidon (v.). It has remained famous because the prophet Elijah,… -
Zealots (Sicarii) (ZELOTI (SICARI))
ZEALOTS (SICARII). - A Greek term (ζηλωτής, "zealous"), which originally had only a moral meaning, inasmuch as it distinguished the… -
Zebah (Heb. Zebhaḥ, "Sacrifice") (ZEBEE (EBR. ZEBHAḤ «SACRIFICIO»))
ZEBAH (Heb. Zebhaḥ, "Sacrifice"). - Chief of the Midianites, who, together with Oreb, Zeeb (v.) and Zalmunna, led the incursion into the… -
Zebedee (Heb. Zabhdaj, abbreviation of Zēbhadājāh, "Gift of Jahweh") (ZEBEDEO (DALL'EBR. ZABHDAJ, ABBREVIAZIONE DI ZĒBHADĀJĀH «DONO DI JAHWEH»))
ZEBEDEE (Heb. Zabhdaj, abbreviation of Zēbhadājāh, "Gift of Jahweh"). - Father of the apostles James the Greater (v.) and John (v.). He was… -
Zeb (Heb. Zē'ēbh = «Wolf») (ZEB (EBR. ZĒ'ĒBH = «LUPO»))
ZEB (Heb. Zē'ēbh = «Wolf»). - Chief of the Midianites, against whom the "judge" Gideon (v) fought. The latter, having thrown the enemy camp… -
Zebulun (Heb. Zēbhūlūn) (ZABULON (EBR. ZĒBHŪLŪN))
ZEBULUN (HEB. ZĒBHŪLŪN). - Son of the patriarch Jacob (v.), from whom the tribe of which he was the progenitor took its name. Of Z. as a… -
Zechariah, Prophet (ZACCARIA, PROFETA)
ZECHARIAH, PROPHET. - Penultimate of the minor prophets. His name (Zéhharjâh "Yahweh remembers") well corresponds to the content of his… -
Zechri (Heb. Zihhrī) (ZECHRI (EBR. ZIHHRĪ))
ZECHRI (Heb. Zihhrī). - Name of several figures of the Old Testament. 1. A Levite, son of Izhar (Ex. 6:21). 2. Members of the tribe of… -
Zeitschrift Für Die Alttestamentliche Wissenschaft
ZEITSCHRIFT FÜR DIE ALTTESTAMENTLICHE WISSENSCHAFT. - It is the most authoritative specialized German journal for Old Testament studies,… -
Zeitschrift Für Neutestamentliche Wissenschaft
ZEITSCHRIFT FÜR NEUTESTAMENTLICHE WISSENSCHAFT. - A periodical of New Testament studies founded by Erwin Preuschen (1867-1920) in 1900,… -
Zenas
ZENAS. - Jurist (νομικός), disciple of St. Paul (Ζηνάς, abbreviation of Ζηνόδωρος = gift of Jupiter), sent by him to Titus and to the… -
Zephaniah (Heb. Şēphanjāh "Yahweh Protects") (SOFONIA (EBR. ŞĒPHANJĀH « JAHWEH PROTEGGE »))
ZEPHANIAH (Heb. Şēphanjāh "Yahweh Protects"). - One of the "minor prophets," ninth in the series, who carried on his activity in the time… -
Zerubbabel (Heb. Zerubbābel, Babylonian name, Zir-Babili, "Seed" or "Sprout of Babel") (ZOROBABEL (EBR. ZERUBBĀBEL, NOME D'ORIGINE BABILONESE, ZIR-BABILI, « SEME » O « RAMPOLLO DI BABEL »))
ZERUBBABEL (Heb. Zerubbābel, a name of Babylonian origin, zir-Babili, "seed" or "scion of Babel"). - Prince of Judah, son of Shealtiel and… -
Zigguratu (ZIQQURATU)
ZIGGURATU. - Sumerian, Babylonian and Assyrian name for the temple towers that were built in ancient Mesopotamia from the most remote,… -
Zimri (Heb. Zimri; LXX Zápařá) (ZAMRI (EBR. ZIMRI; SETTANTA ZÁPAŘÁ))
ZIMRI (HEB. ZIMRI; LXX ZÁPAŘÁ). - Name of four figures of the Old Testament. 1. A member of the tribe of Simeon, son of Salu, who was… -
Zion (Heb. Şiyyôn) (SION (EBR. ŞIJJÔN))
ZION (Heb. Şiyyôn). - Indigenous name of the Jebusite fortress, situated in the southern part of the eastern hill (v. OPHEL) of Jerusalem… -
Ziph
ZIPH. - Two cities of ancient Palestine. 1. Settlement of the Negeb, at the southern extremity of the tribe of Judah (Josh. 15:24), founded… -
Zizania (τὰ ζιζάνια)
ZIZANIA (τὰ ζιζάνια). - A weed very similar to wheat, which, in the parable of Jesus related in Mt. 13:20-30, 36-43, must be identified as…