Sacred Scripture
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1 and 2 Corinthians, Epistles to the (CORINTI, EPISTOLE I E II AI)
1 AND 2 CORINTHIANS, EPISTLES TO THE. - Letters addressed by St. Paul to the faithful of the community of Corinth (v.), two of the four… -
Abaddon
ABADDON. - Hebrew term (perdition, from abhad "to perish"), which occurs in the wisdom literature of the Old Testament (6 times) and in… -
Abel (Hebrew Hēbel; Septuagint Greek Ἀβέλ) (ABELE (EBR. HÉBEL; GRECO DEI SETTANTA ἈΒΕΛ))
ABEL (Hebrew Hēbel; Septuagint Greek Ἀβέλ). - A. slain, bronze by G. Dupré - Florence, Gallery of Ancient and Modern Art. (photo Alinari)… -
Abijah (ABIA)
ABIJAH. - Name of various biblical figures (Hebr. Abiyām in Kings, 'Abiyāhu and 'Abiyāh in Chronicles, 'Yahweh is father'). 1. Son of… -
Achimelek
ACHIMELEK. - Son of Ahitub, high priest in the sanctuary of Nob (I Sam. 21-22). He is commonly identified with Ahijah (v.). In reality the… -
Acra (Akra: Greek 'Ἄκρα' 'fortress') (ACRA (AKRA: GR. 'ἌΓΞΑ' «FORTEZZA»))
ACRA (Akra: Greek 'Ἄκρα' 'fortress'). - A citadel built by order of Antiochus IV Epiphanes, king of Syria, in the interior of Jerusalem,… -
Adrammelech (Hebrew 'Adrammelek) (ADRAMELECH (EBR. 'ADRAMMÈLEK'))
ADRAMMELECH (Hebrew 'Adrammelek). - A divinity probably Syrian (Adad-malik) of the inhabitants of Sepharvaim (perhaps Sabara'in)… -
Albo, Josef
ALBO, JOSEF. - Spanish Jewish apologist and theologian. He lived successively in Daroca (province of Saragossa) and in Soria (Castile); d.… -
Alcimus (ALCIMO)
ALCIMUS. - Contemporary and antagonist of Judas Maccabeus (v.). He changed his Hebrew name 'Eljāqim (or Jēhōjāqim) to the Greek 'Αλκίμωσ in… -
Alpha and Omega (ALFA E OMEGA)
ALPHA AND OMEGA. - Allegorical formula from the Apocalypse (1:8; 21:6; 22:13), which brings together the first and last letter (the… -
Amama, Sixtinus
AMAMA, SIXTINUS. - Dutch Reformed theologian, b. 1593, d. 1629. He was a profound connoisseur of the Hebrew language, of which he published… -
Amasia (Heb. ʿAṭṭāṣa «Yahweh Fortifies»; Septuagint: ʿAṭṭāṣa) (AMASIA (EBR. ʿAṬṬĀṢA «JAHWEH FORTIFICA»; SETTANTA: ʿAṬṬĀṢA))
AMASIA (Heb. ʿAṭṭāṣa «Yahweh Fortifies»; Septuagint: ʿAṭṭāṣa). - Two biblical figures. 1. - King of Judah (c. 797-789), son of Joash, whom… -
Am Hâ-Âres (AM HÂ-ÂREŞ)
AM HÂ-ÂRES. - A Hebrew expression ("people of the land"), which in the earliest documents indicates simply the people of a particular… -
Anammelech (Hebrew 'Anammelech) (ANAMELECH (EBR. 'ANAMNELECH),)
ANAMELECH (Heb. 'Anammelech), - Deity (together with Adrammelech, v.) of the inhabitants of Sepharvaim transplanted by Sargon to Samaria,… -
Antichrist (ANTICRISTO)
ANTICHRIST. - Adversary of Christ who, at the end of time, will seduce many Christians with satanic prodigies and cunning, and will finally… -
Apostles (APOSTOLI)
APOSTLES. — In medieval canon procedural law, this was the name given to the letters that the lower judge had to transmit, within a fixed… -
Apostles (Gr. Ἀπόστολος "Sent One", from ἀποστέλλω) (APOSTOLI (GR. ἈΠΌΣΤΟΛΟΣ «INVIATO», DA ἈΠΟΣΤΈΛΛΩ))
APOSTLES (Gr. Ἀπόστολος "Sent One", from ἀποστέλλω). — Title of the twelve collaborators chosen by Jesus, to whom he entrusted the… -
Archisynagogue (Heb. Rōš Hak-Kēnēseth «Head Of The Assembly») (ARCHISINAGOGO (EBR. RŌŠ HAK-KĒNĒSETH « CAPO DELLA ASSEMBLEA »))
ARCHISYNAGOGUE (Heb. Rōš Hak-Kēnēseth «Head Of The Assembly»). - He who presided over the synagogues, or religious assemblies, of the Jews.… -
Arculf (ARCULFO)
ARCULF. - Bishop in Gaul (see unknown). He made a pilgrimage to the Holy Land in 670 and recounted his journey to St. Adamnan (v.), abbot… -
Ariel (Heb. 'Āri'ēl) (ARIEL (EBR. 'ĀRI'ĒL))
ARIEL (Heb. 'Āri'ēl). - A biblical Hebrew term which, because of its double etymology (from 'āri' "lion" and from 'ārah' "to burn"), means… -
Ark (of Noah) (ARCA (DI NOÈ))
ARK (OF NOAH). - A large floating wooden receptacle, which Noah before the flood (v.) built by God's command, as a refuge for himself, his… -
Ark (of the Covenant), Ark of the Testimony (ARCA (DELL'ALLEANZA), ARCA DELLA TESTIMONIANZA)
ARK (of the Covenant), Ark of the Testimony. - Thus the Pentateuch designates the most important and ancient object of Israelite worship… -
Asher (Heb. 'Āšēr — Happy —) (ASER (EBR. 'ĀŠĒR - FELICE -))
ASHER (Heb. 'Āšēr — Happy —). - 1. Eighth son of Jacob, born in Mesopotamia, after Gad, by Zilpah, Leah's maidservant. Gen. 30:13 explains… -
Athalia (ATALIA (ATHALIA))
ATHALIA. - Wicked queen of Judah, daughter of Ahab, king of Samaria, and of Jezebel (v.) of Tyre. She was the wife of Jehoram, king of… -
Aurogallus (Goldhahn), Matthaeus
AUROGALLUS (GOLDHAHN), MATTHAEUS. - Lutheran philologist, b. around 1490 at Komotau (Bohemia); having come to Wittenberg (1519), he became… -
Avendaño, Diego de
AVENDAÑO, DIEGO de. - Jesuit theologian and canonist, b. at Segovia (Spain) in 1594, d. at Lima (Peru) on 31 Aug. 1688. After studying… -
Baptism of Jesus (BATTESIMO DI GESÙ)
BAPTISM OF JESUS. - The scene narrated by the Synoptics (Mt. 3:13-17; Mk. 1:9-13; Lk. 3:21-22) and alluded to by John (Jn. 1:32-34) can… -
Baptism of John (BATTESIMO DI GIOVANNI)
BAPTISM OF JOHN. - It is the baptism that the precursor (whence the epithet "Baptist" = "baptizer") administered on the banks of the… -
Beelphegor (Hebrew Ba'al-Pe'or) (BEELPHEGOR (EBR. BA'AL-PE'ÔR))
BEELPHEGOR (Hebrew Ba'al-Pe'or). - It was originally the name of a divinity, the Phoenician Ba'al (v.), which took various titles from the… -
Biblia Pauperum
BIBLIA PAUPERUM. - A devotional book containing representations of the principal scenes of the life of Jesus, depicted according to the… -
Boaz (Heb. Bô'az) (BOOZ (EBR. BÔ'AZ))
BOAZ (Heb. Bô'az). - 1. - Ancestor of David and of the Messiah. He owned in Bethlehem the field in which the widow Ruth (v.) used to go to… -
Brugsch, Heinrich Karl
BRUGSCH, HEINRICH KARL. - Egyptologist, b. in Berlin on 18 Feb. 1827 and d. in Charlottenburg on 9 Sept. 1894; he was given the title of… -
Budge, Sir Ernest Alfred Wallis
BUDGE, sir ERNEST ALFRED WALLIS. - English Orientalist, b. at Bodmin (Cornwall) on 27 July 1857; d. on 23 Nov. 1934. From 1893 to 1924 he… -
Camiti
CAMITI. - The "ethnographic table" in Gen. 10, after listing the three sons of Noah, Shem, Ham and Japheth, resumes in reverse order and… -
Carbonelli (Carbonell), Poncio
CARBONELLI (CARBONELL), PONCIO. - Franciscan, b. around 1260, d. in 1350 at Barcelona. In 1278 he entered the Franciscan Order, and was… -
Casleu (Hebrew: Kislev) (CASLEU (EBR. KISLEW))
CASLEU (Hebrew: Kislev). - Name of the ninth month of the Hebrew calendar, counting from Nisān (= second half of Nov. and first half of… -
Cedar (CEDRO)
CEDAR. - A majestic tree, with prized wood, mentioned in many biblical passages, generally with the local designation "of Lebanon," where… -
Chloe (CLOE)
CHLOE. - In I Cor. 1:11, St. Paul writes: "It was reported to me concerning you, my brethren, by those of C. (ὑπὸ τῶν Χλόης) that there are… -
Chusan Rasathaim (Heb. Kūfan Rīš'āthajim) (CHUSAN RASATHAIM (EBR. KŪFAN RĪŠ'ĀTHAJIM))
CHUSAN RASATHAIM (Heb. Kūfan Rīš'āthajim). - King, according to the Vulgate, of Mesopotamia and Syria (Judg. 3:8, 10). The Hebrew text… -
Colossians, Epistle to the (COLOSSESI, EPISTOLA AI)
COLOSSIANS, Epistle to the. - One of the "captivity epistles," addressed by St. Paul to the faithful of Colossae (v.). SUMMARY: I. The… -
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… -
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… -
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… -
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… -
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… -
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,… -
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… -
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… -
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… -
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. -… -
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… -
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.… -
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… -
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… -
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… -
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… -
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… -
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… -
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… -
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… -
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… -
Genizah (GÉNIZĀH)
GENIZAH. - Hebrew term from gānaz, of Persian origin, meaning "(deposit of the) treasure," "storeroom." The sacred scrolls of the… -
Giants in the Bible (GIGANTI NELLA BIBBIA)
GIANTS IN THE BIBLE. - Gen. 6:4 recalls the nēphilim, antediluvians, perhaps distinct from the "heroes" born of Sethites and Cainites. In… -
Gojim (GÓJIM)
GOJIM. - Hebrew term: the "nations," the "peoples" (Gen. 10:5, 20; 17:4; etc.), often used in a pejorative sense, in that "the nations" are… -
Haceldama
HACELDAMA. - Name of that field which the Sanhedrin (because the potter's clay had run out?) bought from a potter with 30 pieces of silver… -
Hairshirt (CILICIO)
HAIRSHIRT. - A rough cloth, woven from goat or camel hair. It was called cilicium by the Latins because it came especially from Cilicia, on… -
Hallel (HALLĒL)
HALLEL. - A rabbinic term meaning "hymn, praise" (Heb. hallēl "to praise," whence alleluia [v.]), used to designate groups of Psalms for… -
Hanani (Hebrew: Hānānī) (HANANI (EBRAICO: HĀNĀNĪ))
HANANI (Hebrew: Hānānī). - 1. Prophet, who reproached King Asa for his lack of trust in God, when, against Baasha king of Israel (910-887),… -
Hebrews (EBREI)
HEBREWS. - People of the descendants of Abraham and Jacob, chosen by God with a particular "covenant," in preparation for the economy of… -
Hebrews, Epistle to the (EBREI, EPISTOLA AGLI)
HEBREWS, Epistle to the. - The last (14th) letter of the Pauline epistolary corpus, addressed, according to most, to Jewish Christians. In… -
Hedher
HEDHER. - Hebrew word (plur. ḥadharim), which originally means "room"; it later came to mean, especially among the Jews of Eastern Europe,… -
Herem (Septuagint: Ἀνάθημα) (M.A.) (HEREM (SETTANTA ἈΝΆΘΡΗΣ) (Μ.Α.))
HEREM (Septuagint ἀνάθρης) (m.a.) - Among the Hebrews it designated: 1) a penalty by which individuals or peoples declared objects of… -
Holofernes (OLOFERNE)
HOLOFERNES. - Commander-in-chief, the highest personage after the king (Jdt. 2:4; cf. I Chron. 16:5; II Chron. 28:7; Esth. 13:3; 16:11), to… -
Iachin (Heb. Jābīn "[He] restores") (IACHIN (EBR. JĀBĪN «[EGLI] RISTABILISCE»))
IACHIN (Heb. Jābīn "[He] restores"). - One of the two columns erected before the entrance of Solomon's Temple (1 Kings 7:21; 2 Chron.… -
Ichabod (Heb. 'L'ābhōdh "Without glory") (ICHABOD (EBR. 'L'ĀBHŌDH «SENZA GLORIA»))
ICHABOD (Heb. 'L'ābhōdh "Without glory"). - Son of Phinehas and grandson of the high priest Eli (v.). In a clash with the Philistines, when… -
Idolotite (IDOLOTITO)
IDOLOTITE. - Meat sacrificed to idols (biblical noun εἰδικόθυντος, synonym of ἱερόθυτον) > (photo R. Sansini) > IDOLATRY - Clovis points… -
Ieddoa
IEDDOA. -
IOACHIN
IOACHIN. - King of Judah, better known as Jeconiah (the same name with the transposition of its component parts ["Yahweh disposes"]: cf.… -
Ioarib (IOIARIB)
IOARIB. - Name of several figures of the Old Testament (Heb. Jēhōjārībh, more often Jējārībh). 1. A very prominent priest (1 Chron. 9:10),… -
IOAS (HEB. JŌ'ĀF AND JĒHŌ'ĀF; GREEK: 'IŌZŌZ) (IOAS (EBR. JŌ'ĀF E JĒHŌ'ĀF; GRECO: 'IŌZŌZ))
IOAS (HEB. JŌ'ĀF AND JĒHŌ'ĀF; GREEK: 'IŌZŌZ). - 1. King of Judah (836-797), son of Ahaziah. Barely a year old, he was snatched from the… -
IOHANAN (HEB. JĒHĀHĀNĀN AND JĀHĀNĀN "JAHWEH IS GRACIOUS") (IOHANAN (EBR. JĒHĀHĀNĀN E JĀHĀNĀN «JAHWEH FA GRAZIA»))
IOHANAN (HEB. JĒHĀHĀNĀN AND JĀHĀNĀN "JAHWEH IS GRACIOUS"). - Name of 16 persons of the Old Testament. 1. Military leader under Zedekiah.… -
Jaddoah (Hebrew Jaddūa "Knower" or "Renowned") (IEDDOA (EBR. JADDŪA «CONOSCITORE» O «RINOMATO»))
JADDOAH (Hebrew Jaddūa "Knower" or "Renowned"). - Jewish high priest, son of Jonathan (Neh. 12:11, 22). The Bible hands down to us only his… -
Jael (Heb. Jāʾēl; Vulg. Iahel) (GIAELE (EBR. JĀ'EL; VOLG. IAHEL))
JAEL (Heb. Jāʾēl; Vulg. Iahel). - Wife of Heber the Kenite. Sisera, the Canaanite general defeated by Barak, in flight encounters along his… -
JEHOAHAZ (SHALLUM) (IOACHAZ (SELLUM))
JEHOAHAZ (SHALLUM). - King of Judah (609 B.C.), son of Josiah (v.), also called Shallum (Jer. 22:11). He was raised to the throne, after… -
JEHOZADAK (IOSEDEC (EBR. JĒHŌŠĀDHĀQ E JŌŠĀDHĀQ « JAHWEH È GIUSTO »))
JEHOZADAK. - Father of the high priest Jesus (Hag. 1, 1.12.14; 2, 3.5; Zech. 6, 11; Sir. 49, 14). From 1 Chron. 5:41, where it is said that… -
Jeroboam II (IEROBOAM II)
JEROBOAM II. - King of Israel (784-744 B.C.), son of Jehoash, of the dynasty of Jehu (v.), is perhaps the most illustrious of the kings of… -
Jescha (IESCHA)
JESCHA. — Under this name, which does not occur elsewhere in the Bible, Gen. 11:29 mentions a daughter of Haran, brother of Abraham, and… -
Jezaniah (Hebrew Ja'āzāujah and Jēzaujāh [ā] "Yahweh Has Heard") (IEZONIA (EBR. JA'ĀZĀUJAH E JĒZAUJĀH [Ä] « JAHWEH ODE »))
JEZANIAH (Hebrew Ja'āzāujah and Jēzaujāh [ā] "Yahweh Has Heard"). - Name of several figures of the Old Testament. 1. One of the military… -
Jezebel (IEZABEL)
JEZEBEL. - Daughter of Ethbaal, king of Sidon, and wife of Ahab (v.), king of Israel (875-853), over whom she had a baleful influence and… -
JOBAB (HEB. JĀBHĀBH) (IOBAB (EBR. JĀBHĀBH))
JOBAB (HEB. JĀBHĀBH). - Name of various figures of the Old Testament. 1. A Semite, thirteenth and last son of Joktan (Gen. 10:29; 1 Chron.… -
JONATHAN (HEB. JĒHŌNĀTHĀN AND JŌNĀTHĀN; VULGATE I. AND IONATHAS) (IONATHAN (EBR. JĒHŌNĀTHĀN E JŌNĀTHĀN; VOLGATA I. E IONATHAS))
JONATHAN (HEB. JĒHŌNĀTHĀN AND JŌNĀTHĀN; VULGATE I. AND IONATHAS). - Name of various personages of Israel in the Old Testament. 1. Levite,… -
Jonathan (Heb. Yônāthān, "Yahweh Has Given") (GIONATA (EBR. JÖNÄTHÄN, « JAHWEH HA DATO »))
JONATHAN (Heb. Yônāthān, "Yahweh Has Given"). - Eldest son of Saul (v.), one of the most heroic and attractive figures of the Bible. He was… -
Joram (IORAM)
JORAM. - King of Israel (853-842 B.C.), son of Ahab, he succeeded his brother Ahaziah, who died after a few months of reign, and was the… -
Joseph (Heb. Yôsēph; Ps. 81, 6 Yĕhôsēph = «God Increases») (GIUSEPPE (EBR. JŌSĒPH; PS. 81, 6 JĒHŌSĒPH = «DIO ACCRESCE»))
JOSEPH (Heb. Yôsēph; Ps. 81, 6 Yĕhôsēph = «God Increases»). - Beloved son of the patriarch Jacob (v.) and of Rachel. His life (Gen. 37;… -
Jotham (IOATHAM)
JOTHAM. - Son of Gideon (Judg. 9:7-21, 57). He was the only one who escaped the massacre by his brother Abimelech (v., no. 2), who, after… -
Journal of Biblical Literature
JOURNAL OF BIBLICAL LITERATURE. - It began publication in Middletown (Connecticut) in 1881 under the name Journal of the Society of… -
Jubal (Hebrew: Jābhāl; Greek 'Iousah) (IUBAL (EBR.: JĀBHĀL; GRECO 'IOUŠĀH))
JUBAL (Hebrew: Jābhāl; Greek 'Iousah). - Cainite, son of Lamech and of Adah, and "father of all those who handle the lyre and the flute"… -
Justus of Tiberias (GIUSTO DI TIBERIADE)
JUSTUS OF TIBERIAS. - Jewish patriot and historian of the 1st century A.D. Of J.'s life only as much is known as his adversary Flavius… -
Korah (CORE (EBR. QÔRAH = «CALVIZIE»))
KORAH. - The best known of the biblical figures of this name, the first of whom is a son of Esau (Gen. 36:5, 14), is a contemporary of… -
Lamech
LAMECH - Scroll of the book of L. (with the two fragments so far able to be detached) found together with other Hebrew manuscripts in the… -
Levirate (LEVIRATO)
LEVIRATE. - The duty to marry the widow of one's own brother, who has died without children. The custom is common to many primitive… -
Levites (Heb. Lēwī, pl. Lēwījīm; Gr. Lēwījī, pl. -ai) (LEVITI (EBR. LĒWĪ, PLUR. LĒWĪJĪM; GR. LĒWĪJĪ, PLUR. - AI))
LEVITES (Heb. Lēwī, pl. Lēwījīm; Gr. Lēwījī, pl. -ai). -ai). - Professional name of those charged with the Hebrew cult, subordinate to the… -
Lilith (LİLİTH)
LILITH. - A female demon, named only once in the Bible (Isa. 34:14), together with the monsters and animals that will inhabit the earth on… -
Lucifer (LUCIFERO)
LUCIFER. - Latin name (lucifer) of the planet Venus or "morning star," which in the Vulgate > (from Herrada of Landsberg, Hortus… -
Luzzatto, Mosè HaJaim (LUZZATTO, MOSÈ HAJIM)
LUZZATTO, MOSÈ HAJAIM. - Jewish poet and Kabbalist, b. in Padua in 1707, d. in Palestine in 1746. Already as a child he composed Hebrew… -
Maasia
MAASIA. - Of the numerous persons of this name, about twenty, mentioned in the Old Testament, the principal ones are: 1) A Levite of the… -
Maccabees (Greek Μακκαβαῖοι, Vulgate Machabaei) (MACCABEI (GR. ΜΑΚΚΑΒΑΙ͂ΟΙ, VOLG. MACHABAEI))
MACCABEES (Greek Μακκαβαῖοι, Vulgate Machabaei). - With the nickname "Maccabeus" given to Judas, the principal hero of the Jewish revolt… -
Magnificat
«MAGNIFICAT». - Canticle of praise to God uttered by the Virgin Mary during her visit to Elizabeth (v.), who, inspired, had greeted her as… -
Mahzor (Mahazor) (MAHZÔR (MAHÂZÔR))
MAHZOR (MAHAZOR). - Synagogal ritual for the annual festivals (literally "cycle," from hâzar "to return periodically," originally an… -
Maimonides (Mosheh ben Maimon) (MAIMONIDE (MÖŠEH BEN MAJMÖN))
MAIMONIDES (Mosheh ben Maimon). - Rabbi, philosopher, known by the abbreviation Rambam (R.M. B.M.), b. on the eve of the Jewish Passover… -
Malaleel
MALALEEL. - Patriarch mentioned in Gen. 5:12-13, and represented in one of the medallions of the cycle of patriarchs painted on the walls… -
Maṣṣebhāh (MAŞŞEBHĀH)
MAṢṢEBHĀH. - A pillar, a large upright stone (from the verb nāṣab "to set upright"; Septuagint: στήλη, λίθος σκοπός, ὑπόστασις, Ez. 26, 11;… -
Māʾēl (MĂŠĂL)
MĀʾĒL. - Term used 39 times in the Bible, with the original meaning of "comparison" (cf. Assyrian and other Semitic languages: D. Buzy [v.… -
Menahem (Hebrew Mēnahēm) (MANAHEM (EBR. MĒNAHĒM))
MENAHEM (HEBREW MĒNAHĒM). - Son of Gadi, sixteenth king of Israel after the separation from the Kingdom of Judah and founder of the VII… -
Michal (Hebrew Mikhāl: « Who is powerful? » [?]; « The Almighty » [?]; « Who like God? » [?]) (MICHOL (EBR. MIKHĀL: « CHI È POTENTE ? » [?]; « L'ONNIPOTENTE » [?]; « CHI COME DIO ? » [?]))
MICHAL (Hebrew Mikhāl: « Who is powerful? » [?]; « The Almighty » [?]; « Who like God? » [?]). - Daughter of Saul (v.), younger than her… -
Miphibosheth (MIPHIBOSETH)
MIPHIBOSHETH. - Only son of Jonathan (v.) whose name was originally (v. ISBOSETH) Miphibos' al ("from the mouth of the Lord"). He was five… -
Miraculous Draught of Fishes (PESCA MIRACOLOSA)
MIRACULOUS DRAUGHT OF FISHES. - The miracle took place at the lake of Gennesaret, where the Lord, after having taught the crowds from one… -
Mitanni
MITANNI. - A state in upper Mesopotamia between approximately 1500 and 1365 B.C. which, especially under its king Saušatar (ca. 1450),… -
Moloch
MOLOCH. - Name of a Semitic deity, from the common melekh "king"; the Septuagint, rendering 2 Kings 23:10, 13 as ὁ Μολόχ, caused the… -
Mosollam (Heb. Mēsullām) (MOSOLLAM (EBR. MĒSULLĀM))
MOSOLLAM (Heb. Mēsullām). - Name of various Old Testament figures, especially of the post-exilic period, whose identity it is often… -
Musso, Cornelio
MUSSO, CORNELIO. - Preacher and theologian of the Conventual Friars Minor, b. at Piacenza on 16 April 1511, d. at Rome on 9 Jan. 1574. He… -
Nabal (Hebrew: «Fool») (NABAL (EBR. = « STOLTO »))
NABAL (Hebrew: «Fool»). - A large owner of flocks in Carmel, southeast of Hebron, of whom 1 Sam. 25 speaks. He had as his wife Abigail… -
Naphtali (Hebr. Naphtālī) (NEPHTHALI (EBR. NAPHTALĪ))
NAPHTALI (Hebr. Naphtālī). - Second-born of Jacob, born of Bilhah, Rachel's slave. His name is interpreted in Gen. 30:8 as "contest," an… -
Nash, Papiro
NASH, PAPIRO. - Hebrew papyrus that around 1902 W. L. Nash (secretary of the "Society of biblical archeology") purchased in four fragments… -
Nazirite (NAZIREATO)
NAZIRITE. - The profession of "nazirite" (Heb. nāzīr, from nāzar, in the passive "to set oneself apart" and "to abstain"), translated… -
Obicini, Tommaso
OBICINI, TOMMASO. - Franciscan Palestinian scholar and Arabist, b. at Noni, diocese of Novara, and therefore called Thomas of Novara, d. in… -
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… -
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… -
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.)… -
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.… -
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… -
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… -
Pharisees (FARISEI)
PHARISEES. - In Greek Φαρισαῖοι, from the Aramaic Ρέντζαϊδ, a plural adjective meaning "divided," "separated." It seems that by this name… -
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,… -
Praetorium (PRETORIO)
PRAETORIUM. - Etymologically, it is the place where the Roman praetor established the office of judge. Originally, in mobile camps, it was… -
Pumbeditā (PUMBÉDITÀ)
PUMBEDITĀ. - City in Babylonia, near the Euphrates; for about eight centuries it was the seat of a famous Talmudic academy, founded around… -
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… -
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… -
Revue Biblique
REVUE BIBLIQUE. - A quarterly journal, founded in Paris in 1893 through the work of the Dominican Father Lagrange (v.), and published under… -
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… -
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,… -
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… -
Sapphira (SAFFIRA)
SAFFIRA: V. ANANIA E SAFFIRA. -
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.… -
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… -
Semeia (Semeias)
SEMEIA (SEMEIAS). - Name (Heb. Šēma'īāh = "Yahweh has heard") of various figures of the Old Testament. > (courtesy of Msgr. P. Paschini) >… -
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… -
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… -
Sheol (ŠĒ'ÖL)
SHEOL. - A term (feminine) that in Israel (not among the other Semites) designated the subterranean region where the dead dwell. The… -
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… -
Sisith
SISITH. - "Fringes" which, together with the gèdhilim ("tassels"), the Israelites attach to the corners of their outer garments (Num.… -
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… -
Tammuz (TAMMŪZ)
TAMMUZ. - Mesopotamian god (Sumerian DUMU-ZI, Akkadian Tamūzu) of vegetation, young, flourishing again in spring after the winter death (=… -
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… -
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… -
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… -
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… -
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… -
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… -
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… -
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… -
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… -
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… -
Zealots (Sicarii) (ZELOTI (SICARI))
ZEALOTS (SICARII). - A Greek term (ζηλωτής, "zealous"), which originally had only a moral meaning, inasmuch as it distinguished the… -
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… -
Zeitschrift Für Neutestamentliche Wissenschaft
ZEITSCHRIFT FÜR NEUTESTAMENTLICHE WISSENSCHAFT. - A periodical of New Testament studies founded by Erwin Preuschen (1867-1920) in 1900,…