Fable
An idle, groundless, and worthless story, like the mythological legends of the heathen and the vain traditions of the Jews. These were often not only false and weak, but also pe...
Dictionary
American Tract Society Bible Dictionary
A Dictionary of the Holy Bible, American Tract Society, c. 1859, edited by W. W. Rand.
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52 entries
Face
Face and presence, expressed by the same word in Hebrew, are often put for the person himself, Ge 48:11Ex 33:14Isa 63:9. No man has seen the face of God, that is, had a full rev...
Fair-Havens
A roadstead or small bay, near the town of Lasea, midway on the southern coast of Crete, where Paul wished to winter when on the voyage to Rome, Ac 27:8. The sailors preferred P...
Faith
The assent of the understanding to any truth. Religious faith is assent to the truth of divine revelation and of the events and doctrines contained in it. This may be merely his...
Faithful
In many passages in the Bible, means "believing." Thus in Ga 3:9, believers are said to be blessed with Abraham, because of his preeminent distinction above all man for steadfas...
Faithfulness
An infinite attribute of Jehovah; adapted to make perfect both the confidence of those who believe his word and rely on his promises, and the despair of those who doubt his word...
Famine
Scripture records several famines in Palestine, and the neighboring countries, Ge 12:10 26:1 Ru 1:12Ki 6:25Ac 11:27. The most remarkable one was that of seven years in Egypt, wh...
Fan
An instrument used for winnowing grain. In the East, fans are of two kinds: one a sort of fork, having three or four prongs, and a handle four feet long; with this they throw up...
Farthing
Two different Roman brass coins are translated by this word: one of these, the assarion, Mt 10:29Lu 12:6, was worth less than a cent; the other, the kodrantes, Mt 5:26, was prob...
Fasting
In all ages, and among all nations, fasting has been practiced in times of sorrow, and affliction, Jon 3:5. It may be regarded as a dictate of nature, which under these circumst...
Fat
The fat portions of animals offered in sacrifice were always to be consumed, as being the choice part and especially sacred to the Lord. The blood was also sacred, as containing...
Father
Is often synonymous with ancestor, founder, or originator, as Ge 4:20-21Joh 8:56Ro 4:16. Joseph was a father to Pharoah, Ge 45:8, as his counselor and provider. God is theFATHER...
Feasts
God appointed several festivals, or days of rest and worship, among the Jews, to perpetuate the memory of great events wrought in favor of them: the Sabbath commemorated the cre...
Felix
A Roman governor of Judea; originally a slave, but manumitted and promoted by Claudius Caesar, from whom he received the name of Claudius. He is described by the historian Tacit...
Ferret
A sort of weasel, Le 11:30. The Hebrew word means rather a species of lizard, the gecko, which Moses forbids as unclean.
Festus, Portius
Succeeded Felix in the government of Judea, A. D. 60. To oblige the Jews, Felix, when he resigned his government, left Paul in bonds at Caesarea in Palestine, Ac 24:27; and when...
Fig
The fig tree is common in Palestine and the East, and flourishes with the greatest luxuriance in those barren and stony situations where little else will grow. Its large size, a...
Fir
An evergreen tree, of beautiful appearance, whose lofty height and dense foliage afford a spacious shelter and shade. The Hebrew word often seems to mean theCYPRESS, which see. ...
Fire
In Scripture, is often connected with the presence of Jehovah; as in the burning bush, and on Mount Sinai, Ex 3:2 19:18 Ps 18:1-50Hab 1:1-3:19. The second coming of Christ will ...
Firkin
Joh 2:6, a Greek measure, equivalent to the Hebrew bath, and containing seven and a half gallons. The quantity of wine produced by the miracle at Cana was large: but the assembl...
Firmament
Ge 1:17, the expanse of the heavens immediately above the earth. The Hebrews seem to have viewed this as an immense crystalline dome, studded with stars, resting on the far dist...
Firstborn
This phrase is not always to be understood literally; it is sometimes taken for the prime, most excellent, most distinguished of things, Ps 89:27Ro 8:29Heb 1:4-6. Thus Jesus Chr...
Firstfruits
Presents made to God of part of the fruits of the harvest, to express the submission, dependence, and thankfulness of the offerers. The portion given was instead of the whole, i...
Fish, Fisher
The Hebrews have very few names of particular species of fish. Moses says in general, that all sorts of river, lake, or sea fish, which have scales and fins, may be eaten; all o...
Fitches Or Vetches
A species of wild pea. Two Hebrew words are translated "fitches," one of which probably means spelt, Eze 4:9, and the other gith, a plant resembling fennel, and very pungent, Is...
Flagon
The Hebrew word everywhere rendered in the English version flagon, 2Sa 6:191Ch 16:3So 2:5Ho 3:1, means rather a cake, especially of dried grapes or raisins, pressed into a parti...
Flax
A well-known plant, upon which the industry of mankind has been exercised with the greatest success and utility, Jos 2:6Pr 1:13.Moses speaks of the flax in Egypt, Ex 9:31, which...