American Tract Society Bible Dictionary

28

Patmos

An island of the Aeagean sea, to which the apostle and evangelist John was banished by Domitian, A. D. 95, Re 1:9. It is a rocky and desolate island, about twenty-eight miles in...

29

Paul

The distinguished "apostle of the Gentiles;" also called SAUL, a Hebrew name. He is first called Paul in Ac 13:12; and as some think, assumed this Roman name according to a comm...

30

Pavement

See GABBATHA.

31

Peacocks

Appear not to have been known in Palestine, until imported in the navy of Solomon, 1Ki 10:222Ch 9:21. See TARSHISH.

32

Pearls

Were ranked by the ancients among the most precious substances, Re 17:4, and were highly valued as ornaments for women. Their modest splendor still charms the Orientals, and a s...

33

Peep

In Isa 8:19, denotes the stifles, piping voice of necromancers.

34

Pekah

Son of Remaliah, and general of the army of Pekahiah king of Israel. He conspired against his master, attacked him in the tower of his royal palace of Samaria, and having slain ...

35

Pekahiah

Son and successor of Menahem king of Israel, was a wicked prince, and reigned but two years. Pekah, son of Remaliah, conspired against him, and killed him in his own palace, 2Ki...

36

Peleg

Son of Eber, and fourth in descent from Shem. He was called Peleg, division, because in his time the earth was divided, Ge 10:25; 11:16.

37

Pelethites

Are always mentioned together with the Cherethites, as constituting the king’s bodyguard, 2Sa 8:18 22:23. The word, if not the name of a Jewish or a Philistine family, is suppos...

38

Pelican

Le 11:18, sometimes translated cormorant, Isa 34:11Zep 2:14; a voracious waterfowl, somewhat gregarious and migratory, frequenting tropical climates, and still found on the wate...

39

Pen

The ancient pen was a stylus of hardened iron, Jer 17:1, sometimes pointed with diamond, for writing on hard substances, like metallic plates; when waxen tablets were used, the ...

40

Peniel Or Penuel

A town beyond the Jordan, and near the Jabbok; defended by a strong tower, which Gideon broke down because the men of Penuel refused to aid him against the Midianites, Jud 8:8-1...

41

Peninnah

The second wife of Elkanah the father of Samuel. See HANNAH. Their story illustrates the evils of polygamy, 1Sa 1:1-28.

42

Penny

The Greek drachma, or Roman denarious, equivalent to about fourteen cents. In reading the Scripture passage in which this word, occurs, we should consider that the real value of...

43

Pentateuch

The five books the books of Moses; that is, Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, Deuteronomy. See articles on those books, and also MOSES.

44

Pentecost

The fiftieth, a feast celebrated the fiftieth day after the sixteenth of Nisan, which was the second day of the feast of the Passover, Le 25:15-16. The Hebrews call it the "feas...

45

Peor

A mountain of Moab, from which Balaam surveyed the camp of Israel, Nu 23:28. It probably lay a few miles northeast of the Dead Sea, but is not now recognized. This name and vici...

46

Perez-Uzzah

2Sa 6:8. See UZZAH.

47

Perfumes

The use of perfumes was common among the Hebrews and the Orientals generally, before it was known to the Greeks and Romans. Moses also speaks of the art of the perfumer, in the ...

48

Perga

A city of Pamphylia, Ac 13:13; 14:25. This is not a maritime city, but is situated on the river Cestrus, at some distance from its mouth, which has long been obstructed by a bar...

49

Pergamos

Now Bergamo, a city of Mysia, in Asia Minor, and the residence of the Attalian princes. There was here collected by the kings of this race a noble library of two hundred thousan...

50

Perizzites

Ge 15:20, ancient inhabitants of Palestine, who had mingled with the Canaanites, or were themselves descendants of Canaan. They appear to have dwelt in the center of Canaan, Gen...

51

Persia

In Hebrew Paras, Eze 27:10, a vast region in Asia, the southwestern province of which lying between ancient media on the north and the Persian Gulf on the south, appears to have...

52

Persis

A Roman lady, whom Paul salutes, Ro 16:12, and calls his beloved sister.

53

Pestilence

Or PLAGUE, in the Hebrew tongue, as in most others, expresses all sorts of distempers and calamitites. The Hebrew word which properly signifies "the plague" is extended to all e...

54

Peter

This name in Greek signifies a rock, as does also the name Cephas in Syriac. Peter was one of the twelve apostles, and was also called Simon, Mt 16:17, and Simeon, Ac 15:14. He ...