Clear; Clearness - International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

CLEAR; CLEARNESS

kler, kler'-nes (bar; diablepo):

Equivalent of several Hebrew and Greek words for bright, unclouded, shining without obstruction, distinct, brilliant; "clearer than the noon-day" (Job 11:17): "clear as the sun" (Song of Solomon 6:10); "clear shining after rain" (2 Samuel 23:4); "clear heat in sunshine" (Isaiah 18:4); "clear as crystal" (Revelation 21:11). Adverb, "clearly," for distinctly (Matthew 7:5; Mark 8:25; Romans 1:20). Noun, "clearness," for brilliancy, in Exodus 24:10, "as the very heaven for clearness."

From this physical, it is applied, in a moral sense, to character, as spotless and free from guilt, or charge, or obligation "from oath" (Genesis 24:8); "from transgression" (Psalms 19:13). Hence, the verb "to clear" means juridically to declare or prove innocent, to vindicate (Genesis 44:16; Exodus 34:7; Numbers 14:18; compare hagnos, 2 Corinthians 7:11, the Revised Version (British and American) "pure") "Be clear when thou judgest" (Psalms 51:4) refers to the proof and vindication of the righteousness of God.

H. E. Jacobs

Bibliography Information
Orr, James, M.A., D.D. General Editor. "Entry for 'CLEAR; CLEARNESS'". "International Standard Bible Encyclopedia". 1915.