Cloven - International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

CLOVEN

klo'-v'-n:

In the Old Testament, represented by a participle from shaca, "to split," and applied to beasts that divide the hoof (Leviticus 11:3; Deuteronomy 14:7). Beasts with hoofs completely divided into two parts, that were also ruminant, were allowed the Israelites as food; see CUD; HOOF. In the New Testament, for diamerizomenai, in Acts 2:3 the King James Version, the Revised Version (British and American) "tongues parting asunder," i.e. "bifurcated flames." Another explanation found in the Revised Version, margin applies the word, not to tongues, but to the multitude, "parting among them," or "distributing themselves among them," settling upon the head of each disciple.

H. E. Jacobs

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