BLAST; BLASTING blast'-ing (shiddaphon--root, shadhaph, literally "scorching"): This is the effect produced upon grain or other plants by the hot east winds which blow from the desert of Arabia. They usually continue to blow for two or three days at a time. If they occur in the spring near ripening time, the grain is often turned yellow and does n

BLAINS blanz (abha`bu`ah: only in Exodus 9:9,10): Pustules containing fluid around a boil or inflamed sore. It is an Old English word "bleyen," used sometimes as a synonym for boil. Wyclif (1382) uses the expression "stinkende bleyne" for Job's sores. The Hebrew word is from a root which means that which bubbles up. See BOIL. Copyright Statement

BLASPHEMY blas'-fe-mi (blasphemia): In classical Greek meant primarily "defamation" or "evil-speaking" in general; "a word of evil omen," hence, "impious, and irreverent speech against God." In the Old Testament as substantive and vb.: (barakh) "Naboth did blaspheme God and the king" (1 Kings 21:10,13 the King James Version); (gadhaph) of Senna-

BLACKNESS (kimririm, "obscurations"; qadhruth, "darkness"; gnophos, "darkness" zophos "blackness"): Terms rarely used but of special significance in picturing the fearful gloom and blackness of moral darkness and calamity. Job, cursing, the day of his birth, wishes that it, a dies ater ("dead black day"), might be swallowed up in darkness (Job 3:5

BLACK See COLORS. Copyright Statement These files are public domain. Bibliography Information Orr, James, M.A., D.D. General Editor. "Entry for 'BLACK'". "International Standard Bible Encyclopedia". 1915.

BIZIOTHIAH biz-yo-thi'-a, biz-joth'-ja (bizyotheyah; Septuagint hai komai auton, literally "their villages"; the King James Version Bizjothjah, "place of Jah's olives" (Young), or "contempt of Jah" (Strong)): According to Massoretic Text, a town in the south of Judah, near Beersheba (Joshua 15:28). Septuagint reads "and her daughters," only one co

BIZTHA biz'-tha (Septuagint Mazan; also Bazan and Bazea): One of the seven eunuchs or chamberlains of King Ahasuerus (Xerxes). It is possible that the name is derived from the Persian besteh, "bound," hence, "eunuch" (Esther 1:10). Copyright Statement These files are public domain. Bibliography Information Orr, James, M.A., D.D. General Editor. "E

BITUMEN bi-tu'-men. See SLIME. Copyright Statement These files are public domain. Bibliography Information Orr, James, M.A., D.D. General Editor. "Entry for 'BITUMEN'". "International Standard Bible Encyclopedia". 1915.

BITTERNESS, WATER OF See ADULTERY. Copyright Statement These files are public domain. Bibliography Information Orr, James, M.A., D.D. General Editor. "Entry for 'BITTERNESS, WATER OF'". "International Standard Bible Encyclopedia". 1915.

BITTERNESS bit'-er-ness. See BITTER. Copyright Statement These files are public domain. Bibliography Information Orr, James, M.A., D.D. General Editor. "Entry for 'BITTERNESS'". "International Standard Bible Encyclopedia". 1915.

BITTERN bit'-ern (qippodh; Latin Botaurus stellaris; Greek echinos): A nocturnal member of the heron family, frequenting swamps and marshy places. Its Hebrew name means a creature of waste and desert places. The bittern is the most individual branch of the heron (ardeidae) family on account of being partially a bird of night. There are observable

BITTER WATER See ADULTERY; MARAH. Copyright Statement These files are public domain. Bibliography Information Orr, James, M.A., D.D. General Editor. "Entry for 'BITTER WATER'". "International Standard Bible Encyclopedia". 1915.

BITTER; BITTERNESS bit'-er, bit'-er-nes (mar, or marah = "bitter" (literally or figuratively); also (noun) "bitterness" or (adverb) "bitterly"; "angry," "chafed," "discontented," "heavy" (Genesis 27:34; Exodus 15:23; Numbers 5:18,19,23,24,27; Esther 4:1; Job 3:20; Psalms 64:3; Proverbs 5:4; 27:7; Ecclesiastes 7:26; Isaiah 5:20; Jeremiah 2:19; 4:18;

BITTER HERBS hurbs, or urbs (merorim): Originally in the primitive Passover (Exodus 12:8; Numbers 9:11) these were probably merely salads, the simplest and quickest prepared form of vegetable accompaniment to the roasted lamb. Such salads have always been favorites in the Orient. Cucumbers, lettuce, water-cress, parsley and endive are some of thos

BITHRON bith'-ron (ha-bithron; holen ten parateinousan, literally "the entire (land) extending"; 2 Samuel 2:29, "the Bithron," i.e. the gorge or groove): Does not seem to be a proper name; rather it indicates the gorge by which Abner approached Mahanaim. Buhl (GAP, 121) favors identification with Wady `Ajlun, along which in later times a Ro road c

BITHYNIA bi-thin'-i-a (Bithunia): A coast province in northwestern Asia Minor on the Propontis and the Euxine. Its narrowest compass included the districts on both sides of the Sangarius, its one large river, but in prosperous times its boundaries reached from the Rhyndacus on the west to and beyond the Parthenius on the east. The Mysian Olympus r

BITHIAH bi-thi'-a (bithyah; Beththia; Codex Vaticanus, Gelia, "daughter of Yah"): The daughter of a Pharaoh who married Mered, a descendant of Judah (1 Chronicles 4:18). Whether this Pharaoh was an Egyptian king, or whether it was in this case a Hebrew name, it is difficult to say. The name Bithiah seems to designate one who had become converted t

BISHOPS' BIBLE See ENGLISH VERSIONS. Copyright Statement These files are public domain. Bibliography Information Orr, James, M.A., D.D. General Editor. "Entry for 'BISHOPS' BIBLE'". "International Standard Bible Encyclopedia". 1915.

BIT AND BRIDLE bri'-d'-l (methegh wa-recen): The two words occur in conjunction (Psalms 32:9 the King James Version, "Be ye not as the horse, or as the mule, which have no understanding; whose mouth must be held in with bit and bridle, lest they come near unto thee"; the Revised Version (British and American)) "else they will not come near unto th

BISHOPRICK bish'-up-rik (episkope; Acts 1:20 the King James Version, quoted from Psalms 109:8): the Revised Version (British and American) "office," margin, "overseership." See BISHOP. Copyright Statement These files are public domain. Bibliography Information Orr, James, M.A., D.D. General Editor. "Entry for 'BISHOPRICK'". "International Standar