ALPHAEUS al-fe'-us (Alphaios; Westcott and Hort, The New Testament in Greek, Halphaios): (1) The father of the second James in the list of the apostles (Matthew 10:3; Mark 3:18; Luke 6:15; Acts 1:13). (2) The father of Levi, the publican (Mark 2:14). Levi is designated as Matthew in the Gospel of Matthew 9:9. There is no other reference to this A

ALOTH a'-loth (`aloth): So found in the King James Version and the Revised Version, margin in 1 Kings 4:16, where the Revised Version (British and American) has BEALOTH (be`aloth). A town, or district in northern Palestine, together with Asher under Baana, one of Solomon's twelve civil officers. Conder identifies with the ruin `Alia, near Achzib.

ALPHA AND OMEGA al'-fa, o'-me-ga, o-me'-ga (Alpha and Omega = A and O): The first and last letters of the Greek alphabet, hence, symbolically, "beginning and end"; in Revelation "The Eternal One" in Revelation 1:8 of the Father, in Revelation 21:6 and Revelation 22:13 of the Son. Compare Theodoret, Eusebius, Historia Ecclesiastica, iv. 8: "We use

ALOFT a-loft' (epano): Only in 1 Esdras 8:92. Meaning obscure. The statement following a confession of sin means probably that Israel in penitence returning to the Lord, is exultant in the assurance of His forgiveness, and encouraged in efforts at reformation. Copyright Statement These files are public domain. Bibliography Information Orr, James,

ALONG a-long': Corresponding to two different Hebrew words, Judges 9:25; 1 Samuel 6:12; Jeremiah 41:6, joined with "come" and "go," vividly describes a course that is taken--it emphasizes its directness and immediateness. In Judges 7:12, "lay along in the valley," probably means "all the length" or "at length." Copyright Statement These files are

ALOES; LIGNALOES al'-oz, lin-al'-oz, lig-nal'-oz ('ahalim, Numbers 24:6, translation "lign-aloes" (= lignum aloes, "wood of aloes"), Proverbs 7:17; 'ahaloth, Psalms 45:8; Song of Solomon 4:14; aloe, John 19:39): Mentioned as a substance for perfuming garments (Psalms 45:8) and beds (Proverbs 7:17). In Song of Solomon 4:14, it occurs in a list of t

ALNATHAN al'-na-than (Alnathan, "God has given," the Revised Version (British and American) ELNATHAN): Apocryphal name of a person (1 Esdras 8:44) corresponding to Elnathan of Ezra 8:16. He was one of the learned men summoned by Ezra, as he was beginning his journey to Jerusalem, and sent to Iddo to ask for ministers for the house of Yahweh. Copyr

ALMOST ol'-most (en oligo): In Acts 26:28 the Greek en oligo does not mean "almost," although scholars have for centuries translated the clause "Almost thou persuadest me to become a Christian." The revisers saw clearly the errors of their predecessors, so far as the signification of the first two words is concerned; but their explanation of the s

ALMS; ALMSGIVING ams, ams-giv'-ing: The English word "alms" is an abridged form of the Greek word, eleemosune (compare "eleemosynary"), appearing in gradually reduced forms in German Almosen, Wyclif's Almesse, Scotch Aw'mons, and our alms. The later Jews often used "righteousness" tsedhaqah as meaning alms, that being in their view the foremost r

ALMOND a'-mund: (1) shaqedh, Genesis 43:11; Numbers 17:8, etc. The word shaked comes from a Hebrew root meaning to "watch" or "wait." In Jeremiah 1:11,12 there is a play on the word, "And I said, I see a rod of an almond-tree (shaqedh). Then said Yahweh unto me, Thou hast well seen: for I will watch (shoqedh) over my word to perform it." (2) luz;

ALMON-DIBLATHAIM al'-mon-dib-la-tha'-im (`almon dibhlathayim, "Almon of the double cake of figs"): A station in the wilderness journeyings of the Israelites, located in Moab between Diban-gad and the mountains of Abarim (Numbers 33:46,47). It was near the end of the forty years' wanderings. The name was probably given because the location was like

ALMON al'-mon (`almon, "hidden"): A Levitical city in the tribe of Benjamin (Joshua 21:18), the same as "Allemeth" the Revised Version (British and American), "Alemeth" the King James Version, of 1 Chronicles 6:60 (which see). Copyright Statement These files are public domain. Bibliography Information Orr, James, M.A., D.D. General Editor. "Entry

ALMIGHTY ol-mit'-i: (1) (shaddai (Genesis 17:1)): Found in the Old Testament forty-eight times, most of these in the Book of Job; it occurs either alone or in combination with 'el, "God"). The root meaning is uncertain. (2) (pantokrator), the exclusive translation of this Greek word in the New Testament, found principally in Re (nine times), onc

ALLOY a-loi' (bedhil): In Isaiah 1:25 the Revised Version, margin; translated "tin" in the text. Elsewhere in both versions bedhil is translated TIN (which see). Copyright Statement These files are public domain. Bibliography Information Orr, James, M.A., D.D. General Editor. "Entry for 'ALLOY'". "International Standard Bible Encyclopedia". 1915.

ALLURE a-lur' (pathah, "to persuade," "woo," "entice"; deleazo, "to entrap," "lay a bait"): (1) "I will allure her, and bring her into the wilderness" (Hosea 2:14), with evident reference to the Assyrian invasion and the devastation of the land, followed up by the Exile. Thus would Yahweh entice Israel to repent by gentle punishment; then would fo

ALLON-BACUTH al'-on-ba'-kuth ('allon bakhuth; the King James Version transliterates Allon-bachuth, al-on-bak'uth, "oak of weeping"): The burial place of Deborah, the nurse of Rebekah (Genesis 35:8); it appears from the narrative that she made her home with Jacob, who had returned from Paddan-aram, and was sojourning at the time at Bethel, in the v

ALLOW; ALLOWANCE a-lou', a-lou'-ans: The verb "to allow" is used in the King James Version to translate four different Greek words: (1) suneudokeo, "to approve together" (with others) (the Revised Version (British and American) "consent unto"), Luke 11:48. (2) prosdechomai, "to receive to oneself," "admit" (the Revised Version (British and Ameri

ALLIED a-lid' (qarobh, "near," as in Genesis 45:10; Exodus 13:17, etc.): Nehemiah 13:4 refers either to family ties, as in Ruth 2:20, or to intimate association. Copyright Statement These files are public domain. Bibliography Information Orr, James, M.A., D.D. General Editor. "Entry for 'ALLIED'". "International Standard Bible Encyclopedia". 1915.

ALLOM al'-om (Allon): the Revised Version (British and American) ALLON (which see): One of the families of the "servants of Solomon," whose descendants returned with Zerubbabel from Babylon in the First Return, 537 BC (1 Esdras 5:34). The name is not found in the parallel lists of Ezra and Nehemiah, although some have tried to identify with the la

ALLIANCE a-li'-ans. 1. In the Patriarchal Stories: Frequent references are made to alliances between the patriarchs and foreigners. Abraham is reported to have had "confederates" among the chiefs of the Canaanites (Genesis 14:13). He also allied with Abimelech, king of Gerar (Genesis 21:22-34). Isaac's alliance with Abimelech (Genesis 26:26-34), w