Dictionaries :: Breast

International Standard Bible Encyclopaedia

Breast:

brest: Signifying the front view of the bust in humans and the corresponding portion of the body in animals. chazeh, occurs in Ex 29:26,27; Le 7:30,31,34; 8:29; 10:14,15; Nu 6:20; 18:18; and chadhi, in Da 2:32. shadh or shodh =" breast" in the sense of pap of a woman or animal (Job 24:9; So 8:1,8,10; Isa 60:16; La 4:3). Only one word occurs with this signification in the New Testament: stethos =" bosom," "chest" (Lu 18:13; 23:48; Joh 13:25; 21:20).

Figurative: "The breasts of virginity," pressed and bruised (Eze 23:3,8 the King James Version), indicative of Ezekiel's belief that Israel practiced idolatry in Egypt (compare Eze 20:8). "To tear (pluck off) thy breasts" (Eze 23:34) denotes the anguish of the people in parting with their beloved sin (compare Ho 2:2). "Its breast of silver" (Da 2:32) is possibly expressive of the humanity and wealth of the Medo-Persian empire.

Written by Frank E. Hirsch

Vine's Expository Dictionary of New Testament Words

Breast:

connected with histemi, "to stand," i.e., that which stands out, is used of mourners in smiting the "breast," Luk 18:13; 23:48; of John in reclining on the "breast" of Christ, Jhn 13:25; 21:20; of the "breasts" of the angels in Rev 15:6.

Breast:

used in the plural, "paps," Luk 11:27; 23:29; Rev 1:13, AV, is preferably rendered "breasts," in the RV.