旧约词汇 - B

B.C.E./C.E.

Abbreviations meaning "before the common era" and "common era"; theologically neutral replacements for the traditional designations B.C. ("before Christ") and A.D. ("year of the Lord"). See Introduction.

Baal

Word which means "lord, master" (in Modern Hebrew, "husband") that was applied to the chief god of Canaan; various locations in Canaan had their patron Baal gods, for example, Baal of Peor and Baal of Hermon.

Babel

See Tower of Babel and Babylon.

Babylon

The capital city of Babylonia in southern Mesopotamia; the Babylonians led by Nebuchadnezzar destroyed Jerusalem in 587 B.C.E. and took Judeans into Babylonian exile; called Babel in Genesis 11.

Babylonian exile

See Exile.

Balaam

A thirteenth century B.C.E. Mesopotamian seer-prophet who was hired by Balak of Moab to curse the Israelites but ended up blessing them instead. See Chapter 4.

Balak

King of Moab who opposed Moses and the Israelites.

Baruch

Jeremiah's scribe, perhaps responsible for composing and editing the latter half of the book of Jeremiah. See Chapter 11.

Bathsheba

The wife of Uriah who committed adultery with David, later became his wife and the mother of Solomon. See Chapter 8, Chapter 9.

Belshazzar

Son of Nabonidus (556-539) who ruled in his father's absence; according to Daniel 5 he as king when Babylon fell. See Chapter 17.

Ben

(Hebrew for "son, son of"; Aramaic bar) Used frequently in "patronymics" (naming by identity of father); Rabbi Akiba ben Joseph means Akiba son of Joseph.

Benjamin

The twelfth son of Jacob, the younger brother of Joseph; Rachel was his mother; he was the ancestor of the tribe of Benjamin.

Berakah

(Hebrew for "blessing") In Judaism, an offering of thankfulness that praises God for a benefit conferred or a great event experienced.

Berit

(also spelled brit; Hebrew for "covenant") Used in Judaism especially for the special relationship believed to exist between God and the Jewish people.

Bethel

A city which became a center of Israelite worship; literally means "house of El." See Chapter 9.

Bethlehem

A city in the tribe of Judah, home town of David; literally means "house of bread." See Chapter 16.

Bible

(adj. biblical; from Greek biblos, "book") The designation normally used for the Hebrew Bible plus the Christian New Testament; in classical Roman Catholic and Greek Orthodox Christianity it designates the Hebrew Bible plus the Apocrypha plus the New Testament .

Birthright

The special inheritance rights of the first-born son giving him claim to the bulk of the ancestral property.

Blessing

Blessing, bless Divine favor and approval; blessing is a mark of God's grace and evidence of his protecting and prospering presence; in return people can bless God as a display of gratitude for his goodness. See Chapter 1.

Boaz

A wealthy Israelite who lived in Bethlehem; he married Ruth and became an ancestor of David. See Chapter 16.

Book of the Covenant

Also called the Covenant Code, Exodus 20:22-23:33; a collection of Israelite laws. See Chapter 3.

Book of the Twelve

Sometimes called the minor prophets, a collection of twelve short prophetic books in the Latter Prophets; also called the Twelve Prophets. See Chapter 13.

Burning bush

The bush out of which Yahweh spoke to Moses in the Sinai to reveal God's identity (Exodus 3). See Chapter 3.