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Glossary
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A
Abba - An Aramaic word for father, used by Jesus and St. Paul to
address God in a relation of personal intimacy.
Abomination - Anything associated with the worship of other gods
and any behavior that perverts the lifestyle God intended human beings to
live. Leviticus 18 contains a list of unlawful behaviors (e.g., incest,
adultery, homosexuality, bestiality). As he demonstrated by sending the
flood, the judgment on Sodom and Gomorrah, and various judgments on the
Israelites, God will judge people who practice these behaviors.
Abraham - The father of the Jewish nation (Gen. 12-25). God called
Abraham out of his home country and promised to give him the land of
Canaan (Gen. 15). God also promised that all the people on earth would be
blessed through Abraham; God's people today can learn from Abraham what
true faith is.
Abyss - Means "bottomless pit." In the New Testament, the sea
symbolized chaos, evil, and evil beings. The depths of the sea were seen
as the home of demons, or the Abyss, according to Jewish tradition.
At one point during his ministry, Jesus compared the fates of Korazin,
Bethsaida, and Capernaum to that of Sodom and Gomorrah, saying that
Capernaum would go down to the “depths.” Most likely, the people
understood this as a reference to hell itself. To them, Jesus’ miracles on
the sea meant more than simply that he had power over the forces of nature—they
also symbolized his power over evil.
Achish - The king of the Philistine city of Gath, who twice gave
refuge to David. (1 Sam. 21:10-15).
Acropolis - A fortified hilltop, often the highest hill in the area.
Adam - The first man God created. He did not obey God and brought
sin and death into the world (Gen 1-5). Jesus is compared to Adam because
Jesus is a new beginning for the human race. Jesus brings life to those
who believe in him.
Aegean Sea - Body of water east of Greece dotted with many islands.
Scholars believe the Philistines came from this area.
Aeolia Capitolina - Hadrian, the Roman emperor, destroyed Jerusalem
after defeating the Jews during the Second Jewish Revolt (AD 132-135). He
renamed it Aelia Capitolina and erected a temple to the Roman god Jupiter.
Agora - Public square of marketplace.
Agrippa l - The grandson of Herod the Great, to whom Emperor
Claudius gave Herod the Great's entire kingdom. He arrested Christians,
had James put to death, and imprisoned Peter. Agrippa l died when he
allowed people to treat him like a god (Acts 12:21—23).
Agrippa ll - The great-grandson of Herod the Great. He discussed St.
Paul's case in Caesarea with governor Festus, heard St. Paul's conversion
testimony, and recognized that St. Paul was trying to persuade him to
become a Christian (Acts 25:13—14, 23;26:1—29).
Ai - City near Bethel, north of Jerusalem, that was destroyed by
Joshua. It controlled the approach to the mountain range from the east.
Aijalon Valley - Valley connecting the coastal plain and the Judea
Mountains where Joshua made the sun stand still.
Altar - A place where people would bring gifts to God. Altars were
usually flat on top, and made of dirt, rocks, wood, or metal.
Altar of incense - Located in the holy place or priests’ room of
the tabernacle or temple, just outside the Holy of Holies. The altar was
1.5 feet square and 3 feet high. The incense symbolized the “sweet smell”
of the worshipers’ prayers going up to God.
Altar of sacrifice - Structure used for presenting sacrifices to
God. A large altar of sacrifice stood in the outer court of the temple at
Jerusalem. It symbolically stood before God’s presence to indicate the
need for forgiveness before approaching God.
Amen - Means "Yes, this is true!" or "Let it be so!"
Ampitheater - Elliptical or circularspace surounded by seats; used
by Romans for gladiator contests.
Anatolia - Land of the rising sun or "the East" refers to the
Asiatic part of Turkey.
Annoint - To pour oil on a person's head. It meant that God's
Spirit was helping that person to do a special job (1 Sam. 16:1—13, 1 John
2:20—21).
Antipas - Son of Herod the Great. He heard about Jesus, listened to
John the Baptist's teachings, met Jesus but sent him to Pilate (Mark
6:14—20; Luke 23:8—12.
Antonia - Herod the Great rebuilt the Hasmonean foretress (Bira) in
Jerusalem next to the Temple Mount and renamed it the Antonia after Mark
Anthony. Roman troops were stationed here.
Aphrodite - Greek god of love and beauty. Daughter of Zeus and
Dione (or did she spring from foam in the sea?)
Apollo - Greek god of light, music, and poetry. He is often
pictured with bow and arrow; Son of Zeus and Leto.
Apostles - The leaders that Jesus chose to bring his message to the
world. Jesus first chose 12 men and then later St. Paul and some others
became apostles.
Apotheosis - A Roman emperor was declared to be divine when a
witness came forward claiming to have seen the emperor ascend to heaven or
claiming to have seen the emperor’s father ascend to heaven (making the
current emperor the “Son of God”). This process was called apotheosis.
Apse - Semicircular recess in a wall, especially in a church or
Roman law court.
Asclepius - Greek and Roman god of healing. Son of Apollo and
Coronis (the daughter of King Phlegyas in Thesaly). He has four daughters:
Iaso, Aceso, Panacea, and Hygeia.
Arad - Town 17 miles north of Beersheba at the edge of the Negev
and the Hebron Mountains. It was an important fortress city and protected
the southern approaches to Jerusalem.
Ares - Greek god of war. Son of Zeus and Hera.
Ark of the covenant - The Hebrew word means "box," or "chest." It
contained the tablets of the Ten Commandments. The ark of the covenant was
as sign to the people of Israel that God was with them, and the cover
represented God's throne.
Armageddon - Transliteration of the Hebrew har megiddon, which
means literally the “hill of Megiddo.” Revelation 16:16 uses this place to
symbolize the final great battle between good and evil. Many battles were
fought at this location because the main trade route went through a
mountain pass nearby.
Artemis - Greek god of marriage, chastity, hunting, and moonlight.
Twin sister of Apollo, daughter of Zeus and Leto.
Ashdod - Philistine city-state on the Mediterranean Sea.
Asherah - Canaanite goddess of fertility. She is portrayed as a
nude female, sometimes pregnant, with exaggerated breasts that she holds
out as symbols of her fertility. The Bible indicates that she was
worshiped near trees and poles, called Asherah poles.
Ashkelon - Philistine city-state on the Mediterranean Sea and the
Via Maris trade route.
Ashlar stones - Hand-shaped stones (found near the Temple) brought
from a quarry nearly a mile away. One 45-foot-long stone weighs nearly 600
tons.
Ashtoreth - Canaanite goddess of fertility and love. She is thought
to be the daughter of the fertility goddess Asherah.
Assyria - Nation in Mesopotamia that became a large empire in the
time of the kings of Israel and Judah. Its capital was Ninevah. The
Assyrians were extremely cruel and God used them to punish the northern
kingdom for its Baal worship.
Astragal - Molding on top of base or column.
Athena - Greek goddess of wisdom and skill. Daughter of Zeus.
Atonment - A payment or offering to remove or forgive sins. In the
Old Testament, the people of Israel sacrificed animals to show that
atonement must be made for their sins. When Jesus came, he gave up his own
life to make atonement for the sins of his people.
Atonement seat - Slab of gold on top of the ark of the covenant on
which the golden cherubim stood. It symbolized God’s throne.
Atrium - Court of a Roman house, roofed at the sides and open in
the middle; also the entrance to a Byzantine church.
Azekah - Small city above the Elah Valley where David fought
Goliath.
B
Baal - Canaanite god of fertility. He is often portrayed as the god
of storms, lightning, thunder, and rain. He was worshiped in horrible ways.
The name means “lord” or “master.” Israel was seduced into worshiping him.
Babylon, Babylonians - Hebrew Babel. Capital city of Mesopotamia,
located on the Euphrates River and neighbor to Assyria. Considered at the
time of the prophet Jeremiah to be the greatest and most beautiful city of
the Near East. An enormous political and economic power that held great
influence over the Israelites. In 586 BC, the Babylonians took the
children of Israel into an exile that would last 70 years. The return from
this exile established a people to whom Jesus would be born and a kingdom
in the land of Israel.
Bacchus - Roman god of wine, fertility, and vegetation, god of the
theater. Son of Zeus and Semele, the Theban princess.
Baptize - To wash, dip, or immerse in water. Baptism shows that a
person's sins are washed away. He or she has joined the family of God and
is united with Jesus in dying to sin and rising to a new life.
Barclay's Gate - Provided access to the Gentile Court from Tyropean
Street.
Bar Kochba Revolt - Another name for the Second Jewish Revolt
against Rome (AD 132-135). The leader of the revolt was a man named Bar
Kochba.
Basalt - Hardened lava from volcanic eruption.
Basilica - "From the king"; Roman public hall built with side halls
lower than the center hall.
Beatitude - Any of the declarations of blessedness pronounced by
Jesus in the Sermon on the Mount.
Bedouins - Nomads who live mainly in the wilderness areas of the
Middle East. They speak Arabic and are generally Muslim. They retain a
lifestyle much like that of the early biblical characters Abraham, Isaac,
and Jacob.
Beelzebub - Corruption of the word “Beelzebul,” meaning “lord of
the flies.” It was used by Jesus to refer to the prince of demons, the
devil.
Beelzebul - Philistine god worshipped at Ekron. It means “Prince
Baal.”
Beersheba - City in the central Negev. It was settled before 3000
BC. Abraham and Isaac lived here. Abraham gave it the name Beersheba,
which means "well of the oath" or "well of the seven." Often used to refer
to the southern end of the Promised Land.
Belial - Hebrew meaning “useless.” Came to be applied to the devil
by the Essenes and the early Christians (2 Cor. 6).
Bema - Raised platform; the Seat of judgment. Also, place from
which scripture is read in the synagogue.
Bernice - The great-granddaughter of Herod the Great. She
accompanied Agrippa ll and heard Paul's conversion testimony (Acts
25:13—14,23; 26:1—29).
Beth Horon - Two cities (Upper and Lower Beth Horon) guarding the
Beth Horon pass. The main west-east road from the coastal plain to the
mountains to Jericho went through this pass. Here God made the sun stand
still for Joshua.
Bethlehem - Located at the border between the mountains and the
wilderness, its inhabitants benefited from the fertile mountain valleys
and pastures the wilderness provided for the shepherds’ flock.
Seven hundred years before Jesus was born, Micah prophesied that the
Messiah would come out of Bethlehem. Jesus—the Son of God, the King of the
universe—would be from the line of David and would rule on the throne of
David forever. Bethlehem links Jesus to the lineage and family of David.
Bethsaida - One of the three main towns of Jesus' ministry in
Galilee. This small, prosperous fishing village on the north shore of the
Sea of Galilee was renamed Julias and rebuilt by Herod Philip. Home of
apostles Peter, Philip, and Andrew. Near this village, Jesus performed the
miracle of feeding 5,000 people. Its location was uncertain until recently,
when archaeologists excavated the ruins.
Beth Shean - City at the eastern entrance to the Valley of Jezreel.
The Philistines hung Saul's and Jonathan's bodies from its walls.
Beth Shemesh - City in the Soreq Valley near where Samson lived.
The Philistines returned the ark of the covenant here.
Bless, Blessing - When God blesses someone, he makes things go well
for him or her. A blessing is a gift from God. When people bless, they ask
God to bring good to someone.
Boule - City council.
Bouleuterion - Meeting place of the Boule.
Bronze Sea - Bronze basin at the entrance to the tabernacle used for
ceremonial purification before sacrifices were made. It also symbolized
God’s forgiveness after sacrifices were made. Solomon commissioned a large
basin for the temple at Jerusalem. It was over 14 feet in diameter and
seven feet high: it weighed over 25 tons and held 13,000 gallons of water.
It sat on the backs of 12 oxen, three facing north, three facing west,
three facing south, and three facing east.
Business District - Although not named by many ancient sources,
this district inside the Second Wall held many shops and markets. Jesus
walked through the area on market day on his way to the cross.
C
Caesarea - Port city and provincial capital of the Roman province
of Judea. Herod built a spectacular man-made harbor with two breakwaters
to link the country with world commerce.
Caesarea Philippi - Large Hellenistic city rebuilt and renamed by
Philip the Tetrarch. Located on Mount Hermon in the upper Jordan Valley
near the spring of Panias, one of the three headwaters of the Jordan River,
and the site of a great pagan temple dedicated to Pan, the Roman fertility
god.
Caiaphas - A high priest of the Jews who presided over the assembly
that condemned Jesus to death. (Matt. 26).
Caldarium - Hot room in Roman baths.
Calvary - Golgotha, the place where Jesus was crucified (Luke
23:33).
Canaan - Old Testament name for the Promised Land. It means “land
of purple,” referring to the color of the dye produced from shellfish
along Canaan’s coast. Canaan is at the eastern end of the Mediterranean
Sea where Asia, Europe, and Africa come together.
Canaanite - The word originally meant “merchant” or “trader.”
Eventually it came to refer to the people of the region.
Capital - The topmost part of a column.
Caravenserai - Courtyard with rooms for lodging.
Ceres - Roman god of earth. Daughter of Cronus and Rhea.
Caryatid - Column in the form of a female figure.
Cella - The great hall of a temple which contained the cult statue.
Central mountains - Region made up of three mountain ranges: Hebron
in the south, Judea in the center, and Samaria in the north.
Centurion - An officer in the Roman army in charge of 100 soldiers.
Cherem - Hebrew word meaning “totally given to the Lord,” often
through destruction. Only God’s judgment could reclaim anything placed
under this curse.
Christ - The title of Jesus that means "annointed" or "chosen one"
in Greek. The Hebrew word is "Messiah." Jesus Christ is God's chosen one
to bring salvation to his people.
Church - A group of the followers of Jesus that meets in a certain
place. Jesus calls the church his body. Most of the books of the New
Testament are letters to churches.
Cistern - Because water in Israel is hard to come by, most ancient
cities, towns, and even households used cisterns to catch and store rain
runoff from rooftops, courtyards, and even streets.
Cisterns were dug by hand out of solid rock and were plastered so they
would hold water. They needed constant care because the plaster tended to
fall off, which allowed the precious water to leak out. When a cistern
failed to hold water, it created a desperate situation for the people who
depended on it.
City gates - During Biblical times, city gates protected the
entrance to the city and functioned as the center of city life. In various
chambers inside the gatehouse, people paid their taxes, settled legal
matters, and even met the king. The city gates also provided a gathering
place for prophets, kings, priests, judges, and other city leaders.
City of refuge - A place of safety for people who had accidentally
killed someone (Deut. 19:1-21).
Coastal plain - Flat, fertile area of Israel along the
Mediterranean Sea that comprises the Plain of Sharon in the north and
Philistine territory in the south.
Colonnades - Rows of columns spaced evenly apart that support
arches or a roof. First-century Roman streets often had colonnades on both
sides.
Commandment - A rule or teaching that people should obey. God gives
his people commandments to help them live a good life.
Copper Scroll - One of the Dead Sea Scrolls, etched on copper,
claiming to identify a great treasure that had been hidden before the
Temple was destroyed.
Covenant - An agreement or set of promises made between two parties.
When forming a covenant in ancient days, two parties gathered animals, cut
each into two parts, and then placed them on the ground so their blood
flowed into one stream. Each party walked through the blood, symbolizing
that they would pay with their life if they broke the terms of the
covenant.
God made his covenant with Abram in this familiar way. But instead of
making Abram walk the blood path, God, in the form of a blazing torch,
walked through the path for him. Knowing Abram couldn’t keep his end of
the covenant, God’s actions effectively said, “If either you or I break
this covenant, I will pay for it with my own blood” (Gen. 15). Jesus
fulfills this covenant promise.
Creation - God created, or made, the world and the entire universe;
it is all his creation. The Bible says every-thing God made was very good.
All creation is now hurt by the sin in the world. But one day God will
make creation perfect again.
Creche - Nativity scene.
Crucify - To nail or tie a person to a cross until that person died.
A cross was made of rough beams of wood nailed together in a "t" shape.
Jesus died by this method, which was usually used for criminals.
Curse - To wish that bad things happen to someone or something. God
curses, or makes bad things happen, only as a punishment or not obeying
him.
D
Dagon - A Philistine god. Recent evidence indicates that he was the
grain god responsible for fertility.
Dan - One of the twelve Hebrew tribes originally placed between the
Philistines and Judah. They migrated north and established the city of Dan
as the northern border of Israel.
Danite - The name of a member of the tribe of Dan.
David's City - The Jerusalem of David’s time, located on a narrow
strip of land (Mount Moriah), was about ten acres in size and populated by
approximately 1,500 people. The city was naturally defended by the Kidron
Valley to the east and the Tyropean Valley to the west. It was originally
named Zion and received fresh water from the Spring of Gihon.
Dead Sea - An inland lake in the Great Rift Valley known as the
Salt Sea; 50 miles long and 10 miles wide, the salt content is five times
more concentrated than the ocean and is uninhabitable by marine life. The
Essene community lived in the wilderness along the Dead Sea.
Dead Sea Scrolls - Commentaries or instruction manuals for the
Essene community discovered in 1947 by the Dead Sea in caves near the
ruins of Khirbet Qumran. They provide valuable insights into the beliefs
of one religious community from the time of Jesus; and contain many
references showing common themes, language, and beliefs with the teachings
of Jesus, John the Baptist, and the early church. They help verify the
most accurate texts of the Old Testament. Though these scrolls are 1,000
years older than other Hebrew manuscripts, there are few differences, and
they indicate the miracle of God’s protection of his Word throughout
history.
Decapolis - Ten Hellenistic cities established at the time of
Alexander the Great east of the Sea of Galilee and north of Perea. Later,
the Roman emperor Pompey organized the cities into a league named the
Decapolis, largely populated by Roman army troops. In one ancient Jewish
belief, the area was populated by pagans Joshua had driven out of the
Promised Land (Josh. 3) and became "off limits" to Jews who followed God's
law. In the New Testament, it refers to some cities where Jesus ministered
to Gentiles and demonstrated his willingness to bring his message to
everyone who needed to hear his words. The 10 cities included Pella,
Damascus, Philadelphia, Canatha, Dium, Scythopolis (Beth Shean), Hippus,
Gadara, Raphana, and Gerasa.
Defense Tower - Scholars debate the importance of the large tower
that once stood in Qumran because it was essentially a religious community
of separatists who lived in a peaceful, almost monastic existence. The
Essenes did, however, believe in the Messiah's imminent arrival and that a
great battle would ensue between the sons of light (themselves) and the
sons of darkness (followers of evil). The tower most likely provided
protection against bandits o other less "military" threats.
Demeter - Greek god of earth. Daughter of Cronus and Rhea.
Demon - A powerful evil spirit that worked for Satan. Demons can
sometimes control people. But Jesus has power over the demons and can make
them come out of people (like he did at Susita).
Dereshah - A short sermon offered by the reader of the Torah or
Haftarah in the synagogue. Any adult member of the community was eligible
to speak the sermon, and it was frequently quite short (Jesus spoke only a
few words—Luke 4:21).
Diana - Roman god of marriage, chastity, hunting, and moonlight.
Twin sister of Apollo, daughter of Zeus and Leto.
Diolkos - From Greek, "to haul," road over which sailors hauled
goods from one harbor to another.
Dionysus - Greek god of wine, fertility, and vegetation, god of the
theater. Son of Zeus and Semele, the Theban princess.
Dipteros - Temple surrounded with two rows of columns.
Disciple - The Hebrew word for disciple is talmid. This word
stresses the relationship between rabbi (teacher or master) and disciple (student).
A talmid of Jesus' day would give up his entire life in order to be with
his teacher. The disciple didn't only seek to know what the teacher knew,
as is usually the case today. It was not enough just to know what the
rabbi said, but the foremost goal of any talmid was to become like the
rabbi and do what the rabbi did.
Dome of the Rock - The Muslim mosque built in the seventh centurion
the Temple Mount. The presence of this mosque makes it impossible to
excavate the Mount.
Drusilla - The daughter of Agrippa l.
E
Eastern Gate - Main entrance to the temple area in Jerusalem. In
some traditions, it is believed to be the location of the Last Judgment.
Also known as the Beautiful Gate.
Eastern Wall - Followed the original line dating from Solomon's
days. The main feature in the wall, the Eastern Gate (see above), was the
original eastern entrance to the Temple Mount. At one point, the walls of
the temple rose more than 225 feet above the bottom of the Kidron Valley.
Eden - The place where Adam and Eve lived before the Fall (Gen.
2:8-24).
Edomites - Esau’s descendents. Edom means “red” and the Edomites
lived in the mountains to the east and south of the Dead Sea. Because of
Edom’s attacks on Judah, God promised to take revenge on the Edomites.
Egypt, Egyptians - Land and civilization south and west of Israel
that flourished along the banks of the Nile River. During the time of
Moses, home to enslaved Jews. Part of the Roman Empire during the first
century. Throughout the Bible, Egypt was economically dependent on the
eastern civilizations of Mesopotamia (Babylon, Assyria, and Persia). Trade
routes connecting Egypt to these empires ran through mountain passes of
Israel. By placing his people between the Egyptians and eastern empires,
God guaranteed that the whole known world would hear his message.
Ekron - One of the five Philistine city-states, it is the one
closest to the Judea Mountains.
Elah Valley - Valley in the Shephelah between the coastal plain and
the Judea Mountains. David fought Goliath here.
Elders - Older men who were leaders of God's chosen people.
Elijah - One of the first prophets; name literally means "Yahweh is
God." On Mount Carmel, Elijah confronted the pagan prophets and challenged
the Israelites to stop wavering between faith in Yahweh and Baal.
En Gedi - Means "place of the spring goat." A canyon and
surrounding hills filled with springs that enabled a lush oasis to
flourish on the Dead Sea's barren, western shore. Here David hid from Saul
and possibly wrote several psalms.
Eshtaol - Small town on the hills above the Soreq, near Samson's
birthplace.
Essenes - A highly organized religious group that renounced the
priestly establishment and saw themselves as God's soldiers. They
strengthened their bodies, minds, and spirits for the battle they believed
would usher in the new age. The Dead Sea Scrolls found at Qumran may have
been their library. Some believe that John the Baptist belonged to this
group, because his message was similar to that contained in the Dead Sea
Scrolls. Some of the beliefs and practices of the Essenes resembled those
of Jesus and the early church.
Exedra - Semicircular recess usually with seats, found in Greek and
Byzantine buildings.
F
Faith - Sure belief and trust. Faith is being sure of what you hope
for and certain of things even if you cannot see them. To have faith in
Jesus means to trust him and believe what the Bible says about him.
Feast - A special time of celebration and eating. In the Bible,
feasts celebrated the ways God helped his people.
Firstfruits - The first crops that God's people would collect from
their fields and give to God. This was a sign that everything the land
produced belonged to God. In the New Testament, first fruits is the first
part of a blessing that is received as a promise of more to come.
First Jewish Revolt - Revolt against Rome by the Jewish people that
resulted in the destruction of the temple and Jerusalem in AD 70.
Flaying - Cutting skin into strips and pulling it off of a living
victim. Flaying was used by the Assyrians to torture their captives.
Flutes - Vertical channels cut in the sides of columns.
Forum - Roman marketplace.
Fresco - Design created by painting water colors onto wet plaster.
Frieze - A design or series of low-relief sculptures forming an
ornamental, horizontal band around a room or between the architrave and
cornice of a building.
Frigidarium - Cold room in Roman baths.
G
Galilee - The northern part of the land of Palestine. Jesus grew up
in the town of Nazareth, in Galilee, and did a lot of his teaching
ministry here.
Gallus (plural-Galli) - Priests of Cybele and Attis.
Gamla - Aramic, meaning "camel," because from a distance this ridge
in the Golan Heights (Gaulanitis) looks like a camel's hump. Located north
and east of the Sea of Galilee. Home to nationalistic Pharisees (Zealots)
who sought deliverance from Roman oppression and probably were responsible
for the frequent questions to Jesus regarding the nature of his kingship
and an ongoing desire to appoint him king. After a brutal battle, the city
fell to Vespian in AD 67. Josephus recorded that 9,000 people died rather
than surrender to the Romans.
Gan - Garden; or terraced hillside, sometimes containing a number
of different fruit trees like olive, fig, and grape.
Gath - One of the five Philistine city-states. Goliath was born
here.
Gat shemen - Olive (shemen) press (gat) From which we get the term
"gethsemene."
Gaza - One of the five Philistine city-states. Samsom was born
here.
Gehenna - Valley to the west of Jerusalem that was at one time the
city sewage dump and the place where Judean kings sacrificed their
children. This valley, with its filth, rottenness, and burning flesh, came
to symbolize hell.
Gennesaret - See Sea of Galilee.
Gethsemane - The word gethsemane is derived from two Hebrew words:
gat, which means "a place for pressing oil (or wine)", and shemanim, which
means "oils." During Jesus' time, heavy stone slabs were lowered onto
olives that had already been crushed in an olive crusher. The slab's
weight squeezed the olive oil out of the pulp, and the oil was collected.
The image of the gethsemane on the slope of the Mount of Olives where
Jesus went the night before his crucifixion provides a vivid picture of
his suffering. The weight of the world's sins pressed down upon him like
the heavy slab of the olive crusher. His sweat, "like drops of blood
falling to the ground" (Luke 22:44), flowed from him like olive oil.
Gentiles - Means "nations." A Gentile is any one who is not a Jew.
God's plan of salvation begins with the chosen nation of Israel, and then
moves to include all the nations of the earth.
Gezer - City that controlled the Via Maris trade route. It was
located near the coastal plain and the Aijalon Valley.
Gilead Mountains - Mountains east of the Jordan Valley between the
Dead Sea and the Sea of Galilee.
Goliath - Perhaps the most well-known Philistine soldier. He
taunted the Israelites and ridiculed God, but fell when David threw a
stone.
Gomorrah - City near the southern end of the Dead Sea that God
destroyed because of its wickedness, which included oppression of the poor.
Gospel - Means "good news." The gospel is the message about how
Jesus defeated evil. He died and then became alive again to make us new
and give us hope for the future.
Great Rift Valley - Valley east of Israel where the Sea of Galilee
and the Dead Sea are located. Also known as the Jordan Valley.
Grotto of Pan - A cult center to the fertility god Pan at Caesarea
Philippi.
Gymnasium - Greek and Roman schools.
H
Hades - 1) The place of the dead (Matt. 16:13—20). 2) Greek god of
the underworld. Brother of Zeus and Poseidon.
Hallel - A selection comprising Psalms 113-118 and 135-136 chanted
during Jewish feasts.
Hallelujiah - Means "Praise the LORD!" This word is made by putting
together two Hebrew words: Hallelu (meaning "praise") and Yah (for the
name of God "Yahweh," or "the LORD").
Haluk - Outer garment.
Har - Hebrew for “hill” or “mountain.”
Hasmonean - Dynasty of Jewish kings belonging to the family also
known as the Maccabees.
Hazzan - Synagogue leader or administrator who cared for the
facility and how it was used.
Hazor - A major city in northern Israel and one of the key cites on
the Via Maris trade route. It was fortified by Solomon.
Hebron - Means "league." Ancient city of Judah at the southern edge
of the Hebron Mountains, north of the Negev and approximately 19 miles
south of Jerusalem. Abraham lived here and purchased a tomb in this area
where he, his wife, Sarah, Isaac, Rebekah, Jacob, and Leah were buried.
David's capital for the first seven years of his reign. Herod built a
large enlosure around the cave of Machpelah, where Abraham was buried.
Heir - The person who receives or inherits what belongs to a
relative. The heir usually inherited these things when the relative died.
In the Old Testament, Israel was the heir of God and received the Promised
Land as an inheritance from God (Gen. 15). In the New Testament, God's
people are also called heirs of God. They receive the gifts of
righteousness, eternal life, and the kingdom of God (Rom. 8:15—17).
Hellenism - Name for the culture and worldview of the Greeks. It
was antithetically opposed to the God-centered worldview of the Jews.
Hellenism makes the human being the ultimate reality. The human mind is
the basis for truth, the human body is the ultimate in wisdom, and human
pleasure is the ultimate goal in life. It is the ancestor of modern
humanism.
Hera - Greek goddess of marriage, very jealous wife of Zeus, queen
of gods.
Herod the Great - Decreed king of Judea by the Romans in 40 BC.
Poorly accepted by the Jews because of his questionable heritage as a
descendent of Esau and a native of Idumaea (Edom). Most infamous for
trying to kill the infant Jesus by ordering the slaughter of all male
babies under two years old in Bethlehem. Remembered for the brutality of
his reign.
Herodian - Anything pertaining to Herod the Great and the Herodion
period; or the political party that dominated Herod Antipas' territory and
politically and economically supported Roman overlords.
Heroon - Shrine or temple dedicated to a demigod or deified hero.
Hermes - Greek god of trade, messenger. Son of Zeus and Maia.
Hestia - Greek goddess of the hearth and home. Sister of Zeus.
Hezekiah - King of Judah of the 7th and 8th centuries BC (2 Kings
18). When King Hezekiah learned that the dreaded Assyrian army had arrived
in Israel, he recognized the threat his exposed water supply posed for
Jerusalem's survival. He dug a tunnel through the ridge on which the city
was built that brought water to the other side; this water tunnel helped
save the city of Jerusalem from the Assyrian siege. To this day, this
extraordinary accomplishment ranks as one of the engineering marvels of
the ancient world.
Herodion - Fortress built by Herod the Great (c.a. 20 BC) near
Bethlehem. It was a fortified palace and is reported to be the place of
Herod's burial.
High place - Elevated location used in the worship of gods. The God
of the Bible also met his people in high places.
Hill of Moreh - Hill at the intersection of the Valley of Jezreel
and the Valley of Harod. Gideon and 300 men defeated the Midianites, the
desert people (bedouins), here. Also known as Mount Moreh.
Hinnom - Valley to the west of Jerusalem that was at one time the
city sewage dump and the place where Judean kings sacrificed their
children. This valley, with its filth, rottenness, and burning flesh, came
to symbolize hell.
Hippodrome - Greek, hippus (“horse”) and dramas (“course”).
Referred to a horse racing course or circus. Herod built hippodromes in
Caesarea, Jericho, and Jerusalem, where horse races, chariot races, and
Olympic-style games were held as part of his attempt to Hellenize Israel.
Holy - Pure, set apart for God. God is holy. He is perfect. He does
not do anything wrong. God also wants his people to be holy. One day, God
will make them perfect.
Holy of Holies - Inner part of the tabernacle and/or temple where
the ark of the covenant was placed. It was a symbol of God's dwelling.
Holy Place - The Priests' court; a rectangular room between the
worship court and the Holy of Holies that contained the table of showbread,
golden lampstand, and the altar of incense.
Holy Spirit - One of the three persons of God. In the Old Testament
we see the Holy Spirit active in the creation of the world. The Spirit
also filled certain people with power at special times, and worked through
men to produce the Scriptures.
Because Jesus died and rose to new life, the Holy Spirit now lives in all
God's people. He is the One who makes them new, teaches them, and gives
them freedom for a new life.
Hosha na - Save (hosha) now sense of urgency (na); "save now."
Humanism - Modern worldview based on an evolutionary model that
considers human beings the ultimate life form and denies the existence or
relevance of God. Right and wrong are determined by human standards, not
God’s.
Hyssop - A plant whose twigs were used in ceremonial sprinkling.
I
Idol - Anything that is worshiped instead of the true God. In Bible
times, idols were often statues of false gods made of wood, stone, or
metal. Idolatry is the worship of idols.
Idumaea - Another name for the city of Edom, meaning "red." Located
south of the Dead Sea and west of Arabah; home of Herod the Great. Some
early followers of Jesus came from Idumaea (Mark 3:8).
Immanuel - the name of the Messiah as prophesied by Isaiah, often
represented in Christian exegesis as being Jesus Christ (Isa. 7:14).
Impaling - Inserting a sharpened stake between the rib cage of a
living victim, putting the stake into the ground so it stood erect, and
leaving the victim hanging until the stake pierced a vital organ causing
the victim to die. Impaling was one of the methods that the Assyrians used
to torture their captives.
Insula - A family household arrangement common in Capernaum and
Korazin, where many rooms—residences for various family members—were built
around a central courtyard.
Israel - A name meaning "he struggles with God." God gave this name
to Jacob, after he fought with an angle of God. The 12 tribes of the
nation of Israel are from the family of Jacob (Israel). A member of the
nation of Israel is called an Israelite.
Ixthus - Early Christian believers often used the “fish” symbol.
This may be because Jesus called his disciples to be “fishers of men” (Matt.
4:19). Or, perhaps the Greek word for fish, ixthus, was an acrostic for
Jesus Christ, Son of God, Savior:
i—first letter in the Greek word for “Jesus”
x—first letter in the Greek word for “Christ”
th—first letter in the Greek word for “God”
u—first letter in the Greek word for “son”
s—first letter in the Greek word for “savior”
J
Jericho - Oasis next to a spring in the Great Rift Valley north of
the Dead Sea. First city captured by the Israelites after wandering in the
desert for 40 years.
Jerusalem - Located in the Judea Mountains west of the Dead Sea on
the rim of the Great Rift Valley at the edge of the Judea Wilderness. King
David captured the mountain spur, and the existing town, Jebus, which
became "David's City," the Israelites' religious and political center.
David purchased a threshing floor, the traditional site where Abraham
prepared to sacrifice his son Isaac to God, as the future site of God's
Temple that Solomom eventually built (2 Chron. 3:1). God the Father sent
Jesus to Jerusalem to complete his messianic work by being executed,
buried, and raised on the same mountain of Abraham's attempted sacrifice
and where sacrifices in the Temple were made. This created a physical link
between events of Jewish history and followers of Jesus. In the Bible, "heavenly
Jerusalem" symbolized God's heavenly kingdom that will come at the end of
time.
Jesus - The promised Messiah, lived a remarkable life as a Jewish
rabbi. Through his ministry, death, and resurrection, God fulfilled his
covenant promises.
Jew - At first, this was the name for someone from the tribe of
Judah. Later it came to be used for anyone who was from the family of
Jacob (Israel).
Jezreel - City gaurding the Valley of Harod and the route from the
Valley of Jezreel to Beth Shean. Here Ahab and Jezebel had a summer palace,
Ahab stole Naboth's vineyard, and Jezebel was killed.
Jezreel Valley - Means "valley of Megiddo." A fertile, agricultural
valley whose strategic location led to frequent battles for control over
the world trade route between the west and Mesopotamia. Used by biblical
writers as the symbolic setting of the final triumph of God's power over
evil, Armageddon. Nazareth is nearby.
Joppa - This Old Testament port city is on the coast of the
Mediterranean Sea. Jonah sailed from here.
Jordan River - Hebrew Yarden, meaning, "the descender." Headwaters
are fed by snow melt on Mount Hermon and underground springs; flows into
the Dead Sea; where John baptized Jesus. Largest river in Israel.
Jordan Valley - See Great Rift Valley.
Joseph - The husband of Mary who was the mother of Jesus (Matt.
1:16-25).
Josephus - Jewish historian named Josephus Flavius, author of four
major extra-biblical texts of Jewish life and culture. Born to a preistly
family about the time of Jesus' death, he died approximately 100 AD; he
was a Galilean commander in the First Jewish Revolt. Trapped in the doomed
city of Jotapata, Josephus convinced the other survivors to commit suicide,
arranging that he would be the last one alive. He surrendered to the Roman
commander Vespian and prophesied that Vespian would become emperor.
Vespian made Josephus a scribe and a member of his own family; he became a
Roman citizen. He write extensively about the First Jewish Revolt and
Jewish history, and confirmed that New Testament descriptions of life and
culture were accurate.
Judah - Fourth son of Jacob from whom the tribe of Judah and Jesus
descended. Also the name of the southern kingdom after Israel divided in
926 BC.
Judea - Region of Israel, named for the tribe of Judah, where
Jerusalem was located. Ruled by Herod the Great and later given to his
son, Archelaus; then directly under Roman authority. The Judean Temple
leadership resisted Jesus' message and ministry.
Judea Wilderness - The eastern slopes of the Judea Mountains form a
10-mile-wide, 30-mile-long hot, dry wilderness frequently used as a refuge
for those in hiding or seeking a spiritual retreat, including the Essenes
at Qumran, John the Baptist, David, and Jesus. Site of Masada, the last
battle in the First Jewish Revolt.
Judge - A strong leader of the people of Israel before Israel had
kings. God brought judges to power to save the people from their enemies.
Judge's Platform - The platform on which the ruler of the city sat.
The presence of the ruler or king ready to pass judgment in the gate of
the city is behind the prophet Amos’ plea for "justice in the city gate."
Juno - Roman goddess of marriage, very jealous wife of Zeus, queen
of gods.
Jupiter - Roman god of the sky, supreme god. Son of Saturn.
K
Kanaf - Corner; also, wing.
Kidron Valley - Deep wadi forming the eastern border of Jerusalem
between David’s City and the Mount of Olives. The spring of Gihon and the
garden of Gethsemane are in this valley.
Kings Highway - Major trade route east of the Jordan Valley. It was
a more difficult road to travel than the Via Maris.
Kippah - Head covering worn by observant Jews out of respect to God;
similar to a yarmulke.
Korazin - City just north of the Sea of Galilee where Jesus
performed many miracles. Jesus condemned the city for its unbelief.
L
Lachish - Key city in the southern Shephelah. It was destroyed by
the Assyrians during the reign of Hezekiah, and later by the Babylonians
and Nebuchadnezzar.
Lamb of God - Jesus is called the Lamb of God. He was sacrificed
like a lamb to take away the sins of God's people. (See Passover ).
Legion - A military designation. Composed of spear men, archers,
tacticians/strategists, cavalry, and reserves. Some of the best Roman
legions, including the tenth, were stationed in Israel during the first
century. Legion also was used to describe a host of demons or an army of
angels.
Leprosy - The word used in the Bible for different skin diseases
and infections.
Leviathan - A sea monster.
Lord, lord - (in small letters or initial capital) means "master"
or someone who is in control. The early followers of Jesus said "Jesus is
Lord" to mean that he has authority over everything.
LORD - (in all capital letters) refers to the personal name of God.
The Hebrew word for this name is Yahweh, which means "I AM WHO I AM." This
name tells us that God is always with his people.
Lower City - The district of Jerusalem that housed most of the
common people during Jesus’ day. It was built on the slope of the Western
Hill, reaching into the Tyropean Valley; where Jesus sent the blind man to
wash the mud from his eyes in the Pool of Siloam.
M
Maccabee - Family of high priest Mattathias and his son Judah, who
revolted against oppressive Antiochus, king of Syria, a Selucid Greek;
Judah cleansed the Temple after defilement by the Syrians. The Jews
remained free, ruled by the Maccabees (family name: Hasmonaean) until 63
BC. The Maccabee symbol of a palm branch became a national symbol of
freedom. Hanukkah (or the Feast of Dedication) celebrated Judah Maccabee's
cleansing of the Temple.
Macellum - Market where food is sold.
Maenad - From Greek "raving" or "frantic," refers to female
followers of Dionysus.
Maim chaim - Living water. Referring to water coming “directly from
God” via rain or stream, etc.
Manna - Means "What is it?" Manna was the name the Israelites gave
the special food God provided to them in the desert. It was a white, bread-like,
sweet-tasting food that would show up on the ground in the morning (Ex.
16:14-36). Jesus says he is like manna. He is the bread of life that can
truly fulfill God's people.
Manual of Discipline - One of the writings of the Essenes found
among the Dead Sea Scrolls; it describes the rules of the community.
Marble - The great king Herod imported marble from Italy to build
his glorious city of Caesarea. Many of Herod’s cities and buildings were
covered with this stone. He built these magnificent structures so people
would remember him and honor him as a great king. Herod lived for himself.
Because he built only for himself, nothing is left but ruins.
Marriage cup - During Biblical times, a young man who wanted to
marry would accompany his father to the chosen woman's house, where she
and her father would be present. They'd negotiate a steep "bride price"—the
money or physical items that the woman's father would ask for in exchange
for giving up his valuable daughter.
Then the young man's father would hand his son a cup of wine. The son, in
turn, would offer it to the women and say, "This cup I offer to you." In
effect, he was saying, "I love you, and I offer you my life. Will you
marry me?" If she drank it (sealing their engagement), she accepted his
life and gave him hers. If not, she simply declined.
Mars - Roman god of war. Son of Zeus and Hera.
Masada - A fortress expanded by Herod the Great to include a palace;
on a mountain plateau on the Dead Sea's shore near Idumaea. David wrote, "The
Lord is my rock and my fortress" (Ps. 18:2), a possible reference to this
flat mountain plateau. Along the 1,000- foot mountaintop, Herod built a
wall with 37 towers to defend against attackers and carved a three-level
palace into the mountain face. Fearing Mark Antony would give his kingdom
to Cleopatra of Egypt, Herod fortified Masada as an escape. Last place
held by rebels in the First Jewish Revolt; the committed suicide rather
than surrender. A symbol for the Jewish people, of their determination to
remain free.
Massebah - See Standing Stone.
Mediterranean Sea - Known in the Bible as the Great Sea, it formed
the western border of Israel. Since the Jews were not a seafaring people,
the Mediterranean was more of a boundary than an integral part of their
lives.
Megiddo - The most strategic city in Israel, it guarded a key
mountain pass of the international trade route Via Maris. It was one of
the cities that Herod fortified. According to Book of Revelation, it
represents Armageddon, the final battle between God's people and the
devil's followers. (See also Armageddon).
Menorah - Lampstand.
Mercury - Roman god of trade, messenger. Son of Zeus and Maia.
Mercy seat - See Atonment Seat.
Mesopotamia - Refers to the land between the Tigris and Euphrates
Rivers, as well as the surrounding area. The patriarchs came from here.
The empires of Assyria, Persia, and Babylon were here.
Messiah - A Hebrew word meaning "anointed" or "chosen one." The
Greek word used in the New Testament for "annointed" is Christ. In the Old
Testament, God promised to send a special person called the Messiah. This
new king would save God's people. The New Testament shows us that Jesus is
the Messiah. He is God's chosen one to save his people.
Messianic banquet - One way to describe the great banquet (also
called the wedding feast of the lamb) that will occur when the Messiah
comes.
Mezuzah - A small rectangular box containing scripture affixed to a
doorpost. Meant to remind observant Jews to obey the commandments whether
at home or “along the road.”
Micmash (or Michmash) - City north of Jerusalem that guarded one of
the approaches from the coastal plain.
Middle East - Modern term referring to the area of Israel and the
countries surrounding it.
Mikveh - A ritual bath containing living water. Observant Jews
would wash head, heart, hands, and feet as a symbol of purity before God.
Minerva - Roman goddess of wisdom and skill. Daughter of Zeus.
Moab Mountains - Mountain range east of the Dead Sea where the nation
of Moab lived.
Mount Arbel - Mountain ridge 1,000 feet above the Sea of Galilee.
Site of a brutal battle in 38 BC between Galilean Jews and Herod the Great
for control of Galilee.
Mount Carmel - Mountain ridge in Israel that divides the Valley of
Jezreel from the coastal plain. Elijah confronted the prophets of Baal
here.
Mount Ebal - Mountain near the city of Shechem where an altar to
God was built. Joshua gave the curses of the covenant on this mountain (the
blessings of Mount Gerizim) when he renewed the covenant after entering
the Promised Land, as Moses had commanded him.
Mount Gerizim - Mountain near the city of Shechem where Joshua
pronounced the covenant blessings (the curses on Mount Ebal) when he
renewed the covenant after entering the Promised Land, as Moses had
commanded him.
Mount Gilboa - Mountain on the southern edge of the Valley of
Jezreel. Saul and Jonathan died here.
Mount Hermon - Mountain on the northern border of Israel. More than
9,000 feet above sea level, it is often covered with snow. Water from this
mountain forms the Jordan River.
Mount of Olives - This mountain, standing about 2,641 feet above
sea level, stands east of Jerusalem across the Kidron Valley. It is
approximately 325 feet higher than the Temple area and the highest peak in
the area. Jesus entered Jerusalem, gave his final teaching, and ascended
to heaven from here. Some scholars believe this may be the location for
Jesus’ return.
Mount Sedom - This mountain ridge at the southern end of the Dead
Sea is composed of salt. It retains the name of the city of Sodom, which
was probably nearby.
Mount Sinai - Mountain where God met Moses to establish his covenant
with the Israelites. Here God gave the Ten Commandments and the
instructions for the building of the tabernacle. Many scholars believe
Sinai refers to Jebel Musa, a peak in the Sinai Peninsula, the area
between the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aqaba. This peak is 7,500 feet high.
Others put Mount Sinai further north; still others in Arabia.
Mount Tabor - Mountain at the northeast edge of the Valley of Jezreel.
Site of the battle between Deborah and Barak and Jabin, king of Hazor.
Murex - Shellfish found along the coast of the Mediterranean Sea
north of Israel, where the Phoenicians lived. Purple dye was produced from
these shellfish.
N
Nabatean - Arabs who lived south and east of Israel and
significantly impacted New Testament events. A highly advanced
civilization that developed the ability to farm wilderness areas.
Controlled the spice trade and trade routes that crossed Israel from
Arabia.
Nazarite - Individual who showed his devotion to God by choosing to
separate himself from other people through his lifestyle. He made a three-part
vow: to never cut his hair or beard, to abstain from any grape product,
and to avoid contact with anything dead. Samson was a Nazirite.
Near East - Ancient term referring to the area of Israel and the
countries surrounding it, including Egypt and Babylonia.
Necropolis - Burial ground.
Negev - Word means "dry" or "parched." Desert on the southern edge
of Israel, south of the Judea Mountains. The Israelites wandered here
during their 40 years in the wilderness. Home of Jacob, father of the 12
tribes, and many desert nomads and spice traders. Elijah ran Queen Jezebel
into the Negev.
Nehemiah - A Hebrew leader of the 5th century BC.
Neokoros - Title borne by a city which possessed a temple dedicated
to the imperial cult.
Neptune - Roman god of the sea and earthquakes. Brother of Zeus and
Hades.
New City - During and after Jesus’ time, the city expanded north, and
many wealthy people built large villas in this new area of Jerusalem.
Herod Agrippa walled it about thirty or more years after Jesus’
crucifixion.
Nike - Greek god of victory, pictured with a wreath. Granddaughter
of Oceanus, daughter of Styx.
Northern kingdom - When Israel divided after Solomon’s death (926
BC), the northern 10 tribes under Jeroboam became the northern kingdom, or
Israel. The Assyrians destroyed them in 722 BC.
North Wall - The Antonia fortress was located here. Built by Herod
the Great, this fortress guarded the northern side of Jerusalem and held
Roman troops during Jesus' time who watched the temple activities. St.
Paul was probably brought to the Antonia after his arrest and defended
himself on the stairs that apparently led to the fortress.
The temple platform's extension to the west required enormous retaining
walls on the south and west. Some of the rocks used in the wall weighed
more than five hundred tons each. The finished platform was divided into
courts, which became increasingly more sacred the closer they were to the
temple.
Nymphaeum - "Temple of Nymphs"; an ornamental fountain with statues.
O
Obsidian - Silicon hardened like glass in a volcanic eruption.
Odeion - Small theater used for concerts and council meetings.
Offering - Something given to God to worship him. In the Old
Testament, God's people offered food and animals to God. In the New
Testament, Jesus offered himself as a sacrifice to God for us. Followers
of Jesus serve God with their whole lives as an offering of praise to God.
Oholah - Nickname given by Ezekiel to the northern kingdom. It
means "her tent" and probably refers to the Baal high places the northern
kingdom built.
Oholibah - Nickname given by Ezekiel to the southern kingdom. It
means "tent worshiper," a reference to the Baal worship of Judah.
Olive crusher - The stone basin used to crush olives into pulp. A
donkey pushed on a horizontal beam, which in turn rolled a millstone that
crushed into a pulp ripe olives placed in a large, round basin. An olive
crusher was often placed in a cave, where the moderated temperature
improved the efficiency of oil production.
Orchestra - Large circular space in Greek theater used for chorus
and actors
P
Paidagogos - A slave attendant who accompanied students from
wealthy families to school in order to tutor them in the lessons they
received from the teacher in the gymnasium. (See Gal. 3:24).
Palaestra - Courtyard of gymnasium used for exercise, wrestling,
and boxing.
Palestine - Name given to the Promised Land after the Second Jewish
Revolt (AD 132-235). It is derived from the word Philistia and was used by
the Romans to denigrate the Jews.
Pan - Greek and Roman god of the shepherds and goatherds,
associated with fertility. Son of Hermes.
Parable - A short story that is told to show how one thing is like
another. Most of the parables in the Bible are stories used by Jesus.
These parables teach us what the kingdom of God is like.
Passover - A Jewish celebration feast. It reminds the people how
God saved them from slavery in Egypt. Part of the meal includes the
Passover Lamb. At the first Passover a lamb was killed and its blood was
placed on the people's doorframes. This was so God would "pass over" the
homes of his people and spare the lives of their firstborn sons. Jesus is
the Passover lamb for all of God's people. He was sacrificed so his people
could be saved from sin and death.
Passover Cup - During the Passover liturgy of Jesus' day,
participants would drink from four cups of wine at different times. The
third cup was called the cup of salvation. While celebrating the Passover
with his disciples in the Upper Room, Jesus offered them the cup of
salvation and said, "This cup is a new covenant in my blood." He was
saying, in effect, "I love you. I give you my life. Will you give your
life to me?"
So, every time we drink from the Communion cup when the minister says, "This
cup is a new covenant in my blood," God is saying to us, "I love you. I
invite you to be my spiritual bride." And every time we drink it, we are
in effect saying to him, "I accept your gift, and I give you my life in
return."
Patriarch - Any of the very early Biblical personages regarded as
the fathers of the human race, comprising those from Adam to Noah, and
those between the Deluge and the birth of Abraham.
Peloponnese - The peninsula forming the southern part of Greece.
Peripteros - Temple surrounded by a row of columns.
Peristyle - Row of columns surrounding a building or open court.
Peristyle garden - Cultivated garden inside a colonnaded area.
Herod the Great built several peristyle gardens, including Jericho and the
Herodion.
Pharisees - Means "the separate ones." Descended from the Hasidim
("pious ones"); considered obedience to Torah to be the heart of a godly
life. Separated from sinful ways and people in their desire to be faithful.
Believed strongly in God's judgment and a resurrection where men would be
rewarded or punished according to their deeds. Constituted the largest
Jewish sect during Jesus' lifetime; exerted great control over society
through synagogues.
Philistia - Means "land of the Philistines." It was located on the
fertile coastal plain.
Philistine - This cultured seafaring group from the Aegean moved
into Israel at about the same time as the Israelites. They lived on the
fertile coastal plain, had advanced iron technology, and worshiped many
gods through extremely immoral religious practices, including sacred
prostitution.
Phoebus - Roman god of light, music, and poetry. He is often
pictured with bow and arrow; Son of Zeus and Leto.
Phonecia - Country along the Mediterranean Sea to the north of
Israel. The people worshiped Baal in the same fertility cults as did the
Canaanites. Jezebel came from here.
Pluto - Roman god of the underworld. Brother of Zeus and Poseidon.
Pool of Siloam - Located near where the Tyropoeon Valley joins the
Kidron; supplied drinking water for a large portion of Jerusalem. Water
for the pool came from Spring of Gihon through Hezekiah's tunnel. Jesus
sent a blind man he had healed here to wash the mud off his eyes.
Portico - Stoa or colonnade.
Poseidon - Greek god of the sea and earthquakes. Brother of Zeus
and Hades.
Potter's Workshop - Here, archaeologists have found a basin for
preparing clay, a base for a potter's wheel, and two kilns. The clay jars,
which helped to preserve the Dead Sea Scrolls for nearly two thousand
years, were probably made here.
Priest - A person who brought sacrifices and prayers to God for all
the people. In Israel, a priest had to be from the tribe of Levi.
Procurator - Roman military governor. Pontius Pilate was procurator
of Judea.
Prohedria - Special seat in a theater.
Promised Land - Canaan, the land promised by God to Abraham and his
descendants (Gen. 12:7). Also is referred to as heaven.
Prophet - A person God has chosen to bring his message to the
people.
Propylon - Entrance gate to sacred enclosure.
Prytaneion - Administrative building in a city, dedicated to Hestia.
Psalm - Means "song." In the Bible, God's people used psalms to (1)
praise God, (2) cry out for help during trouble, and (3) thank God. The
people also sang the psalms when they were together to worship God.
Psuedo-dipteros - Dipteral temple without inner row of columns.
Ptolemies - Descendants of Ptolemy I (one of the generals of
Alexander the Great) who ruled over Egypt from 323 BC until 198 BC. Israel
was under their control during this time. Generally, they were benevolent
rulers, though they sought to spread the influence of Hellenism among the
Jews.
Q
Qumran - A small community near the northern end of the Dead Sea,
inhabited from 130 BC to AD 70, probably by the Essenes. The Dead Sea
Scrolls were found near this settlement.
R
Rabbi - A teacher or master. In Jesus' day, a student would give up
his entire life in order to be with his teacher. The disciple didn't only
seek to know what the teacher knew, as is usually the case today. It was
not enough just to know what the rabbi said, but the foremost goal of any
talmid was to become like the rabbi and do what the rabbi did.
Rabbinic Judaism - Jewish religious practice after the Temple was
destroyed (AD 70) that centered around the Torah and its interpretation by
the rabbis.
Reap - To gather crop at harvest time. Reap can also refer to what
will happen to someone as a result of their own actions.
Reconcile, reconciliation - To bring peace between two people who
have been enemies. The world sinned and was hostile toward God. Then God
sent Jesus to reconcile the world to God.
Refractory - Eating area in communal living.
Remez - A hint; referring to a rabbinic teaching technique in which a
rabbi would hint at a meaning without actually coming out and saying it.
Example: Jesus saying that the sellers and money changers had made the
Temple a “den of robbers,” referring to the Jeremiah 7 passage in which
Jeremiah berates religious leaders for their idolatry and false religion.
Robinson's Arch - One of the largest masonry arches (75 feet tall,
more than 45 feet across) in the ancient world; supported a massive
staircase that ran from the Tyropean Valley and the Lower City to the
Royal Stoa (the place of buying and selling, the location of the temple
treasury); destroyed in AD 70 by the Romans.
S
Sadducees - Means "righteous ones." Wealthy Jewish aristocracy,
claiming descent and authority from the high priest Zadok. Oversaw Temple;
theology based on the first five books of the Bible; did not believe that
God interfered in human lives or in any afterlife. Notoriously corrupt;
disliked by the common people; helped to preserve their own political
power and wealth by collaborating with the Romans. As the majority of the
70-man religious council (Sanhedrin), they wielded great authority over
the nation's everyday affairs. Had the most to lose by Jesus' ministry, as
he challenged the temple authority. Many scholars believe the Sadducees
were responsible for plotting to kill Jesus—having him arrested,
interrogated, and then released to the Romans.
Samaria - Name of a city and a region, The city was founded by Omri,
king of Israel c.a. 880 BC, and Ahab built a magnificent palace there.
Samaria became a center for Baal worship. It was destroyed by the
Assyrians in 722 BC. During Jesus' time, it was a district of Israel.
Samaria Mountains - Northern part of the central mountain range in
Israel.
Samaritan - A person from the country of Samaria (part of Palestine).
The Samaritans were hated by the Jews because they had married non-Jews.
They also worshiped God differently from the Jews. But Jesus showed his
love for the Samaritans by going to them and teaching them about the
kingdom of God.
Sanhedrin - Means "council." Jewish supreme court; highest
religious council, composed of 70 members and the high priest. The number
70 traditionally was based on Moses' appointment of 70 elders (Num. 11:16)
to administer Israel's affairs. Used by the Romans to administer daily
affairs. Predominantly Sadducees, the religious faction most threatened by
Jesus' ministry, who plotted against, interrogated, and released him to
the Romans.
Scaenae frans - Elaborately ornamented front of the stage building
in a Roman theater.
Scapegoat - A goat let loose in the wilderness on Yom Kippur after
the high priest symbolically laid the sins of the people on its head (Lev.
16:8,10,26).
Scriptorium - Name given to a room in the Qumran community in which
many scholars believe the Essenes wrote some of the Dead Sea Scrolls.
Excavation has revealed tables and benches similar to those used by
scribes, as well as ink pots and basins in which the Essenes could
ritualistically wash their hands before and after writing God's sacred
name.
Scythopolis (Beth Sean) - One of the oldest Decapolis cities.
Originally, Beth Shean, renamed Scythopolis, or "City of Scythians,"
following Alexander the Great's conquest. Reputation for abundant water
and fertile land. Located on the road Galileans walked in the Great Rift
Valley to Jerusalem.
Sea of Galilee - Freshwater lake filled by the Jordan river,
located in the Great Rift Valley and site of the first-century commercial
fishing industry; significant for a trade route on its northern shore.
Jesus spent the majority of his ministry here, including the miracle of
walking on water.
Sebastoi - In Greek means "revered one," same as Latin Augustus.
Second Jewish Revolt - In this revolt of AD 132-135, the Romans
totally removed the nation of Israel. Also known as the Bar Kochba Revolt.
Secular humanism - Modern worldview based on an evolutionary model
that considers human beings the ultimate life form and denies the
existence or relevance of God. Right and wrong are determined by human
standards, not God's.
Sepphoris - Greek for Hebrew zippor, meaning "bird," because the
town perched like a bird on a mountaintop in Lower Galilee. Hellenistic
city built as Herod Antipas' regional capital; a major urban center of
Hellenistic culture and power, with 20,000 inhabitants. Built three and a
half miles from Nazareth during Jesus' childhood and youth; likely that he
and his father, Joseph, worked here as tektons (builders).
Septuagint - Means “70.” Greek translation of the Old Testament
made during the rule of the Ptolemies over the Jews. Frequently quoted by
the authors of the New Testament.
Serapis - Egyptian god of fertility and medicine, ruler of the dead.
Worshiped by the Greeks and Romans also.
Shavuot - Means “weeks”; also known as Pentecost or the Feast of
Weeks. It’s celebrated 50 days after the Sabbath following Passover.
Shephelah - Hebrew word for "lowlands." It refers to the area
between the Judea Mountains and the coastal plain where the Israelites and
Philistines met.
Shofar - A trumpet-like instrument made of ram’s horn blown by
priests to announce sacred events such as time of sacrifice.
Sicarri - An extremist sect of the Zealots heavily involved in the
First Jewish Revolt. They were named after their short, curved dagger (sica),
which they used to assassinate Romans and Jewish collaborators.
Siloam Inscription - After workers built the tunnel of Hezekiah,
they carved a description of its creation in the stone roof. The
inscription tells how two teams of workers, digging from opposite
directions, met in the middle. It is unusual because the story is told
from the perspective of the workers and not the king. It is in a museum in
Istanbul, Turkey.
Sinai Peninsula - Peninsula south of Israel. Mount Sinai, where
Moses received the Ten Commandments, may be located here. The Israelites
wandered here for 40 years.
“sitting in the gate” - Synonym for being a ruler, judge, or official,
because the gate compartments functioned as courthouses.
Skene - Stage of Roman theater.
S’mikheh - Authority given to a rabbi to proclaim his own
interpretation of Torah, rather than simply referring to what other rabbis
had said. The crowds were amazed at Jesus’ teaching, because he taught
like one who had “s’mikheh” (Matt. 7:28—29).
Sodom - City near the southern end of the Dead Sea that was
destroyed by God because of its wickedness, which included oppression of
the poor.
Solomon - The wisest king of all, and accomplished many great
things (including the construction of the Temple in Jerusalem), but broke
almost every command God gave for a king.
Sons of light - Name the Essenes gave themselves as followers of
God. Their enemies (Romans and the apostate priesthood in Jerusalem), in
their opinion, were the sons of darkness. The New Testament uses this
language also (1 Thess. 5:5).
Soreq - The Soreq was a five-foot-tall stone wall that surrounded
the inner courts of the consecrated temple area and was designed to keep
Gentiles and ther "unacceptable" people out of the inner courts. Gentiles
could not pass the Soreq on pain of death.
Soreq Valley - Valley linking the coastal plain and the Judea
Mountains through the Shephelah. Samson lived here.
Southern kingdom - When Israel divided after Solomon’s death (926
BC), the tribe of Judah under Rehoboam became the southern kingdom, or
Judah. In 586 BC, God punished the people for their sins by exiling them
to Babylon for 70 years. Jesus was born of this tribe.
South Wall - This wall, located on the southern side of Jerusalem,
was more than 900 feet long and more than 150 feet high. Pilgrims entered
the temple primarily through this entrance—the Double Gates—after climbing
the Southern Stairs—a broad staircase more than 200 feet wide.
Spring of Gihon - Spring in the Kidron Valley near Jerusalem. It
was the main water source for the city during Old Testament times.
Hezekiah built a tunnel that directed the spring's water inside the city
walls. Gihon means "gushing out."
Stadium - Long building used for foot races and other athletic
contests.
Standing stone - Large stone erected as a testimony to a
significant act of God (or gods). Standing stones could serve pagan as
well as God-honoring purposes.
State Agora - Large meeting place for meetings of the state.
Stele - Upright stone with writing or decoration. Our practice of
placing tombstones over the graves of loved ones probably derives from
this special standing stone.
Stoa - Porch not attached to a larger building.
Synagogue - A Greek word meaning "to gather." The Jews would gather
at buildings called synagogues to worship God and to study the Scriptures.
Each Jewish community also used the synagogue to teach young people.
Syncretism - Combining different forms of belief or practice. The
Israelites practiced syncretism when they tried to worship both God and
Baal.
Syria - Nation or area north and east of Israel. Old Testament: a
bitter enemy of Israel. New Testament: large province (including Israel)
under Roman control. At the time of Jesus, a large Jewish community lived
in its capital, Damascus.
T
Tabernacle - Means "dwelling place." It was a special tent where
the Israelites worshiped God. It is sometimes called the Tent of Meeting.
It was the place where God would meet his people.
Tabernacles (Festival, sanctuary, Succoth) - The seventh yearly
feast (Lev. 23) when all males were required to come to Jerusalem. The
people celebrated Israel’s wandering in the desert by living in temporary
shelters. Included a water ceremony as part of prayer of rain.
Table of showbread - Table that stood in the holy place of the
tabernacle and temple, outside the Holy of Holies. Priests placed the
bread of the Presence (Ex. 25:30), or showbread, on it. The bread
symbolized the Israelites’ commitment to give the Lord the results of
their work. It also testified that everything they received was a gift
from God.
Talmid - The Hebrew word for disciple is talmid. This word stresses
the relationship between rabbi (teacher or master) and disciple (student).
A talmid of Jesus' day would give up his entire life in order to be with
his teacher. The disciple didn't only seek to know what the teacher knew,
as is usually the case today. It was not enough just to know what the
rabbi said, but the foremost goal of any talmid was to become like the
rabbi and do what the rabbi did.
Tekton - A craftsman who often worked with stone. Jesus was trained
as a tekton while growing up in nearby Nazareth.
Tel - Large mound or hill composed of layers of debris from several
different periods of settlement.
Temenous - Sacred building.
Temple - A building where people worship divine beings. God told
Israel to build him a temple and worship him there. God showed his people
that he was with them by having his presence in the temple. In the New
Testament, we learn that the new temple is not a building. God's people
are now the temple of God. God's Spirit lives within them.
Temple Mount - The ridge on which Jerusalem's Temple was built and/or
the platform on which the Temple and its courts stood. King Herod's
platform was supported by massive walls, the tallest standing 160 feet,
and measured more than 1,500 feet long, north to south, and more than 900
feet wide, east to west. It accommodated 200,000 pilgrims.
Tepidarium - Warm room in Roman baths.
Tetrarch - A Roman political office; meant one-fourth of a kingdom.
When Herod died, his three sons and others received parts of his kingdom;
two sons become tetrarchs, one an ethnarch.
T’fillin - Small boxes and the accompanying leather straps worn by
observant Jews during prayer. The boxes are placed on the forehead and
near the heart and bound in place by the leather straps. (See Deut. 6.)
Thomas - Most Christians remember Thomas as the doubting disciple
who didn't believe the other disciples when they told him they'd seen the
risen Jesus (John 20:19—25), and who said that he'd only believe if he
touched Jesus' sacred hands and side (John 20:25).
But Thomas was also the disciple who demonstrated great faith and
dedication to Jesus during his walk to Jerusalem. When Jesus told his
disciples that they were returning to Judea, they protested, recalling
that the Jews had tried to stone him there. But Thomas courageously agreed
with Jesus, saying, "Let us also go, that we may die with him" (John
11:16). And the disciples remained with Jesus and headed toward Jerusalem.
Tiberias - Capital built by Herod Antipas on the Sea of Galilee's
western shore; named for Tiberias Caesar. Believed to be built over a
cemetery and considered unclean by religious Jews. After AD 70, it became
a center of Jewish religious thought.
Tithe - Means "a tenth." In the Old Testament, God's people would
give a tenth of their crops or animals to God. This was a sign that God
owned the land and had blessed his people. Also, the tithe would be used
to support the priests and Levites, and to help the poor.
Topheth - Place where the Israelites sacrificed their children.
Based on a Hebrew word meaning “furnace” or “fireplace,” the word was
altered by Hebrew scribes to mean “shameful thing.” It came to apply as
well to the cemetery where the victims’ remains were buried and to the
location in the Hinnom valley where the sacrifice occurred.
Torah - Hebrew word meaning “teaching” or “instruction.” It refers
to the first five books of Moses.
Triclinium - A reception or banquet hall or dining room. The tables
were placed in a U-shape and surrounded by couches, where diners reclined
as they ate.
Tufa - Volcanic ash that becomes a soft stone.
Tumuli - Burial mound.
Tyropean Valley - This valley lay between David’s City and the
Western Hill where the Upper City was located. Hezekiah expanded the city
into this valley. The Western Wall of Herod’s Gentile Court was located
here, as was the Pool of Siloam where Jesus sent a blind man to wash.
Tzitzit - Tassels. In Numbers 15:38—39, God commands the Israelites
to wear tassels on their garments as a reminder to them to obey all the
commandments. In practice, each tassels came to have five knots (representing
Torah), four spaces between the knots (representing the name YHWH—YaHWeH).
The numerical value of the word “tzitzit” (600), plus the five knots added
to the eight strands of thread in each knot added up to the number 613—a
number of commandments God gave in the Torah.
U
Unclean - Having a physical or moral blemish so as to make impure
according to the laws, especially the dietary or ceremonial laws. Example:
an unclean animal; unclean persons.
Upper City - The highest area in Jerusalem (located on the Western
Hill now named Mount Zion). Herod built his palace here, and many wealthy
Jews also lived in the upper city. The area was dominated by affluent
Hellenists.
V
Valley of Armageddon - See Valley of Jezreel.
Valley of Jehoshaphat - Place where the Lord will summon the world
to be judged. ("Jehoshaphat" means "the Lord will judge.") The Kidron
Valley east of Jerusalem is believed to be this location.
Valley of Jezreel - Large, flat, fertile plain in northern Israel
between the Galilee Mountains and the Samaria Mountains. The international
trade route Via Maris passed through this area. It is also known as the
Valley of Armageddon.
Venus - Roman god of love and beauty. Daughter of Zeus and Dione (or
did she spring from the sea?)
Vesta - Roman goddess of the hearth and home. Sister of Zeus.
Via Maris - During Biblical times, Israel was located at the
crossroads of the world, where the trade of the civilized world passes
through. Since the Arabian desert was in between the empires of Egypt and
Mesopotamia (Persia, Babylon, Assyira), the only trade route passed
through Israel, a narrow land bridge between the Mediterranean Sea and the
desert to the east. This busy road, the lifeline of the trade route, was
known as "Way of the Sea."
Victory - Roman god of victory, pictured with a wreath.
Granddaughter of Oceanus, daughter of Styx.
Vomitorium - Covered exit in a Roman theater.
W
Wadis (Hebrew: nahal) - Mountain canyons that carry water only when
it rains; dry riverbeds with occasional flash floods. Wadi Kelt was a
significant pass into and through the Judea Mountains between Jericho and
Jerusalem.
Warren's Gate - Provided direct access to the temple courts.
Way of the Sea - During Biblical times, Israel was located at the
crossroads of the world, where the trade of the civilized world passes
through. Since the Arabian desert was in between the empires of Egypt and
Mesopotamia (Persia, Babylon, Assyira), the only trade route passed
through Israel, a narrow land bridge between the Mediterranean Sea and the
desert to the east. This busy road, the lifeline of the trade route, was
known as "Way of the Sea."
Western Hill - Once within the walls of ancient Jerusalem, the
Western Hill was located at the southwest corner of the city. It is very
sacred to the Jewish people because it is the traditional spot of David’s
tomb. The upper room where Jesus ate the last supper is found here as well
(Luke 22:1—38).
Wilderness of Paran - Wilderness south of the Judea and Negev
mountains between the Wilderness of Zin and the Sinai Peninsula. The
Israelites wandered here for 40 years.
Wilson's Arch - Supported a bridge that extended from the Upper
City, where Sadducees and other influential Jews lived, across the
Tyropean Valley to the Temple Mount; extended 75 feet above the valley
floor and spanned 45 feet.
Worship Court - The people's court; a large outer court in which
the people stood to worship; contained the altar of sacrifice and the
laver or basin (the bronze Sea).
Y
Yeshua - God saves. Jesus was called “Yeshua”.
Yahweh - Israel's God, means "I am" or "I am what I am," indicating
that God is completely self-determined, dependent on no one for his being
or power. The most sacred and holy name of God; other references to the
divine as God, Lord, or Almighty are titles. Jewish people of Jesus' time
avoided saying this for fear of using it in vain. To refer to God they
used Adoni (Greek, "Lord" or "Master").
Z
Zealots - The term Zealot technically applies to a person who
belonged to the party or "philosophy" that began in Gamla, but it is often
applied to all Jewish rebels who resisted Roman authority and Jewish
collaborators.
For generations, the Zealots violently resisted the emperor’s authority.
They longed for a messiah who would lead a great holy army, destroy their
Roman overlords, and reestablish Jewish rule in Israel.
Zeus - Greek god of the sky, supreme god. Son of Cronus.
Ziklag - City in southern Judea controlled by Philistines. Achish,
king of the Philistine city of Gath, gave Ziklag to David before David
became king of Israel. David used the city as a base to expand his power
with the people of Judea.
Zin Wilderness - Name of part of the Negev wilderness just west of
the Great Rift Valley. Named after the riverbed in the area: Zin.
Zion - A hill within the city of Jerusalem. God's temple was built
on Zion. Sometimes Zion or Daughter of Zion is used to refer to the whole
city of Jerusalem, or to the people of God. The New Testament refers to
Mount Zion as the New Jerusalem. It is part of the new heaven and new
earth that we will see in the future.
Zorah - Town in the Shephelah where the tribe of Dan settled.
Samson came from here.
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