Blade - applied to the glittering point of a spear ( Job 39:23) or sword ( Nah. 3:3), the blade of a dagger ( Judg. 3:22); the "shoulder blade" ( Job 31:22); the "blade" of cereals ( Matt. 13:26).

Blains - occurs only in connection with the sixth plague of Egypt ( Ex. 9:9,Ex. 9:10). In Deut. 28:27, Deut. 28:35, it is called "the botch of Egypt." It seems to have been the fearful disease of black leprosy, a kind of elephantiasis, producing burning ulcers.

Blasphemy - In the sense of speaking evil of God this word is found in Ps. 74:18; Isa. 52:5; Rom. 2:24; Rev. 13:1, Rev. 13:6; Rev 16:9, Rev. 13:11, Rev. 13:21. It denotes also any kind of calumny, or evil-speaking, or abuse (1 Kings 21:10; Acts 13:45; Acts 18:6, etc.). Our Lord was accused of blasphemy when he claimed to be the Son of God ( Matt. 26:65; comp. Matt. 9:3; Mark 2:7). They who deny his Messiahship blaspheme Jesus ( Luke 22:65; John 10:36).

Blasphemy against the Holy Ghost ( Matt. 12:31,Matt. 12:32; Mark 3:28, Mark 3:29; Luke 12:10) is regarded by some as a continued and obstinate rejection of the gospel, and hence is an unpardonable sin, simply because as long as a sinner remains in unbelief he voluntarily excludes himself from pardon. Others regard the expression as designating the sin of attributing to the power of Satan those miracles which Christ performed, or generally those works which are the result of the Spirit's agency.

Blastus - chamberlain to king Herod Agrippa I. ( Acts 12:20). Such persons generally had great influence with their masters.

Blemish - imperfection or bodily deformity excluding men from the priesthood, and rendering animals unfit to be offered in sacrifice ( Lev. 21:17-23;Lev 22:19-25). The Christian church, as justified in Christ, is "without blemish" ( Eph. 5:27). Christ offered himself a sacrifice "without blemish," acceptable to God (1 Pet. 1:19).

Bless - (1.) God blesses his people when he bestows on them some gift temporal or spiritual ( Gen. 1:22;Gen 24:35; Job 42:12; Ps. 45:2; Ps 104:24, Ps. 45:35).

(2.) We bless God when we thank him for his mercies ( Ps. 103:1,Ps. 103:2;Ps 145:1,Ps. 103:2).

(3.) A man blesses himself when he invokes God's blessing ( Isa. 65:16), or rejoices in God's goodness to him ( Deut. 29:19; Ps. 49:18).

(4.) One blesses another when he expresses good wishes or offers prayer to God for his welfare ( Gen. 24:60;Gen 31:55; 1 Sam. 2:20). Sometimes blessings were uttered under divine inspiration, as in the case of Noah, Isaac, Jacob, and Moses ( Gen. 9:26,Gen. 9:27;Gen 27:28,Gen. 9:29,Gen. 9:40;Gen 48:15-20;Gen 49:1-28; Deut. 33). The priests were divinely authorized to bless the people ( Deut. 10:8; Num. 6:22-27). We have many examples of apostolic benediction (2 Cor. 13:14; Eph. 6:23, Eph. 6:24; 2 Thess. 3:16,2 Thess. 3:18; Heb. 13:20, Heb. 13:21; 1 Pet. 5:10,1 Pet. 5:11).

(5.) Among the Jews in their thank-offerings the master of the feast took a cup of wine in his hand, and after having blessed God for it and for other mercies then enjoyed, handed it to his guests, who all partook of it. Ps. 116:13 refers to this custom. It is also alluded to in 1 Cor. 10:16, where the apostle speaks of the "cup of blessing."

Blind - Blind beggars are frequently mentioned ( Matt. 9:27;Matt 12:22;Matt 20:30; John 5:3). The blind are to be treated with compassion ( Lev. 19:14; Deut. 27:18). Blindness was sometimes a punishment for disobedience (1 Sam. 11:2; Jer. 39:7), sometimes the effect of old age ( Gen. 27:1; 1 Kings 14:4; 1 Sam. 4:15). Conquerors sometimes blinded their captives (2 Kings 25:7; 1 Sam. 11:2). Blindness denotes ignorance as to spiritual things ( Isa. 6:10;Isa 42:18,Isa. 6:19; Matt. 15:14; Eph. 4:18). The opening of the eyes of the blind is peculiar to the Messiah ( Isa. 29:18). Elymas was smitten with blindness at Paul's word ( Acts 13:11).

Blood - (1.) As food, prohibited in Gen. 9:4, where the use of animal food is first allowed. Comp. Deut. 12:23; Lev. 3:17; Lev 7:26; Lev 17:10-14. The injunction to abstain from blood is renewed in the decree of the council of Jerusalem ( Acts 15:29). It has been held by some, and we think correctly, that this law of prohibition was only ceremonial and temporary; while others regard it as still binding on all. Blood was eaten by the Israelites after the battle of Gilboa (1 Sam. 14:32-34).

(2.) The blood of sacrifices was caught by the priest in a basin, and then sprinkled seven times on the altar; that of the passover on the doorposts and lintels of the houses (Ex. 12; Lev. 4:5-7; Lev 16:14-19). At the giving of the law ( Ex. 24:8) the blood of the sacrifices was sprinkled on the people as well as on the altar, and thus the people were consecrated to God, or entered into covenant with him, hence the blood of the covenant ( Matt. 26:28; Heb. 9:19, Heb. 9:20; Heb 10:29; Heb 13:20).

(3.) Human blood. The murderer was to be punished ( Gen. 9:5). The blood of the murdered "crieth for vengeance" ( Gen. 4:10). The "avenger of blood" was the nearest relative of the murdered, and he was required to avenge his death ( Num. 35:24,Num. 35:27). No satisfaction could be made for the guilt of murder ( Num. 35:31).

(4.) Blood used metaphorically to denote race ( Acts 17:26), and as a symbol of slaughter ( Isa. 34:3). To "wash the feet in blood" means to gain a great victory ( Ps. 58:10). Wine, from its red colour, is called "the blood of the grape" ( Gen. 49:11). Blood and water issued from our Saviour's side when it was pierced by the Roman soldier ( John 19:34). This has led pathologists to the conclusion that the proper cause of Christ's death was rupture of the heart. (Comp. Ps. 69:20.)

Bloody sweat - the sign and token of our Lord's great agony ( Luke 22:44).

Blot - a stain or reproach ( Job 31:7; Prov. 9:7). To blot out sin is to forgive it ( Ps. 51:1,Ps. 51:9; Isa. 44:22; Acts 3:19). Christ's blotting out the handwriting of ordinances was his fulfilling the law in our behalf ( Col. 2:14).

Blue - generally associated with purple ( Ex. 25:4;Ex 26:1,Ex. 25:31,Ex. 25:36, etc.). It is supposed to have been obtained from a shellfish of the Mediterranean, the Helix ianthina of Linnaeus. The robe of the high priest's ephod was to be all of this colour ( Ex. 28:31), also the loops of the curtains ( Ex 26:4) and the ribbon of the breastplate ( Ex 28:28). Blue cloths were also made for various sacred purposes ( Num. 4:6,Num. 4:7,Num. 4:9,Num. 4:11,Num. 4:12). (See COLOUR.)

Boanerges - sons of thunder, a surname given by our Lord to James and John ( Mark 3:17) on account of their fervid and impetuous temper ( Luke 9:54).

Boar - occurs only in Ps. 80:13. The same Hebrew word is elsewhere rendered "swine" ( Lev. 11:7; Deut. 14:8; Prov. 11:22; Isa. 65:4; Isa 66:3, Isa. 65:17). The Hebrews abhorred swine's flesh, and accordingly none of these animals were reared, except in the district beyond the Sea of Galilee. In the psalm quoted above the powers that destroyed the Jewish nation are compared to wild boars and wild beasts of the field.

Boaz - alacrity. (1.) The husband of Ruth, a wealthy Bethlehemite. By the "levirate law" the duty devolved on him of marrying Ruth the Moabitess ( Ruth 4:1-13). He was a kinsman of Mahlon, her first husband.

(2.) The name given (for what reason is unknown) to one of the two (the other was called Jachin) brazen pillars which Solomon erected in the court of the temple (1 Kings 7:21; 2 Chr. 3:17). These pillars were broken up and carried to Babylon by Nebuchadnezzar.

Bochim - weepers, a place where the angel of the Lord reproved the Israelites for entering into a league with the people of the land. This caused them bitterly to weep, and hence the name of the place ( Judg. 2:1,Judg. 2:5). It lay probably at the head of one of the valleys between Gilgal and Shiloh.

Boil - (rendered "botch" in Deut. 28:27, Deut. 28:35), an aggravated ulcer, as in the case of Hezekiah (2 Kings 20:7; Isa. 38:21) or of the Egyptians ( Ex. 9:9,Ex. 9:10,Ex. 9:11; Deut. 28:27, Deut. 28:35). It designates the disease of Job Deut 2:7), which was probably the black leprosy.

Bolled - ( Ex. 9:31), meaning "swollen or podded for seed," was adopted in the Authorized Version from the version of Coverdale (1535). The Revised Version has in the margin "was in bloom," which is the more probable rendering of the Hebrew word. It is the fact that in Egypt when barley is in ear (about February) flax is blossoming.

Bolster - The Hebrew word kebir, rendered "pillow" in 1 Sam. 19:13,1 Sam. 19:16, but in Revised Version marg. "quilt" or "network," probably means some counterpane or veil intended to protect the head of the sleeper. A different Hebrew word (meraashoth') is used for "bolster" (1 Sam. 26:7,1 Sam. 26:11,1 Sam. 26:16). It is rightly rendered in Revised Version "at his head." In Gen. 28:11, Gen. 28:18the Authorized Version renders it "for his pillows," and the Revised Version "under his head." In Ezek. 13:18, Ezek. 13:20another Hebrew word (kesathoth) is used, properly denoting "cushions" or "pillows," as so rendered both in the Authorized and the Revised Version.

Bond - an obligation of any kind ( Num. 30:2,Num. 30:4,Num. 30:12). The word means also oppression or affliction ( Ps. 116:16; Phil. 1:7). Christian love is the "bond of perfectness" ( Col. 3:14), and the influences of the Spirit are the "bond of peace" ( Eph. 4:3).

Bondage - of Israel in Egypt ( Ex. 2:23,Ex. 2:25;Ex 5), which is called the "house of bondage" ( Ex 13:3;Ex 20:2). This word is used also with reference to the captivity in Babylon ( Isa. 14:3), and the oppression of the Persian king ( Ezra 9:8,Ezra 9:9).

Bonnet - (Heb. peer), Ex. 39:28 (R.V., "head-tires"); Ezek. 44:18 (R.V., "tires"), denotes properly a turban worn by priests, and in Isa. 3:20 (R.V., "head-tires") a head-dress or tiara worn by females. The Hebrew word so rendered literally means an ornament, as in Isa. 61:10 (R.V., "garland"), and in Ezek. 24:17, Ezek. 24:23"tire" (R.V., "head-tire"). It consisted of a piece of cloth twisted about the head. In Ex. 28:40; Ex 29:9it is the translation of a different Hebrew word (migba'ah), which denotes the turban (R.V., "head-tire") of the common priest as distinguished from the mitre of the high priest. (See MITRE.)

Book - This word has a comprehensive meaning in Scripture. In the Old Testament it is the rendering of the Hebrew word sepher, which properly means a "writing," and then a "volume" ( Ex. 17:14; Deut. 28:58; Deut 29:20; Job 19:23) or "roll of a book" ( Jer. 36:2,Jer. 36:4).

Books were originally written on skins, on linen or cotton cloth, and on Egyptian papyrus, whence our word "paper." The leaves of the book were generally written in columns, designated by a Hebrew word properly meaning "doors" and "valves" ( Jer. 36:23, R.V., marg. "columns").

Among the Hebrews books were generally rolled up like our maps, or if very long they were rolled from both ends, forming two rolls ( Luke 4:17-20). Thus they were arranged when the writing was on flexible materials; but if the writing was on tablets of wood or brass or lead, then the several tablets were bound together by rings through which a rod was passed.

A sealed book is one whose contents are secret ( Isa. 29:11; Rev. 5:1-3). To "eat" a book ( Jer. 15:16; Ezek. 2:8-10; Ezek 3:1-3; Rev. 10:9) is to study its contents carefully.

The book of judgment ( Dan. 7:10) refers to the method of human courts of justice as illustrating the proceedings which will take place at the day of God's final judgment.

The book of the wars of the Lord ( Num. 21:14), the book of Jasher ( Josh. 10:13), and the book of the chronicles of the kings of Judah and Israel (2 Chr. 25:26), were probably ancient documents known to the Hebrews, but not forming a part of the canon.

The book of life ( Ps. 69:28) suggests the idea that as the redeemed form a community or citizenship ( Phil. 3:20;Phil 4:3), a catalogue of the citizens' names is preserved ( Luke 10:20; Rev. 20:15). Their names are registered in heaven ( Luke 10:20; Rev. 3:5).

The book of the covenant ( Ex. 24:7), containing Ex. 20:22 Ex. 23:33, is the first book actually mentioned as a part of the written word. It contains a series of laws, civil, social, and religious, given to Moses at Sinai immediately after the delivery of the decalogue. These were written in this "book."

Booth - a hut made of the branches of a tree. In such tabernacles Jacob sojourned for a season at a place named from this circumstance Succoth ( Gen. 33:17). Booths were erected also at the feast of Tabernacles (q.v.), Lev. 23:42, Lev. 23:43, which commemorated the abode of the Israelites in the wilderness.

Booty - captives or cattle or objects of value taken in war. In Canaan all that breathed were to be destroyed (Deut. 20: 16). The "pictures and images" of the Canaanites were to be destroyed also (Num. 33:52). The law of booty as to its division is laid down in Num. 31:26-47. David afterwards introduced a regulation that the baggage-guard should share the booty equally with the soldiers engaged in battle. He also devoted of the spoils of war for the temple (1 Sam. 30:24-26; 2 Sam. 8:11; 1 Chr. 26:27).

Borrow - The Israelites "borrowed" from the Egyptians ( Ex. 12:35, R.V., "asked") in accordance with a divine command ( Ex 3:22;Ex 11:2). But the word (sha'al) so rendered here means simply and always to "request" or "demand." The Hebrew had another word which is properly translated "borrow" in Deut. 28:12; Ps. 37:21. It was well known that the parting was final. The Egyptians were so anxious to get the Israelites away out of their land that "they let them have what they asked" ( Ex. 12:36, R.V.), or literally "made them to ask," urged them to take whatever they desired and depart. (See LOAN.)