Conduit - a water-course or channel ( Job 38:25). The "conduit of the upper pool" ( Isa. 7:3) was formed by Hezekiah for the purpose of conveying the waters from the upper pool in the valley of Gihon to the west side of the city of David (2 Kings 18:17;2 Kings 20:20; 2 Chr. 32:30). In carrying out this work he stopped "the waters of the fountains which were without the city" i.e., "the upper water-course of Gihon", and conveyed it down from the west through a canal into the city, so that in case of a siege the inhabitants of the city might have a supply of water, which would thus be withdrawn from the enemy. (See SILOAM.)

There are also the remains of a conduit which conducted water from the so-called "Pools of Solomon," beyond Bethlehem, into the city. Water is still conveyed into the city from the fountains which supplied these pools by a channel which crosses the valley of Hinnom.

Coney - (Heb. shaphan; i.e., "the hider"), an animal which inhabits the mountain gorges and the rocky districts of Arabia Petraea and the Holy Land. "The conies are but a feeble folk, yet make they their houses in the rocks" ( Prov. 30:26; Ps. 104:18). They are gregarious, and "exceeding wise" ( Prov. 30:24), and are described as chewing the cud ( Lev. 11:5; Deut. 14:7).

The animal intended by this name is known among naturalists as the Hyrax Syriacus. It is neither a ruminant nor a rodent, but is regarded as akin to the rhinoceros. When it is said to "chew the cud," the Hebrew word so used does not necessarily imply the possession of a ruminant stomach. "The lawgiver speaks according to appearances; and no one can watch the constant motion of the little creature's jaws, as it sits continually working its teeth, without recognizing the naturalness of the expression" (Tristram, Natural History of the Bible). It is about the size and color of a rabbit, though clumsier in structure, and without a tail. Its feet are not formed for digging, and therefore it has its home not in burrows but in the clefts of the rocks. "Coney" is an obsolete English word for "rabbit."

Confection - ( Ex. 30:35, "ointment" in ver. 25; R.V., "perfume"). The Hebrew word so rendered is derived from a root meaning to compound oil and perfume.

Confectionaries - only in 1 Sam. 8:13, those who make confections, i.e., perfumers, who compound species and perfumes.

Confession - (1) An open profession of faith ( Luke 12:8). (2.) An acknowledment of sins to God ( Lev. 16:21; Ezra 9:5-15; Dan. 9:3-12), and to a neighbour whom we have wronged ( James 5:16; Matt. 18:15).

Congregation - (Heb. kahal), the Hebrew people collectively as a holy community ( Num. 15:15). Every circumcised Hebrew from twenty years old and upward was a member of the congregation. Strangers resident in the land, if circumcised, were, with certain exceptions ( Ex. 12:19; Num. 9:14; Deut. 23:1-3), admitted to the privileges of citizenship, and spoken of as members of the congregation ( Ex. 12:19; Num. 9:14; Num 15:15). The congregation were summonded together by the sound of two silver trumpets, and they met at the door of the tabernacle ( Num. 10:3). These assemblies were convened for the purpose of engaging in solemn religious services ( Ex. 12:27; Num. 25:6; Joel 2:15), or of receiving new commandments ( Ex. 19:7,Ex. 19:8). The elders, who were summonded by the sound of one trumpet ( Num. 10:4), represented on various occasions the whole congregation ( Ex. 3:16;Ex 12:21;Ex 17:5;Ex 24:1).

After the conquest of Canaan, the people were assembled only on occasions of the highest national importance (Judg. 20; 2 Chr. 30:5;2 Chr 34:29; 1 Sam. 10:17; 2 Sam. 5:1-5; 1 Kings 12:20; 2 Kings 11:19;2 Kings 21:24;2 Kings 23:30). In subsequent times the congregation was represented by the Sanhedrim; and the name synagogue, applied in the Septuagint version exclusively to the congregation, came to be used to denote the places of worship established by the Jews. (See CHURCH.)

In Acts 13:43, where alone it occurs in the New Testament, it is the same word as that rendered "synagogue" (q.v.) in ver. 42, and is so rendered in ver. 43 in R.V.

Congregation, mount of the - ( Isa. 14:13), has been supposed to refer to the place where God promised to meet with his people ( Ex. 25:22;Ex 29:42,Ex. 25:43) i.e., the mount of the Divine presence, Mount Zion. But here the king of Babylon must be taken as expressing himself according to his own heathen notions, and not according to those of the Jews. The "mount of the congregation" will therefore in this case mean the northern mountain, supposed by the Babylonians to be the meeting-place of their gods. In the Babylonian inscriptions mention is made of a mountain which is described as "the mighty mountain of Bel, whose head rivals heaven, whose root is the holy deep." This mountain was regarded in their mythology as the place where the gods had their seat.

Conscience - that faculty of the mind, or inborn sense of right and wrong, by which we judge of the moral character of human conduct. It is common to all men. Like all our other faculties, it has been perverted by the Fall ( John 16:2; Acts 26:9; Rom. 2:15). It is spoken of as "defiled" ( Titus 1:15), and "seared" (1 Tim. 4:2). A "conscience void of offence" is to be sought and cultivated ( Acts 24:16; Rom. 9:1; 2 Cor. 1:12; 1 Tim. 1:5,1 Tim. 1:19; 1 Pet. 3:21).

Consecration - the devoting or setting apart of anything to the worship or service of God. The race of Abraham and the tribe of Levi were thus consecrated ( Ex. 13:2,Ex. 13:12,Ex. 13:15; Num. 3:12). The Hebrews devoted their fields and cattle, and sometimes the spoils of war, to the Lord ( Lev. 27:28,Lev. 27:29). According to the Mosaic law the first-born both of man and beast were consecrated to God.

In the New Testament, Christians are regarded as consecrated to the Lord (1 Pet. 2:9).

Consolation of Israel - a name for the Messiah in common use among the Jews, probably suggested by Isa. 12:1; Isa 49:13. The Greek word thus rendered ( Luke 2:25, paraklesis) is kindred to that translated "Comforter" in John 14:16, etc., parakletos.

Constellation - a cluster of stars, or stars which appear to be near each other in the heavens, and which astronomers have reduced to certain figures (as the "Great Bear," the "Bull," etc.) for the sake of classification and of memory. In Isa. 13:10, where this word only occurs, it is the rendering of the Hebrew kesil, i.e., "fool." This was the Hebrew name of the constellation Orion ( Job 9:9;Job 38:31), a constellation which represented Nimrod, the symbol of folly and impiety. The word some interpret by "the giant" in this place, "some heaven-daring rebel who was chained to the sky for his impiety."

Contentment - a state of mind in which one's desires are confined to his lot whatever it may be (1 Tim. 6:6; 2 Cor. 9:8). It is opposed to envy ( James 3:16), avarice ( Heb. 13:5), ambition ( Prov. 13:10), anxiety ( Matt. 6:25,Matt. 6:34), and repining (1 Cor. 10:10). It arises from the inward disposition, and is the offspring of humility, and of an intelligent consideration of the rectitude and benignity of divine providence ( Ps. 96:1,Ps. 96:2;Ps 145), the greatness of the divine promises (2 Pet. 1:4), and our own unworthiness ( Gen. 32:10); as well as from the view the gospel opens up to us of rest and peace hereafter ( Rom. 5:2).

Conversation - generally the goings out and in of social intercourse ( Eph. 2:3;Eph 4:22; R.V., "manner of life"); one's deportment or course of life. This word is never used in Scripture in the sense of verbal communication from one to another ( Ps. 50:23; Heb. 13:5). In Phil. 1:27 and 3:20, a different Greek word is used. It there means one's relations to a community as a citizen, i.e., citizenship.

Conversion - the turning of a sinner to God ( Acts 15:3). In a general sense the heathen are said to be "converted" when they abandon heathenism and embrace the Christian faith; and in a more special sense men are converted when, by the influence of divine grace in their souls, their whole life is changed, old things pass away, and all things become new ( Acts 26:18). Thus we speak of the conversion of the Philippian jailer ( Acts 16:19-34), of Paul ( Acts 9:1-22), of the Ethiopian treasurer ( Acts 8:26-40), of Cornelius (10), of Lydia ( Acts 16:13-15), and others. (See REGENERATION.)

Convocation - a meeting of a religious character as distinguished from congregation, which was more general, dealing with political and legal matters. Hence it is called an "holy convocation." Such convocations were the Sabbaths ( Lev. 23:2,Lev. 23:3), the Passover ( Ex. 12:16; Lev. 23:7, Lev. 23:8; Num. 28:25), Pentecost ( Lev. 23:21), the feast of Trumpets ( Lev. 23:24; Num. 29:1), the feast of Weeks ( Num. 28:26), and the feast of Tabernacles ( Lev. 23:35,Lev. 23:36). The great fast, the annual day of atonement, was "the holy convocation" ( Lev. 23:27; Num. 29:7).

Cook - a person employed to perform culinary service. In early times among the Hebrews cooking was performed by the mistress of the household ( Gen. 18:2-6; Judg. 6:19), and the process was very expeditiously performed ( Gen. 27:3,Gen. 27:4,Gen. 27:9,Gen. 27:10). Professional cooks were afterwards employed (1 Sam. 8:13;1 Sam 9:23). Few animals, as a rule, were slaughtered (other than sacrifices), except for purposes of hospitality ( Gen. 18:7; Luke 15:23). The paschal lamb was roasted over a fire ( Ex. 12:8,Ex. 12:9;Ex 2Chr. 35:13). Cooking by boiling was the usual method adopted ( Lev. 8:31; Ex. 16:23). No cooking took place on the Sabbath day ( Ex. 35:3).

Coos - (written Cos in the R.V.), a small island, one of the Sporades in the Aegean Sea, in the north-west of Rhodes, off the coast of Caria. Paul on his return from his third missionary journey, passed the night here after sailing from Miletus ( Acts 21:1). It is now called Stanchio.

Copper - derived from the Greek kupros (the island of Cyprus), called "Cyprian brass," occurs only in the Authorized Version in Ezra 8:27. Elsewhere the Hebrew word (nehosheth) is improperly rendered "brass," and sometimes "steel" (2 Sam. 22:35; Jer. 15:12). The "bow of steel" ( Job 20:24; Ps. 18:34) should have been "bow of copper" (or "brass," as in the R.V.). The vessels of "fine copper" of Ezra 8:27 were probably similar to those of "bright brass" mentioned in 1 Kings 7:45; Dan. 10:6.

Tubal-cain was the first artificer in brass and iron ( Gen. 4:22). Hiram was noted as a worker in brass (1 Kings 7:14). Copper abounded in Palestine ( Deut. 8:9; Isa. 60:17; 1 Chr. 22:3,1 Chr. 22:14). All sorts of vessels in the tabernacle and the temple were made of it ( Lev. 6:28; Num. 16:39; 2 Chr. 4:16; Ezra 8:27); also weapons of war (1 Sam. 17:5,1 Sam. 17:6,1 Sam. 17:38; 2 Sam. 21:16). Iron is mentioned only four times ( Gen. 4:22; Lev. 26:19; Num. 31:22; Num 35:16) in the first four books of Moses, while copper (rendered "brass") is mentioned forty times. (See BRASS.)

We find mention of Alexander (q.v.), a "coppersmith" of Ephesus (2 Tim. 4:14).

Cor - This Hebrew word, untranslated, denotes a round vessel used as a measure both for liquids and solids. It was equal to one homer, and contained ten ephahs in dry and ten baths in liquid measure ( Ezek. 45:14). The Rabbins estimated the cor at forty-five gallons, while Josephus estimated it at about eighty-seven. In 1 Kings 4:22;1 Kings 5:11; 2 Chr. 2:10;2 Chr 27:5, the original word is rendered "measure."

Coral - Heb. ramoth, meaning "heights;" i.e., "high-priced" or valuable things, or, as some suppose, "that which grows high," like a tree ( Job 28:18; Ezek. 27:16), according to the Rabbins, red coral, which was in use for ornaments.

The coral is a cretaceous marine product, the deposit by minute polypous animals of calcareous matter in cells in which the animal lives. It is of numberless shapes as it grows, but usually is branched like a tree. Great coral reefs and coral islands abound in the Red Sea, whence probably the Hebrews derived their knowledge of it. It is found of different colours, white, black, and red. The red, being esteemed the most precious, was used, as noticed above, for ornamental purposes.

Corban - a Hebrew word adopted into the Greek of the New Testament and left untranslated. It occurs only once ( Mark 7:11). It means a gift or offering consecrated to God. Anything over which this word was once pronounced was irrevocably dedicated to the temple. Land, however, so dedicated might be redeemed before the year of jubilee ( Lev. 27:16-24). Our Lord condemns the Pharisees for their false doctrine, inasmuch as by their traditions they had destroyed the commandment which requires children to honour their father and mother, teaching them to find excuse from helping their parents by the device of pronouncing "Corban" over their goods, thus reserving them to their own selfish use.

Cord - frequently used in its proper sense, for fastening a tent ( Ex. 35:18;Ex 39:40), yoking animals to a cart ( Isa. 5:18), binding prisoners ( Judg. 15:13; Ps. 2:3; Ps 129:4), and measuring ground (2 Sam. 8;2; Ps. 78:55). Figuratively, death is spoken of as the giving way of the tent-cord ( Job 4:21. "Is not their tent-cord plucked up?" R.V.). To gird one's self with a cord was a token of sorrow and humiliation. To stretch a line over a city meant to level it with the ground ( Lam. 2:8). The "cords of sin" are the consequences or fruits of sin ( Prov. 5:22). A "threefold cord" is a symbol of union ( Eccl. 4:12). The "cords of a man" ( Hos. 11:4) means that men employ, in inducing each other, methods such as are suitable to men, and not "cords" such as oxen are led by. Isaiah ( Hos 5:18) says, "Woe unto them that draw iniquity with cords of vanity, and sin as it were with a cart rope." This verse is thus given in the Chaldee paraphrase: "Woe to those who begin to sin by little and little, drawing sin by cords of vanity: these sins grow and increase till they are strong and are like a cart rope." This may be the true meaning. The wicked at first draw sin with a slender cord; but by-and-by their sins increase, and they are drawn after them by a cart rope. Henderson in his commentary says: "The meaning is that the persons described were not satisfied with ordinary modes of provoking the Deity, and the consequent ordinary approach of his vengeance, but, as it were, yoked themselves in the harness of iniquity, and, putting forth all their strength, drew down upon themselves, with accelerated speed, the load of punishment which their sins deserved."

Coriander - Heb. gad, ( Ex. 16:31; Num. 11:7), seed to which the manna is likened in its form and colour. It is the Coriandrum sativum of botanists, an umbelliferous annual plant with a round stalk, about two feet high. It is widely cultivated in Eastern countries and in the south of Europe for the sake of its seeds, which are in the form of a little ball of the size of a peppercorn. They are used medicinally and as a spice. The Greek name of this plant is korion or koriannon, whence the name "coriander."