Unit One Bible Dictionary entries Flashcards
Aaron
Son of Amram and Jochebed, of the tribe of Levi, elder brother to Moses, appointed by the lord to assist moses and his spokesmen.
Abraham
Father of a multitude, originally called Abram. Son of Terah, from Ur of the Chaldees. Abraham is always regarded in the Old Testament as founder of the covenant race, which is personified in the house of Israel. He is the “father of the faithful.” John the Baptist and Paul rebuked those holding the erroneous idea that natural descent from Abraham was by itself sufficient to secure God’s favor. Latter-day revelation has clarified the significance of the Abrahamic covenant and other aspects of Abraham’s life and ministry. We learn that he was greatly blessed with divine revelation concerning the planetary system, the creation of the earth, and the premortal activities of the spirits of mankind. One of the most valiant spirits in the premortal life, he was chosen to be a leader in the kingdom of God before he was born into this world (Abr. 1–5). We also learn from latter-day revelation that because of Abraham’s faithfulness he is now exalted and sits upon a throne in eternity
Abraham, Covenant of
Abraham first received the gospel by baptism (which is the covenant of salvation). Then he had conferred upon him the higher priesthood, and he entered into celestial marriage (which is the covenant of exaltation), gaining assurance thereby that he would have eternal increase. Finally he received a promise that all of these blessings would be offered to all of his mortal posterity (D&C 132:29–50; Abr. 2:6–11). Included in the divine promises to Abraham were the assurances that (1) Christ would come through his lineage, and that (2) Abraham’s posterity would receive certain lands as an eternal inheritance (Gen. 17; 22:15–18; Gal. 3; Abr. 2). These promises taken together are called the “Abrahamic covenant.” It was renewed with Isaac (Gen. 26:1–4, 24) and again with Jacob.
Abel
Son of Adam and Eve, and who offered a more excellent sacrifice than Cain and was killed out of jealousy by him and because Cain lusted after his flocks. Abel’s sacrifice was accepted of the Lord because he was authorized by revelation to make the offering; and he performed it in faith, in the proper manner, by the proper authority, and for the proper reasons, his sacrifice being a type or symbol of the Redeemer
Amalek, Amalekites
An Arab tribe that lived in the desert of Paran between the Arabah and the Mediterranean and at one time seem to have ranged as far north as Mount Ephraim (Judg. 5:14; 12:15). The Amalekites were at constant war with the Hebrews from the time of Moses (Ex. 17:8, etc.) till their power was broken by Saul and David (1Sam. 15; 27:8; 30; 2Sam. 8:12), and their last remnant was destroyed by the Simeonites
Altar
Used for sacrifices and offerings and for sacred ordinances of the gospel. Altars are first mentioned in Gen. 8:20; animal sacrifice was offered on altars.
At the four corners were four horns; on these, the loftiest points of the altar, the blood of the sin offerings was put, that the atonement might be brought nearer to God. The materials were either of raised earth or unhewn stones. The wood again might be overlaid with brass or gold. In the tabernacle the Altar of Burnt Offering stood in a court outside the tent; its outer frame was acacia wood overlaid with brass. Around it, halfway up, was a ledge, with rings and staves by which it was carried. In the Holy Place, before the veil and the mercy seat was the Altar of Incense. On it incense was burned morning and evening (no animal sacrifices); and on its horns once a year, on the Day of Atonement, the blood of the sin offering was put.
Ark
The vessel built by noah for saving life during the great flood. its dimensions were over 300 cubits long , 50 cubits wide, and 30 cubits high; it was built of gopher or cypress wood, was three stories high and was divided into rooms.
Ark of the Covenant
Also known as the Ark of Jehovah and the Ark of the Testimony; an oblong chest of acacia or shittim wood overlaid with gold, 2½ cubits long, 1½ broad and high, made by Moses at God’s command (Ex. 25). It was the oldest and most sacred of the religious symbols of the Israelites, and the Mercy Seat which formed its covering was regarded as the earthly dwelling place of Jehovah. The Ark was fitted with rings and staves, by which it was carried. Prayers were recited before it moved or rested (Num. 10:35–36), and during its progress it was treated with the greatest reverence. According to 1Kgs. 8:9 it contained only the Tables of the Law, but in Heb. 9:4 it is said to have contained the “pot of manna” and “Aaron’s rod that budded,” which had been ordered to be kept “before the Testimony”.
Atonement
The word describes the setting “at one” of those who have been estranged and denotes the reconciliation of man to God. Sin is the cause of the estrangement, and therefore the purpose of the atonement is to correct or overcome the consequences of sin. From the time of Adam to the death of Jesus Christ, true believers were instructed to offer animal sacrifices to the lord. these sacrifices were symbolic of the forthcoming death of Jesus Christ and were done by faith in Him.
Baptism
From a Greek word meaning to “dip” or “immerse”. Baptism in water is the introductory ordinance of the gospel and must be followed by baptism of the spirit in order to be complete. As one of the ordinances of the gospel, it is associated with faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, repentance, and the laying on of hands for the gift of the Holy Ghost. Baptism has always been practiced whenever the gospel of Jesus Christ has been on the earth and has been taught by men holding the holy priesthood. Baptism symbolizes death, burial, and resurrection and can only be done by immersion. It is clear that John the Baptist and Philip baptized in that manner.
Bethel
House of God. Formerly called Luz, on the border between Benjamin and Ephraim, and one fo the most sacred spots in Israel. Here Abraham built his altar on his first arrival in Canaan; here jacob had his dream, set up a pillar, and gave the place its name. It was a sanctuary in the days of samuel. Jeroboam selected it as one of the places in which to set up the calf worship.
Blood
Regarded by the israelites as the seat of the life or vital energy of all flesh. in the old testament times blood was forbidden as food, which restriction continued in the chruch in the new testament times, at the Jerusalem conference. The atoning power of a sacrifice was in the blood because it was regarde as containing the life of the animal and because the sacrifice was a type of the great sacrifice who is Jesus Christ. The scripture says that “almost all things are by the law purged with blood; and without shedding of blood is no remission”. Jesus worked out a perfect atonement by the shedding of His own blood. Joseph smith, as have many other prophets, sealed his testimony with his blood.
Breastplate
The front part of a soldier’s dress, worn for protection. In this sense Isaiah and Paul spoke of a “breastplate of righteousness,” which all saints should possess, protecting the vital organs against the evil things of life.
the high priest in the law of moses wore a breastplate as part of his sacred attire. this was called the breastplate of judgement. it was made of linen, very colorfully arranged, bearing 12 precious stones and the urim and thummim.
Cain
A son of Adam and Eve who slew his younger brother Abel over jealousy and greed. Some of his descendants were skilled in the use of the harp and organ and in working with brass and iron. Due to the incompleteness of the biblical record, many have regarded Cain as the eldest son of Adam, however later day revelation reveals that is not so.
Cains offering was not accepted of the lord, probably for several reasons, including that it was not done with faith nor in prescribed and revealed manner. He entered into an unhuly convenant with Satan by which he became the Master Mahan and by which he could murder and get gain.
cubit
The ordinary unit of length among the Hebrews; originally the distance from the elbow to the tip of the fingers. It varied in length, from 17½inches in the 8th century B.C. to 21½inches in the time of our Lord.
Circumcision
The token of the Abrahamic covenant during Old Testament dispensations. Those who received it thenceforth enjoyed the privileges and undertook the responsibilities of the covenant. It symbolized some aspects of separation or dedication (1) to God, to whom Israel belonged; (2) from the world, the uncircumcised with whom Israel might not mix; (3) from sin.
The significance of circumcision was that it was the manifest token of the covenant that the Lord had made with Abraham and his seed. It does not matter that other nations also practiced circumcision for to them it did not have the same meaning or purpose.
Candlestick
Proper name is menorah, or lampstand. Made for the tabernacle, placed on the south side, Opposite of the table of shewbread. From the main vertical stem three pairs of branches extended, curving upward so that all seven lamps on the ends were at the same level.
Clean and Unclean
The distinction that the Israelites drew between clean and unclean had a great effect upon the whole of their religious and social life. It applied in the first place to food. Certain animals, birds, and fishes were regarded as clean and might be eaten, while others were unclean and were forbidden. The flesh of any animal dying of itself or torn by wild animals was also forbidden. No Israelite might eat blood, which was regarded as containing the life; it had to be poured out and covered up.
Commandments, the Ten
Hebrew name for these is the “ten words,” hence the Greek name Decalogue. they are also called the convenant or the testimony. The giving of the ten commandments by God to moses, and through him to Israel. They were engraved on two tables of stone, which were placed in the ark; hence the ark of the covenant.
Daily Service
The Law ordered that a yearling lamb, with its proper meal and drink offerings, should be offered every morning and every evening as a burnt offering (Ex. 29:38–42). This was never omitted, at least in later times, except in the persecution of Antiochus Epiphanes and for about three weeks before the taking of Jerusalem by Titus. In the Holy Place, every morning and evening, incense was burnt upon the altar of incense (Ex. 30:7–8). There was also a meal offering twice every day, probably in connection with the daily burnt offering (Lev. 6:20). The offering of the daily sacrifices was accompanied with (1) music, vocal and instrumental ); (2) worship and prayer on the part of the people present ; (3) psalms, one being appointed for each day in the week: Ps. 24, 48, 81, 82, 92, 93, 94.
Elders
The term elders is used in various ways in the Bible. In many instances in the Old Testament it has reference to the older men in a tribe, usually entrusted with the governmental affairs. Their age and experience made their counsel sought often. This was not necessarily a priesthood calling.
There were ordained elders in the Melchizedek Priesthood in Old Testament times, as in Ex. 24:9–11 and Num. 11:16. Among the Nephites there were also ordained elders in the priesthood. Elder is the proper title given to all holders of the Melchizedek Priesthood. Thus an Apostle is an elder in this sense, and it is proper to speak of members of the Quorum of the Twelve or the Quorums of the Seventy by this title.
Embroidery
The pattern was sometimes woven into the material , sometimes worked by hand with a needle on clothe or linen stretched on a frame. Embroidery was used for hangings in the tabernacle, on the priests’ clothing, and also in everyday dress.
Devil
The English word devil in the KJV is used to represent several different words in Greek (slanderer, demon, and adversary) and Hebrew (spoiler). The devil is the enemy of righteousness and of those who seek to do the will of God. Literally a spirit son of God, he was at one time “an angel” in authority in the presence of God; however, he rebelled in the premortal life, at which time he persuaded a third of the spirit children of the Father to rebel with him, in opposition to the plan of salvation championed by Jehovah (Jesus Christ). “Thus came the devil and his angels” (D&C 29:37). They were cast out of heaven and were denied the experience of mortal bodies and earth life
Dispensations
A dispensation of the gospel is a period of time in which the Lord has at least one authorized servant on the earth who bears the holy priesthood and the keys, and who has a divine commission to dispense the gospel to the inhabitants of the earth. When this occurs, the gospel is revealed anew so that people of that dispensation do not have to depend basically on past dispensations for knowledge of the plan of salvation. There have been many gospel dispensations since the beginning. The Bible suggests at least one dispensation identified with Adam, another with Enoch, another with Noah, and so on with Abraham, Moses, and Jesus with His Apostles in the meridian of time. Paul writes of “the dispensation of the fulness of times” in which the Lord will “gather together in one all things in Christ, both which are in heaven, and which are on earth” (Eph. 1:10). The fulness of times is the final dispensation and began with the revelation of the gospel to Joseph Smith. It is a dispensation of restoration and of fulfillment of the Lord’s plans and purposes since the world began. There are also things reserved for the fulness of times that have not been revealed previously.
Ephod
Part of the dress of the high priest, shaped like a waistcoat with two shoulder pieces and a girdle. It was of richly variegated material, blue, purple, and scarlet. On the shoulder pieces were two onyx stones on which were engraved the names of the 12 tribes. To the ephod was fastened the Breastplate of Judgment. An ephod of linen was the dress of all priest. worn by samuel and by david when he brought up the Ark.
Egypt
This country was known to the Hebrews as Mizraim. The origin of the Greek name by which we call it is uncertain. The kingdom of Egypt was formed by the union under a single sovereign, the Pharaoh (“Great House”), of a number of districts, often divided by local jealousies and by differences of religious belief. The policy of the Pharaohs was to overcome these forces of disunion by a well-organized central administration and by a single state religion that should provide for the worship of all the various local deities. Church and state were closely knit together, and the priests formed a most influential class and a chief stay of the throne
