Sacred Texts Bible Index
Bosor The Chaldee or Aramaic form of the name Beor, the father of Balaam (Pe2 2:15).
Botch The name given in Deu 28:27, Deu 28:35 to one of the Egyptian plagues (Exo 9:9). The word so translated is usually rendered "boil" (q.v.).
Bottle A vessel made of skins for holding wine (Jos 9:4, Jos 9:13; Sa1 16:20; Mat 9:17; Mar 2:22; Luk 5:37, Luk 5:38), or milk (Jdg 4:19), or water (Gen 21:14, Gen 21:15, Gen 21:19), or strong drink (Hab 2:15). Earthenware vessels were also similarly used (Jer 19:1; Kg1 14:3; Isa 30:14). In Job 32:19 (compare Mat 9:17; Luk 5:37, Luk 5:38; Mar 2:22) the reference is to a wine-skin ready to burst through the fermentation of the wine. "Bottles of wine" in the Authorized Version of Hos 7:5 is properly rendered in the Revised Version by "the heat of wine," i.e., the fever of wine, its intoxicating strength. The clouds are figuratively called the "bottles of heaven" (Job 38:37). A bottle blackened or shriveled by smoke is referred to in Psa 119:83 as an image to which the psalmist likens himself.
Bow The bow was in use in early times both in war and in the chase (Gen 21:20; Gen 27:3; Gen 48:22). The tribe of Benjamin were famous for the use of the bow (Ch1 8:40; Ch1 12:2; Ch2 14:8; Ch2 17:17); so also were the Elamites (Isa 22:6) and the Lydians (Jer 46:9). The Hebrew word commonly used for bow means properly to tread (Ch1 5:18; Ch1 8:40), and hence it is concluded that the foot was employed in bending the bow. Bows of steel (correctly "copper") are mentioned (Sa2 22:35; Psa 18:34). The arrows were carried in a quiver (Gen 27:3; Isa 22:6; Isa 49:2; Psa 127:5). They were apparently sometimes shot with some burning material attached to them (Psa 120:4). The bow is a symbol of victory (Psa 7:12). It denotes also falsehood, deceit (Psa 64:3, Psa 64:4; Hos 7:16; Jer 9:3). "The use of the bow" in Sa2 1:18 (A.V.) ought to be "the song of the bow," as in the Revised Version.
Bowels Phi 1:8; Phi 2:1; Col 3:12), compassionate feelings; R.V., "tender mercies."
Bowing A mode of showing respect. Abraham "bowed himself to the people of the land" (Gen 23:7); so Jacob to Esau (Gen 33:3); and the brethren of Joseph before him as the governor of the land (Gen 43:28). Bowing is also frequently mentioned as an act of adoration to idols (Jos 23:7; Kg2 5:18; Jdg 2:19; Isa 44:15), and to God (Jos 5:14; Psa 22:29; Psa 72:9; Mic 6:6; Psa 95:6; Eph 3:14).
Bowl The sockets of the lamps of the golden candlestick of the tabernacle are called bowls (Exo 25:31, Exo 25:33, Exo 25:34; Exo 37:17, Exo 37:19, Exo 37:20); the same word so rendered being elsewhere rendered "cup" (Gen 44:2, Gen 44:12, Gen 44:16), and wine "pot" (Jer 35:5). The reservoir for oil, from which pipes led to each lamp in Zechariah's vision of the candlestick, is called also by this name (Zac 4:2, Zac 4:3); so also are the vessels used for libations (Exo 25:29; Exo 37:16).
Box For holding oil or perfumery (Mar 14:3). It was of the form of a flask or bottle. The Hebrew word (pak) used for it is more appropriately rendered "vial" in Sa1 10:1, and should also be so rendered in Kg2 9:1, where alone else it occurs.
Box-tree (Heb. teashshur ), mentioned in Isa 60:13; Isa 41:19, was, according to some, a species of cedar growing in Lebanon. The words of Eze 27:6 literally translated are, "Thy benches they have made of ivory, the daughter of the ashur tree," i.e., inlaid with ashur wood. The ashur is the box-tree, and accordingly the Revised Version rightly reads "inlaid in box wood." This is the Buxus sempervirens of botanists. It is remarkable for the beauty of its evergreen foliage and for the utility of its hard and durable wood.
Bozrah Enclosure; fortress. (1.) The city of Jobab, one of the early Edomite kings (Gen 36:33). This place is mentioned by the prophets in later times (Isa 34:6; Jer 49:13; Amo 1:12; Mic 2:12). Its modern representative is el-Busseireh. It lies in the mountain district of Petra, 20 miles to the south-east of the Dead Sea. (2.) A Moabite city in the "plain country" (Jer 48:24), i.e., on the high level down on the east of the Dead Sea. It is probably the modern Buzrah.