- SWAN mentioned in the list of unclean birds (Leviticus 11:18;
Deuteronomy 14:16), is sometimes met with in the Jordan and the Sea of
Galilee. - SWELLING of Jordan (Jeremiah 12:5), literally the “pride” of Jordan (as
in R.V.), i.e., the luxuriant thickets of tamarisks, poplars, reeds, etc., which
were the lair of lions and other beasts of prey. The reference is not to the
overflowing of the river banks. (Comp. 49:19; 50:44; Zechariah 11:3). - SWINE (Hebrews hazir), regarded as the most unclean and the most
abhorred of all animals (Leviticus 11:7; Isaiah 65:4; 66:3, 17; Luke 15:15,
16). A herd of swine were drowned in the Sea of Galilee (Luke 8:32, 33).
Spoken of figuratively in Matthew 7:6 (see Proverbs 11:22). It is
frequently mentioned as a wild animal, and is evidently the wild boar
(Arab. khanzir), which is common among the marshes of the Jordan valley
(Psalm 80:13). - SWORD of the Hebrew was pointed, sometimes two-edged, was worn in
a sheath, and suspended from the girdle (Exodus 32:27; 1 Samuel 31:4; 1
Chronicles 21:27; Psalm 149:6: Proverbs 5:4; Ezekiel 16:40; 21:3-5).
It is a symbol of divine chastisement (Deuteronomy 32:25; Psalm 7:12;
78:62), and of a slanderous tongue (Psalm 57:4; 64:3; Proverbs 12:18). The
word of God is likened also to a sword (Hebrews 4:12; Ephesians 6:17;
Revelation 1:16). Gideon’s watchword was, “The sword of the Lord”
(Judges 7:20).
- SYCAMINE TREE mentioned only in Luke 17:6. It is rendered by Luther
“mulberry tree” (q.v.), which is most probably the correct rendering. It is
found of two species, the black mulberry (Morus nigra) and the white
mulberry (Mourea), which are common in Palestine. The silk-worm feeds
on their leaves. The rearing of them is one of the chief industries of the
peasantry of Lebanon and of other parts of the land. It is of the order of
the fig-tree. Some contend, however, that this name denotes the
sycamore-fig of Luke 19:4. - SYCAMORE more properly sycomore (Hebrews shikmoth and shikmim,
Gr. sycomoros), a tree which in its general character resembles the fig-tree,
while its leaves resemble those of the mulberry; hence it is called the
fig-mulberry (Ficus sycomorus). At Jericho, Zacchaeus climbed a
sycomore-tree to see Jesus as he passed by (Luke 19:4). This tree was