any bitter herbs obtainable at the place and time when the Passover was
celebrated. They represented the severity of the servitude under which the
people groaned; and have been regarded also as typical of the sufferings of
Christ.
- BITTERN is found three times in connection with the desolations to come
upon Babylon, Idumea, and Nineveh (Isaiah 14:23; 34:11; Zephaniah
2:14). This bird belongs to the class of cranes. Its scientific name is
Botaurus stellaris. It is a solitary bird, frequenting marshy ground. The
Hebrew word (kippod) thus rendered in the Authorized Version is
rendered “porcupine” in the Revised Version. But in the passages noted
the kippod is associated with birds, with pools of water, and with solitude
and desolation. This favours the idea that not the “porcupine” but the
“bittern” is really intended by the word. - BITUMEN Genesis 11:3, R.V., margin, rendered in the A.V. “slime”), a
mineral pitch. With this the ark was pitched (6:14. See also Exodus 2:3.)
(See SLIME.) - BLACK properly the absence of all colour. In Proverbs 7:9 the Hebrew
word means, as in the margin of the Revised Version, “the pupil of the
eye.” It is translated “apple” of the eye in Deuteronomy 32:10; Psalm
17:8; Proverbs 7:2. It is a different word which is rendered “black” in
Leviticus 13:31,37; Cant. 1:5; 5:11; and Zechariah 6:2, 6. It is uncertain
what the “black marble” of Esther 1:6 was which formed a part of the
mosaic pavement. - BLADE applied to the glittering point of a spear (Job 39:23) or sword
(Nah. 3:3), the blade of a dagger (Judges 3:22); the “shoulder blade” (Job
31:22); the “blade” of cereals (Matthew 13:26). - BLAINS occurs only in connection with the sixth plague of Egypt
(Exodus 9:9, 10). In Deuteronomy 28:27, 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
Psalm 74:18; Isaiah 52:5; Romans 2:24; Revelation 13:1, 6; 16:9, 11, 21. It
denotes also any kind of calumny, or evil-speaking, or abuse (1 Kings
21:10; Acts 13:45; 18:6, etc.). Our Lord was accused of blasphemy when
he claimed to be the Son of God (Matthew 26:65; comp. Matthew 9:3;