- CANE a tall sedgy plant with a hollow stem, growing in moist places. In
Isaiah 43:24; Jeremiah 6:20, the Hebrew word kaneh is thus rendered,
giving its name to the plant. It is rendered “reed” in 1 Kings 14:15; Job
40:21; Isaiah 19:6; 35:7. In Psalm 68:30 the expression “company of
spearmen” is in the margin and the Revised Version “beasts of the reeds,”
referring probably to the crocodile or the hippopotamus as a symbol of
Egypt. In 2 Kings 18:21; Isaiah 36:6; Ezekiel 29:6, 7, the reference is to the
weak, fragile nature of the reed. (See CALAMUS.) - CANKER a gangrene or mortification which gradually spreads over the
whole body (2 Timothy 2:17). In James 5:3 “cankered” means “rusted”
(R.V.) or tarnished. - CANKERWORM (Hebrews yelek), “the licking locust,” which licks up
the grass of the field; probably the locust at a certain stage of its growth,
just as it emerges from the caterpillar state (Joel 1:4; 2:25). The word is
rendered “caterpillar” in Psalm 105:34; Jeremiah 51:14, 17 (but R.V.
“canker-worm”). “It spoileth and fleeth away” (Nah. 3:16), or as some
read the passage, “The cankerworm putteth off [i.e., the envelope of its
wings], and fleeth away.” - CANNEH Mentioned only in Ezekiel 27:23. (See CALNEH.)
- CANON This word is derived from a Hebrew and Greek word denoting a
reed or cane. Hence it means something straight, or something to keep
straight; and hence also a rule, or something ruled or measured. It came to
be applied to the Scriptures, to denote that they contained the
authoritative rule of faith and practice, the standard of doctrine and duty.
A book is said to be of canonical authority when it has a right to take a
place with the other books which contain a revelation of the Divine will.
Such a right does not arise from any ecclesiastical authority, but from the
evidence of the inspired authorship of the book. The canonical (i.e., the
inspired) books of the Old and New Testaments, are a complete rule, and
the only rule, of faith and practice. They contain the whole supernatural
revelation of God to men. The New Testament Canon was formed
gradually under divine guidance. The different books as they were written
came into the possession of the Christian associations which began to be
formed soon after the day of Pentecost; and thus slowly the canon
increased till all the books were gathered together into one collection
containing the whole of the twenty-seven New Testament inspired books.
kiana
(Kiana)
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