- HOMER heap, the largest of dry measures, containing about 8 bushels or
1 quarter English = 10 ephahs (Leviticus 27:16; Numbers 11:32) = a COR.
(See OMER.)
“Half a homer,” a grain measure mentioned only in Hos. 3:2.
- HONEY (1.) Hebrews ya’ar, occurs only 1 Samuel 14:25, 27, 29; Cant.
5:1, where it denotes the honey of bees. Properly the word signifies a
forest or copse, and refers to honey found in woods.
(2.) Nopheth, honey that drops (Psalm 19:10; Proverbs 5:3; Cant. 4:11).
(3.) Debash denotes bee-honey (Judges 14:8); but also frequently a
vegetable honey distilled from trees (Genesis 43:11; Ezekiel 27:17). In
these passages it may probably mean “dibs,” or syrup of grapes, i.e., the
juice of ripe grapes boiled down to one-third of its bulk.
(4.) Tsuph, the cells of the honey-comb full of honey (Proverbs 16:24;
Psalm 19:10).
(5.) “Wild honey” (Matthew 3:4) may have been the vegetable honey
distilled from trees, but rather was honey stored by bees in rocks or in
trees (Deuteronomy 32:13; Psalm 81:16; 1 Samuel 14:25-29).
Canaan was a “land flowing with milk and honey” (Exodus 3:8). Milk and
honey were among the chief dainties in the earlier ages, as they are now
among the Bedawin; and butter and honey are also mentioned among
articles of food (Isaiah 7:15). The ancients used honey instead of sugar
(Psalm 119:103; Proverbs 24:13); but when taken in great quantities it
caused nausea, a fact referred to in Proverbs 25:16, 17 to inculcate
moderation in pleasures. Honey and milk also are put for sweet discourse
(Cant. 4:11).
- HOOD (Hebrews tsaniph) a tiara round the head (Isaiah 3:23; R.V., pl.,
“turbans”). Rendered “diadem,” Job 29:14; high priest’s “mitre,”
Zechariah 3:5; “royal diadem,” Isaiah 62:3. - HOOF a cleft hoof as of neat cattle (Exodus 10:26; Ezekiel 32:13); hence
also of the horse, though not cloven (Isaiah 5:28). The “parting of the
hoof” is one of the distinctions between clean and unclean animals
(Leviticus 11:3; Deuteronomy 14:7). - HOOK (1.) Hebrews hah, a “ring” inserted in the nostrils of animals to
which a cord was fastened for the purpose of restraining them (2 Kings