- AMBASSADOR In the Old Testament the Hebrew word tsir, meaning
“one who goes on an errand,” is rendered thus (Joshua 9:4; Proverbs 13:17;
Isaiah 18:2; Jeremiah 49:14; Obad. 1:1). This is also the rendering of melits,
meaning “an interpreter,” in 2 Chronicles 32:31; and of malak, a
“messenger,” in 2 Chronicles 35:21; Isaiah 30:4; 33:7; Ezekiel 17:15. This
is the name used by the apostle as designating those who are appointed by
God to declare his will (2 Corinthians 5:20; Ephesians 6:20).
The Hebrews on various occasions and for various purposes had recourse
to the services of ambassadors, e.g., to contract alliances (Joshua 9:4), to
solicit favours (Numbers 20:14), to remonstrate when wrong was done
(Judges 11:12), to condole with a young king on the death of his father (2
Samuel 10:2), and to congratulate a king on his accession to the throne (1
Kings 5:1).
To do injury to an ambassador was to insult the king who sent him (2
Samuel 10:5).
- AMBER (Ezekiel 1:4, 27; 8:2. Hebrews , hashmal, rendered by the LXX.
elektron, and by the Vulgate electrum), a metal compounded of silver and
gold. Some translate the word by “polished brass,” others “fine brass,” as
in Revelation 1:15; 2:18. It was probably the mixture now called electrum.
The word has no connection, however, with what is now called amber,
which is a gummy substance, reckoned as belonging to the mineral kingdom
though of vegetable origin, a fossil resin. - AMBUSH Joshua at the capture of Ai lay in ambush, and so deceived the
inhabitants that he gained an easy victory (Joshua 8:4-26). Shechem was
taken in this manner (Judges 9:30-45. Comp. Jeremiah 51:12). - AMEN This Hebrew word means firm, and hence also faithful (Revelation
3:14). In Isaiah 65:16, the Authorized Version has “the God of truth,”
which in Hebrew is “the God of Amen.” It is frequently used by our
Saviour to give emphasis to his words, where it is translated “verily.”
Sometimes, only, however, in John’s Gospel, it is repeated, “Verily,
verily.” It is used as an epithet of the Lord Jesus Christ (Revelation 3:14).
It is found singly and sometimes doubly at the end of prayers (Psalm
41:13; 72:19; 89:52), to confirm the words and invoke the fulfilment of
them. It is used in token of being bound by an oath (Numbers 5:22;
Deuteronomy 27:15-26; Nehemiah 5:13; 8:6; 1 Chronicles 16:36). In the