Our Daily Devotional ABSALOM “father of peace.” Third son of David. He was notable for his beauty and for the abundance of his hair (2 Sam. 1:25, 26). Amnon, another son of David, fell in love with his half-sister Tamar, Absalom’s sister on his father’s side, and his mother Maacah, daughter of Talmai (2 Sam. 3:3), and Talmai, … Read more
ABRAHAM (ABRAM) = «Father of elevation». His name was altered by God, who called him ABRAHAM. There is no known etymological explanation for the change from Abram to Abraham. The text comments on this change like this: “because I have made you the father of a multitude of people.” In this name (Abraham) the blessing … Read more
ABORTION The laws of the Ancient East (Babylonian and Assyrian) punished when a pregnant woman was mistreated, distinguishing various shades of punishment, depending on the consequences suffered by the injured woman. The Code of Hammurabi punishes abortion with an economic penalty, the importance of which varies depending on the woman’s social category; Only when she … Read more
LOATHING It is an emotion that leads the person who feels it to a strong opposition against the object of this intense aversion. The Bible marks hatred as the motive for homicide punishable by death, instead of what many modern legislations do, which give an exalted feeling of hatred as a mitigating cause (Num. 35:9-28). … Read more
TO ABHOR The Spanish verb is loaded with emotional tones and means, sometimes, to abhor; others, abandon or leave and, finally, get bored with a person or situation. These various nuances also enter into biblical hatred, and in addition, sometimes it is pregnant with anger, hatred or ill will towards a situation or towards a … Read more
ABOMINATION OF DESOLATION This expression is found in Dn. 11:31; 12:11; Matt. 24:15; Mr. 13:14. It is therefore related to the great tribulation mentioned by the Lord in the Gospel passages. Daniel’s prophecy had a partial fulfillment in the desecration of the temple by Antiochus Epiphanes in 168 BC. It is evident that this fulfillment … Read more
ABOMINATION This word is used in the OT in reference to any iniquity as considered by God. It also designates what was not appropriate for the service of God, such as animals with defects presented as sacrifice. It indicates the feeling of repulsion that any act against the established religious system caused. Of the latter … Read more
LAWYER One who takes up another’s cause, to whom one appeals for help, defender (1 Jn. 2:1). The same Greek word is translated “Comforter” (John 14:16, 26; 15:26; 16:7). We see then that it applies to both the Lord Jesus and the Holy Spirit. This is also seen in his words: “I will pray to … Read more
ABNER “father of light.” Son of Ner, Saul’s uncle, he was the king’s cousin (1 Sam. 14:51). He was the general of Saul’s army when David killed Goliath, and he introduced David to Saul (1 Sam. 17:55, 57). When Saul harassed David in the wilderness of Ziph, he neglected Abner to protect the king, and … Read more
ABLUTIONS Name given in Heb. 9:10 to the ceremonial washings prescribed by the Law of Moses (Lev. 6:27, 28; 8:6; 11:25, 28, 40; 15:5, 6, 7, 11, etc.); With this washing, and the passage of a period of time, the Israelite worshiper was ceremonially pure from the legal contaminations that he had contracted (through leprosy, … Read more