650. Use of the Term, "Children"

Narrator: Chris Genthree
 •  1 min. read  •  grade level: 8
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The “children of the bride chamber” were the friends and acquaintances who participated in the marriage festivities. The expression “child” or “children,” like that of “father” (see note on Gen. 4:20-2120And Adah bare Jabal: he was the father of such as dwell in tents, and of such as have cattle. 21And his brother's name was Jubal: he was the father of all such as handle the harp and organ. (Genesis 4:20‑21)), is an Oriental form of speech, and is designed to show some relation between the person to whom it is applied and certain qualities existing in that person, or certain circumstances connected with him; these qualities or circumstances being the result of that relation. Thus people who are brought together on occasion of a marriage-feast are called the “children of the bride-chamber.” So when any passion or influence, good or bad, gets control of men, they are said to be the children of that passion or influence. Thus we have “children of wickedness” (2 Sam. 7:1010Moreover I will appoint a place for my people Israel, and will plant them, that they may dwell in a place of their own, and move no more; neither shall the children of wickedness afflict them any more, as beforetime, (2 Samuel 7:10)); “children of pride” (Job 41:3434He beholdeth all high things: he is a king over all the children of pride. (Job 41:34)); “children of the kingdom,” and “children of the wicked one” (Matt. 13:3838The field is the world; the good seed are the children of the kingdom; but the tares are the children of the wicked one; (Matthew 13:38)); “children of this world,” and “children of light” (Luke 16:88And the lord commended the unjust steward, because he had done wisely: for the children of this world are in their generation wiser than the children of light. (Luke 16:8)); “children of disobedience” (Eph. 2:22Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience: (Ephesians 2:2); Col. 3:66For which things' sake the wrath of God cometh on the children of disobedience: (Colossians 3:6)); “children of wrath” (Eph. 2:33Among whom also we all had our conversation in times past in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind; and were by nature the children of wrath, even as others. (Ephesians 2:3)).
We find a similar idiom in the use of the word “son” and “daughter.” We have “sons of Belial” in Judges 19:2222Now as they were making their hearts merry, behold, the men of the city, certain sons of Belial, beset the house round about, and beat at the door, and spake to the master of the house, the old man, saying, Bring forth the man that came into thine house, that we may know him. (Judges 19:22), and in several other passages; “sons of the mighty” (Psa. 89:66For who in the heaven can be compared unto the Lord? who among the sons of the mighty can be likened unto the Lord? (Psalm 89:6)); “sons of thunder” (Mark 3: 17); “son of consolation” (Acts 4:3636And Joses, who by the apostles was surnamed Barnabas, (which is, being interpreted, The son of consolation,) a Levite, and of the country of Cyprus, (Acts 4:36)); “son of perdition” (2 Thess. 2:33Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come, except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition; (2 Thessalonians 2:3)). We have also “daughter of Belial” (1 Sam. 1:1616Count not thine handmaid for a daughter of Belial: for out of the abundance of my complaint and grief have I spoken hitherto. (1 Samuel 1:16)); “daughters of music” (Eccl. 12:44And the doors shall be shut in the streets, when the sound of the grinding is low, and he shall rise up at the voice of the bird, and all the daughters of music shall be brought low; (Ecclesiastes 12:4)); “daughter of troops” (Micah 5:11Now gather thyself in troops, O daughter of troops: he hath laid siege against us: they shall smite the judge of Israel with a rod upon the cheek. (Micah 5:1)).