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Birth-Day, Birthday

From: Concise Bible Dictionary: B By: George A. Morrish

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The only scriptural notices of birthdays being kept are in reference to Pharaoh (Gen. 40:20²⁰And it came to pass the third day, which was Pharaoh's birthday, that he made a feast unto all his servants: and he lifted up the head of the chief butler and of the chief baker among his servants. (Genesis 40:20)); and to Herod Antipas, when John the Baptist lost his life (Matt. 14:6⁶But when Herod's birthday was kept, the daughter of Herodias danced before them, and pleased Herod. (Matthew 14:6); Mark 6:21²¹And when a convenient day was come, that Herod on his birthday made a supper to his lords, high captains, and chief estates of Galilee; (Mark 6:21)). It is thought by some that the sons of Job who feasted “everyone his day” did so on their birth-days (Job 1:4, 13⁴And his sons went and feasted in their houses, every one his day; and sent and called for their three sisters to eat and to drink with them. (Job 1:4)
¹³And there was a day when his sons and his daughters were eating and drinking wine in their eldest brother's house: (Job 1:13)). We do not read that the Israelites had any such custom; and the Preacher says the day of death is better than the day of one’s birth (Eccl. 7:1¹A good name is better than precious ointment; and the day of death than the day of one's birth. (Ecclesiastes 7:1)).

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Concise Bible Dictionary: B

• Birds, Clean and Unclean

• Birth-Day, Birthday

• Birth-Right

• Bishoprick (ἐπισκοπή)

• Bitter Herbs

• Bitterness, Gall of

• Blood, Avenger of