Boyd's Bible Dictionary: D

(fish). National male idol of the Philistines (1 Chron. 10:10). Noted temples at Ashdod (1 Sam. 5:1-7); Gaza (Judg. 16:23); Beth-dagon (Josh. 15:41); and in Asher (Josh. 19:27). Represented with human hands and face and a fish’s body.

Dalaiah

(freed by God). A Judahite (1 Chron. 3:24).

King's Dale

A valley near Jerusalem (Gen. 14:17; 2 Sam. 18:18).

Dalmanutha

A town on Sea of Galilee (Mark 8:10).

Dalmatia

(she-a) (deceitful). A province of Illyricum (2 Tim. 4:10; Rom. 15:19).

Dalphon

(swift). Son of Haman (Esther 9:7).

Damaris

(heifer). An Athenian woman converted by Paul (Acts 17:34).

Damascus

A city of Asia, 133 miles N. E. of Jerusalem (Gen. 14:15; 15:2). Adjacent region called “Syria of Damascus” (2 Sam. 8:5). Taken by David (2 Sam. 8:6); and by Jeroboam (2 Kings 14:28). Scene of Paul’s conversion (Acts 9:1-27; 22:1-16).

Damnation

(condemnation). Consignment to everlasting perdition (Matt. 23:33; Mark 3:29; John 5:29; 2 Peter 2:3).

Dan

(judge). (1) Fifth son of Jacob (Gen. 30:6; 49:16). Allotment (Josh. 19:40-46). Portion of the tribe moved north (Josh. 19:47-48; Judg. 18). (2) Changed name of Laish, or Leshem (Josh. 19:47; Judg. 18:29). (3) A place in Arabia (Ezek. 27:19).

Danites

Members of the tribe of Dan (Judg. 13:2; 1 Chron. 12:35).

Dan-jaan

(Danite). Probably the northern Danites (2 Sam. 24:6).

Dance

(drag along). (1) In Hebrew “leaping for joy.” Not a measured step (Psa. 30:11). Common on festal occasions (Ex. 15:20-21; Judg. 11:34; 1 Sam. 18:6-7; 2 Sam. 6:14; Jer. 31:4; Luke 6:23; 15:25; Acts 3:8). (2) A musical instrument (Psa. 150:3-5). “Pipe” in margin.

Daniel

(judgment of God). (1) Fourth of the greater prophets. Carried captive to Babylon, B. C. 604; and named Belteshazzar (Dan. 1-2). Made a governor under Darius (Dan. 6:2). Last vision on the Tigris in third year of Cyrus, B. C. 534 (Dan. 10:1-4). (2) Second son of David (1 Chron. 3:1). (3) Son of Ithamar (Ezra 8:2). (4) A co-covenanter (Neh. 10:6).

DanieI, Book of

First six chapters historic. Chapters 7-12 contain the earliest model of apocalyptic literature. Largely acknowledged in N. T. (Matt. 24:15; Luke 1:19,26; Heb. 11:33-34). “The Song of the Three Holy Children,” “History of Susanna,” and “History of Bel and the Dragon,” are apocryphal additions to Daniel’s writings.

Dannah

(judging). A city of Judah (Josh. 15:49).

Dara

(1 Chron. 2:6). [DARDA.]

Darda

(pearl of wisdom). One of four famed for wisdom (1 Kings 4:31).

Daric

(kingly). A Persian coin of gold and silver; former worth about five dollars; latter fifty cents. “Dram” (1 Chron. 29:7; Ezra 2:69; Neh. 7:70-72).

Darius

(Persian “dara,” king). (1) Darius the Mede (Dan. 5:31; 6; 9:1; 11:1). Captured Babylon from Belshazzar, B. C. 538. (2) Darius Hystaspes, King of Persia, B. C. 521-486. He restored the captive Jews (Ezra 4:5,24; 6:14-15; Hag. 1:1,15; Zech. 1:1,7; 7:1). (3) Darius the Persian (Neh. 12:22). Darius Codomanus, B. C. 336-330, last king of Persia.

Darkness

(blackness). Absence of light (Gen. 1:2); 9th plague (Ex. 10:20-23); State of misery (Job 18:6); God’s dwelling (Ex. 20:21; 1 Kings 8:12); typical of national convulsion (Acts 2:19-20); state of the fallen (Matt. 8:12); ignorance (John 1:5); sympathetic (Luke 23:44).

Darkon

(scatterer). His children returned (Ezra 2:56; Neh. 7:58).

Date

(like a finger). Fruit of the date-palm (2 Chron. 31:5, marg.). [PALM.]

Dathan

(of a spring). A Reubenite chief and conspirator (Num. 16; 26:9; Deut. 11:6).

Daughter

(milk). Daughter or any female descendant (Gen. 24:48); female inhabitant (Gen. 6:2; Isa. 10:32; 23:12; Luke 23:28); singing birds (Eccl. 12:4).

David

(well-beloved). Youngest son of Jesse (1 Sam. 16:8-12), born at Bethlehem. Anointed king by Samuel (1 Sam. 16:13). Re-anointed at Hebron (2 Sam. 2:4). United his kingdom and raised it to great strength and splendor. Died at the age of 70, B. C. 1015, after a reign of seven and a half years over Judah and thirty-three years over the entire kingdom of Israel. History told in 1 Samuel 16 to 1 Kings 2.

David, City of

[JERUSALEM.]

Day

(shining). Natural Hebrew day from sunset to sunset (Gen. 1:5; Ex. 12:18). Sabbath the only day named; others numbered (Lev. 23:32). Morning, noon, and evening divisions (Psa. 55:17). Hours introduced (Dan. 3:6; John 11:9). Indefinite time (Gen. 2:4); of birth (Job 3:1); of ruin (Hos. 1:11); of judgment (Joel 1:15); of Christ’s kingdom (John 8:56).

Daysman

Umpire or moderator (Job 9:33).

Dayspring

Dawn (Job 38:12; Luke 1:78).

Daystar

Morning star (2 Peter 1:19).

Deacon

(servant). A servant of the Church (Acts 6:1-6). Qualifications in 1 Timothy 3:8-12.

Deaconess

A female servant of the Church (Rom. 16:1; 1 Tim. 5:10).

Dead Sea

Not so called until the second century. In O. T. “Salt Sea” and “Sea of the Plain.” [SALT SEA.]

Dearth

[FAMINE.]

Debir

(oracle). (1) A Levitical city of Judah (Josh. 21:15); Kirjath-sepher (Josh. 15:15); Kirjath-sannah (Josh. 15:49). (2) A northern boundary of Judah (Josh. 15:7). (3) A boundary of Gad (Josh. 13:26). (4) A king of Eglon (Josh. 10:3-26).

Deborah

(bee). (1) Nurse of Rebekah (Gen. 35:8; 24:59). (2) Prophetess and Judge (Judg. 4:5-14; Judg. 5).

Debtor

(ower). Lands or the person might be taken for debt, and held till the year of jubilee (Ex. 21:2; Lev. 25:29-34; 2 Kings 4:1; Neh. 5:3-5).

Decapolis

(ten cities). A Roman province embracing parts of Syria and Palestine (Matt. 4:25; Mark 5:20; 7:31).

Decision, Valley of

(Joel 3:14). “Valley of Jehoshaphat,” “or judgment,” (Joel 3:2,12).

Dedan

(low). (1) Grandson of Cush (Gen. 10:7). (2) Son of Jokshan (Gen. 25:3). Both founders of Arabian or Idumean tribes (Isa. 21:13; Ezek. 38:13).

Dedanim

Descendants of Dedan (Isa. 21:13).

Dedication

(declaration). Devoting person, place or thing to holy use (Ex. 40; Num. 7; 2 Sam. 8:11; 1 Kings 8; Ezra 6; Neh. 12:27); “Feast of Dedication” commemorated the purging of the temple (John 10:22).

Deep

Abyss, or abode, of lost spirits (Luke 8:31; Rom. 10:7). “Bottomless pit,” (Rev. 9:1-2,11; 11:7).

Deer

(wild) (Deut. 14:5; 1 Kings 4:23). [FALLOW-DEER.]

Degree

(step or grade down). Rank or station (Psa. 62:9; 1 Tim. 3:13). “Song of Degrees,” title to Psalm 120-134.

Dehavites

Colonists planted in Samaria (Ezra 4:9).

Dekar

(lancer). Father of one of Solomon’s commissaries (1 Kings 4:9).

Delaiah

(freed by God). (1) Leader of the 23d priestly course (1 Chron. 24:18). (2) Returned Jews (Ezra 2:60; Neh. 7:62). (3) Father of Shemaiah (Neh. 6:10). (4) A courtier (Jer. 36:12).

Delilah

(longing). A woman of Sorek, employed to discover the secret of Samson’s strength (Judg. 16:4-20).

Deluge

(washing away). The usual modern word for Noah’s flood (Gen. 6-8).

Demas

(popular). A friend of Paul at Rome (Col. 4:14; 2 Tim. 4:10).

Demetrius

(belonging to Ceres). (1) A silversmith at Ephesus (Acts 19:24-30). (2) A disciple (3 John 12).

Denarius

(ten asses). A Roman silver coin worth about 15 cents. The “penny” of N. T. (Matt. 20:2).

Deputy

(selected). In N. T., a proconsul, or governor (Acts 13:7-8,12).

Derbe

(sting). A city of Lycaonia in Asia Minor (Acts 14:20; 20:4).

Desert

(deserted). An arid sandy plain, or wild mountainous waste (Ex. 23:31; Deut. 11:24; Psa. 65:12).

Deuel

(knowledge of God). Father of Eliasaph (Num. 1:14). Reuel (Num. 2:14).

Deuteronomy

So called because it “repeats the law.”—Fifth book of O. T. and last of the Pentateuch. Authorship ascribed to Moses, except last chapter (Deut. 1:1-4:40), rehearse the wanderings (Deut. 5:1-26:19), recapitulate the law; the others deliver the law into keeping of the Levites, and describe the death of Moses.

Devil

(slanderer). The Hebrew Satan, “adversary” (Matt. 16:23; Mark 8:33; Luke 22:3; Rev. 20:2). The devil of bodily possession was rather the polluting power of disease—dumbness (Matt. 9:32); blindness (Matt. 12:22); epilepsy (Mark 9:17-27); insanity (Matt. 8:28); murderous antipathy (John 7:20).

Dew

Source of fertility (Gen. 27:28; Judg. 6:37-40); object of rich imagery (Deut. 32:2; Job 29:19; Psa. 133:3).

Dial

(daily). An instrument for telling the time of day (2 Kings 20:11; Isa. 38:8).

Diamond

(adamant). Pure crystallized carbon. Third stone in second row of high-priest’s breastplate (Ex. 28:18; Ezek. 28:13).

Diana

(safety). A Roman goddess. Artemis of the Greeks. Her temple at Ephesus regarded as one of the seven wonders of the world (Acts 19:24-28).

Diblaim

(two cakes). Mother-in-law of Hosea (Hos. 1:3).

Diblath

Unidentified place (Ezek. 6:14).

Dibon

(wasting). (1) A town of Gad (Num. 32:3,34). Dibon-gad (Num. 33:45-46). Accounted to Reuben (Josh. 13:9,17). Now Dhiban, within the gateway of which the famous Moabite stone was found in 1868. (2) A town in south Judah (Neh. 11:25).

Dibon-gad

[DIBON, 1.]

Dibri

(orator). A Danite (Lev. 24:11).

Didymus

(twin). Surname of Thomas (John 11:16; 20:24; 21:2).

Diklah

(palm). A son of Joktan (Gen. 10:27; 1 Chron. 1:21).

Dilean

(cucumber). A lowland city of Judah (Josh. 15:38).

Dimnah

(dung). A Levitical city (Josh. 21:35).

Dimon

(reddish). A stream of Moab (Isa. 15:9).

Dimonah

(dunghill). A city in south Judah (Josh. 15:22).

Dinah

(judged). First daughter of Jacob and Leah (Gen. 30:21; Gen. 34).

Dinaites

Cuthean colonists in Samaria (Ezra 4:9).

Dinhabah

A capital of Edom (Gen. 36:32; 1 Chron. 1:43).

Dionysius

(devotee of Dionysos, or Bacchus). A member of the court of Areopagus at Athens (Acts 17:34).

Diotrephes

(nourished by Jupiter). A Christian (3 John 9).

Disciple

(learner). Follower of Christ (Matt. 10:24); of John (Matt. 9:14). Applied specially to the twelve (Matt. 10:1; 11:1; 20:17).

Discover

(uncover). Uncovering, making bare (Psa. 29:9; Isa. 22:8; Mic. 1:6).

Diseases

(uneasy). Visitations of plagues and pestilences frequent in Bible lands (Gen. 7-8; Ex. 12:21-29; 2 Kings 19:35; 1 Chron. 21:12; Acts 12:23). Principal bodily diseases were, ophthalmia, leprosy, brain and malarial fevers, lung disorders.

Dishan

(antelope). Youngest son of Seir (Gen. 36:21).

Dishon

(antelope). Sons of Seir (Gen. 36:21-30).

Dispensation

(weighing out). A publicly ordered dealing of God with men in the administration of His ways in His house during various ages. The three main ones are the Dispensation of the Law (John 1:17), the Dispensation of the Mystery (Eph. 3:10) and the Dispenstation of the Fullness of Times (Eph. 1:10).

Dispersion

(scattering). The breaking up of the Jewish kingdoms and scattering of the tribes by conquest (James 1:1; 1 Peter 1:1).

Distaff

(flax-staff). The staff around which flax was wound for spinning (Prov. 31:19).

Dives

(rich). A popular name for the rich man in Luke 16:19-31.

Divination

(belonging to a god). In Scripture, the false use of means to discover the divine will; by rods (Hos. 4:12); arrows (Ezek. 21:21); cups (Gen. 44:5); the liver (Ezek. 21:21); dreams (Deut. 13:3; Zech. 10:2); consulting oracles (Isa. 41:21-24; 44:7). Faith in divination forbidden (Lev. 19:26).

Divorce

(turning asunder). Allowed by Mosaic law (Deut. 24:1-4), yet forbidden in certain cases (Deut. 22:19,29). God hates divorce. Christ allowed divorce in the case of adultery (Matt. 5:31-32; 19:9; Mark 10:11; Luke 16:18).

Dizahab

(gold region). Scene of one of Moses’ addresses (Deut. 1:1).

Doctor

(teacher). A teacher of the Law of Moses (Luke 2:46; 5:17). Teacher of the Christian faith (1 Cor. 12:28).

Dodai

(loving). Leader of David’s second military course (1 Chron. 27:4).

Dodanim

(leaders). Descendants of Javan (Gen. 10:4; 1 Chron. 1:7).

Dodavah

Father of Eliezer (2 Chron. 20:37).

Dodo

(loving). (1) Father of one of David’s captains (2 Sam. 23:24). (2) Father of Eleazar (2 Sam. 23:9; 1 Chron. 11:12). (3) Grandfather of ToIa (Judg. 10:1).

Doeg

(fearful). An overseer of Saul’s herds (1 Sam. 21:7; 22:9-22).

Dog

An unclean animal (Ex. 11:7; 22:31; Deut. 23:18); regarded with contempt (1 Sam. 17:43; 24:14; 2 Sam. 9:8; 2 Kings 8:13; Matt. 7:6; Rev. 22:15); guards (Isa. 56:10; Job 30:1); scavengers (1 Kings 14:11; 21:19-23; 22:38); enemies (Psa. 22:16-20).

Door

(through). [GATE.]

Dophkah

(drover). A desert station of the Israelites (Num. 33:12).

Dor

(dwelling). A city on the coast north of Caesarea (Josh. 11:2; 12:23; 17:11; Judg. 1:27; 1 Kings 4:11).

Dorcas

(gazelle). The woman of Joppa whom Peter raised from the dead (Acts 9:36-42). [TABITHA.]

Dositheus

A priest (Esth. 11:1-2).

Dothan

(two wells). The place where Joseph was sold (Gen. 37:17; 2 Kings 6:13).

Do You To Wit

To make known (2 Cor. 8:1).

Dove

(diver). Clean by the law and offered as a sacrifice by the poor (Gen. 15:9; Lev. 5:7; 12:6-8; Luke 2:24); symbol of innocence (Matt. 10:16); harbinger of God (Gen. 8); emblem of Holy Spirit (Matt. 3:16).

Dove’s Dung

Eaten as a last resort, in time of famine (2 Kings 6:25).

Dowry

(gift). The consideration paid the father of the bride by the bridegroom (Gen. 29:18; 34:12; 1 Sam. 18:25; Hos. 3:2).

Drachma, Drachm

(handful). A silver coin of Greece, corresponding to the Roman denarius, and worth about fifteen and a half cents. A piece of silver (Luke 15:8-9).

Dragon

(serpent). An animal of the lizard species. Evidently a wild beast, as a jackal (Job 30:29; Isa. 34:13; Psa. 44:19; Jer. 9:11; Mic. 1:8); sea-serpent (Gen. 1:21); land-serpent (Ex. 7:9-12; Deut. 32:33); devil (Rev. 12:3-17).

Dragon Well

Possibly Gihon (Neh. 2:13).

Dram

(handful) (1 Chron. 29:7; Ezra 2:69; Neh. 7:70-72). [DARIC.]

Draught House

Cesspool (2 Kings 10:27; Matt. 15:17).

Dream

(phantom). Seriously regarded by ancients (Gen. 40). Divine method of approach (Gen. 20:3-7; 1 Sam. 28:6; Acts 27:22-25). Interpretation of an exceptional gift (Gen. 40:5-23; 41:14-45; Dan. 4:19-27).

Dress

(keeping straight). Of leaves (Gen. 3:7); skins (Gen. 3:21); woolens (Gen. 38:12; Ex. 25:4; Lev. 13:47); linen (1 Chron. 4:21); silk (Rev. 18:12); mixed materials forbidden (Lev. 19:19); colors rich (Ex. 35:25; Luke 16:19); no sexual interchanges (Deut. 22:5); common inner dresses, armless shirt, second tunic, linen wrapper (Mark 14:51); outer, for men, woolen wrap (2 Sam. 15:30; Esther 6:12); for women, a long shawl (Ruth 3:15; Isa. 3:22-24; Jer. 13:22); girdled (Matt. 24:18; Acts 12:8; 1 Kings 18:46); poor man’s bedclothes (Ex. 22:26-27).

Drink offering

The pouring of a small quantity of wine on the daily morning and evening sacrificial lamb (Ex. 29:40; Lev. 23:18).

Drink, Strong

Use of, not uncommon among Hebrews (Gen. 9:21; 19:34-35; Psa. 107:27; Isa. 24:20; 49:26; 51:17-22; John 2:1-11); but under prohibitions (Prov. 20:1; Isa. 5:11).

Dromedary

(running). Post camel of the East, usually the one-humped species, as distinguished from the two-humped, or Bactrian, camel (1 Kings 4:28; Isa. 60:6; Jer. 2:23; Mic. 1:13).

Drusilla

(watered by dew). Daughter of Herod Agrippa I. (Acts 12:1-4,20-23; 24:24).

Duke

(leader). Hereditary chief or sheikh of Edom (Gen. 36:15-43).

Dulcimer

(sweet song). The bagpipe and not the stringed dulcimer is meant (Dan. 3:5-15).

Dumah

(silence). (1) A son of Ishmael (Gen. 14; 1 Chron. 1:30). (2) A town in Judah (Josh. 15:52). (3) A region (Isa. 21:11).

Dung

(excrement). Dung of cattle used for fuel (Ezek. 4:12). Manure made from straw (Isa. 25:10). A fertilizer (Luke 13:8).

Dungeon

(tower, keep). [PRISON.]

Dura

(circle). A plain of Babylon (Dan. 3:1).

Dust

(storm breath). Symbol of mourning (Josh. 7:6; Isa. 47:1); feebleness (Gen. 18:27; Job 30:19); countless numbers (Gen. 13:16); low condition (1 Sam. 2:8); rage (2 Sam. 16:13; Acts 22:23); renunciation (Matt. 10:14; Mark 6:11; Acts 13:51). A sand storm (Deut. 28:24).

Dwellings

[HOUSES.]

Courtesy of BibleTruthPublishers.com. Most likely this text has not been proofread. Any suggestions for spelling or punctuation corrections would be warmly received. Please email them to: BTPmail@bibletruthpublishers.com.