Boyd's Bible Dictionary: F
James P. Boyd
Table of Contents
Fable
(spoken). A narrative in which inanimate things are personalized (Judg. 9:8-15; 2 Kings 14:9).
Fair Havens
A harbor of Crete
(Acts 27:8-13).
Fairs
(holidays). Wares (Ezek. 27:12-33).
Fallow-deer
(yellowish brown). The bubalis or African deer (Deut. 14:5; 1 Kings 4:23). Some say the Arabian wild ox.
Fallow
(yellow). Plowed land left to mellow. Tillage (Prov. 13:23). Figurative (Jer. 4:3; Hos. 10:12). The Sabbatical, or fallow year; year of land-rest (Lev. 25:1-7; Deut. 31:9-14).
Famine
(hunger). Generally foretold and regarded as a judgment (Gen. 12:10; 26:1; 41:54-56; 2 Kings 7).
Fan
(winnower). Winnowing shovel or fork used to throw chaff up into the wind, to separate it from the kernels (Isa. 30:24; Matt. 3:12).
Farthing
Two Roman bronze coins
One (Matt. 5:26; Mark 12:42), worth of a cent; the other (Matt. 10:29; Luke 12:6), worth 14 cents.
Fasts
(keep). One legal fast, the Atonement, kept by Jews (Lev. 16:29-34; Deut. 9:9; Jonah 3:5; Zech. 7:1-7). Special fasts observed (1 Sam. 7:6; Jer. 36:6-10; Esther 4:16; Matt. 9:14; Mark 2:18; Luke 5:33; Acts 10:30; 13:3).
Fat
(fed). Forbidden food, as belonging to God (Lev. 3:3-17; 7:3,23; Neh. 8:10); yet fatted cattle enjoyed (1 Kings 4:23; Luke 15:23). Vat is meant (Joel 2:24; 3:13; Hag. 2:16).
Father
(sire). Source of authority (Gen. 3:16; 1 Cor. 11:3). Disrespect of, condemned (Ex. 21:15-17; 22:17; Lev. 20:9; 1 Tim. 1:9). Parental obedience bears a promise (Ex. 20:12). Father also a priest (Gen. 8:20). Any ancestor (Deut. 1:11; Matt. 23:30). A title (Judg. 17:10; 1 Sam. 10:12; Acts 7:2). Protector (Psa. 68:5). Author and founder (Gen. 4:21; Rom. 4:12). Divine appellation (Deut. 32:6; Matt. 6:4; Rom. 1:7).
Fathom
(embrace). Space to which a man can extend his arms; about 6 feet (Acts 27:28).
Feasts
(joyful). Observed for joyous events (Gen. 21:8; 29:22; 40:20; Mark 6:21-22). Numerous religious feasts (Ex. 12:16; Lev. 23:21-24; Jude 12).
Feet
To wash, a sign of hospitality
(Gen. 18:4; 1 Sam. 25:41; John 13:5-6). To remove shoes, a reverence (Ex. 3:5); sign of mourning (Ezek. 24:17).
Felix
(happy). A procurator of Judea (Acts 23:26).
Fenced Cities
(defenced). Walled or palisaded cities. Sometimes translated “fortified” (2 Crhon.11:11) or “battle towers” or “forts” (Isa. 29.3). See Num. 13:28; Josh. 11:12-13; Judg. 1:27-33; 1 Chron. 27:25[CITY.]
Ferret
(thief). A domesticated animal of the Weasel family used for catching rats (Lev. 11:30).
Festus
Procurator
(Acts 24:27).
Fetters
(shackles). Instruments of brass or iron for fastening feet of prisoners (Psa. 105:18; 149:8).
Field
Open area beyond the enclosed gardens or vineyards
(Gen. 4:8; 24:63; Deut. 22:25). Landmarks, sacred (Deut. 19:14; Job 24:2; Prov. 22:28).
Fig, Fig-tree
Common in Palestine
(Deut. 8:8; Isa. 34:4; 1 Kings 4:25). Pressed figs (1 Sam. 25:18). Fruit appears before leaves (Matt. 21:19).
Fir
A tree of the pine family
(2 Sam. 6:5; 1 Kings 5:8; Song of Sol. 1:17).
Fire
Symbol of God’s presence
(Gen. 4:4-5; 15:17; Ex. 3:2; Judg. 13:19-20). Worshipped (2 Kings 17:17); punishment (Lev. 20:14; 21:9). Christ comes in (2 Thess. 1:8). World destroyed by (2 Pet. 3:7).
Fire-pan
The censer and snuff-dish of the temple
(Ex. 25:38; 27:3; 37:23; 38:3; 2 Kings 25:15).
Firkin
(fourth). A Greek measure equal to Hebrew bath, 4 to 6 gals. (John 2:6).
Firmament
(made firm). Overhead expanse (Gen. 1:17); solid (Ex. 24:10); with windows and doors (Gen. 7:11; Isa. 24:18; Psa. 78:23).
First-born
Consecrated to God
(Ex. 13:2); received a double portion (Deut. 21:17). Paid redemption money after the priesthood started (Num. 3:12-13; 18:15-16).
First-Fruits
Were offerings and priest’s perquisites
(Ex. 22:29; 23:19; 34:26; Lev. 2:12; 23:10-12; Num. 18:12; Deut. 18:3-4).
Fish, Fishing
Grand division of animal kingdom
(Gen. 1:21-22). Without scales, unclean (Lev. 11:9-12). Plenty in waters of Palestine (Luke 5:5). Worship of, prohibited (Deut. 4:18). Caught with nets, hooks, and spears (Hab. 1:15; Luke 5:5-7; Job 41:7).
Fish-gate
A Jerusalem gate
(2 Chron. 33:14).
Fish-hooks
(Amos 4:2)[FISH.]
Fish-pools
Should read “pools”
(Song of Sol. 7:4).
Fitches
(Fetches). “Spelt” (Ezek. 4:9). “Fennel” or black cumin (Isa. 28:25-27).
Flag
(fluttering). Embraces many water plants (Ex. 2:3-5; Isa. 19:6).
Flagon
(flask). Small vessel for liquids (Isa. 22:24; 2 Sam. 6:19; 1 Chron. 16:3; Song of Sol. 2:5).
Flax
(flexible). Grown and used largely in East (Ex. 9:31; Josh. 2:6; Isa. 19:9). For lamp wicks (Isa. 42:3; Matt. 12:20). Spinning honorable (Prov. 31:13,19,24).
Flea
Pests throughout the East
(1 Sam. 24:14; 26:20).
Flesh
Everything living
(Gen. 6:13-19); mankind (Gen. 6:12); the body (Col. 2:5; 1 Peter 4:6); seat of appetites (Rom. 8:1,5,9; Gal. 5:17-19; Eph. 2:3). Used much figuratively.
Flesh-hooks
Three-tined hooks for taking meat from a boiling vessel
(Ex. 38:3: 1 Sam. 2:13-14).
Flint
Quartz; abounds in Palestine
(Psa. 114:8). Types abundance (Deut. 32:13); firmness (Isa. 1:7; Ezek. 3:9).
Floats
Rafts for floating timber
(1 Kings 5:9; 2 Chron. 2:16).
Flock
(Isa. 40:11; Zech. 11:4; Matt. 26:31; Luke 12:32; 1 Pet. 5:2-3)[SHEEP.]
Flood
(flow). The Noachian deluge; “the flood” (Gen. 6-8; Matt. 24:37; 2 Peter 2:5; 3:6). [NOAH.]
Floor
(1 Kings 22:10; 2 Chron. 18:9) [AGRICULTURE]
Flour
Grain used to make bread
(Lev. 5:11-13). [BREAD.]
Flute
(blow, flow). Flute or “pipe,” made of reeds or copper, and similar to those of today (Dan.3:5-15; 1 Kings 1:40).
Flux
(flow). Violent dysentery (Acts 28:8).
Fly
Of many varieties in East, and very noisome
(Ex. 8:21-31; Psa. 78:45; Eccl. 10:1; Isa. 7:18).
Food
(feed). Vegetable foods, soups, eggs, curds, honey, bread, and so forth, preferred by Hebrews to animal food (Lev. 26:26; Psa. 105:16; Ezek. 4:16). Animal food a feature of entertainments (Gen. 18:7; 1 Sam. 16:20; Luke 15:23). Fish used (Num. 11:5; Matt. 13:47-48; 15:34).
Foot
Used in pumping water from Nile
(Deut. 11:10).
Footmen
Swift runners, couriers
(1 Sam. 22:17; 1 Kings 14:28; 2 Kings 11:4).
Footstool
Kings used them
(2 Chron. 9:18). God’s footstool (1 Chron. 28:2; Psa. 99:5).
Forehead
Unveiled women “hard of forehead”
(Gen. 24:65; Ezek. 3:7-9; Jer. 3:3). Mark of beast on forehead (Rev. 13:16); God’s name there (Rev. 22:4).
Foreigner
(out of doors). One not of Hebrew stock ( Ex. 12:45; Eph. 2:12).
Fore-knowledge
God’s knowledge of the future
(Acts 2:23; 15:18; 1 Peter 1:2).
Fore-runner
Preparer of the way “within the veil”
(Heb. 6:19-20).
Forest
Woodland and waste land
(1 Sam. 22:5). “House of the Forest” was built of cedars thereof (1 Kings 7:2).
Forks
(1 Sam. 13:21). [FLESH-HOOKS.]
Fornication
(crime under the arch). Crime of impurity between unmarried persons. Figuratively, infidelity to God (Ezek. 16:2; Jer. 2:20; Matt. 5:32).
Fortunatus
(fortunate). A Corinthian friend of Paul (1 Cor. 16:17), and postscript.
Fountain
(font). Springs of Palestine many but uncertain (Deut. 8:7). They furnish many figures of speech (Psa. 36:8-9; Isa. 49:10; Jer. 2:13; John 4:10; Rev. 7:17).
Fowl
(flying). The Hebrew original embraces birds in general (Gen. 1:20; 1 Kings 4:23). The Greek provides the domestic limitation (Luke 12:24).
Fox
(hairy). The jackal meant, as it is gregarious and feeds on carcasses (Judg. 15:4; Psa. 63:10; Song of Sol. 2:15; Ezek. 13:4; Luke 9:58).
Frankincense
(free burning). The yellowish gum used in sacrificial fumigation (Ex. 30:7-9; Lev. 16:12,13; Rev. 8:3). A mixture of gums and spices (Ex. 30:34-38).
Fringes
(fibers). The ornamental hem of the outer garment. Wearing enjoined (Num. 15:37-40; Deut. 22:12; Matt. 9:20; 14:36).
Frog
The Egyptian species akin to our own
Source of one of the plagues (Ex. 8:2-14). Elsewhere only in Psalm 78:45; 105:30; Revelation 16:13.
Frontlets
(little foreheads). Phylacteries in Greek. Parchment strips inscribed with texts (Ex. 13:2-17; Deut. 6:4-22); enclosed in calfskin case, worn at prayers on forehead or left arm (Matt. 23:5; Mark 7:3-4; Luke 5:33).
Fuller
(tramper on). Fuller’s art used for cleaning clothes. They were placed in vessels of water impregnated with natron or soap and trodden with the feet (Prov. 25:20; Jer. 2:22; Mal. 3:2). Chalk and fuller’s earth used for bleaching (2 Kings 18:17; Isa. 7:3; 36:2).
Funeral
(Gen. 25:9; 35:29; Judg. 16:31; Matt. 8:21-22) [BURIAL.]
Furlong
(furrow long). In N. T. for Greek stadium, 600 feet long (Luke 24:13).
Furnace
(oven). Oven (Gen. 15:17; Neh. 3:11). Smelting furnace or lime-kiln (Gen. 19:28; Ex. 9:8; Isa. 33:12). Refining furnace (Prov. 17:3). Furnace like a brick-kiln (Dan. 3:15-27).
Furniture
( provided). Oriental furniture scanty (2 Kings 4:10-13). Camel’s trappings (Gen. 31:34). [BED.]
Furrow
(ridge). Usual meaning, except in Hosea 10:10, where it means transgressions.
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