S

From: Bible Dictionary

Sabachthani An Aramaic word signifying “forsaken.” Matt: 27:46; Mark 15:34³⁴And at the ninth hour Jesus cried with a loud voice, saying, Eloi, Eloi, lama sabachthani? which is, being interpreted, My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me? (Mark 15:34).

Sabaoth

Sabbath A Hebrew word signifying “hosts.” This word always refers to the Jewish Sabbath, and had among Christians been so entirely superseded by the first day of the week, the Lord’s Day, that it is but once named in all the Epistles, Col. 2:16,¹⁶Let no man therefore judge you in meat, or in drink, or in respect of an holyday, or of the new moon, or of the sabbath days: (Colossians 2:16) where it is called “a shadow of things to come.” There remaineth a sabbatical rest for the people of God. Heb. 4:9⁹There remaineth therefore a rest to the people of God. (Hebrews 4:9). The modern Greek name for Sunday is κυριακή Lord’s day, as in Revelation 1:10¹⁰I was in the Spirit on the Lord's day, and heard behind me a great voice, as of a trumpet, (Revelation 1:10). The Lord of Sabaoth corresponds with Jehovah of Hosts in the Old Testament. Rom. 9:29²⁹And as Esaias said before, Except the Lord of Sabaoth had left us a seed, we had been as Sodoma, and been made like unto Gomorrha. (Romans 9:29); James 5:4⁴Behold, the hire of the laborers who have reaped down your fields, which is of you kept back by fraud, crieth: and the cries of them which have reaped are entered into the ears of the Lord of sabaoth. (James 5:4).

Sackcloth A rough cloth made of hair, of which sacks and coarse clothing were made. When worn as a symbol of repentance or sorrow it was worn next the skin. Matt. 11:21²¹Woe unto thee, Chorazin! woe unto thee, Bethsaida! for if the mighty works, which were done in you, had been done in Tyre and Sidon, they would have repented long ago in sackcloth and ashes. (Matthew 11:21); Luke 10:13¹³Woe unto thee, Chorazin! woe unto thee, Bethsaida! for if the mighty works had been done in Tyre and Sidon, which have been done in you, they had a great while ago repented, sitting in sackcloth and ashes. (Luke 10:13); Rev. 6:12; 11:3¹²And I beheld when he had opened the sixth seal, and, lo, there was a great earthquake; and the sun became black as sackcloth of hair, and the moon became as blood; (Revelation 6:12)
³And I will give power unto my two witnesses, and they shall prophesy a thousand two hundred and threescore days, clothed in sackcloth. (Revelation 11:3).

Sacrifice Often used with reference to the Jewish sacrifices; but Christ came “to put away sin by the sacrifice of Himself.” After that one sacrifice, there remaineth no more sacrifice for sins. Eph. 5:2²And walk in love, as Christ also hath loved us, and hath given himself for us an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweetsmelling savor. (Ephesians 5:2); Heb. 9:26; 10:12,26²⁶For then must he often have suffered since the foundation of the world: but now once in the end of the world hath he appeared to put away sin by the sacrifice of himself. (Hebrews 9:26)
¹²But this man, after he had offered one sacrifice for sins for ever, sat down on the right hand of God; (Hebrews 10:12)
²⁶For if we sin wilfully after that we have received the knowledge of the truth, there remaineth no more sacrifice for sins, (Hebrews 10:26). We are exhorted to present our bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is our intelligent service. Rom. 12:1¹I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. (Romans 12:1). To do good and to communicate are sacrifices well pleasing to God. Phil. 4:18¹⁸But I have all, and abound: I am full, having received of Epaphroditus the things which were sent from you, an odor of a sweet smell, a sacrifice acceptable, wellpleasing to God. (Philippians 4:18); Heb. 13:16¹⁶But to do good and to communicate forget not: for with such sacrifices God is well pleased. (Hebrews 13:16). We are exhorted to offer by Christ the sacrifice of praise to God. Heb. 13:15¹⁵By him therefore let us offer the sacrifice of praise to God continually, that is, the fruit of our lips giving thanks to his name. (Hebrews 13:15); see also 1 Pet. 2:5⁵Ye also, as lively stones, are built up a spiritual house, an holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ. (1 Peter 2:5).

Sadducees Much less is known of these. Scripture tells us that they did not believe in the resurrection, nor in angels nor spirits, Matt. 22:23²³The same day came to him the Sadducees, which say that there is no resurrection, and asked him, (Matthew 22:23); Acts 23:8⁸For the Sadducees say that there is no resurrection, neither angel, nor spirit: but the Pharisees confess both. (Acts 23:8); the soul perished with the body, Acts 4:1-2¹And as they spake unto the people, the priests, and the captain of the temple, and the Sadducees, came upon them, ²Being grieved that they taught the people, and preached through Jesus the resurrection from the dead. (Acts 4:1‑2). They held to the strongest view of the power of man’s will to good or bad, consequently they were severe judges. They were strict in their regard to the written law; but denied everything not literally and plainly taught in the Scripture, such as the resurrection. They refused the traditions of the elders. Scripture at times classes the Sadducees with the Pharisees in the rebukes administered: “O generation of vipers, who hath warned you to flee from the wrath to come?” Matt. 3:7⁷But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees come to his baptism, he said unto them, O generation of vipers, who hath warned you to flee from the wrath to come? (Matthew 3:7). “A wicked and adulterous generation seeketh after a sign. ... Take heed and beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and of the Sadducees.” Matt. 16:4,6⁴A wicked and adulterous generation seeketh after a sign; and there shall no sign be given unto it, but the sign of the prophet Jonas. And he left them, and departed. (Matthew 16:4)
⁶Then Jesus said unto them, Take heed and beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and of the Sadducees. (Matthew 16:6). The Sadducees were not nearly as numerous as the Pharisees, and had not as much influence as they; though some of them held the office of high priest and sat in the Sanhedrim.

Saffron is much prized as a condiment; it flavours and enriches soups and food generally. As an aromatic plant it is one of the finest of the perfumes, and is obtained from the Crocus flower.

Saints “Holy ones,” see Heb. 3:1¹Wherefore, holy brethren, partakers of the heavenly calling, consider the Apostle and High Priest of our profession, Christ Jesus; (Hebrews 3:1); not that it implies that Christians never sin, but they are set apart for God, and are saints by calling, Rom. 1:7⁷To all that be in Rome, beloved of God, called to be saints: Grace to you and peace from God our Father, and the Lord Jesus Christ. (Romans 1:7); 1 Cor. 1:2²Unto the church of God which is at Corinth, to them that are sanctified in Christ Jesus, called to be saints, with all that in every place call upon the name of Jesus Christ our Lord, both theirs and ours: (1 Corinthians 1:2). In Matthew 27:52⁵²And the graves were opened; and many bodies of the saints which slept arose, (Matthew 27:52) we read of “saints” being raised, no doubt O.T. saints. In the Revelation we read of “saints” on the earth after the church will have been taken from the earth. This proves that the term in the N.T. is not confined to believers of the present dispensation, and throws much light on some parts of prophecy.

Salamis A city on the S.E. of Cyprus. By synagogues (in the plural) being mentioned, there were doubtless many Jews living in the place when Paul and Barnabas visited it. Acts 13:5⁵And when they were at Salamis, they preached the word of God in the synagogues of the Jews: and they had also John to their minister. (Acts 13:5).

Salem Supposed by some to refer to Jerusalem, because of Psalm 76:2²In Salem also is his tabernacle, and his dwelling place in Zion. (Psalm 76:2) (see Gen. 14:18¹⁸And Melchizedek king of Salem brought forth bread and wine: and he was the priest of the most high God. (Genesis 14:18)). Heb. 7:1-2¹For this Melchisedec, king of Salem, priest of the most high God, who met Abraham returning from the slaughter of the kings, and blessed him; ²To whom also Abraham gave a tenth part of all; first being by interpretation King of righteousness, and after that also King of Salem, which is, King of peace; (Hebrews 7:1‑2).

Salim John 3:23²³And John also was baptizing in Aenon near to Salim, because there was much water there: and they came, and were baptized. (John 3:23). {See Aenon.}

Salmone The east point of the island of Crete. Acts 27:7⁷And when we had sailed slowly many days, and scarce were come over against Cnidus, the wind not suffering us, we sailed under Crete, over against Salmone; (Acts 27:7).

Salome One of the women who witnessed the crucifixion, and who brought spices to anoint the Lord’s body. Mark 15:40; 16:1⁴⁰There were also women looking on afar off: among whom was Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of James the less and of Joses, and Salome; (Mark 15:40)
¹And when the sabbath was past, Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of James, and Salome, had bought sweet spices, that they might come and anoint him. (Mark 16:1).

Salt

1. A symbol of preservation. Matt. 5:13¹³Ye are the salt of the earth: but if the salt have lost his savor, wherewith shall it be salted? it is thenceforth good for nothing, but to be cast out, and to be trodden under foot of men. (Matthew 5:13).

2. A symbol of sound words. Col. 4:6⁶Let your speech be alway with grace, seasoned with salt, that ye may know how ye ought to answer every man. (Colossians 4:6).

3. A symbol of savour, preservation, purification, of perpetuity and incorruption. Mark 9:49⁴⁹For every one shall be salted with fire, and every sacrifice shall be salted with salt. (Mark 9:49).

Salt, too much, (Deut. 29:23²³And that the whole land thereof is brimstone, and salt, and burning, that it is not sown, nor beareth, nor any grass groweth therein, like the overthrow of Sodom, and Gomorrah, Admah, and Zeboim, which the Lord overthrew in his anger, and in his wrath: (Deuteronomy 29:23); Judg. 9:45⁴⁵And Abimelech fought against the city all that day; and he took the city, and slew the people that was therein, and beat down the city, and sowed it with salt. (Judges 9:45)) Symbol of judgments.

Salvation It is referred to safety from any danger, as Paul in the shipwreck. etc., Acts 27:31³¹Paul said to the centurion and to the soldiers, Except these abide in the ship, ye cannot be saved. (Acts 27:31); Heb. 11:7,⁷By faith Noah, being warned of God of things not seen as yet, moved with fear, prepared an ark to the saving of his house; by the which he condemned the world, and became heir of the righteousness which is by faith. (Hebrews 11:7) etc.; but especially has reference to the eternal salvation of the soul. The saints are spoken of as already saved. 2 Tim. 1:9: see also 2 Cor. 2:15¹⁵For we are unto God a sweet savor of Christ, in them that are saved, and in them that perish: (2 Corinthians 2:15); Eph. 2:5,8⁵Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;) (Ephesians 2:5)
⁸For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: (Ephesians 2:8); Titus 3:5⁵Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost; (Titus 3:5). They are not yet in the glory, and therefore salvation is also spoken of as in the future. Rom. 13:11¹¹And that, knowing the time, that now it is high time to awake out of sleep: for now is our salvation nearer than when we believed. (Romans 13:11). In the meantime they are to work out their own salvation from all the evils that are around. Phil. 2:12: see also Heb. 7:25²⁵Wherefore he is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by him, seeing he ever liveth to make intercession for them. (Hebrews 7:25). Salvation, past, present, and future, may be illustrated by Israel being saved out of Egypt, through the wilderness, and into Canaan.

Samaria Some passages refer to the district, situate in the center of Israel, through which travelers passed from Judaea to Galilee. Luke 17:11¹¹And it came to pass, as he went to Jerusalem, that he passed through the midst of Samaria and Galilee. (Luke 17:11); John 4:4-5⁴And he must needs go through Samaria. ⁵Then cometh he to a city of Samaria, which is called Sychar, near to the parcel of ground that Jacob gave to his son Joseph. (John 4:4‑5); Acts 1:8; 15:3,⁸But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth. (Acts 1:8)
³And being brought on their way by the church, they passed through Phenice and Samaria, declaring the conversion of the Gentiles: and they caused great joy unto all the brethren. (Acts 15:3) etc. In Acts 8:5,9,14⁵Then Philip went down to the city of Samaria, and preached Christ unto them. (Acts 8:5)
⁹But there was a certain man, called Simon, which beforetime in the same city used sorcery, and bewitched the people of Samaria, giving out that himself was some great one: (Acts 8:9)
¹⁴Now when the apostles which were at Jerusalem heard that Samaria had received the word of God, they sent unto them Peter and John: (Acts 8:14) the city of Samaria is spoken of. It was in the O.T. the capital of Israel after the division, 1 Kings 16:24,29²⁴And he bought the hill Samaria of Shemer for two talents of silver, and built on the hill, and called the name of the city which he built, after the name of Shemer, owner of the hill, Samaria. (1 Kings 16:24)
²⁹And in the thirty and eighth year of Asa king of Judah began Ahab the son of Omri to reign over Israel: and Ahab the son of Omri reigned over Israel in Samaria twenty and two years. (1 Kings 16:29). It was razed to the ground by John Hyrcanus but was afterward rebuilt and enlarged by Herod, who called it Sebaste. This was the city visited by Philip. It is beautifully situated, about 6 miles north-west of Nablous, but is now only a miserable village, called Sebustiyeh, with many relics of its former grandeur.

Samos An island on the west coast of Asia Minor, near Ephesus. Acts 20:15¹⁵And we sailed thence, and came the next day over against Chios; and the next day we arrived at Samos, and tarried at Trogyllium; and the next day we came to Miletus. (Acts 20:15).

Samothracia A mountainous island at the extreme N.E. corner of the Aegean Sea. Acts 16:11¹¹Therefore loosing from Troas, we came with a straight course to Samothracia, and the next day to Neapolis; (Acts 16:11).

Sanctification ἀγιασμός, devoted to holiness. The same word is translated “holiness.” Rom. 6:19,22¹⁹I speak after the manner of men because of the infirmity of your flesh: for as ye have yielded your members servants to uncleanness and to iniquity unto iniquity; even so now yield your members servants to righteousness unto holiness. (Romans 6:19)
²²But now being made free from sin, and become servants to God, ye have your fruit unto holiness, and the end everlasting life. (Romans 6:22); 1 Thess. 4:7⁷For God hath not called us unto uncleanness, but unto holiness. (1 Thessalonians 4:7); 1 Tim. 2:15¹⁵Notwithstanding she shall be saved in childbearing, if they continue in faith and charity and holiness with sobriety. (1 Timothy 2:15); Heb. 12:14¹⁴Follow peace with all men, and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord: (Hebrews 12:14). Sanctification is often spoken of as true of all saints, 1 Cor. 6:11¹¹And such were some of you: but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God. (1 Corinthians 6:11); it is in Christ Jesus, 1 Cor. 1:2²Unto the church of God which is at Corinth, to them that are sanctified in Christ Jesus, called to be saints, with all that in every place call upon the name of Jesus Christ our Lord, both theirs and ours: (1 Corinthians 1:2); and it is by the Holy Spirit, Rom. 15:16¹⁶That I should be the minister of Jesus Christ to the Gentiles, ministering the gospel of God, that the offering up of the Gentiles might be acceptable, being sanctified by the Holy Ghost. (Romans 15:16). Christ is made unto us sanctification, 1 Cor. 1:30³⁰But of him are ye in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption: (1 Corinthians 1:30). The saints are also addressed as “holy,” Col. 3:12¹²Put on therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, bowels of mercies, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, longsuffering; (Colossians 3:12); 1 Thess. 5:27²⁷I charge you by the Lord that this epistle be read unto all the holy brethren. (1 Thessalonians 5:27); Heb. 3:1¹Wherefore, holy brethren, partakers of the heavenly calling, consider the Apostle and High Priest of our profession, Christ Jesus; (Hebrews 3:1); “the temple of God is holy, which temple ye are,” 1 Cor. 3:17¹⁷If any man defile the temple of God, him shall God destroy; for the temple of God is holy, which temple ye are. (1 Corinthians 3:17). Other passages speak of sanctification as a thing being accomplished in the saints. Our Lord prayed that we might be sanctified through the truth: He has set Himself apart in the glory that this might be true of us. John 17:17,19¹⁷Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth. (John 17:17)
¹⁹And for their sakes I sanctify myself, that they also might be sanctified through the truth. (John 17:19). Paul prayed that the very God of peace might sanctify the Thessalonians wholly, in spirit, soul, and body. 1 Thess. 5:23. The root idea in this word, wherever it occurs in the Scriptures, means setting apart towards an object, and its measure is Christ on high. John 17:19¹⁹And for their sakes I sanctify myself, that they also might be sanctified through the truth. (John 17:19). We have absolute sanctification taught in 1 Corinthians 1:30; 6:11³⁰But of him are ye in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption: (1 Corinthians 1:30)
¹¹And such were some of you: but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God. (1 Corinthians 6:11); Hebrews 10:14¹⁴For by one offering he hath perfected for ever them that are sanctified. (Hebrews 10:14). We have positional sanctification unfolded in Hebrews 13:12¹²Wherefore Jesus also, that he might sanctify the people with his own blood, suffered without the gate. (Hebrews 13:12); and progressive sanctification in John 17:17¹⁷Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth. (John 17:17); 1 Thessalonians 5:23²³And the very God of peace sanctify you wholly; and I pray God your whole spirit and soul and body be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. (1 Thessalonians 5:23). Sanctifying and cleansing are both ascribed to the “Word,” Eph. 5:26²⁶That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word, (Ephesians 5:26); the former setting an object before the soul, the latter completely removing all blemish and defilement. We are sanctified, and are being sanctified. It is as we realize the former and live in its power, that the latter is produced. Both truths should be held with an even hand, both weighed and held in the seven-fold light of the sanctuary.

Sanctuary The holy part of the Jewish tabernacle or temple, Heb. 9:1-2; 13:11,¹Then verily the first covenant had also ordinances of divine service, and a worldly sanctuary. ²For there was a tabernacle made; the first, wherein was the candlestick, and the table, and the showbread; which is called the sanctuary. (Hebrews 9:1‑2)
¹¹For the bodies of those beasts, whose blood is brought into the sanctuary by the high priest for sin, are burned without the camp. (Hebrews 13:11) and “the Holiest of all,” Heb. 9:3,8; 10:19³And after the second veil, the tabernacle which is called the Holiest of all; (Hebrews 9:3)
⁸The Holy Ghost this signifying, that the way into the holiest of all was not yet made manifest, while as the first tabernacle was yet standing: (Hebrews 9:8)
¹⁹Having therefore, brethren, boldness to enter into the holiest by the blood of Jesus, (Hebrews 10:19). The sanctuary is here called “a worldly” one — it had become such, and stands in contrast to the true tabernacle which the Lord pitched and not man, of the holy things (it is plural) of which the Lord is minister. Heb. 8:2²A minister of the sanctuary, and of the true tabernacle, which the Lord pitched, and not man. (Hebrews 8:2).

Sand A symbol of countless multitudes. Gen. 22:17; 32:12¹⁷That in blessing I will bless thee, and in multiplying I will multiply thy seed as the stars of the heaven, and as the sand which is upon the sea shore; and thy seed shall possess the gate of his enemies; (Genesis 22:17)
¹²And thou saidst, I will surely do thee good, and make thy seed as the sand of the sea, which cannot be numbered for multitude. (Genesis 32:12); Psa. 139:18¹⁸If I should count them, they are more in number than the sand: when I awake, I am still with thee. (Psalm 139:18).

Sandals A sole, of wood or leather, fastened to the foot by strings. Mark 6:9⁹But be shod with sandals; and not put on two coats. (Mark 6:9); Acts 12:8⁸And the angel said unto him, Gird thyself, and bind on thy sandals. And so he did. And he saith unto him, Cast thy garment about thee, and follow me. (Acts 12:8).

Sapphira The wife of Ananias, who had agreed with her husband to keep back part of the money for which they had sold their land. She fell down at the feet of Peter and expired. Acts 5:1¹But a certain man named Ananias, with Sapphira his wife, sold a possession, (Acts 5:1).

Sapphire, σάπφειρος. An azure or sky-blue stone. Rev. 21:19¹⁹And the foundations of the wall of the city were garnished with all manner of precious stones. The first foundation was jasper; the second, sapphire; the third, a chalcedony; the fourth, an emerald; (Revelation 21:19). Occurs in the LXX in Ex. 24:10¹⁰And they saw the God of Israel: and there was under his feet as it were a paved work of a sapphire stone, and as it were the body of heaven in his clearness. (Exodus 24:10); Song of Sol. 5:14¹⁴His hands are as gold rings set with the beryl: his belly is as bright ivory overlaid with sapphires. (Song of Solomon 5:14); Ezek. 28:13,¹³Thou hast been in Eden the garden of God; every precious stone was thy covering, the sardius, topaz, and the diamond, the beryl, the onyx, and the jasper, the sapphire, the emerald, and the carbuncle, and gold: the workmanship of thy tabrets and of thy pipes was prepared in thee in the day that thou wast created. (Ezekiel 28:13) etc. {See “Chalcedony.”}

Sapphire A symbol of glory of the throne of God. Ex. 24:10¹⁰And they saw the God of Israel: and there was under his feet as it were a paved work of a sapphire stone, and as it were the body of heaven in his clearness. (Exodus 24:10); Ezek. 1:26²⁶And above the firmament that was over their heads was the likeness of a throne, as the appearance of a sapphire stone: and upon the likeness of the throne was the likeness as the appearance of a man above upon it. (Ezekiel 1:26).

Sara, Sarah princess. Wife of Abraham: held up as an example of faith, because she judged Him faithful who had promised. An example of an obedient wife, whose daughters morally all Christian wives should be. Rom. 4:19; 9:9¹⁹And being not weak in faith, he considered not his own body now dead, when he was about an hundred years old, neither yet the deadness of Sara's womb: (Romans 4:19)
⁹For this is the word of promise, At this time will I come, and Sara shall have a son. (Romans 9:9); Heb. 11:11¹¹Through faith also Sara herself received strength to conceive seed, and was delivered of a child when she was past age, because she judged him faithful who had promised. (Hebrews 11:11); 1 Peter 3:6⁶Even as Sara obeyed Abraham, calling him lord: whose daughters ye are, as long as ye do well, and are not afraid with any amazement. (1 Peter 3:6). A figure of the covenant of grace or promise, Gal. 4:22-31,²²For it is written, that Abraham had two sons, the one by a bondmaid, the other by a freewoman. ²³But he who was of the bondwoman was born after the flesh; but he of the freewoman was by promise. ²⁴Which things are an allegory: for these are the two covenants; the one from the mount Sinai, which gendereth to bondage, which is Agar. ²⁵For this Agar is mount Sinai in Arabia, and answereth to Jerusalem which now is, and is in bondage with her children. ²⁶But Jerusalem which is above is free, which is the mother of us all. ²⁷For it is written, Rejoice, thou barren that bearest not; break forth and cry, thou that travailest not: for the desolate hath many more children than she which hath an husband. ²⁸Now we, brethren, as Isaac was, are the children of promise. ²⁹But as then he that was born after the flesh persecuted him that was born after the Spirit, even so it is now. ³⁰Nevertheless what saith the scripture? Cast out the bondwoman and her son: for the son of the bondwoman shall not be heir with the son of the freewoman. ³¹So then, brethren, we are not children of the bondwoman, but of the free. (Galatians 4:22‑31) offered to the Jews, Acts 3:25²⁵Ye are the children of the prophets, and of the covenant which God made with our fathers, saying unto Abraham, And in thy seed shall all the kindreds of the earth be blessed. (Acts 3:25). Name occurs about 60 times in the Scriptures. Gen. 17.

Sardine, Sardius σάρδιος, -ον, -νος: Stones found in Sardis in Lydia of various colours, some a blood red, and others golden. Rev. 4:3; 21:20³And he that sat was to look upon like a jasper and a sardine stone: and there was a rainbow round about the throne, in sight like unto an emerald. (Revelation 4:3)
²⁰The fifth, sardonyx; the sixth, sardius; the seventh, chrysolite; the eighth, beryl; the ninth, a topaz; the tenth, a chrysoprasus; the eleventh, a jacinth; the twelfth, an amethyst. (Revelation 21:20). Occurs in the LXX in Ex. 25:7; 28:17; 35:8; 36:17; 39:10⁷Onyx stones, and stones to be set in the ephod, and in the breastplate. (Exodus 25:7)
¹⁷And thou shalt set in it settings of stones, even four rows of stones: the first row shall be a sardius, a topaz, and a carbuncle: this shall be the first row. (Exodus 28:17)
⁸And oil for the light, and spices for anointing oil, and for the sweet incense, (Exodus 35:8)
¹⁷And he made fifty loops upon the uttermost edge of the curtain in the coupling, and fifty loops made he upon the edge of the curtain which coupleth the second. (Exodus 36:17)
¹⁰And they set in it four rows of stones: the first row was a sardius, a topaz, and a carbuncle: this was the first row. (Exodus 39:10); Prov. 25:11-12¹¹A word fitly spoken is like apples of gold in pictures of silver. ¹²As an earring of gold, and an ornament of fine gold, so is a wise reprover upon an obedient ear. (Proverbs 25:11‑12); Ezek. 28:13¹³Thou hast been in Eden the garden of God; every precious stone was thy covering, the sardius, topaz, and the diamond, the beryl, the onyx, and the jasper, the sapphire, the emerald, and the carbuncle, and gold: the workmanship of thy tabrets and of thy pipes was prepared in thee in the day that thou wast created. (Ezekiel 28:13). {See “Chalcedony.”}

Sardis Once the rich and chief city of Lydia (where Croesus was king) in the west of Asia Minor. Rev. 1:11; 3:1,4¹¹Saying, I am Alpha and Omega, the first and the last: and, What thou seest, write in a book, and send it unto the seven churches which are in Asia; unto Ephesus, and unto Smyrna, and unto Pergamos, and unto Thyatira, and unto Sardis, and unto Philadelphia, and unto Laodicea. (Revelation 1:11)
¹And unto the angel of the church in Sardis write; These things saith he that hath the seven Spirits of God, and the seven stars; I know thy works, that thou hast a name that thou livest, and art dead. (Revelation 3:1)
⁴Thou hast a few names even in Sardis which have not defiled their garments; and they shall walk with me in white: for they are worthy. (Revelation 3:4). In the thirteenth century it was destroyed, and now there is only a village with a few inhabitants. {See Ephesus, footnote.}

Sardonyx σαρὀόνυξ. A variety of Chalcedony of various colours, with stripes of a different shade. Rev. 21:20²⁰The fifth, sardonyx; the sixth, sardius; the seventh, chrysolite; the eighth, beryl; the ninth, a topaz; the tenth, a chrysoprasus; the eleventh, a jacinth; the twelfth, an amethyst. (Revelation 21:20). “Aquila” has the word in Genesis 2:12¹²And the gold of that land is good: there is bdellium and the onyx stone. (Genesis 2:12).

Sarepta It was on or near the seashore in Phoenice, between Tyre and Sidon. Its being a Gentile town gives point to the Lord’s reference to it. Luke 4:26²⁶But unto none of them was Elias sent, save unto Sarepta, a city of Sidon, unto a woman that was a widow. (Luke 4:26); called in 1 Kings 17:9,⁹Arise, get thee to Zarephath, which belongeth to Zidon, and dwell there: behold, I have commanded a widow woman there to sustain thee. (1 Kings 17:9) Zarephath. A poor village on the hills is called Surafend, but the ruins are on the seashore.

Saron, Sharon, Plain of A maritime district lying north of Jaffa. Acts 9:35³⁵And all that dwelt at Lydda and Saron saw him, and turned to the Lord. (Acts 9:35). Same as the Plain of Sharon, 1 Chron. 27:29²⁹And over the herds that fed in Sharon was Shitrai the Sharonite: and over the herds that were in the valleys was Shaphat the son of Adlai: (1 Chronicles 27:29).

Satan The personal name of the devil, the great enemy of God and man. He deceived Eve, and has been and is the great tempter of man to do evil, as he also tempted the Lord. He is called the “god of this world” and the “prince of the power of the air.” His power was annulled for the Christian by Christ on the cross, and believers are exhorted to resist him and he will flee from them; but his wiles are dangerous, for he is able to transform himself into an angel of light. He has access to the lower heavens, from which he and his angels will be cast out. He will be chief of the trinity of evil in conjunction with the head of the future Roman empire and Antichrist. He will be shut up in the bottomless pit for the thousand years of the millennium. After that he will be released for a short time, and will gather the nations together to war against the saints and the beloved city, Jerusalem. The fire of God will destroy the army, and Satan will be cast into the lake of fire and brimstone for eternity. He is called the father of lies and a murderer from the beginning, a great dragon, and the old serpent. See Ezek. 28:11-19¹¹Moreover the word of the Lord came unto me, saying, ¹²Son of man, take up a lamentation upon the king of Tyrus, and say unto him, Thus saith the Lord God; Thou sealest up the sum, full of wisdom, and perfect in beauty. ¹³Thou hast been in Eden the garden of God; every precious stone was thy covering, the sardius, topaz, and the diamond, the beryl, the onyx, and the jasper, the sapphire, the emerald, and the carbuncle, and gold: the workmanship of thy tabrets and of thy pipes was prepared in thee in the day that thou wast created. ¹⁴Thou art the anointed cherub that covereth; and I have set thee so: thou wast upon the holy mountain of God; thou hast walked up and down in the midst of the stones of fire. ¹⁵Thou wast perfect in thy ways from the day that thou wast created, till iniquity was found in thee. ¹⁶By the multitude of thy merchandise they have filled the midst of thee with violence, and thou hast sinned: therefore I will cast thee as profane out of the mountain of God: and I will destroy thee, O covering cherub, from the midst of the stones of fire. ¹⁷Thine heart was lifted up because of thy beauty, thou hast corrupted thy wisdom by reason of thy brightness: I will cast thee to the ground, I will lay thee before kings, that they may behold thee. ¹⁸Thou hast defiled thy sanctuaries by the multitude of thine iniquities, by the iniquity of thy traffic; therefore will I bring forth a fire from the midst of thee, it shall devour thee, and I will bring thee to ashes upon the earth in the sight of all them that behold thee. ¹⁹All they that know thee among the people shall be astonished at thee: thou shalt be a terror, and never shalt thou be any more. (Ezekiel 28:11‑19).

Saul asked for. Israel’s first king, reigned forty years over all 12 tribes. The history is fully recorded in the first book of Samuel. Man’s choice. Type of the future anti-Christian king who will reign in Israel before the Lord will assume the sovereignty of the world. Dan. 11:36³⁶And the king shall do according to his will; and he shall exalt himself, and magnify himself above every god, and shall speak marvellous things against the God of gods, and shall prosper till the indignation be accomplished: for that that is determined shall be done. (Daniel 11:36). {See Paul.}

Sau asked for. The future Antichrist, who will reign as king in Israel. Dan. 11:36³⁶And the king shall do according to his will; and he shall exalt himself, and magnify himself above every god, and shall speak marvellous things against the God of gods, and shall prosper till the indignation be accomplished: for that that is determined shall be done. (Daniel 11:36). Name occurs about 400 times in the Scriptures. 1 Sam. 9.

Saviour The blessed Lord is often called our “Saviour,” and He is also called “the Saviour of the world.” John 4:42⁴²And said unto the woman, Now we believe, not because of thy saying: for we have heard him ourselves, and know that this is indeed the Christ, the Saviour of the world. (John 4:42). We meet also with “God our Saviour,” or our Saviour-God, 1 Tim. 1:1,¹Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the commandment of God our Saviour, and Lord Jesus Christ, which is our hope; (1 Timothy 1:1) etc., which is borne out by many passages. See John 3:16¹⁶For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. (John 3:16); Rom. 8:33³³Who shall lay any thing to the charge of God's elect? It is God that justifieth. (Romans 8:33); 1 John 4:9⁹In this was manifested the love of God toward us, because that God sent his only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through him. (1 John 4:9). In 1 Timothy 4:10¹⁰For therefore we both labor and suffer reproach, because we trust in the living God, who is the Saviour of all men, specially of those that believe. (1 Timothy 4:10) God is declared to be the Saviour or preserver of all men.

Savourest mindest. Matt. 16:23²³But he turned, and said unto Peter, Get thee behind me, Satan: thou art an offence unto me: for thou savorest not the things that be of God, but those that be of men. (Matthew 16:23).

Sayest i.e. truly Matt. 27:11¹¹And Jesus stood before the governor: and the governor asked him, saying, Art thou the King of the Jews? And Jesus said unto him, Thou sayest. (Matthew 27:11).

Scall scab. Lev. 13:30³⁰Then the priest shall see the plague: and, behold, if it be in sight deeper than the skin; and there be in it a yellow thin hair; then the priest shall pronounce him unclean: it is a dry scall, even a leprosy upon the head or beard. (Leviticus 13:30).

Scarce, Scarcely with difficulty. Acts 14:18¹⁸And with these sayings scarce restrained they the people, that they had not done sacrifice unto them. (Acts 14:18); 1 Peter 4:18¹⁸And if the righteous scarcely be saved, where shall the ungodly and the sinner appear? (1 Peter 4:18).

Scarlet The well-known brilliant colour. Matt. 27: 28 [see “purple” in Mark 15:17¹⁷And they clothed him with purple, and platted a crown of thorns, and put it about his head, (Mark 15:17)]; Heb. 9:19¹⁹For when Moses had spoken every precept to all the people according to the law, he took the blood of calves and of goats, with water, and scarlet wool, and hyssop, and sprinkled both the book, and all the people, (Hebrews 9:19); Rev. 17:3-4; 18:12,16³So he carried me away in the spirit into the wilderness: and I saw a woman sit upon a scarlet colored beast, full of names of blasphemy, having seven heads and ten horns. ⁴And the woman was arrayed in purple and scarlet color, and decked with gold and precious stones and pearls, having a golden cup in her hand full of abominations and filthiness of her fornication: (Revelation 17:3‑4)
¹²The merchandise of gold, and silver, and precious stones, and of pearls, and fine linen, and purple, and silk, and scarlet, and all thyine wood, and all manner vessels of ivory, and all manner vessels of most precious wood, and of brass, and iron, and marble, (Revelation 18:12)
¹⁶And saying, Alas, alas, that great city, that was clothed in fine linen, and purple, and scarlet, and decked with gold, and precious stones, and pearls! (Revelation 18:16); Lam. 4:5⁵They that did feed delicately are desolate in the streets: they that were brought up in scarlet embrace dunghills. (Lamentations 4:5); Num. 4:8⁸And they shall spread upon them a cloth of scarlet, and cover the same with a covering of badgers' skins, and shall put in the staves thereof. (Numbers 4:8). A symbol of worldly grandeur and glory, and thus in the Revelation applied to Rome as a woman sitting on a scarlet beast: she was arrayed in purple and scarlet.

Sceptre

1. A sign of royal authority.

2. A symbol of tribal character of Israel. Esther; Amos 1:5,8⁵I will break also the bar of Damascus, and cut off the inhabitant from the plain of Aven, and him that holdeth the sceptre from the house of Eden: and the people of Syria shall go into captivity unto Kir, saith the Lord. (Amos 1:5)
⁸And I will cut off the inhabitant from Ashdod, and him that holdeth the sceptre from Ashkelon, and I will turn mine hand against Ekron: and the remnant of the Philistines shall perish, saith the Lord God. (Amos 1:8); Gen. 49:10¹⁰The sceptre shall not depart from Judah, nor a lawgiver from between his feet, until Shiloh come; and unto him shall the gathering of the people be. (Genesis 49:10).

Schism Simply “division,” as the same word is often translated (John 7:43⁴³So there was a division among the people because of him. (John 7:43); 1 Cor. 1:10; 11:18¹⁰Now I beseech you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye all speak the same thing, and that there be no divisions among you; but that ye be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment. (1 Corinthians 1:10)
¹⁸For first of all, when ye come together in the church, I hear that there be divisions among you; and I partly believe it. (1 Corinthians 11:18); 1 Cor. 12: 25.

Schoolmaster Used symbolically of what the law was to the Jew (not to the Christian) up to Christ. Gal. 3:24-25²⁴Wherefore the law was our schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ, that we might be justified by faith. ²⁵But after that faith is come, we are no longer under a schoolmaster. (Galatians 3:24‑25).

Science Simply “knowledge,” as the Greek word is often translated. Luke 11:52⁵²Woe unto you, lawyers! for ye have taken away the key of knowledge: ye entered not in yourselves, and them that were entering in ye hindered. (Luke 11:52); Rom. 11:33³³O the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! how unsearchable are his judgments, and his ways past finding out! (Romans 11:33); 1 Cor. 8:1,7,10-11¹Now as touching things offered unto idols, we know that we all have knowledge. Knowledge puffeth up, but charity edifieth. (1 Corinthians 8:1)
⁷Howbeit there is not in every man that knowledge: for some with conscience of the idol unto this hour eat it as a thing offered unto an idol; and their conscience being weak is defiled. (1 Corinthians 8:7)
¹⁰For if any man see thee which hast knowledge sit at meat in the idol's temple, shall not the conscience of him which is weak be emboldened to eat those things which are offered to idols; ¹¹And through thy knowledge shall the weak brother perish, for whom Christ died? (1 Corinthians 8:10‑11); Phil. 3:8; 2⁸Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ, (Philippians 3:8); 1 Tim. 6:20²⁰O Timothy, keep that which is committed to thy trust, avoiding profane and vain babblings, and oppositions of science falsely so called: (1 Timothy 6:20); Peter 1:5-6.

Scorpion(s) This reptile is very common in the East and wary travellers are careful where they sit as scorpions are found under loose stones, in ruins, etc. and when disturbed sting sharply and severely. Deut. 8:15¹⁵Who led thee through that great and terrible wilderness, wherein were fiery serpents, and scorpions, and drought, where there was no water; who brought thee forth water out of the rock of flint; (Deuteronomy 8:15); Luke 10:19; 11:12¹⁹Behold, I give unto you power to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy: and nothing shall by any means hurt you. (Luke 10:19)
¹²Or if he shall ask an egg, will he offer him a scorpion? (Luke 11:12). They are lobster-like in appearance, and their poison is secreted in their tails, which they strike with excruciating pain is the result, and oftentimes death, hence the allusion in Revelation 9:3,5,10³And there came out of the smoke locusts upon the earth: and unto them was given power, as the scorpions of the earth have power. (Revelation 9:3)
⁵And to them it was given that they should not kill them, but that they should be tormented five months: and their torment was as the torment of a scorpion, when he striketh a man. (Revelation 9:5)
¹⁰And they had tails like unto scorpions, and there were stings in their tails: and their power was to hurt men five months. (Revelation 9:10). A symbol of instruments of mental distress and torment. Rev. 9; Ezek. 2:6⁶And thou, son of man, be not afraid of them, neither be afraid of their words, though briers and thorns be with thee, and thou dost dwell among scorpions: be not afraid of their words, nor be dismayed at their looks, though they be a rebellious house. (Ezekiel 2:6).

Scourge, Overflowing A symbol of the King of the north — great political enemy of the Jews and leader of the peoples attacking Israel in the last days. Isa. 28:15,18¹⁵Because ye have said, We have made a covenant with death, and with hell are we at agreement; when the overflowing scourge shall pass through, it shall not come unto us: for we have made lies our refuge, and under falsehood have we hid ourselves: (Isaiah 28:15)
¹⁸And your covenant with death shall be disannulled, and your agreement with hell shall not stand; when the overflowing scourge shall pass through, then ye shall be trodden down by it. (Isaiah 28:18).

Scourging It was the custom of the Romans to scourge their prisoners, and it was allowed to the Jews to scourge those they judged to be guilty. The punishment was either by rods or whips, the latter being accounted the more painful. Paul was beaten three times with rods, 2 Cor. 11:25,²⁵Thrice was I beaten with rods, once was I stoned, thrice I suffered shipwreck, a night and a day I have been in the deep; (2 Corinthians 11:25) and five times with whips, 2 Cor. 11:24²⁴Of the Jews five times received I forty stripes save one. (2 Corinthians 11:24). The Jews were forbidden to inflict more than forty stripes, so that with a whip of three thongs they could give only 39 (2 Cor. 11: 24). We learn from Matthew 27:26²⁶Then released he Barabbas unto them: and when he had scourged Jesus, he delivered him to be crucified. (Matthew 27:26); Mark 15:15¹⁵And so Pilate, willing to content the people, released Barabbas unto them, and delivered Jesus, when he had scourged him, to be crucified. (Mark 15:15) that the Lord was scourged by whips, φραγελλόω. The Lord “scourgeth every son whom He receiveth,” Heb. 12:6⁶For whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom he receiveth. (Hebrews 12:6).

Scrabble to scratch. 1 Sam. 21:13¹³And he changed his behavior before them, and feigned himself mad in their hands, and scrabbled on the doors of the gate, and let his spittle fall down upon his beard. (1 Samuel 21:13).

Scribes These are often spoken of in the New Testament. They probably took their name from being writers of the law, and from thence came to be teachers of the law. They, with the Pharisees, are described as sitting in Moses’ seat, Matt. 23:2,²Saying, The scribes and the Pharisees sit in Moses' seat: (Matthew 23:2) which would imply more than writing the law: what “they bid” was to be observed; and what they “taught,” Matt. 7:29²⁹For he taught them as one having authority, and not as the scribes. (Matthew 7:29). The Lord was obliged to add that their works were not to be followed. “Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye shut up the kingdom of heaven against men: for ye neither go in yourselves, neither suffer ye them that are entering to go in,” Matt. 23:13¹³But woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye shut up the kingdom of heaven against men: for ye neither go in yourselves, neither suffer ye them that are entering to go in. (Matthew 23:13). Other woes follow, and then they were addressed: “Ye serpents, ye generation of vipers, how can ye escape the damnation of hell?” Matt. 23:33³³Ye serpents, ye generation of vipers, how can ye escape the damnation of hell? (Matthew 23:33).
How the scribes taught we do not know, but the people were astonished at the teaching of the Lord: for He taught them as one having authority, and not as the scribes, for He had the welfare of their souls at heart, Matt. 7:29²⁹For he taught them as one having authority, and not as the scribes. (Matthew 7:29). The Scribes cannot be treated as a separate and distinct sect, but were rather a selection from the several sects, Acts 23:9,⁹And there arose a great cry: and the scribes that were of the Pharisees' part arose, and strove, saying, We find no evil in this man: but if a spirit or an angel hath spoken to him, let us not fight against God. (Acts 23:9) who taught the people, so that a person might be both scribe and Pharisee, or scribe and Sadducee. Thus the Pharisee, who was a lawyer in Matthew 22:34-35,³⁴But when the Pharisees had heard that he had put the Sadducees to silence, they were gathered together. ³⁵Then one of them, which was a lawyer, asked him a question, tempting him, and saying, (Matthew 22:34‑35) is called a scribe in Mark 12:28²⁸And one of the scribes came, and having heard them reasoning together, and perceiving that he had answered them well, asked him, Which is the first commandment of all? (Mark 12:28).

Scrip bag, wallet. Matt. 10:10¹⁰Nor scrip for your journey, neither two coats, neither shoes, nor yet staves: for the workman is worthy of his meat. (Matthew 10:10).

Scythian An inhabitant of the barbarous district north of the Caspian and Black Seas. The term was used to signify the most uncultivated people. Col. 3:11¹¹Where there is neither Greek nor Jew, circumcision nor uncircumcision, Barbarian, Scythian, bond nor free: but Christ is all, and in all. (Colossians 3:11).

Sea

1. A symbol of mass of the peoples in a state of anarchy and confusion. Rev. 8:8; 13:1⁸And the second angel sounded, and as it were a great mountain burning with fire was cast into the sea: and the third part of the sea became blood; (Revelation 8:8)
¹And I stood upon the sand of the sea, and saw a beast rise up out of the sea, having seven heads and ten horns, and upon his horns ten crowns, and upon his heads the name of blasphemy. (Revelation 13:1); Matt. 13:1¹The same day went Jesus out of the house, and sat by the sea side. (Matthew 13:1).

2. A symbol of restlessness of mere nature. Isa. 57:20²⁰But the wicked are like the troubled sea, when it cannot rest, whose waters cast up mire and dirt. (Isaiah 57:20).

Seal

1. A symbol of confirmation. Security. 2 Tim. 2:19¹⁹Nevertheless the foundation of God standeth sure, having this seal, The Lord knoweth them that are his. And, Let every one that nameth the name of Christ depart from iniquity. (2 Timothy 2:19); 1 Cor. 9:2²If I be not an apostle unto others, yet doubtless I am to you: for the seal of mine apostleship are ye in the Lord. (1 Corinthians 9:2); Eph. 4:30³⁰And grieve not the holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption. (Ephesians 4:30).

2. A symbol of marked for blessing and preservation. Rev. 7; 9:4⁴And it was commanded them that they should not hurt the grass of the earth, neither any green thing, neither any tree; but only those men which have not the seal of God in their foreheads. (Revelation 9:4).

Seals These were of various forms, with devices engraved on stones. Some had a device on both sides, and were on pivots so that either side could be used. Such a double seal is implied in 2 Tim. 2:19: heaven’s side being, “The Lord knoweth them that are His”; and earth’s side, “Let every one that nameth the name of Christ depart from iniquity.” When we believe the testimony of the Lord, we symbolically attest its truth by setting our seal to it (John 3:33³³He that hath received his testimony hath set to his seal that God is true. (John 3:33)). The roll of coming judgments in Revelation 5 has seven seals attached, which the Lord will open.

Sect {See Heresy.}

Secure void of care. Judg. 8:11¹¹And Gideon went up by the way of them that dwelt in tents on the east of Nobah and Jogbehah, and smote the host: for the host was secure. (Judges 8:11).

Seethe to boil. Ex. 16:23²³And he said unto them, This is that which the Lord hath said, To morrow is the rest of the holy sabbath unto the Lord: bake that which ye will bake to day, and seethe that ye will seethe; and that which remaineth over lay up for you to be kept until the morning. (Exodus 16:23).

Selah Pause; consider. Occurs about 70 times in the book of Psalms; also three times in the prophet Habakkuk chapter 3.

Seleucia A seaport of Syria, in the north, near to Antioch, and where Paul and Barnabas landed on their first missionary journey. It is now all deserted. Acts 13:4⁴So they, being sent forth by the Holy Ghost, departed unto Seleucia; and from thence they sailed to Cyprus. (Acts 13:4).

Sensual Led by the senses. In James 3:15¹⁵This wisdom descendeth not from above, but is earthly, sensual, devilish. (James 3:15) “sensual” is classed with “earthly, devilish,” and in Jude 19¹⁹These be they who separate themselves, sensual, having not the Spirit. (Jude 19) it is in contrast to having the Spirit. It characterizes the flesh of fallen man.

Sepulchre {See “Sepulchres, Tombs and Burials”.}

Seraphim (plural) announce the holiness of Jehovah, the Divine glory being their great care and concern; they are only once named in Scripture (Isa. 6); God’s righteousness is the great care of the Cherubim.

Sergius Paulus Roman proconsul of Cyprus, an intelligent man, who called for Barnabas and Saul that he might hear the word of God; he believed, being astonished at the doctrine of the Lord. Acts 13:7⁷Which was with the deputy of the country, Sergius Paulus, a prudent man; who called for Barnabas and Saul, and desired to hear the word of God. (Acts 13:7).

Serjeant όαβδοῦχος, literally “one who has a rod,” an inferior Roman officer who attended the magistrates to execute their orders, a Lictor. They carried on their shoulders a bundle of rods, in the center of which was an axe, as may often be seen in Roman illustrations. Acts 16:35,38³⁵And when it was day, the magistrates sent the serjeants, saying, Let those men go. (Acts 16:35)
³⁸And the serjeants told these words unto the magistrates: and they feared, when they heard that they were Romans. (Acts 16:38).

Serpent There are so many kinds of serpents that to enumerate them here would be apart from our object. Fully 600 species are known to naturalists. The serpent is the symbol of subtlety and guile, of Satanic and worldly wisdom. Prov. 30:19¹⁹The way of an eagle in the air; the way of a serpent upon a rock; the way of a ship in the midst of the sea; and the way of a man with a maid. (Proverbs 30:19); Gen. 3; Matt. 10:16¹⁶Behold, I send you forth as sheep in the midst of wolves: be ye therefore wise as serpents, and harmless as doves. (Matthew 10:16); 2 Cor. 11:3³But I fear, lest by any means, as the serpent beguiled Eve through his subtilty, so your minds should be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ. (2 Corinthians 11:3); Isa. 27:1¹In that day the Lord with his sore and great and strong sword shall punish leviathan the piercing serpent, even leviathan that crooked serpent; and he shall slay the dragon that is in the sea. (Isaiah 27:1); Gen. 49:17¹⁷Dan shall be a serpent by the way, an adder in the path, that biteth the horse heels, so that his rider shall fall backward. (Genesis 49:17).Remarkable for its subtlety; the Lord exhorted His disciples to be as prudent as serpents, Matt. 10:16¹⁶Behold, I send you forth as sheep in the midst of wolves: be ye therefore wise as serpents, and harmless as doves. (Matthew 10:16); but He also calls the Scribes and Pharisees “serpents” because of their cunning mixed with deceit, Matt. 23:33³³Ye serpents, ye generation of vipers, how can ye escape the damnation of hell? (Matthew 23:33). The danger of serpents is alluded to in Matt. 7:10¹⁰Or if he ask a fish, will he give him a serpent? (Matthew 7:10); Mark 16:18¹⁸They shall take up serpents; and if they drink any deadly thing, it shall not hurt them; they shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover. (Mark 16:18); Luke 10:19; 11:11¹⁹Behold, I give unto you power to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy: and nothing shall by any means hurt you. (Luke 10:19)
¹¹If a son shall ask bread of any of you that is a father, will he give him a stone? or if he ask a fish, will he for a fish give him a serpent? (Luke 11:11); 1 Cor. 10:9⁹Neither let us tempt Christ, as some of them also tempted, and were destroyed of serpents. (1 Corinthians 10:9); Rev. 9:19¹⁹For their power is in their mouth, and in their tails: for their tails were like unto serpents, and had heads, and with them they do hurt. (Revelation 9:19). Satan is called “that old serpent,” the serpent that “beguiled” Eve, 2 Cor. 11:3³But I fear, lest by any means, as the serpent beguiled Eve through his subtilty, so your minds should be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ. (2 Corinthians 11:3); Rev. 12:9,14-15⁹And the great dragon was cast out, that old serpent, called the Devil, and Satan, which deceiveth the whole world: he was cast out into the earth, and his angels were cast out with him. (Revelation 12:9)
¹⁴And to the woman were given two wings of a great eagle, that she might fly into the wilderness, into her place, where she is nourished for a time, and times, and half a time, from the face of the serpent. ¹⁵And the serpent cast out of his mouth water as a flood after the woman, that he might cause her to be carried away of the flood. (Revelation 12:14‑15). The crucifixion of our Lord is compared to the brazen serpent lifted up by Moses, John 3:14,¹⁴And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of man be lifted up: (John 3:14) as a type of the victory of the cross over sin and Satan.

Servant

1. δοὔλος, one in a servile state, a slave. It is the word most commonly used in the N.T. for servant or rather bondman. Rev. 6:15¹⁵And the kings of the earth, and the great men, and the rich men, and the chief captains, and the mighty men, and every bondman, and every free man, hid themselves in the dens and in the rocks of the mountains; (Revelation 6:15). In Philippians 2:7⁷But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men: (Philippians 2:7) the Lord is said to have taken the form of a bondman. Paul, Peter, James, and John all call themselves bondmen of Jesus Christ; and the saints are constantly addressed as such.

2. παῖς,”a child,” irrespective of age, a servant. Matt. 8:6,8,13; 14:2⁶And saying, Lord, my servant lieth at home sick of the palsy, grievously tormented. (Matthew 8:6)
⁸The centurion answered and said, Lord, I am not worthy that thou shouldest come under my roof: but speak the word only, and my servant shall be healed. (Matthew 8:8)
¹³And Jesus said unto the centurion, Go thy way; and as thou hast believed, so be it done unto thee. And his servant was healed in the selfsame hour. (Matthew 8:13)
²And said unto his servants, This is John the Baptist; he is risen from the dead; and therefore mighty works do show forth themselves in him. (Matthew 14:2); Luke 15:26²⁶And he called one of the servants, and asked what these things meant. (Luke 15:26); Acts 4:25²⁵Who by the mouth of thy servant David hast said, Why did the heathen rage, and the people imagine vain things? (Acts 4:25). It is applied to the Lord as servant, Matt. 12:18¹⁸Behold my servant, whom I have chosen; my beloved, in whom my soul is well pleased: I will put my spirit upon him, and he shall show judgment to the Gentiles. (Matthew 12:18); Acts 4:27,30²⁷For of a truth against thy holy child Jesus, whom thou hast anointed, both Herod, and Pontius Pilate, with the Gentiles, and the people of Israel, were gathered together, (Acts 4:27)
³⁰By stretching forth thine hand to heal; and that signs and wonders may be done by the name of thy holy child Jesus. (Acts 4:30); and to Israel and to David. Luke 1:54,69⁵⁴He hath holpen his servant Israel, in remembrance of his mercy; (Luke 1:54)
⁶⁹And hath raised up an horn of salvation for us in the house of his servant David; (Luke 1:69).

3. διάκονος, deacon, or servant, in general. John 2:5,9⁵His mother saith unto the servants, Whatsoever he saith unto you, do it. (John 2:5)
⁹When the ruler of the feast had tasted the water that was made wine, and knew not whence it was: (but the servants which drew the water knew;) the governor of the feast called the bridegroom, (John 2:9). It is applied to the Lord, Rom. 15:8⁸Now I say that Jesus Christ was a minister of the circumcision for the truth of God, to confirm the promises made unto the fathers: (Romans 15:8); Gal. 2:17¹⁷But if, while we seek to be justified by Christ, we ourselves also are found sinners, is therefore Christ the minister of sin? God forbid. (Galatians 2:17); to magistrates, Rom. 13:4⁴For he is the minister of God to thee for good. But if thou do that which is evil, be afraid; for he beareth not the sword in vain: for he is the minister of God, a revenger to execute wrath upon him that doeth evil. (Romans 13:4); and often to labourers in the church. It is translated “deacon,” Phil. 1:1¹Paul and Timotheus, the servants of Jesus Christ, to all the saints in Christ Jesus which are at Philippi, with the bishops and deacons: (Philippians 1:1); 1 Tim. 3:8,12⁸Likewise must the deacons be grave, not doubletongued, not given to much wine, not greedy of filthy lucre; (1 Timothy 3:8)
¹²Let the deacons be the husbands of one wife, ruling their children and their own houses well. (1 Timothy 3:12); and is applied to Phebe as “a servant of the church,” Rom. 16:1¹I commend unto you Phebe our sister, which is a servant of the church which is at Cenchrea: (Romans 16:1).

4. οίκέτηο, “a household servant.” Luke 16:13¹³No servant can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon. (Luke 16:13); Acts 10:7⁷And when the angel which spake unto Cornelius was departed, he called two of his household servants, and a devout soldier of them that waited on him continually; (Acts 10:7); Rom. 14:4⁴Who art thou that judgest another man's servant? to his own master he standeth or falleth. Yea, he shall be holden up: for God is able to make him stand. (Romans 14:4); 1 Peter 2:18¹⁸Servants, be subject to your masters with all fear; not only to the good and gentle, but also to the froward. (1 Peter 2:18).

5. ύπηρέτης, one under authority, an official servant. It is translated “servant.” Matt. 26:58⁵⁸But Peter followed him afar off unto the high priest's palace, and went in, and sat with the servants, to see the end. (Matthew 26:58); Mark 14:54,65⁵⁴And Peter followed him afar off, even into the palace of the high priest: and he sat with the servants, and warmed himself at the fire. (Mark 14:54)
⁶⁵And some began to spit on him, and to cover his face, and to buffet him, and to say unto him, Prophesy: and the servants did strike him with the palms of their hands. (Mark 14:65); John 18:36³⁶Jesus answered, My kingdom is not of this world: if my kingdom were of this world, then would my servants fight, that I should not be delivered to the Jews: but now is my kingdom not from hence. (John 18:36).

6. θεράπων, retainer, servant. Occurs only in Hebrews 3:5⁵And Moses verily was faithful in all his house, as a servant, for a testimony of those things which were to be spoken after; (Hebrews 3:5) in reference to Moses.

7. μισθωτός, μίσθιος, “hired servant,” as labourers were hired in Matt. 20. Mark 1:20²⁰And straightway he called them: and they left their father Zebedee in the ship with the hired servants, and went after him. (Mark 1:20); Luke 15:17,19¹⁷And when he came to himself, he said, How many hired servants of my father's have bread enough and to spare, and I perish with hunger! (Luke 15:17)
¹⁹And am no more worthy to be called thy son: make me as one of thy hired servants. (Luke 15:19). Hireling, John 10:12-13,¹²But he that is an hireling, and not the shepherd, whose own the sheep are not, seeth the wolf coming, and leaveth the sheep, and fleeth: and the wolf catcheth them, and scattereth the sheep. ¹³The hireling fleeth, because he is an hireling, and careth not for the sheep. (John 10:12‑13) is the same as “hired servant.” Slaves once occurs in the A.V., Rev. 18:13,¹³And cinnamon, and odors, and ointments, and frankincense, and wine, and oil, and fine flour, and wheat, and beasts, and sheep, and horses, and chariots, and slaves, and souls of men. (Revelation 18:13) where it should read “bodies” and souls of men.

Seth appointed. Christ in resurrection (Abel in death), the appointed heir of all things, and head of the new creation. Name occurs about 9 times in the Scriptures. Gen. 4.

Seven) Symbol of perfection in mystery, (throughout Revelation).

Shadow Symbol of protection. Mark 4:32³²But when it is sown, it groweth up, and becometh greater than all herbs, and shooteth out great branches; so that the fowls of the air may lodge under the shadow of it. (Mark 4:32); Psa. 91:1¹He that dwelleth in the secret place of the most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty. (Psalm 91:1).

Shallum retribution. He reigned one month over Israel. Ascended the throne by conspiracy and murder, and himself slain in turn. 2 Kings 15.

Shear-Jashub a remnant shall return. A prophetic sign and name, intimating that a remnant of Israel will be spared from judgment, and recommence the history of the nation in her land. Name occurs but once. Isa. 7:3³Then said the Lord unto Isaiah, Go forth now to meet Ahaz, thou, and Shear-jashub thy son, at the end of the conduit of the upper pool in the highway of the fuller's field; (Isaiah 7:3).

Sheep The first occupation mentioned in Scripture is that of shepherd and the first animal the sheep. Isa. 53:7: John 10. There is no animal so frequently spoken of in the Bible, and none which is so full in illustrating God’s gracious care, and generally of moral character. For sacrifice, for food, and as wealth the sheep occupies the principal place amongst animals in Scripture, and this is not to be wondered at, for Israel is pre-eminently a pastoral country. The occupation of shepherd was anciently an honored and highly respected one; the King of Moab tended his own sheep, so does Jehovah, Psa. 23, and so does our blessed Lord, 1 Peter 5:4⁴And when the chief Shepherd shall appear, ye shall receive a crown of glory that fadeth not away. (1 Peter 5:4). A symbol of objects of God’s care. John 10; 1 Peter 2:25²⁵For ye were as sheep going astray; but are now returned unto the Shepherd and Bishop of your souls. (1 Peter 2:25).

Shepherd, Sheep The beautiful symbolical language of Scripture as to Christ being the Shepherd and His followers the sheep, would be well understood in Israel, where many sheep may often be seen following the shepherd, and where they each have a name, and know the shepherd’s voice. The Lord is called the good Shepherd, who gave His life for the sheep, John 10:11,14-15¹¹I am the good shepherd: the good shepherd giveth his life for the sheep. (John 10:11)
¹⁴I am the good shepherd, and know my sheep, and am known of mine. ¹⁵As the Father knoweth me, even so know I the Father: and I lay down my life for the sheep. (John 10:14‑15); the great Shepherd, brought from among the dead in the power of the blood of the eternal covenant, Heb. 13:20²⁰Now the God of peace, that brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, that great shepherd of the sheep, through the blood of the everlasting covenant, (Hebrews 13:20); and the chief Shepherd, who in the manifestation will give to the faithful under-shepherds the unfading crown of glory, 1 Peter 5:4⁴And when the chief Shepherd shall appear, ye shall receive a crown of glory that fadeth not away. (1 Peter 5:4). Christ led His sheep out of the Jewish fold, and He had other sheep (Gentile Christians), which were not of that fold, these are united into one flock (as John 10:16¹⁶And other sheep I have, which are not of this fold: them also I must bring, and they shall hear my voice; and there shall be one fold, and one shepherd. (John 10:16) should read), there being no longer any sheepfold. A symbol of guide, guardian. Heb. 13:20²⁰Now the God of peace, that brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, that great shepherd of the sheep, through the blood of the everlasting covenant, (Hebrews 13:20); 1 Peter 2:25²⁵For ye were as sheep going astray; but are now returned unto the Shepherd and Bishop of your souls. (1 Peter 2:25). A symbol of civil and ecclesiastical rulers and guides. Nah. 3:18¹⁸Thy shepherds slumber, O king of Assyria: thy nobles shall dwell in the dust: thy people is scattered upon the mountains, and no man gathereth them. (Nahum 3:18); Ezek. 34.

Sherd shred, fragment. Isa. 30:14¹⁴And he shall break it as the breaking of the potters' vessel that is broken in pieces; he shall not spare: so that there shall not be found in the bursting of it a sherd to take fire from the hearth, or to take water withal out of the pit. (Isaiah 30:14).

Shewbread “Bread of presentation” Matt. 12:4⁴How he entered into the house of God, and did eat the showbread, which was not lawful for him to eat, neither for them which were with him, but only for the priests? (Matthew 12:4); Mark 2:26²⁶How he went into the house of God in the days of Abiathar the high priest, and did eat the showbread, which is not lawful to eat but for the priests, and gave also to them which were with him? (Mark 2:26); Luke 6:4⁴How he went into the house of God, and did take and eat the showbread, and gave also to them that were with him; which it is not lawful to eat but for the priests alone? (Luke 6:4); Heb. 9:2²For there was a tabernacle made; the first, wherein was the candlestick, and the table, and the showbread; which is called the sanctuary. (Hebrews 9:2). The twelve loaves were continually before the Lord in the holy place, even after the 10 tribes had separated.

Shield A symbol of protection and defence. Gen. 15:1¹After these things the word of the Lord came unto Abram in a vision, saying, Fear not, Abram: I am thy shield, and thy exceeding great reward. (Genesis 15:1); Psa. 3:3³But thou, O Lord, art a shield for me; my glory, and the lifter up of mine head. (Psalm 3:3); Eph. 6:16¹⁶Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked. (Ephesians 6:16).

Ships A symbol of commerce. Gen. 49:13¹³Zebulun shall dwell at the haven of the sea; and he shall be for an haven of ships; and his border shall be unto Zidon. (Genesis 49:13); Rev. 8:9; 18:19⁹And the third part of the creatures which were in the sea, and had life, died; and the third part of the ships were destroyed. (Revelation 8:9)
¹⁹And they cast dust on their heads, and cried, weeping and wailing, saying, Alas, alas, that great city, wherein were made rich all that had ships in the sea by reason of her costliness! for in one hour is she made desolate. (Revelation 18:19).

Shittim Wood or stem of the Shittah Tree, was extensively employed in the construction of the Tabernacle. It abounded in the Arabian Deserts, and could be easily procured in the Sinaitic Peninsula. From its quantity and various properties, it was admirably adapted for the sacred purposes to which it was applied. A symbol of the holy humanity of our Lord Jesus. See book of Exodus.

Shoes off A symbol of reverence. Ex. 3:5⁵And he said, Draw not nigh hither: put off thy shoes from off thy feet, for the place whereon thou standest is holy ground. (Exodus 3:5).

Shoes The same as sandals, pieces of leather or wood worn under the foot, tied by strings. Matt. 3:11; 10:10,¹¹I indeed baptize you with water unto repentance: but he that cometh after me is mightier than I, whose shoes I am not worthy to bear: he shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost, and with fire: (Matthew 3:11)
¹⁰Nor scrip for your journey, neither two coats, neither shoes, nor yet staves: for the workman is worthy of his meat. (Matthew 10:10) etc. A symbol of Christian walk and wilderness traveling. Ex. 12:11¹¹And thus shall ye eat it; with your loins girded, your shoes on your feet, and your staff in your hand; and ye shall eat it in haste: it is the Lord's passover. (Exodus 12:11); Eph. 6:15¹⁵And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace; (Ephesians 6:15).

Shoulder A symbol of ability; strength to bear or carry burdens. Isa. 22:22²²And the key of the house of David will I lay upon his shoulder; so he shall open, and none shall shut; and he shall shut, and none shall open. (Isaiah 22:22); Luke 15:5⁵And when he hath found it, he layeth it on his shoulders, rejoicing. (Luke 15:5).

Shrines Models of the heathen temple. Acts 19:24²⁴For a certain man named Demetrius, a silversmith, which made silver shrines for Diana, brought no small gain unto the craftsmen; (Acts 19:24).

Sicarii These are referred to in Acts 21:38,³⁸Art not thou that Egyptian, which before these days madest an uproar, and leddest out into the wilderness four thousand men that were murderers? (Acts 21:38) but are there called “murderers.” They were as assassins called Sicarii from the weapon which they carried — a dagger bent like the Roman sica. This they concealed under their garments until within reach of their victims. Josephus also mentions the Egyptian, their leader, who pretended to be a prophet. In his account he gives his followers as 30,000, which may have been the ultimate number gathered to him. Acts 21:38³⁸Art not thou that Egyptian, which before these days madest an uproar, and leddest out into the wilderness four thousand men that were murderers? (Acts 21:38) names 4,000 as having been “led out into the wilderness.”

Sidon called Zidon in the O.T. A port and city in Phoenice. It was of great renown in O.T. times, but was prophesied against by Jehovah. Matt. 11:21; 15:21²¹Woe unto thee, Chorazin! woe unto thee, Bethsaida! for if the mighty works, which were done in you, had been done in Tyre and Sidon, they would have repented long ago in sackcloth and ashes. (Matthew 11:21)
²¹Then Jesus went thence, and departed into the coasts of Tyre and Sidon. (Matthew 15:21); Mark 3:8; 7:24⁸And from Jerusalem, and from Idumea, and from beyond Jordan; and they about Tyre and Sidon, a great multitude, when they had heard what great things he did, came unto him. (Mark 3:8)
²⁴And from thence he arose, and went into the borders of Tyre and Sidon, and entered into an house, and would have no man know it: but he could not be hid. (Mark 7:24); Luke 4:26; 6:17; 10:13²⁶But unto none of them was Elias sent, save unto Sarepta, a city of Sidon, unto a woman that was a widow. (Luke 4:26)
¹⁷And he came down with them, and stood in the plain, and the company of his disciples, and a great multitude of people out of all Judea and Jerusalem, and from the sea coast of Tyre and Sidon, which came to hear him, and to be healed of their diseases; (Luke 6:17)
¹³Woe unto thee, Chorazin! woe unto thee, Bethsaida! for if the mighty works had been done in Tyre and Sidon, which have been done in you, they had a great while ago repented, sitting in sackcloth and ashes. (Luke 10:13); Acts 12:20; 27:3²⁰And Herod was highly displeased with them of Tyre and Sidon: but they came with one accord to him, and, having made Blastus the king's chamberlain their friend, desired peace; because their country was nourished by the king's country. (Acts 12:20)
³And the next day we touched at Sidon. And Julius courteously entreated Paul, and gave him liberty to go unto his friends to refresh himself. (Acts 27:3). The place is still a green spot, and its fruits of the best quality.

Sign {See Miracles.}

Silas A prophet and a “chief man” among the brethren, sent from Jerusalem with Paul and Barnabas, testifying to the decision as to the freedom of Gentiles from keeping the law. He accompanied Paul in his second missionary journey, was imprisoned at Philippi, where, with Paul, he sang praises to God, though he had been much beaten, and his feet were in the stocks. Acts 15:22-40; 16:19,25,29; 17:4,10,14-15;18:5²²Then pleased it the apostles and elders, with the whole church, to send chosen men of their own company to Antioch with Paul and Barnabas; namely, Judas surnamed Barsabas, and Silas, chief men among the brethren: ²³And they wrote letters by them after this manner; The apostles and elders and brethren send greeting unto the brethren which are of the Gentiles in Antioch and Syria and Cilicia: ²⁴Forasmuch as we have heard, that certain which went out from us have troubled you with words, subverting your souls, saying, Ye must be circumcised, and keep the law: to whom we gave no such commandment: ²⁵It seemed good unto us, being assembled with one accord, to send chosen men unto you with our beloved Barnabas and Paul, ²⁶Men that have hazarded their lives for the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. ²⁷We have sent therefore Judas and Silas, who shall also tell you the same things by mouth. ²⁸For it seemed good to the Holy Ghost, and to us, to lay upon you no greater burden than these necessary things; ²⁹That ye abstain from meats offered to idols, and from blood, and from things strangled, and from fornication: from which if ye keep yourselves, ye shall do well. Fare ye well. ³⁰So when they were dismissed, they came to Antioch: and when they had gathered the multitude together, they delivered the epistle: ³¹Which when they had read, they rejoiced for the consolation. ³²And Judas and Silas, being prophets also themselves, exhorted the brethren with many words, and confirmed them. ³³And after they had tarried there a space, they were let go in peace from the brethren unto the apostles. ³⁴Notwithstanding it pleased Silas to abide there still. ³⁵Paul also and Barnabas continued in Antioch, teaching and preaching the word of the Lord, with many others also. ³⁶And some days after Paul said unto Barnabas, Let us go again and visit our brethren in every city where we have preached the word of the Lord, and see how they do. ³⁷And Barnabas determined to take with them John, whose surname was Mark. ³⁸But Paul thought not good to take him with them, who departed from them from Pamphylia, and went not with them to the work. ³⁹And the contention was so sharp between them, that they departed asunder one from the other: and so Barnabas took Mark, and sailed unto Cyprus; ⁴⁰And Paul chose Silas, and departed, being recommended by the brethren unto the grace of God. (Acts 15:22‑40)
¹⁹And when her masters saw that the hope of their gains was gone, they caught Paul and Silas, and drew them into the marketplace unto the rulers, (Acts 16:19)
²⁵And at midnight Paul and Silas prayed, and sang praises unto God: and the prisoners heard them. (Acts 16:25)
²⁹Then he called for a light, and sprang in, and came trembling, and fell down before Paul and Silas, (Acts 16:29)
⁴And some of them believed, and consorted with Paul and Silas; and of the devout Greeks a great multitude, and of the chief women not a few. (Acts 17:4)
¹⁰And the brethren immediately sent away Paul and Silas by night unto Berea: who coming thither went into the synagogue of the Jews. (Acts 17:10)
¹⁴And then immediately the brethren sent away Paul to go as it were to the sea: but Silas and Timotheus abode there still. ¹⁵And they that conducted Paul brought him unto Athens: and receiving a commandment unto Silas and Timotheus for to come to him with all speed, they departed. (Acts 17:14‑15)
⁵And when Silas and Timotheus were come from Macedonia, Paul was pressed in the spirit, and testified to the Jews that Jesus was Christ. (Acts 18:5).

Silk Supposed to be so named from the place called Seres, in the East, from which it first came. Rev. 18:12¹²The merchandise of gold, and silver, and precious stones, and of pearls, and fine linen, and purple, and silk, and scarlet, and all thyine wood, and all manner vessels of ivory, and all manner vessels of most precious wood, and of brass, and iron, and marble, (Revelation 18:12).

Siloam, Pool of John 9:7,11⁷And said unto him, Go, wash in the pool of Siloam, (which is by interpretation, Sent.) He went his way therefore, and washed, and came seeing. (John 9:7)
¹¹He answered and said, A man that is called Jesus made clay, and anointed mine eyes, and said unto me, Go to the pool of Siloam, and wash: and I went and washed, and I received sight. (John 9:11). {See Jerusalem.}

Siloam, Tower of This has not been identified. Luke 13:4⁴Or those eighteen, upon whom the tower in Siloam fell, and slew them, think ye that they were sinners above all men that dwelt in Jerusalem? (Luke 13:4).

Silvanus By comparing these passages (2 Cor. 1:19¹⁹For the Son of God, Jesus Christ, who was preached among you by us, even by me and Silvanus and Timotheus, was not yea and nay, but in him was yea. (2 Corinthians 1:19); 1 Thess. 1:1¹Paul, and Silvanus, and Timotheus, unto the church of the Thessalonians which is in God the Father and in the Lord Jesus Christ: Grace be unto you, and peace, from God our Father, and the Lord Jesus Christ. (1 Thessalonians 1:1); 2 Thess. 1:1¹Paul, and Silvanus, and Timotheus, unto the church of the Thessalonians in God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ: (2 Thessalonians 1:1); 1 Pet. 5:12¹²By Silvanus, a faithful brother unto you, as I suppose, I have written briefly, exhorting, and testifying that this is the true grace of God wherein ye stand. (1 Peter 5:12)) with the Acts, it is generally supposed that Paul alludes to Silas. Whether Peter also refers to the same we have no means of knowing.

Silver The common white metal, next in value to gold. Rev. 9:20; 18:12²⁰And the rest of the men which were not killed by these plagues yet repented not of the works of their hands, that they should not worship devils, and idols of gold, and silver, and brass, and stone, and of wood: which neither can see, nor hear, nor walk: (Revelation 9:20)
¹²The merchandise of gold, and silver, and precious stones, and of pearls, and fine linen, and purple, and silk, and scarlet, and all thyine wood, and all manner vessels of ivory, and all manner vessels of most precious wood, and of brass, and iron, and marble, (Revelation 18:12). “Pieces of silver” are often referred to as money. Matt. 26:15; 27:3,5-6,9¹⁵And said unto them, What will ye give me, and I will deliver him unto you? And they covenanted with him for thirty pieces of silver. (Matthew 26:15)
³Then Judas, which had betrayed him, when he saw that he was condemned, repented himself, and brought again the thirty pieces of silver to the chief priests and elders, (Matthew 27:3)
⁵And he cast down the pieces of silver in the temple, and departed, and went and hanged himself. ⁶And the chief priests took the silver pieces, and said, It is not lawful for to put them into the treasury, because it is the price of blood. (Matthew 27:5‑6)
⁹Then was fulfilled that which was spoken by Jeremy the prophet, saying, And they took the thirty pieces of silver, the price of him that was valued, whom they of the children of Israel did value; (Matthew 27:9); Luke 15:8-9⁸Either what woman having ten pieces of silver, if she lose one piece, doth not light a candle, and sweep the house, and seek diligently till she find it? ⁹And when she hath found it, she calleth her friends and her neighbors together, saying, Rejoice with me; for I have found the piece which I had lost. (Luke 15:8‑9); Acts 19:19¹⁹Many of them also which used curious arts brought their books together, and burned them before all men: and they counted the price of them, and found it fifty thousand pieces of silver. (Acts 19:19). {See Money in Bible Subjects}

Silver A symbol of the price of Redemption — the precious blood of Christ. Ex. 30:12-16¹²When thou takest the sum of the children of Israel after their number, then shall they give every man a ransom for his soul unto the Lord, when thou numberest them; that there be no plague among them, when thou numberest them. ¹³This they shall give, every one that passeth among them that are numbered, half a shekel after the shekel of the sanctuary: (a shekel is twenty gerahs:) an half shekel shall be the offering of the Lord. ¹⁴Every one that passeth among them that are numbered, from twenty years old and above, shall give an offering unto the Lord. ¹⁵The rich shall not give more, and the poor shall not give less than half a shekel, when they give an offering unto the Lord, to make an atonement for your souls. ¹⁶And thou shalt take the atonement money of the children of Israel, and shalt appoint it for the service of the tabernacle of the congregation; that it may be a memorial unto the children of Israel before the Lord, to make an atonement for your souls. (Exodus 30:12‑16).

Silverling silver coin. Isa. 7:23²³And it shall come to pass in that day, that every place shall be, where there were a thousand vines at a thousand silverlings, it shall even be for briers and thorns. (Isaiah 7:23).

Simeon

1. A just and pious man at Jerusalem, to whom it was revealed that he should not see death before he had seen the Lord’s Christ. On the presentation of Jesus he took Him up in his arms, blessed God, and said, “Lord, now lettest Thou Thy servant depart in peace, according to Thy word; for mine eyes have seen Thy salvation.” Luke 2:25²⁵And, behold, there was a man in Jerusalem, whose name was Simeon; and the same man was just and devout, waiting for the consolation of Israel: and the Holy Ghost was upon him. (Luke 2:25).

2. The Hebrew form of Simon, alluding to Peter Acts 15:14¹⁴Simeon hath declared how God at the first did visit the Gentiles, to take out of them a people for his name. (Acts 15:14). In 2 Peter 1:1¹Simon Peter, a servant and an apostle of Jesus Christ, to them that have obtained like precious faith with us through the righteousness of God and our Saviour Jesus Christ: (2 Peter 1:1) it is also Simeon in the Greek.

3. A teacher at Antioch, surnamed Niger. Acts 13:1¹Now there were in the church that was at Antioch certain prophets and teachers; as Barnabas, and Simeon that was called Niger, and Lucius of Cyrene, and Manaen, which had been brought up with Herod the tetrarch, and Saul. (Acts 13:1).

4. One in the genealogy in Luke 3:30³⁰Which was the son of Simeon, which was the son of Juda, which was the son of Joseph, which was the son of Jonan, which was the son of Eliakim, (Luke 3:30).

Simon

1. Simon Peter {see Peter}.

2. Simon the Canaanite (or Canaanite, or Zealot, and therefore called Simon Zelotes), one of the twelve apostles, but of whom nothing further is recorded. Matt. 10:4⁴Simon the Canaanite, and Judas Iscariot, who also betrayed him. (Matthew 10:4); Mark 3:18¹⁸And Andrew, and Philip, and Bartholomew, and Matthew, and Thomas, and James the son of Alpheus, and Thaddeus, and Simon the Canaanite, (Mark 3:18); Luke 6:15¹⁵Matthew and Thomas, James the son of Alpheus, and Simon called Zelotes, (Luke 6:15); Acts 1:13¹³And when they were come in, they went up into an upper room, where abode both Peter, and James, and John, and Andrew, Philip, and Thomas, Bartholomew, and Matthew, James the son of Alpheus, and Simon Zelotes, and Judas the brother of James. (Acts 1:13).

3. Simon, one of the brethren of the Lord. Matt. 13:55⁵⁵Is not this the carpenter's son? is not his mother called Mary? and his brethren, James, and Joses, and Simon, and Judas? (Matthew 13:55); Mark 6:3³Is not this the carpenter, the son of Mary, the brother of James, and Joses, and of Juda, and Simon? and are not his sisters here with us? And they were offended at him. (Mark 6:3).

4. Simon the leper, at whose house “a woman” anointed the head of the Lord. Matt. 26:6⁶Now when Jesus was in Bethany, in the house of Simon the leper, (Matthew 26:6); Mark 14:3³And being in Bethany in the house of Simon the leper, as he sat at meat, there came a woman having an alabaster box of ointment of spikenard very precious; and she brake the box, and poured it on his head. (Mark 14:3). By comparing these passages with John 12:1-3¹Then Jesus six days before the passover came to Bethany, where Lazarus was which had been dead, whom he raised from the dead. ²There they made him a supper; and Martha served: but Lazarus was one of them that sat at the table with him. ³Then took Mary a pound of ointment of spikenard, very costly, and anointed the feet of Jesus, and wiped his feet with her hair: and the house was filled with the odor of the ointment. (John 12:1‑3) it would appear that Martha and Mary lived in the same house with, and were perhaps related to, Simon, and that it was Mary who used the ointment.

5. Simon the Cyrenian who was made to carry the Lord’s cross. Matt. 27:32³²And as they came out, they found a man of Cyrene, Simon by name: him they compelled to bear his cross. (Matthew 27:32); Mark 15:21²¹And they compel one Simon a Cyrenian, who passed by, coming out of the country, the father of Alexander and Rufus, to bear his cross. (Mark 15:21); Luke 23:26²⁶And as they led him away, they laid hold upon one Simon, a Cyrenian, coming out of the country, and on him they laid the cross, that he might bear it after Jesus. (Luke 23:26).

6. Simon the Pharisee, who invited Jesus to his house, where a woman who was a sinner anointed the feet of the Lord, which raised unworthy thoughts in Simon’s mind, and led to his being rebuked, while the woman was forgiven. Luke 7:36-50³⁶And one of the Pharisees desired him that he would eat with him. And he went into the Pharisee's house, and sat down to meat. ³⁷And, behold, a woman in the city, which was a sinner, when she knew that Jesus sat at meat in the Pharisee's house, brought an alabaster box of ointment, ³⁸And stood at his feet behind him weeping, and began to wash his feet with tears, and did wipe them with the hairs of her head, and kissed his feet, and anointed them with the ointment. ³⁹Now when the Pharisee which had bidden him saw it, he spake within himself, saying, This man, if he were a prophet, would have known who and what manner of woman this is that toucheth him: for she is a sinner. ⁴⁰And Jesus answering said unto him, Simon, I have somewhat to say unto thee. And he saith, Master, say on. ⁴¹There was a certain creditor which had two debtors: the one owed five hundred pence, and the other fifty. ⁴²And when they had nothing to pay, he frankly forgave them both. Tell me therefore, which of them will love him most? ⁴³Simon answered and said, I suppose that he, to whom he forgave most. And he said unto him, Thou hast rightly judged. ⁴⁴And he turned to the woman, and said unto Simon, Seest thou this woman? I entered into thine house, thou gavest me no water for my feet: but she hath washed my feet with tears, and wiped them with the hairs of her head. ⁴⁵Thou gavest me no kiss: but this woman since the time I came in hath not ceased to kiss my feet. ⁴⁶My head with oil thou didst not anoint: but this woman hath anointed my feet with ointment. ⁴⁷Wherefore I say unto thee, Her sins, which are many, are forgiven; for she loved much: but to whom little is forgiven, the same loveth little. ⁴⁸And he said unto her, Thy sins are forgiven. ⁴⁹And they that sat at meat with him began to say within themselves, Who is this that forgiveth sins also? ⁵⁰And he said to the woman, Thy faith hath saved thee; go in peace. (Luke 7:36‑50).

7. Simon, father of Judas Iscariot. John 6:71⁷¹He spake of Judas Iscariot the son of Simon: for he it was that should betray him, being one of the twelve. (John 6:71).

8. Simon the tanner, at whose house Peter was lodging when sent for by Cornelius. Acts 9:43⁴³And it came to pass, that he tarried many days in Joppa with one Simon a tanner. (Acts 9:43).

9. Simon Magus, one who had deceived the people of Samaria by magic arts, but who professed to believe at the preaching of Philip. When he saw that the apostles were able to impart the Holy Spirit by the laying on of their hands, he offered money to purchase the like powers (from which has arisen the word “Simony”); but was denounced by Peter. Tradition records that he did much mischief among the saints, and died by his own hand. Acts 8:9-24⁹But there was a certain man, called Simon, which beforetime in the same city used sorcery, and bewitched the people of Samaria, giving out that himself was some great one: ¹⁰To whom they all gave heed, from the least to the greatest, saying, This man is the great power of God. ¹¹And to him they had regard, because that of long time he had bewitched them with sorceries. ¹²But when they believed Philip preaching the things concerning the kingdom of God, and the name of Jesus Christ, they were baptized, both men and women. ¹³Then Simon himself believed also: and when he was baptized, he continued with Philip, and wondered, beholding the miracles and signs which were done. ¹⁴Now when the apostles which were at Jerusalem heard that Samaria had received the word of God, they sent unto them Peter and John: ¹⁵Who, when they were come down, prayed for them, that they might receive the Holy Ghost: ¹⁶(For as yet he was fallen upon none of them: only they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.) ¹⁷Then laid they their hands on them, and they received the Holy Ghost. ¹⁸And when Simon saw that through laying on of the apostles' hands the Holy Ghost was given, he offered them money, ¹⁹Saying, Give me also this power, that on whomsoever I lay hands, he may receive the Holy Ghost. ²⁰But Peter said unto him, Thy money perish with thee, because thou hast thought that the gift of God may be purchased with money. ²¹Thou hast neither part nor lot in this matter: for thy heart is not right in the sight of God. ²²Repent therefore of this thy wickedness, and pray God, if perhaps the thought of thine heart may be forgiven thee. ²³For I perceive that thou art in the gall of bitterness, and in the bond of iniquity. ²⁴Then answered Simon, and said, Pray ye to the Lord for me, that none of these things which ye have spoken come upon me. (Acts 8:9‑24).

Sin Various Greek words are translated “sin” and “iniquity.”

1. ἀδικία, “unjust, injustice.” It is translated “wrong,” 2 Cor. 12:13¹³For what is it wherein ye were inferior to other churches, except it be that I myself was not burdensome to you? forgive me this wrong. (2 Corinthians 12:13); “unjust,” Luke 16:8; 18:6⁸And 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)
⁶And the Lord said, Hear what the unjust judge saith. (Luke 18:6); “unrighteousness,” Luke 16:9⁹And I say unto you, Make to yourselves friends of the mammon of unrighteousness; that, when ye fail, they may receive you into everlasting habitations. (Luke 16:9); 2 Thess. 2:10¹⁰And with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish; because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved. (2 Thessalonians 2:10); 1 John 5:17,¹⁷All unrighteousness is sin: and there is a sin not unto death. (1 John 5:17) etc.

2. ἀμαρτία, “deviation, sin.” This is the word commonly translated “sin.” It is used in Romans to chapter 5:11 for man’s sins; then in verse 12 onward for the principle of sin, or sin as man’s nature, Rom. 3:9,20; 4:7-8; 5:12-13,20-21; 6:1-23; 7:5-25⁹What then? are we better than they? No, in no wise: for we have before proved both Jews and Gentiles, that they are all under sin; (Romans 3:9)
²⁰Therefore by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in his sight: for by the law is the knowledge of sin. (Romans 3:20)
⁷Saying, Blessed are they whose iniquities are forgiven, and whose sins are covered. ⁸Blessed is the man to whom the Lord will not impute sin. (Romans 4:7‑8)
¹²Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned: ¹³(For until the law sin was in the world: but sin is not imputed when there is no law. (Romans 5:12‑13)
²⁰Moreover the law entered, that the offence might abound. But where sin abounded, grace did much more abound: ²¹That as sin hath reigned unto death, even so might grace reign through righteousness unto eternal life by Jesus Christ our Lord. (Romans 5:20‑21)
¹What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound? ²God forbid. How shall we, that are dead to sin, live any longer therein? ³Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death? ⁴Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life. ⁵For if we have been planted together in the likeness of his death, we shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection: ⁶Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin. ⁷For he that is dead is freed from sin. ⁸Now if we be dead with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with him: ⁹Knowing that Christ being raised from the dead dieth no more; death hath no more dominion over him. ¹⁰For in that he died, he died unto sin once: but in that he liveth, he liveth unto God. ¹¹Likewise reckon ye also yourselves to be dead indeed unto sin, but alive unto God through Jesus Christ our Lord. ¹²Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, that ye should obey it in the lusts thereof. ¹³Neither yield ye your members as instruments of unrighteousness unto sin: but yield yourselves unto God, as those that are alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness unto God. ¹⁴For sin shall not have dominion over you: for ye are not under the law, but under grace. ¹⁵What then? shall we sin, because we are not under the law, but under grace? God forbid. ¹⁶Know ye not, that to whom ye yield yourselves servants to obey, his servants ye are to whom ye obey; whether of sin unto death, or of obedience unto righteousness? ¹⁷But God be thanked, that ye were the servants of sin, but ye have obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine which was delivered you. ¹⁸Being then made free from sin, ye became the servants of righteousness. ¹⁹I speak after the manner of men because of the infirmity of your flesh: for as ye have yielded your members servants to uncleanness and to iniquity unto iniquity; even so now yield your members servants to righteousness unto holiness. ²⁰For when ye were the servants of sin, ye were free from righteousness. ²¹What fruit had ye then in those things whereof ye are now ashamed? for the end of those things is death. ²²But now being made free from sin, and become servants to God, ye have your fruit unto holiness, and the end everlasting life. ²³For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord. (Romans 6:1‑23)
⁵For when we were in the flesh, the motions of sins, which were by the law, did work in our members to bring forth fruit unto death. ⁶But now we are delivered from the law, that being dead wherein we were held; that we should serve in newness of spirit, and not in the oldness of the letter. ⁷What shall we say then? Is the law sin? God forbid. Nay, I had not known sin, but by the law: for I had not known lust, except the law had said, Thou shalt not covet. ⁸But sin, taking occasion by the commandment, wrought in me all manner of concupiscence. For without the law sin was dead. ⁹For I was alive without the law once: but when the commandment came, sin revived, and I died. ¹⁰And the commandment, which was ordained to life, I found to be unto death. ¹¹For sin, taking occasion by the commandment, deceived me, and by it slew me. ¹²Wherefore the law is holy, and the commandment holy, and just, and good. ¹³Was then that which is good made death unto me? God forbid. But sin, that it might appear sin, working death in me by that which is good; that sin by the commandment might become exceeding sinful. ¹⁴For we know that the law is spiritual: but I am carnal, sold under sin. ¹⁵For that which I do I allow not: for what I would, that do I not; but what I hate, that do I. ¹⁶If then I do that which I would not, I consent unto the law that it is good. ¹⁷Now then it is no more I that do it, but sin that dwelleth in me. ¹⁸For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh,) dwelleth no good thing: for to will is present with me; but how to perform that which is good I find not. ¹⁹For the good that I would I do not: but the evil which I would not, that I do. ²⁰Now if I do that I would not, it is no more I that do it, but sin that dwelleth in me. ²¹I find then a law, that, when I would do good, evil is present with me. ²²For I delight in the law of God after the inward man: ²³But I see another law in my members, warring against the law of my mind, and bringing me into captivity to the law of sin which is in my members. ²⁴O wretched man that I am! who shall deliver me from the body of this death? ²⁵I thank God through Jesus Christ our Lord. So then with the mind I myself serve the law of God; but with the flesh the law of sin. (Romans 7:5‑25); 1 John 1:7-9,⁷But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin. ⁸If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. ⁹If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. (1 John 1:7‑9) etc.; once translated “sinful,” Rom. 8.3; “offence,” 2 Cor. 11: 7.

3. ἀνομία, -μος, “lawless,” “lawlessness.” Translated “unrighteousness,” 2 Cor. 6:14¹⁴Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness? (2 Corinthians 6:14); “iniquity,” Matt. 24:12¹²And because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold. (Matthew 24:12); Rom. 4:7; 6:19⁷Saying, Blessed are they whose iniquities are forgiven, and whose sins are covered. (Romans 4:7)
¹⁹I speak after the manner of men because of the infirmity of your flesh: for as ye have yielded your members servants to uncleanness and to iniquity unto iniquity; even so now yield your members servants to righteousness unto holiness. (Romans 6:19); 2 Thess. 2:7,⁷For the mystery of iniquity doth already work: only he who now letteth will let, until he be taken out of the way. (2 Thessalonians 2:7) etc., and [incorrectly] “transgression of the law,” 1 John 3:4⁴Whosoever committeth sin transgresseth also the law: for sin is the transgression of the law. (1 John 3:4). The verse should read, “Every one that practices sin practices also lawlessness; and sin is lawlessness.” This is important, being a definition of sin. We read of some who sinned without law.

4. παρανομία, “beside the law”: “transgression.” Translated “iniquity,” 2 Peter 2:16¹⁶But was rebuked for his iniquity: the dumb ass speaking with man's voice forbad the madness of the prophet. (2 Peter 2:16); and the verb “contrary to the law,” Acts 23:3³Then said Paul unto him, God shall smite thee, thou whited wall: for sittest thou to judge me after the law, and commandest me to be smitten contrary to the law? (Acts 23:3).

5. παράπτωμα, “a falling away, offence, fault.” Translated “fall,” Rom. 11:11-12: “fault,” Gal. 6:1¹Brethren, if a man be overtaken in a fault, ye which are spiritual, restore such an one in the spirit of meekness; considering thyself, lest thou also be tempted. (Galatians 6:1); James 5:16¹⁶Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much. (James 5:16); “offence,” Rom. 4:25; 5:15-18,20²⁵Who was delivered for our offences, and was raised again for our justification. (Romans 4:25)
¹⁵But not as the offence, so also is the free gift. For if through the offence of one many be dead, much more the grace of God, and the gift by grace, which is by one man, Jesus Christ, hath abounded unto many. ¹⁶And not as it was by one that sinned, so is the gift: for the judgment was by one to condemnation, but the free gift is of many offences unto justification. ¹⁷For if by one man's offence death reigned by one; much more they which receive abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness shall reign in life by one, Jesus Christ.) ¹⁸Therefore as by the offence of one judgment came upon all men to condemnation; even so by the righteousness of one the free gift came upon all men unto justification of life. (Romans 5:15‑18)
²⁰Moreover the law entered, that the offence might abound. But where sin abounded, grace did much more abound: (Romans 5:20); “trespass,” Matt. 6:14-15; 18:35¹⁴For if ye forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you: ¹⁵But if ye forgive not men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses. (Matthew 6:14‑15)
³⁵So likewise shall my heavenly Father do also unto you, if ye from your hearts forgive not every one his brother their trespasses. (Matthew 18:35); Mark 11:25-26²⁵And when ye stand praying, forgive, if ye have ought against any: that your Father also which is in heaven may forgive you your trespasses. ²⁶But if ye do not forgive, neither will your Father which is in heaven forgive your trespasses. (Mark 11:25‑26); 2 Cor. 5:19¹⁹To wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation. (2 Corinthians 5:19); Eph. 2:1¹And you hath he quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sins; (Ephesians 2:1); Col. 2:13¹³And you, being dead in your sins and the uncircumcision of your flesh, hath he quickened together with him, having forgiven you all trespasses; (Colossians 2:13); “sins,” Eph. 1:7; 2:5⁷In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace; (Ephesians 1:7)
⁵Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;) (Ephesians 2:5); Col. 2:13¹³And you, being dead in your sins and the uncircumcision of your flesh, hath he quickened together with him, having forgiven you all trespasses; (Colossians 2:13).

6. πονηρία, “wickedness, malignity.” Translated “wickedness,” Matt. 22:18¹⁸But Jesus perceived their wickedness, and said, Why tempt ye me, ye hypocrites? (Matthew 22:18); Mark 7:22²²Thefts, covetousness, wickedness, deceit, lasciviousness, an evil eye, blasphemy, pride, foolishness: (Mark 7:22); Luke 11:39³⁹And the Lord said unto him, Now do ye Pharisees make clean the outside of the cup and the platter; but your inward part is full of ravening and wickedness. (Luke 11:39); Rom. 1:29²⁹Being filled with all unrighteousness, fornication, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, debate, deceit, malignity; whisperers, (Romans 1:29); 1 Cor. 5:8⁸Therefore let us keep the feast, not with old leaven, neither with the leaven of malice and wickedness; but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth. (1 Corinthians 5:8); Eph. 6:12¹²For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places. (Ephesians 6:12); “iniquity,” Acts 3:26²⁶Unto you first God, having raised up his Son Jesus, sent him to bless you, in turning away every one of you from his iniquities. (Acts 3:26).

7. Transgression is παράβασις from “to go beyond” or avoid a boundary; it supposes a law which can be broken, Rom. 4:15; 5:14¹⁵Because the law worketh wrath: for where no law is, there is no transgression. (Romans 4:15)
¹⁴Nevertheless death reigned from Adam to Moses, even over them that had not sinned after the similitude of Adam's transgression, who is the figure of him that was to come. (Romans 5:14); Gal. 3:19¹⁹Wherefore then serveth the law? It was added because of transgressions, till the seed should come to whom the promise was made; and it was ordained by angels in the hand of a mediator. (Galatians 3:19); 1 Tim. 2:14¹⁴And Adam was not deceived, but the woman being deceived was in the transgression. (1 Timothy 2:14); Heb. 2:2; 9:15²For if the word spoken by angels was stedfast, and every transgression and disobedience received a just recompence of reward; (Hebrews 2:2)
¹⁵And for this cause he is the mediator of the new testament, that by means of death, for the redemption of the transgressions that were under the first testament, they which are called might receive the promise of eternal inheritance. (Hebrews 9:15); it is always translated “transgression,” except in Romans 2:23,²³Thou that makest thy boast of the law, through breaking the law dishonorest thou God? (Romans 2:23) where it is “breaking.” The verb is once “fall by transgression,” Acts 1:25²⁵That he may take part of this ministry and apostleship, from which Judas by transgression fell, that he might go to his own place. (Acts 1:25).

8. παρέρχομαι, “to pass by,” is once translated “transgressed,” Luke 15:29²⁹And he answering said to his father, Lo, these many years do I serve thee, neither transgressed I at any time thy commandment: and yet thou never gavest me a kid, that I might make merry with my friends: (Luke 15:29).

9. Two Greek words are translated “error”

a. άγνόημα, “a sin of ignorance,” Heb. 9:7⁷But into the second went the high priest alone once every year, not without blood, which he offered for himself, and for the errors of the people: (Hebrews 9:7).

b. πλάνη, “a wandering, straying.” It is “error,” Matt. 27:64⁶⁴Command therefore that the sepulchre be made sure until the third day, lest his disciples come by night, and steal him away, and say unto the people, He is risen from the dead: so the last error shall be worse than the first. (Matthew 27:64); Rom. 1:27²⁷And likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust one toward another; men with men working that which is unseemly, and receiving in themselves that recompence of their error which was meet. (Romans 1:27); James 5:20²⁰Let him know, that he which converteth the sinner from the error of his way shall save a soul from death, and shall hide a multitude of sins. (James 5:20); 2 Peter 2:18; 3:17¹⁸For when they speak great swelling words of vanity, they allure through the lusts of the flesh, through much wantonness, those that were clean escaped from them who live in error. (2 Peter 2:18)
¹⁷Ye therefore, beloved, seeing ye know these things before, beware lest ye also, being led away with the error of the wicked, fall from your own stedfastness. (2 Peter 3:17); 1 John 4:6⁶We are of God: he that knoweth God heareth us; he that is not of God heareth not us. Hereby know we the spirit of truth, and the spirit of error. (1 John 4:6); Jude 11¹¹Woe unto them! for they have gone in the way of Cain, and ran greedily after the error of Balaam for reward, and perished in the gainsaying of Core. (Jude 11); “delusion,” 2 Thess. 2:11¹¹And for this cause God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie: (2 Thessalonians 2:11); “deceit,” 1 Thess. 2:3³For our exhortation was not of deceit, nor of uncleanness, nor in guile: (1 Thessalonians 2:3); and “to deceive,” Eph. 4:14¹⁴That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive; (Ephesians 4:14).

Sin and Sins Sin and sins are often confounded, but their distinctness and the application of Christ’s work thereto are essentially important in the understanding of Christianity, and for the profound peace of our souls. Paul in his great foundation epistle, the Romans, separately treats those subjects. The first three chapters discuss the question of what man has done — sins, and presents God’s answer in the blood of Jesus, Rom. 3:25²⁵Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God; (Romans 3:25); but from Rom. 5:1¹Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ: (Romans 5:1)2 Till Rom. 7 the subject is a much deeper one than of actions merely, it is of man’s state or condition. What I have done, refers to sins; what I am, is sin. Remission of sins is by blood, Eph. 1:7⁷In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace; (Ephesians 1:7); deliverance from sin is by death, Rom. 6. Christ died for my sins, but I die in Him unto sin. Sins are forgiven, but sin is condemned. We do not want forgiveness for the state we are in by nature; we need deliverance from it. The sin of the world, that is all defilement and impurity, will most certainly be removed, the ground on which it will be righteously accomplished having been already laid in the cross of the Lord Jesus Christ. Heb. 9:26²⁶For then must he often have suffered since the foundation of the world: but now once in the end of the world hath he appeared to put away sin by the sacrifice of himself. (Hebrews 9:26). “Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world,” John 1:29²⁹The next day John seeth Jesus coming unto him, and saith, Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world. (John 1:29); the sin of the world and the sins of believers are never confounded in Scripture, 1 John 2:2²And he is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world. (1 John 2:2). Many do confound them, but the difficulty is at once removed, and the perfect application of sin to the world and sins to believers established by deleting the italicized words in the text of 1 John 2:2²And he is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world. (1 John 2:2).

Sina, Sinai, Mount In the O.T. Mount Sinai and Mount Horeb are closely associated; so Acts 7 speaks of the angel of the Lord appearing to Moses in a flame of fire in a bush in the wilderness of Mount Sina; whereas Exodus 3:1¹Now Moses kept the flock of Jethro his father in law, the priest of Midian: and he led the flock to the backside of the desert, and came to the mountain of God, even to Horeb. (Exodus 3:1) speaks of it as being on the mountain of God, even Horeb. Acts 7:30,38³⁰And when forty years were expired, there appeared to him in the wilderness of mount Sina an angel of the Lord in a flame of fire in a bush. (Acts 7:30)
³⁸This is he, that was in the church in the wilderness with the angel which spake to him in the mount Sina, and with our fathers: who received the lively oracles to give unto us: (Acts 7:38); Gal. 4:24-25²⁴Which things are an allegory: for these are the two covenants; the one from the mount Sinai, which gendereth to bondage, which is Agar. ²⁵For this Agar is mount Sinai in Arabia, and answereth to Jerusalem which now is, and is in bondage with her children. (Galatians 4:24‑25). A range of hills lies between the Gulf of Suez and the Gulf of Akabah, which bears the names of Horeb and Sinai, the former embracing a larger range than the latter. In the Galatians it is used symbolically to point out the bondage of the law in contrast to the liberty of the children of God.

Sincere pure. 1 Pet. 2:2²As newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby: (1 Peter 2:2).

Sion Same as Mount Zion of the O.T. It was evidently a part of Jerusalem, which was also called the city of David, and where he dwelt. 2 Sam. 5:7⁷Nevertheless David took the strong hold of Zion: the same is the city of David. (2 Samuel 5:7); 1 Chron. 11:7⁷And David dwelt in the castle; therefore they called it the city of David. (1 Chronicles 11:7). The ark was afterward taken to the same place. From this connection it came to be typical of the place of blessing, and also of the Messiah’s royal power on earth. It is not certain which part of Jerusalem was Mount Zion: it was probably on the S.W. communicating with the temple area by a bridge. Matt. 21:5⁵Tell ye the daughter of Sion, Behold, thy King cometh unto thee, meek, and sitting upon an ass, and a colt the foal of an ass. (Matthew 21:5); John 12:15¹⁵Fear not, daughter of Sion: behold, thy King cometh, sitting on an ass's colt. (John 12:15); Rom. 9:33; 11:26³³As it is written, Behold, I lay in Sion a stumblingstone and rock of offence: and whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed. (Romans 9:33)
²⁶And so all Israel shall be saved: as it is written, There shall come out of Sion the Deliverer, and shall turn away ungodliness from Jacob: (Romans 11:26); Heb. 12:22²²But ye are come unto mount Sion, and unto the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to an innumerable company of angels, (Hebrews 12:22); 1 Peter 2:6⁶Wherefore also it is contained in the scripture, Behold, I lay in Sion a chief corner stone, elect, precious: and he that believeth on him shall not be confounded. (1 Peter 2:6); Rev. 14:1¹And I looked, and, lo, a Lamb stood on the mount Sion, and with him an hundred forty and four thousand, having his Father's name written in their foreheads. (Revelation 14:1).

Sith since. Ezek. 35:6⁶Therefore, as I live, saith the Lord God, I will prepare thee unto blood, and blood shall pursue thee: sith thou hast not hated blood, even blood shall pursue thee. (Ezekiel 35:6).

Six Symbol of short of perfection. The ‘six’ wings in Rev. 4:8⁸And the four beasts had each of them six wings about him; and they were full of eyes within: and they rest not day and night, saying, Holy, holy, holy, Lord God Almighty, which was, and is, and is to come. (Revelation 4:8) are two threes. Rev. 13:18¹⁸Here is wisdom. Let him that hath understanding count the number of the beast: for it is the number of a man; and his number is Six hundred threescore and six. (Revelation 13:18).

Skin A symbol of outward appearance revealing inward condition. Lev. 13.

Sleep A symbol of death as to the body; it is never used of the soul. 1 Cor. 11:30³⁰For this cause many are weak and sickly among you, and many sleep. (1 Corinthians 11:30); John 11:11¹¹These things said he: and after that he saith unto them, Our friend Lazarus sleepeth; but I go, that I may awake him out of sleep. (John 11:11); 1 Thess. 4:14¹⁴For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him. (1 Thessalonians 4:14). A symbol of moral death. 1 Thess. 5:6-7⁶Therefore let us not sleep, as do others; but let us watch and be sober. ⁷For they that sleep sleep in the night; and they that be drunken are drunken in the night. (1 Thessalonians 5:6‑7).

Sleight Methodic craft, “as practiced by dice-players,” characterized the teachings to which the apostle refers. Eph. 4:14¹⁴That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive; (Ephesians 4:14).

Slime bitumen. Gen. 11:3³And they said one to another, Go to, let us make brick, and burn them throughly. And they had brick for stone, and slime had they for mortar. (Genesis 11:3).

Smoke A symbol of blinding and darkening judgment. Isa. 14:31³¹Howl, O gate; cry, O city; thou, whole Palestina, art dissolved: for there shall come from the north a smoke, and none shall be alone in his appointed times. (Isaiah 14:31); Rev. 9:2-3,17-18²And he opened the bottomless pit; and there arose a smoke out of the pit, as the smoke of a great furnace; and the sun and the air were darkened by reason of the smoke of the pit. ³And there came out of the smoke locusts upon the earth: and unto them was given power, as the scorpions of the earth have power. (Revelation 9:2‑3)
¹⁷And thus I saw the horses in the vision, and them that sat on them, having breastplates of fire, and of jacinth, and brimstone: and the heads of the horses were as the heads of lions; and out of their mouths issued fire and smoke and brimstone. ¹⁸By these three was the third part of men killed, by the fire, and by the smoke, and by the brimstone, which issued out of their mouths. (Revelation 9:17‑18).

Smyrna A renowned commercial city in the west of Asia Minor, about 40 miles north of Ephesus. Rev. 1:11; 2:8¹¹Saying, I am Alpha and Omega, the first and the last: and, What thou seest, write in a book, and send it unto the seven churches which are in Asia; unto Ephesus, and unto Smyrna, and unto Pergamos, and unto Thyatira, and unto Sardis, and unto Philadelphia, and unto Laodicea. (Revelation 1:11)
⁸And unto the angel of the church in Smyrna write; These things saith the first and the last, which was dead, and is alive; (Revelation 2:8). Polycarp is called in history the first bishop of Smyrna: it is where he suffered martyrdom. Modern Smyrna is a large city of more than 180,000 inhabitants; many are attached to the Greek and Armenian churches. Steamers from Europe call there. {See Ephesus.}

Snail These are the only places where the word occurs. In the one passage it is classed amongst the unclean and in the other the nasty slimy trail of this slow-going creature is referred to. Lev. 11:30³⁰And the ferret, and the chameleon, and the lizard, and the snail, and the mole. (Leviticus 11:30); Psa. 58:8⁸As a snail which melteth, let every one of them pass away: like the untimely birth of a woman, that they may not see the sun. (Psalm 58:8).

Snare Trap set for animals, a hidden danger — see Proverbs 1:17,¹⁷Surely in vain the net is spread in the sight of any bird. (Proverbs 1:17) Luke 21:35³⁵For as a snare shall it come on all them that dwell on the face of the whole earth. (Luke 21:35); Rom. 11:9⁹And David saith, Let their table be made a snare, and a trap, and a stumblingblock, and a recompence unto them: (Romans 11:9); 1 Tim. 3:7; 6:9⁷Moreover he must have a good report of them which are without; lest he fall into reproach and the snare of the devil. (1 Timothy 3:7)
⁹But they that will be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and hurtful lusts, which drown men in destruction and perdition. (1 Timothy 6:9); 2 Tim. 2:26²⁶And that they may recover themselves out of the snare of the devil, who are taken captive by him at his will. (2 Timothy 2:26); also a noose, that could be thrown over to ensnare, 1 Cor. 7:35³⁵And this I speak for your own profit; not that I may cast a snare upon you, but for that which is comely, and that ye may attend upon the Lord without distraction. (1 Corinthians 7:35).

Snow A symbol of whiteness, purity. Rev. 1:14¹⁴His head and his hairs were white like wool, as white as snow; and his eyes were as a flame of fire; (Revelation 1:14); Matt. 28:3³His countenance was like lightning, and his raiment white as snow: (Matthew 28:3); Lam. 4:7⁷Her Nazarites were purer than snow, they were whiter than milk, they were more ruddy in body than rubies, their polishing was of sapphire: (Lamentations 4:7); Psa. 51:7⁷Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean: wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow. (Psalm 51:7).

Sober Sober-minded, Sobriety

1. Clearness of mind, unaffected by false influences. 1 Thess. 5:6,8⁶Therefore let us not sleep, as do others; but let us watch and be sober. (1 Thessalonians 5:6)
⁸But let us, who are of the day, be sober, putting on the breastplate of faith and love; and for an helmet, the hope of salvation. (1 Thessalonians 5:8); 1 Tim. 3:11¹¹Even so must their wives be grave, not slanderers, sober, faithful in all things. (1 Timothy 3:11); Titus 2:2²That the aged men be sober, grave, temperate, sound in faith, in charity, in patience. (Titus 2:2); 1 Pet. 1:13; 5:8¹³Wherefore gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and hope to the end for the grace that is to be brought unto you at the revelation of Jesus Christ; (1 Peter 1:13)
⁸Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour: (1 Peter 5:8).

2. “Sound mind,” opposed to that which is foolish or erratic. Acts 26:25²⁵But he said, I am not mad, most noble Festus; but speak forth the words of truth and soberness. (Acts 26:25); Rom. 12:3³For I say, through the grace given unto me, to every man that is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think; but to think soberly, according as God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith. (Romans 12:3); 2 Cor. 5:13¹³For whether we be beside ourselves, it is to God: or whether we be sober, it is for your cause. (2 Corinthians 5:13); 1 Tim. 2:9,15; 3:2⁹In like manner also, that women adorn themselves in modest apparel, with shamefacedness and sobriety; not with broided hair, or gold, or pearls, or costly array; (1 Timothy 2:9)
¹⁵Notwithstanding she shall be saved in childbearing, if they continue in faith and charity and holiness with sobriety. (1 Timothy 2:15)
²A bishop then must be blameless, the husband of one wife, vigilant, sober, of good behavior, given to hospitality, apt to teach; (1 Timothy 3:2); Tit. 1:8; 2:4,12⁸But a lover of hospitality, a lover of good men, sober, just, holy, temperate; (Titus 1:8)
⁴That they may teach the young women to be sober, to love their husbands, to love their children, (Titus 2:4)
¹²Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world; (Titus 2:12); 1 Pet. 4:7⁷But the end of all things is at hand: be ye therefore sober, and watch unto prayer. (1 Peter 4:7).

Sockets of Silver and of Brass A symbol of founded, established, secured on the ground of the blood of Christ (silver), and the divine ability of Christ in meeting the judgment of God (brass). See book of Exodus.

Sod to boil. Gen. 25:29²⁹And Jacob sod pottage: and Esau came from the field, and he was faint: (Genesis 25:29).

Sodom, Sodoma Mostly associated with Gomorrah, cities of the plain, the destruction of which by direct judgment from heaven is recorded in Genesis 19 and is ever afterward held up as a warning to the wicked; and as pointing out that the rejecters of Christ and His gospel must look for an even more severe condemnation. In Revelation 11:8,⁸And their dead bodies shall lie in the street of the great city, which spiritually is called Sodom and Egypt, where also our Lord was crucified. (Revelation 11:8) Jerusalem, because of its grievous sins, is “spiritually called Sodom.” Matt. 10:15; 11:23¹⁵Verily I say unto you, It shall be more tolerable for the land of Sodom and Gomorrha in the day of judgment, than for that city. (Matthew 10:15)
²³And thou, Capernaum, which art exalted unto heaven, shalt be brought down to hell: for if the mighty works, which have been done in thee, had been done in Sodom, it would have remained until this day. (Matthew 11:23); Mark 6:11¹¹And whosoever shall not receive you, nor hear you, when ye depart thence, shake off the dust under your feet for a testimony against them. Verily I say unto you, It shall be more tolerable for Sodom and Gomorrha in the day of judgment, than for that city. (Mark 6:11); Luke 10:12; 17:29¹²But I say unto you, that it shall be more tolerable in that day for Sodom, than for that city. (Luke 10:12)
²⁹But the same day that Lot went out of Sodom it rained fire and brimstone from heaven, and destroyed them all. (Luke 17:29); Rom. 9:29²⁹And as Esaias said before, Except the Lord of Sabaoth had left us a seed, we had been as Sodoma, and been made like unto Gomorrha. (Romans 9:29); 2 Peter 2:6⁶And turning the cities of Sodom and Gomorrha into ashes condemned them with an overthrow, making them an ensample unto those that after should live ungodly; (2 Peter 2:6); Jude 7⁷Even as Sodom and Gomorrha, and the cities about them in like manner, giving themselves over to fornication, and going after strange flesh, are set forth for an example, suffering the vengeance of eternal fire. (Jude 7). The situation of the cities has not been traced, but they are supposed to have some association with the Dead Sea.

Soldier Those named in the N.T. are Roman soldiers. By Acts 23:23²³And he called unto him two centurions, saying, Make ready two hundred soldiers to go to Caesarea, and horsemen threescore and ten, and spearmen two hundred, at the third hour of the night; (Acts 23:23) it will be seen that a large number were kept at Jerusalem. The Jews had some to guard the temple, referred to in Matthew 27:65-66⁶⁵Pilate said unto them, Ye have a watch: go your way, make it as sure as ye can. ⁶⁶So they went, and made the sepulchre sure, sealing the stone, and setting a watch. (Matthew 27:65‑66). That the soldiers’ temptation was to oppress the inhabitants is plain from the counsel John gave them. Luke 3:14¹⁴And the soldiers likewise demanded of him, saying, And what shall we do? And he said unto them, Do violence to no man, neither accuse any falsely; and be content with your wages. (Luke 3:14). Paul describes the characteristics of the Christian soldier in 2 Timothy 2:3-4³Thou therefore endure hardness, as a good soldier of Jesus Christ. ⁴No man that warreth entangleth himself with the affairs of this life; that he may please him who hath chosen him to be a soldier. (2 Timothy 2:3‑4).

Solomon peaceable. Israel’s third king, reigned forty years over all 12 tribles. He is spoken of as “the king and the king’s son,” Psa. 72. Type of the Lord in millennial peace and glory. The united reigns of David and Solomon are typical of the millennial reign of the Lord Jesus Christ, and sought to by the near and distant heathen, 1 Kings 11. He is referred to in the New Testament, (a,) to teach that man’s works of art in their utmost glory are not to be compared with the simplest wild flower made by God; (b,) that though he was the wisest man, his wisdom was far exceeded by the Lord; (c,) that though Solomon built a house for God, yet the most high dwelleth not in hand-made temples. Matt. 6:29; 12:42²⁹And yet I say unto you, That even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. (Matthew 6:29)
⁴²The queen of the south shall rise up in the judgment with this generation, and shall condemn it: for she came from the uttermost parts of the earth to hear the wisdom of Solomon; and, behold, a greater than Solomon is here. (Matthew 12:42); Luke 11:31; 12:27³¹The queen of the south shall rise up in the judgment with the men of this generation, and condemn them: for she came from the utmost parts of the earth to hear the wisdom of Solomon; and, behold, a greater than Solomon is here. (Luke 11:31)
²⁷Consider the lilies how they grow: they toil not, they spin not; and yet I say unto you, that Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. (Luke 12:27); Acts 7:47⁴⁷But Solomon built him an house. (Acts 7:47)

Sometimes once. Eph. 2:13; 5:8¹³But now in Christ Jesus ye who sometimes were far off are made nigh by the blood of Christ. (Ephesians 2:13)
⁸For ye were sometimes darkness, but now are ye light in the Lord: walk as children of light: (Ephesians 5:8); Titus 3:3³For we ourselves also were sometimes foolish, disobedient, deceived, serving divers lusts and pleasures, living in malice and envy, hateful, and hating one another. (Titus 3:3).

Sonship Christians are termed “sons” and “children,” the former expressing their dignity, being a public title; the latter their filial relationship. Angels, because of their place and greatness in the scale of creation, are termed “sons of God,” Job 38:7⁷When the morning stars sang together, and all the sons of God shouted for joy? (Job 38:7). Jesus is called “the Son of God” because of His pre-eminent and personal place and glory, but not once is He termed “child of God.” In Acts 4:27,²⁷For of a truth against thy holy child Jesus, whom thou hast anointed, both Herod, and Pontius Pilate, with the Gentiles, and the people of Israel, were gathered together, (Acts 4:27) “child Jesus” should be “servant Jesus.” The apostle John in his epistles and gospel does not once style us “sons,” but always “children,” as the family and not the dignity of its members is his main theme. In John 1:12¹²But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name: (John 1:12) and 1 John 3:2²Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is. (1 John 3:2) “sons of God” reads “children of God.” Paul frequently treats both of relationship and dignity; hence the abundant use of the terms “children” and “sons” in his writings.

Soothsaying Divining, making professed revelations; but in Acts 16:16¹⁶And it came to pass, as we went to prayer, a certain damsel possessed with a spirit of divination met us, which brought her masters much gain by soothsaying: (Acts 16:16) the young woman was possessed by a “spirit,” which Paul cast out. {See Divination.}

Sorcerer, Sorcery

1. μἀγος Magi or wise men of the East, who might turn their knowledge to a legitimate or to a bad use. It is connected with magical arts (Acts 8:9,11; 13:6,8⁹But there was a certain man, called Simon, which beforetime in the same city used sorcery, and bewitched the people of Samaria, giving out that himself was some great one: (Acts 8:9)
¹¹And to him they had regard, because that of long time he had bewitched them with sorceries. (Acts 8:11)
⁶And when they had gone through the isle unto Paphos, they found a certain sorcerer, a false prophet, a Jew, whose name was Bar-jesus: (Acts 13:6)
⁸But Elymas the sorcerer (for so is his name by interpretation) withstood them, seeking to turn away the deputy from the faith. (Acts 13:8)).

2. φαρμακός influenced by “a drug,” and hence magical incantation (Rev. 9:21; 18:23; 21:8; 22:15²¹Neither repented they of their murders, nor of their sorceries, nor of their fornication, nor of their thefts. (Revelation 9:21)
²³And the light of a candle shall shine no more at all in thee; and the voice of the bridegroom and of the bride shall be heard no more at all in thee: for thy merchants were the great men of the earth; for by thy sorceries were all nations deceived. (Revelation 18:23)
⁸But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death. (Revelation 21:8)
¹⁵For without are dogs, and sorcerers, and whoremongers, and murderers, and idolaters, and whosoever loveth and maketh a lie. (Revelation 22:15)): translated “witchcraft” in Galatians 5:20²⁰Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies, (Galatians 5:20).

Sosthenes The chief ruler of the synagogue at Corinth, who was beaten by the Greeks before the judgment seat. The words “the Greeks” are omitted by most editors, and a few manuscripts read “the Jews”; but most probably Gentiles are meant. The Sosthenes of 1 Corinthians 1:1¹Paul, called to be an apostle of Jesus Christ through the will of God, and Sosthenes our brother, (1 Corinthians 1:1) may not be the same person. Acts 18:17¹⁷Then all the Greeks took Sosthenes, the chief ruler of the synagogue, and beat him before the judgment seat. And Gallio cared for none of those things. (Acts 18:17); 1 Cor. 1:1¹Paul, called to be an apostle of Jesus Christ through the will of God, and Sosthenes our brother, (1 Corinthians 1:1).

Soul ψυχή, life, soul. The word is often translated “life,” Matt. 10:39³⁹He that findeth his life shall lose it: and he that loseth his life for my sake shall find it. (Matthew 10:39); John 10:11,15,17¹¹I am the good shepherd: the good shepherd giveth his life for the sheep. (John 10:11)
¹⁵As the Father knoweth me, even so know I the Father: and I lay down my life for the sheep. (John 10:15)
¹⁷Therefore doth my Father love me, because I lay down my life, that I might take it again. (John 10:17); 1 John 3:16¹⁶Hereby perceive we the love of God, because he laid down his life for us: and we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren. (1 John 3:16); Rev. 8:9⁹And the third part of the creatures which were in the sea, and had life, died; and the third part of the ships were destroyed. (Revelation 8:9)) It is translated “heart,” Eph. 6:6,⁶Not with eyeservice, as menpleasers; but as the servants of Christ, doing the will of God from the heart; (Ephesians 6:6) and “mind,” Acts 14:2²But the unbelieving Jews stirred up the Gentiles, and made their minds evil affected against the brethren. (Acts 14:2); Phil. 1:27²⁷Only let your conversation be as it becometh the gospel of Christ: that whether I come and see you, or else be absent, I may hear of your affairs, that ye stand fast in one spirit, with one mind striving together for the faith of the gospel; (Philippians 1:27); Heb. 12:3,³For consider him that endured such contradiction of sinners against himself, lest ye be wearied and faint in your minds. (Hebrews 12:3) in all of which it is better translated “soul.” A man is composed of spirit, soul, and body, 1 Thess. 5:23²³And the very God of peace sanctify you wholly; and I pray God your whole spirit and soul and body be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. (1 Thessalonians 5:23). It is not always easy to distinguish between the soul and the spirit, but Scripture makes a difference: ψυχή is the only word translated “soul” in the A.V. and πνεῦμα is the common word for “spirit.” In Genesis 2:7⁷And the Lord God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul. (Genesis 2:7) we read that God breathed into Adam’s nostrils the breath of life; and he, not had a soul, but became a soul. (See 1 Cor. 15:45⁴⁵And so it is written, The first man Adam was made a living soul; the last Adam was made a quickening spirit. (1 Corinthians 15:45)). So that the “soul” represents personality, the “I” of each person. This agrees with Acts 2:41,⁴¹Then they that gladly received his word were baptized: and the same day there were added unto them about three thousand souls. (Acts 2:41) where instead of speaking of so many “persons,” it is 3000 “souls.” (See also Luke 12:19¹⁹And I will say to my soul, Soul, thou hast much goods laid up for many years; take thine ease, eat, drink, and be merry. (Luke 12:19).) Again, salvation is for the individual: “thou shalt be saved,” Acts 16:31,³¹And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house. (Acts 16:31) which is the same as the soul being saved, Heb. 10:39³⁹But we are not of them who draw back unto perdition; but of them that believe to the saving of the soul. (Hebrews 10:39). Further, as to the Spirit, we learn that the essence of the law was for man to love God with his whole being: “Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength,” Mark 12:30³⁰And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength: this is the first commandment. (Mark 12:30). Now here the “soul” is named; but what about the “spirit,” which is also a part of man, and which we may be sure is included? The “spirit” has been described as “the seat of the intellectual and moral power” of the man. This agrees both with 1 Corinthians 2:11,¹¹For what man knoweth the things of a man, save the spirit of man which is in him? even so the things of God knoweth no man, but the Spirit of God. (1 Corinthians 2:11) and with the above passage, for the heart, mind, and strength are the powers controlled by the “spirit.” In accordance with this we get exhortations as to our spirit which would not at all apply to our soul, as “Let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit,” 2 Cor. 7:1¹Having therefore these promises, dearly beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God. (2 Corinthians 7:1). Let the adorning of the wives be a “meek and quiet spirit.” 1 Peter 3:4⁴But let it be the hidden man of the heart, in that which is not corruptible, even the ornament of a meek and quiet spirit, which is in the sight of God of great price. (1 Peter 3:4). “Blessed are the poor in spirit.” Matt. 5:3³Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. (Matthew 5:3). The spirit and the soul are the immortal parts of man. The Lord Jesus at His death commended His spirit unto His Father, Luke 23:46,⁴⁶And when Jesus had cried with a loud voice, he said, Father, into thy hands I commend my spirit: and having said thus, he gave up the ghost. (Luke 23:46) and in Hebrews 12:23²³To the general assembly and church of the firstborn, which are written in heaven, and to God the Judge of all, and to the spirits of just men made perfect, (Hebrews 12:23) we are come to “the spirits of just men made perfect.” Of the soul Jesus said men cannot kill it, Matt. 10:28²⁸And fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul: but rather fear him which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell. (Matthew 10:28). John in the Revelation on two occasions saw the souls of the martyrs, Rev. 6:9; 20:4⁹And when he had opened the fifth seal, I saw under the altar the souls of them that were slain for the word of God, and for the testimony which they held: (Revelation 6:9)
⁴And I saw thrones, and they sat upon them, and judgment was given unto them: and I saw the souls of them that were beheaded for the witness of Jesus, and for the word of God, and which had not worshipped the beast, neither his image, neither had received his mark upon their foreheads, or in their hands; and they lived and reigned with Christ a thousand years. (Revelation 20:4). The spirit is the higher part of man, the part in which he is in relationship with God, inasmuch as God had breathed into his nostrils the breath of life. When the Holy Spirit is given to a Christian it is that he should not do the things that he would do by the flesh, Gal. 5:17¹⁷For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh: and these are contrary the one to the other: so that ye cannot do the things that ye would. (Galatians 5:17); he is to pray with the Spirit; sing with the Spirit; walk in the Spirit; be led by the Spirit; so that in some passages it is difficult to say whether it is the Holy Spirit or a man’s own spirit that is spoken of. Blessed privilege for all who know it, and are walking in the power of an ungrieved Spirit.

Spain The well-known country in Europe. Whether Paul visited Spain after his first imprisonment at Rome is not known. We have no detailed record of his latest movements. Rom. 15:24,28²⁴Whensoever I take my journey into Spain, I will come to you: for I trust to see you in my journey, and to be brought on my way thitherward by you, if first I be somewhat filled with your company. (Romans 15:24)
²⁸When therefore I have performed this, and have sealed to them this fruit, I will come by you into Spain. (Romans 15:28).

Sparrow This is the most common small bird of any known and as there are upwards of 100 different kinds in Israel alone it is believed that as a rule the word must be taken as meaning small birds in general. They are the commonest of God’s creatures, yet a symbol of Divine care and regard for even the most common things. Psa. 84:3³Yea, the sparrow hath found an house, and the swallow a nest for herself, where she may lay her young, even thine altars, O Lord of hosts, my King, and my God. (Psalm 84:3); Matt. 10:29,31²⁹Are not two sparrows sold for a farthing? and one of them shall not fall on the ground without your Father. (Matthew 10:29)
³¹Fear ye not therefore, ye are of more value than many sparrows. (Matthew 10:31).

Sped succeeded. Judg. 5:30³⁰Have they not sped? have they not divided the prey; to every man a damsel or two; to Sisera a prey of divers colors, a prey of divers colors of needlework, of divers colors of needlework on both sides, meet for the necks of them that take the spoil? (Judges 5:30).

Spices A symbol of Divine graces. A symbol of moral graces. Ex. 30:23-38²³Take thou also unto thee principal spices, of pure myrrh five hundred shekels, and of sweet cinnamon half so much, even two hundred and fifty shekels, and of sweet calamus two hundred and fifty shekels, ²⁴And of cassia five hundred shekels, after the shekel of the sanctuary, and of oil olive an hin: ²⁵And thou shalt make it an oil of holy ointment, an ointment compound after the art of the apothecary: it shall be an holy anointing oil. ²⁶And thou shalt anoint the tabernacle of the congregation therewith, and the ark of the testimony, ²⁷And the table and all his vessels, and the candlestick and his vessels, and the altar of incense, ²⁸And the altar of burnt offering with all his vessels, and the laver and his foot. ²⁹And thou shalt sanctify them, that they may be most holy: whatsoever toucheth them shall be holy. ³⁰And thou shalt anoint Aaron and his sons, and consecrate them, that they may minister unto me in the priest's office. ³¹And thou shalt speak unto the children of Israel, saying, This shall be an holy anointing oil unto me throughout your generations. ³²Upon man's flesh shall it not be poured, neither shall ye make any other like it, after the composition of it: it is holy, and it shall be holy unto you. ³³Whosoever compoundeth any like it, or whosoever putteth any of it upon a stranger, shall even be cut off from his people. ³⁴And the Lord said unto Moses, Take unto thee sweet spices, stacte, and onycha, and galbanum; these sweet spices with pure frankincense: of each shall there be a like weight: ³⁵And thou shalt make it a perfume, a confection after the art of the apothecary, tempered together, pure and holy: ³⁶And thou shalt beat some of it very small, and put of it before the testimony in the tabernacle of the congregation, where I will meet with thee: it shall be unto you most holy. ³⁷And as for the perfume which thou shalt make, ye shall not make to yourselves according to the composition thereof: it shall be unto thee holy for the Lord. ³⁸Whosoever shall make like unto that, to smell thereto, shall even be cut off from his people. (Exodus 30:23‑38); Song of Sol. 4:14¹⁴Spikenard and saffron; calamus and cinnamon, with all trees of frankincense; myrrh and aloes, with all the chief spices: (Song of Solomon 4:14).

Spider The plans and devices of the wicked are compared to the spider’s web, Isa. 59:5⁵They hatch cockatrice' eggs, and weave the spider's web: he that eateth of their eggs dieth, and that which is crushed breaketh out into a viper. (Isaiah 59:5). This ingenious little insect weaves its web with consummate skill, which is all the more remarkable considering its fragile character. Job 8:14¹⁴Whose hope shall be cut off, and whose trust shall be a spider's web. (Job 8:14); Pro. 30:28²⁸The spider taketh hold with her hands, and is in kings' palaces. (Proverbs 30:28).

Spikenard υάρδος πιστικός, “Pure nard,” supposed to be called spikenard because of the “spikes” put forth from the stalk of the plant, an Indian product. It is described as having a taste bitter and acrid, but is a costly aromatic perfume of agreeable smell. Mark 14:3³And being in Bethany in the house of Simon the leper, as he sat at meat, there came a woman having an alabaster box of ointment of spikenard very precious; and she brake the box, and poured it on his head. (Mark 14:3); John 12:3³Then took Mary a pound of ointment of spikenard, very costly, and anointed the feet of Jesus, and wiped his feet with her hair: and the house was filled with the odor of the ointment. (John 12:3).

Spirit {See Soul.}

Spiritual Mostly used in the N.T. in reference to the Holy Spirit, and that which He begets in the Christian, and which a natural man cannot know. 1 Cor. 2:13-16¹³Which things also we speak, not in the words which man's wisdom teacheth, but which the Holy Ghost teacheth; comparing spiritual things with spiritual. ¹⁴But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned. ¹⁵But he that is spiritual judgeth all things, yet he himself is judged of no man. ¹⁶For who hath known the mind of the Lord, that he may instruct him? But we have the mind of Christ. (1 Corinthians 2:13‑16). The saints are built up a spiritual house, 1 Pet. 2:5⁵Ye also, as lively stones, are built up a spiritual house, an holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ. (1 Peter 2:5); they are blessed with all spiritual blessings in the heavenlies in Christ, Eph. 1:3³Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ: (Ephesians 1:3). As to the state of the saints we read of some who were “spiritual,” Gal. 6:1,¹Brethren, if a man be overtaken in a fault, ye which are spiritual, restore such an one in the spirit of meekness; considering thyself, lest thou also be tempted. (Galatians 6:1) and some who were not spiritual, but carnal, 1 Cor. 3:1¹And I, brethren, could not speak unto you as unto spiritual, but as unto carnal, even as unto babes in Christ. (1 Corinthians 3:1). The body of the saint will be raised a spiritual body, fit for the glory, 1 Cor. 15:44,46⁴⁴It is sown a natural body; it is raised a spiritual body. There is a natural body, and there is a spiritual body. (1 Corinthians 15:44)
⁴⁶Howbeit that was not first which is spiritual, but that which is natural; and afterward that which is spiritual. (1 Corinthians 15:46). There is also spiritual wickedness in the heavenlies against which the Christian has to wrestle, Eph. 6:12¹²For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places. (Ephesians 6:12). This word denotes a healthy, vigorous, Christian condition as opposed to an unhealthy one as “carnal,” or the state of the unbeliever as “natural.” The true, normal condition of the Christian, as indwelt and energized by the Holy Spirit, is set forth by this word “spiritual.”

Sporting disporting. 2 Peter 2:13¹³And shall receive the reward of unrighteousness, as they that count it pleasure to riot in the day time. Spots they are and blemishes, sporting themselves with their own deceivings while they feast with you; (2 Peter 2:13).

Spue A symbol of loathing and utter rejection. Rev. 3:16¹⁶So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spue thee out of my mouth. (Revelation 3:16); Lev. 18:28²⁸That the land spue not you out also, when ye defile it, as it spued out the nations that were before you. (Leviticus 18:28).

Stacte or the Gum of the Storax Tree is extensively used in chest complaints. An aromatic plant was one of the ingredients in the holy incense.

Staff

1. Sign of wilderness journeying. Psa. 23:4⁴Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me. (Psalm 23:4); Mark 6:8⁸And commanded them that they should take nothing for their journey, save a staff only; no scrip, no bread, no money in their purse: (Mark 6:8); Heb. 11:21²¹By faith Jacob, when he was a dying, blessed both the sons of Joseph; and worshipped, leaning upon the top of his staff. (Hebrews 11:21).

2. Emblem of power and of judgment. Isa. 14:5⁵The Lord hath broken the staff of the wicked, and the sceptre of the rulers. (Isaiah 14:5); Isa. 10:5⁵O Assyrian, the rod of mine anger, and the staff in their hand is mine indignation. (Isaiah 10:5).

Stagger hesitate. Rom. 4:20²⁰He staggered not at the promise of God through unbelief; but was strong in faith, giving glory to God; (Romans 4:20).

Star in the East This was doubtless a “star” that God caused to appear for the occasion: “It ... stood over where the young child was.” Traditions were abroad that a deliverer was soon to be born, and God led the Magi to associate this star with the birth of a king of the Jews. They called it “His star.” Matt. 2:2-10²Saying, Where is he that is born King of the Jews? for we have seen his star in the east, and are come to worship him. ³When Herod the king had heard these things, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him. ⁴And when he had gathered all the chief priests and scribes of the people together, he demanded of them where Christ should be born. ⁵And they said unto him, In Bethlehem of Judea: for thus it is written by the prophet, ⁶And thou Bethlehem, in the land of Juda, art not the least among the princes of Juda: for out of thee shall come a Governor, that shall rule my people Israel. ⁷Then Herod, when he had privily called the wise men, inquired of them diligently what time the star appeared. ⁸And he sent them to Bethlehem, and said, Go and search diligently for the young child; and when ye have found him, bring me word again, that I may come and worship him also. ⁹When they had heard the king, they departed; and, lo, the star, which they saw in the east, went before them, till it came and stood over where the young child was. ¹⁰When they saw the star, they rejoiced with exceeding great joy. (Matthew 2:2‑10).

Stars A symbol of subordinate lights and rulers. Mark 13:25²⁵And the stars of heaven shall fall, and the powers that are in heaven shall be shaken. (Mark 13:25); Rev. 1:16; 6:13¹⁶And he had in his right hand seven stars: and out of his mouth went a sharp twoedged sword: and his countenance was as the sun shineth in his strength. (Revelation 1:16)
¹³And the stars of heaven fell unto the earth, even as a fig tree casteth her untimely figs, when she is shaken of a mighty wind. (Revelation 6:13); Rev. 8:12; 12:1¹²And the fourth angel sounded, and the third part of the sun was smitten, and the third part of the moon, and the third part of the stars; so as the third part of them was darkened, and the day shone not for a third part of it, and the night likewise. (Revelation 8:12)
¹And there appeared a great wonder in heaven; a woman clothed with the sun, and the moon under her feet, and upon her head a crown of twelve stars: (Revelation 12:1); Dan. 8:10¹⁰And it waxed great, even to the host of heaven; and it cast down some of the host and of the stars to the ground, and stamped upon them. (Daniel 8:10).

Staves of Shittim Wood and Gold A symbol of Christ in the dignity of his person (wood as man and gold as God) sustaining us in our wilderness path. Ex. 25:28²⁸And thou shalt make the staves of shittim wood, and overlay them with gold, that the table may be borne with them. (Exodus 25:28).

Steads place. 1 Chron. 5:22²²For there fell down many slain, because the war was of God. And they dwelt in their steads until the captivity. (1 Chronicles 5:22).

Stephanas A Corinthian whom, with his household, Paul had baptized: they were the first fruits of Achaia, and had devoted themselves to minister to the saints. Paul exhorted the Corinthian saints to submit to them. 1 Cor. 1:16; 16:15,17¹⁶And I baptized also the household of Stephanas: besides, I know not whether I baptized any other. (1 Corinthians 1:16)
¹⁵I beseech you, brethren, (ye know the house of Stephanas, that it is the firstfruits of Achaia, and that they have addicted themselves to the ministry of the saints,) (1 Corinthians 16:15)
¹⁷I am glad of the coming of Stephanas and Fortunatus and Achaicus: for that which was lacking on your part they have supplied. (1 Corinthians 16:17).

Stephen One of the seven chosen to attend to the poor saints: he is there described as a man “full of faith and of the Holy Ghost.” Certain disputed with him, but were not able to resist the wisdom and the spirit by which he spake. They caused him to be brought before the Sanhedrim, in whose sight his face appeared like an angel’s. In his defence he charged them with always resisting the Holy Spirit, and with being the betrayers and murderers of the Just One. They cast him out and stoned him. He was the first Christian martyr, and to him the heaven was opened, and he saw Jesus standing at the right hand of God. Acts 6:5,8-9; 7:59; 8:2; 22:20⁵And the saying pleased the whole multitude: and they chose Stephen, a man full of faith and of the Holy Ghost, and Philip, and Prochorus, and Nicanor, and Timon, and Parmenas, and Nicolas a proselyte of Antioch: (Acts 6:5)
⁸And Stephen, full of faith and power, did great wonders and miracles among the people. ⁹Then there arose certain of the synagogue, which is called the synagogue of the Libertines, and Cyrenians, and Alexandrians, and of them of Cilicia and of Asia, disputing with Stephen. (Acts 6:8‑9)
⁵⁹And they stoned Stephen, calling upon God, and saying, Lord Jesus, receive my spirit. (Acts 7:59)
²And devout men carried Stephen to his burial, and made great lamentation over him. (Acts 8:2)
²⁰And when the blood of thy martyr Stephen was shed, I also was standing by, and consenting unto his death, and kept the raiment of them that slew him. (Acts 22:20).

Stoning A capital punishment by stones being hurled at the person. It was practiced in Egypt, Ex. 8:26,²⁶And Moses said, It is not meet so to do; for we shall sacrifice the abomination of the Egyptians to the Lord our God: lo, shall we sacrifice the abomination of the Egyptians before their eyes, and will they not stone us? (Exodus 8:26) and was enacted by Moses, Lev. 20:2,27,²Again, thou shalt say to the children of Israel, Whosoever he be of the children of Israel, or of the strangers that sojourn in Israel, that giveth any of his seed unto Molech; he shall surely be put to death: the people of the land shall stone him with stones. (Leviticus 20:2)
²⁷A man also or woman that hath a familiar spirit, or that is a wizard, shall surely be put to death: they shall stone them with stones: their blood shall be upon them. (Leviticus 20:27) etc. Attempts were twice made to stone the Lord, John 8:59; 10:31⁵⁹Then took they up stones to cast at him: but Jesus hid himself, and went out of the temple, going through the midst of them, and so passed by. (John 8:59)
³¹Then the Jews took up stones again to stone him. (John 10:31). Stephen was stoned to death, Acts 7:58-59⁵⁸And cast him out of the city, and stoned him: and the witnesses laid down their clothes at a young man's feet, whose name was Saul. ⁵⁹And they stoned Stephen, calling upon God, and saying, Lord Jesus, receive my spirit. (Acts 7:58‑59). Paul was once stoned, and left for dead, Acts 14:19¹⁹And there came thither certain Jews from Antioch and Iconium, who persuaded the people, and, having stoned Paul, drew him out of the city, supposing he had been dead. (Acts 14:19).

Stork This large bird was forbidden to the Jews as food. Jer. 8:7⁷Yea, the stork in the heaven knoweth her appointed times; and the turtle and the crane and the swallow observe the time of their coming; but my people know not the judgment of the Lord. (Jeremiah 8:7); Zech. 5:9⁹Then lifted I up mine eyes, and looked, and, behold, there came out two women, and the wind was in their wings; for they had wings like the wings of a stork: and they lifted up the ephah between the earth and the heaven. (Zechariah 5:9). There are two kinds, black and white, both abounding in Israel. The regularity of her return to her old haunts, and the etymological signification of the word — implying tenderness and filial affection — has caused this well-known bird to be warmly welcomed, and in some countries actually protected by the law. It is also a useful sanitary bird.

Strait narrow. Matt. 7:13¹³Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat: (Matthew 7:13).

Stricken advanced. Luke 1:7⁷And they had no child, because that Elisabeth was barren, and they both were now well stricken in years. (Luke 1:7).

Strike wave. 2 Kings 5:11¹¹But Naaman was wroth, and went away, and said, Behold, I thought, He will surely come out to me, and stand, and call on the name of the Lord his God, and strike his hand over the place, and recover the leper. (2 Kings 5:11).

Stumbling-block

1. σκάνδαλον, “to halt,” used for the “catch” of a trap or snare, that gives way when trodden on. Rom. 11:9⁹And David saith, Let their table be made a snare, and a trap, and a stumblingblock, and a recompence unto them: (Romans 11:9); Rev. 2:14¹⁴But I have a few things against thee, because thou hast there them that hold the doctrine of Balaam, who taught Balac to cast a stumblingblock before the children of Israel, to eat things sacrificed unto idols, and to commit fornication. (Revelation 2:14). In 1 Cor. 1:23²³But we preach Christ crucified, unto the Jews a stumblingblock, and unto the Greeks foolishness; (1 Corinthians 1:23) preaching Christ crucified became a stumbling-block to the Jews who demanded a sign.

2. πρόςκομμα, anything laid in the way, over which one may stumble, Rom. 14:13¹³Let us not therefore judge one another any more: but judge this rather, that no man put a stumblingblock or an occasion to fall in his brother's way. (Romans 14:13); 1 Cor. 8:9⁹But take heed lest by any means this liberty of yours become a stumblingblock to them that are weak. (1 Corinthians 8:9). Translated “stumbling,” 1 Peter 2:8,⁸And a stone of stumbling, and a rock of offence, even to them which stumble at the word, being disobedient: whereunto also they were appointed. (1 Peter 2:8) and “offence,” Rom. 14:20²⁰For meat destroy not the work of God. All things indeed are pure; but it is evil for that man who eateth with offence. (Romans 14:20); and with λίθος, “stumbling stone,” Rom. 9:32-33³²Wherefore? Because they sought it not by faith, but as it were by the works of the law. For they stumbled at that stumblingstone; ³³As it is written, Behold, I lay in Sion a stumblingstone and rock of offence: and whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed. (Romans 9:32‑33).

Substitution Scripture nowhere speaks of Christ bearing the sins of the world. Dying for sins and bearing sins are believers’ truths. 1 Cor. 15:3³For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; (1 Corinthians 15:3); 1 Peter 2:24²⁴Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed. (1 Peter 2:24). Universal bearing of sins by Christ necessarily involves the monstrous thought of universal salvation by Christ. Substitution is the actual bearing of the sins of all who believe, and is taught in such passages as Isaiah 53:6⁶All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the Lord hath laid on him the iniquity of us all. (Isaiah 53:6); 1 Peter 2:24,²⁴Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed. (1 Peter 2:24) etc. The sins, iniquities, and transgressions of the people (Israel) confessed over the head of the scapegoat, and the animal thus burdened sent away to return no more, finely illustrates the truth of substitution, Lev. 16:21-22²¹And Aaron shall lay both his hands upon the head of the live goat, and confess over him all the iniquities of the children of Israel, and all their transgressions in all their sins, putting them upon the head of the goat, and shall send him away by the hand of a fit man into the wilderness: ²²And the goat shall bear upon him all their iniquities unto a land not inhabited: and he shall let go the goat in the wilderness. (Leviticus 16:21‑22); this substitutionary work will be made good for Israel on the return of Christ from the most holy place where He is now for us; then will Israel take up the language of their favourite prophet, Isaiah, and say, “The Lord hath laid on Him the iniquity of us all.” We, as believers on the Lord Jesus Christ, can now say our sins were borne by Him on the tree and are remembered no more, and this on the sure testimony of the Holy Spirit. Heb. 10:17¹⁷And their sins and iniquities will I remember no more. (Hebrews 10:17).

Sun A symbol of supreme glory, light, power, and authority. Rev. 1:16; 8:12; 12:1; 16:8¹⁶And he had in his right hand seven stars: and out of his mouth went a sharp twoedged sword: and his countenance was as the sun shineth in his strength. (Revelation 1:16)
¹²And the fourth angel sounded, and the third part of the sun was smitten, and the third part of the moon, and the third part of the stars; so as the third part of them was darkened, and the day shone not for a third part of it, and the night likewise. (Revelation 8:12)
¹And there appeared a great wonder in heaven; a woman clothed with the sun, and the moon under her feet, and upon her head a crown of twelve stars: (Revelation 12:1)
⁸And the fourth angel poured out his vial upon the sun; and power was given unto him to scorch men with fire. (Revelation 16:8); Mal. 4:2²But unto you that fear my name shall the Sun of righteousness arise with healing in his wings; and ye shall go forth, and grow up as calves of the stall. (Malachi 4:2).

Supper Symbol of a closing feast. Luke 14:16¹⁶Then said he unto him, A certain man made a great supper, and bade many: (Luke 14:16); 1 Cor. 11:20²⁰When ye come together therefore into one place, this is not to eat the Lord's supper. (1 Corinthians 11:20); Rev. 19:9,17⁹And he saith unto me, Write, Blessed are they which are called unto the marriage supper of the Lamb. And he saith unto me, These are the true sayings of God. (Revelation 19:9)
¹⁷And I saw an angel standing in the sun; and he cried with a loud voice, saying to all the fowls that fly in the midst of heaven, Come and gather yourselves together unto the supper of the great God; (Revelation 19:17).

Supper δεῖπνον, “an evening meal.” Last meal before midnight.

1. It refers to an ordinary meal or a feast, 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); Luke 14:12¹²Then said he also to him that bade him, When thou makest a dinner or a supper, call not thy friends, nor thy brethren, neither thy kinsmen, nor thy rich neighbors; lest they also bid thee again, and a recompence be made thee. (Luke 14:12); John 12:2²There they made him a supper; and Martha served: but Lazarus was one of them that sat at the table with him. (John 12:2); Rev. 19:9⁹And he saith unto me, Write, Blessed are they which are called unto the marriage supper of the Lamb. And he saith unto me, These are the true sayings of God. (Revelation 19:9).

2. Typical of the gospel feast, Luke 14:16-24¹⁶Then said he unto him, A certain man made a great supper, and bade many: ¹⁷And sent his servant at supper time to say to them that were bidden, Come; for all things are now ready. ¹⁸And they all with one consent began to make excuse. The first said unto him, I have bought a piece of ground, and I must needs go and see it: I pray thee have me excused. ¹⁹And another said, I have bought five yoke of oxen, and I go to prove them: I pray thee have me excused. ²⁰And another said, I have married a wife, and therefore I cannot come. ²¹So that servant came, and showed his lord these things. Then the master of the house being angry said to his servant, Go out quickly into the streets and lanes of the city, and bring in hither the poor, and the maimed, and the halt, and the blind. ²²And the servant said, Lord, it is done as thou hast commanded, and yet there is room. ²³And the lord said unto the servant, Go out into the highways and hedges, and compel them to come in, that my house may be filled. ²⁴For I say unto you, That none of those men which were bidden shall taste of my supper. (Luke 14:16‑24).

3. The paschal feast, Luke 22:20²⁰Likewise also the cup after supper, saying, This cup is the new testament in my blood, which is shed for you. (Luke 22:20); John 13:2,4²And supper being ended, the devil having now put into the heart of Judas Iscariot, Simon's son, to betray him; (John 13:2)
⁴He riseth from supper, and laid aside his garments; and took a towel, and girded himself. (John 13:4).

4. The supper of the great God for the fowls of the air when He acts in judgment, Rev. 19:17¹⁷And I saw an angel standing in the sun; and he cried with a loud voice, saying to all the fowls that fly in the midst of heaven, Come and gather yourselves together unto the supper of the great God; (Revelation 19:17).

5. The Lord’s supper, 1 Cor. 11:20²⁰When ye come together therefore into one place, this is not to eat the Lord's supper. (1 Corinthians 11:20).

6. A symbol of grace or judgment. Luke 14:16-24¹⁶Then said he unto him, A certain man made a great supper, and bade many: ¹⁷And sent his servant at supper time to say to them that were bidden, Come; for all things are now ready. ¹⁸And they all with one consent began to make excuse. The first said unto him, I have bought a piece of ground, and I must needs go and see it: I pray thee have me excused. ¹⁹And another said, I have bought five yoke of oxen, and I go to prove them: I pray thee have me excused. ²⁰And another said, I have married a wife, and therefore I cannot come. ²¹So that servant came, and showed his lord these things. Then the master of the house being angry said to his servant, Go out quickly into the streets and lanes of the city, and bring in hither the poor, and the maimed, and the halt, and the blind. ²²And the servant said, Lord, it is done as thou hast commanded, and yet there is room. ²³And the lord said unto the servant, Go out into the highways and hedges, and compel them to come in, that my house may be filled. ²⁴For I say unto you, That none of those men which were bidden shall taste of my supper. (Luke 14:16‑24); Rev. 3:20; 19:9,17²⁰Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me. (Revelation 3:20)
⁹And he saith unto me, Write, Blessed are they which are called unto the marriage supper of the Lamb. And he saith unto me, These are the true sayings of God. (Revelation 19:9)
¹⁷And I saw an angel standing in the sun; and he cried with a loud voice, saying to all the fowls that fly in the midst of heaven, Come and gather yourselves together unto the supper of the great God; (Revelation 19:17).

Supplication {See Prayer.}

Susanna One of the pious women who had the honour of ministering to the Lord of their substance. Luke 8:3³And Joanna the wife of Chuza Herod's steward, and Susanna, and many others, which ministered unto him of their substance. (Luke 8:3).

Swallow It is difficult to particularly identify the smaller birds which are much more plentiful in Israel than with us. No doubt a group of small migratory birds is here intended, birds almost ever on the wing moreover. As the sparrow is the most common of birds, the swallow is the most restless. A symbol of restlessness. Psa. 84:3³Yea, the sparrow hath found an house, and the swallow a nest for herself, where she may lay her young, even thine altars, O Lord of hosts, my King, and my God. (Psalm 84:3); Prov. 26:2²As the bird by wandering, as the swallow by flying, so the curse causeless shall not come. (Proverbs 26:2).

Swan This beautiful aquatic bird was ranked among the unclean birds. It little matters whether the modern swan is the one meant in the passage as undoubtedly a water bird is referred to. Lev. 11:18¹⁸And the swan, and the pelican, and the gier eagle, (Leviticus 11:18); Deut. 14:16¹⁶The little owl, and the great owl, and the swan, (Deuteronomy 14:16).

Sweet-Cane an aromatic plant is mentioned in Jeremiah 6:20,²⁰To what purpose cometh there to me incense from Sheba, and the sweet cane from a far country? your burnt offerings are not acceptable, nor your sacrifices sweet unto me. (Jeremiah 6:20) and Isaiah 43:24,²⁴Thou hast bought me no sweet cane with money, neither hast thou filled me with the fat of thy sacrifices: but thou hast made me to serve with thy sins, thou hast wearied me with thine iniquities. (Isaiah 43:24) but is in other passages translated “Calamus”. {See Calamus.}

Swelling haughty. 2 Peter 2:18¹⁸For when they speak great swelling words of vanity, they allure through the lusts of the flesh, through much wantonness, those that were clean escaped from them who live in error. (2 Peter 2:18).

Swine This most filthy and unclean of all animals was an abhorrence to the Jews. Christ upheld the majesty of the law by granting permission to the expelled demons to enter the herd of swine and destroy them, for these animals ought not to have been kept within the territory of Israel. Deut. 14:8⁸And the swine, because it divideth the hoof, yet cheweth not the cud, it is unclean unto you: ye shall not eat of their flesh, nor touch their dead carcase. (Deuteronomy 14:8); Isa. 65:4⁴Which remain among the graves, and lodge in the monuments, which eat swine's flesh, and broth of abominable things is in their vessels; (Isaiah 65:4). A swine herd was a degrading employment, Luke 15:15,¹⁵And he went and joined himself to a citizen of that country; and he sent him into his fields to feed swine. (Luke 15:15) and the filthy habits of the sow are made to illustrate a deeply important truth in 2 Peter 2:22²²But it is happened unto them according to the true proverb, The dog is turned to his own vomit again; and the sow that was washed to her wallowing in the mire. (2 Peter 2:22). A symbol of uncleanness in nature and practice. Matt. 7:6⁶Give not that which is holy unto the dogs, neither cast ye your pearls before swine, lest they trample them under their feet, and turn again and rend you. (Matthew 7:6); 2 Peter 2:22²²But it is happened unto them according to the true proverb, The dog is turned to his own vomit again; and the sow that was washed to her wallowing in the mire. (2 Peter 2:22); Isa. 66:3,17³He that killeth an ox is as if he slew a man; he that sacrificeth a lamb, as if he cut off a dog's neck; he that offereth an oblation, as if he offered swine's blood; he that burneth incense, as if he blessed an idol. Yea, they have chosen their own ways, and their soul delighteth in their abominations. (Isaiah 66:3)
¹⁷They that sanctify themselves, and purify themselves in the gardens behind one tree in the midst, eating swine's flesh, and the abomination, and the mouse, shall be consumed together, saith the Lord. (Isaiah 66:17); Deut. 14:8⁸And the swine, because it divideth the hoof, yet cheweth not the cud, it is unclean unto you: ye shall not eat of their flesh, nor touch their dead carcase. (Deuteronomy 14:8).

Sword The Romans used short broad swords, which hung in sheaths to a belt. The common people also carried swords, as is seen by Peter having one when the Lord was arrested. When the Lord was about to leave them He told them to buy a sword (take care of themselves). The sword of the Spirit is the Word of God, Eph. 6:17,¹⁷And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God: (Ephesians 6:17) which is sharper than any two-edged sword, Heb. 4:12¹²For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart. (Hebrews 4:12). Magistrates bearing a sword (not a rod), Rom. 13:4,⁴For he is the minister of God to thee for good. But if thou do that which is evil, be afraid; for he beareth not the sword in vain: for he is the minister of God, a revenger to execute wrath upon him that doeth evil. (Romans 13:4) shows that capital punishment is in no way rescinded by the gospel. The Lord, on account of His rejection, said He had not come to send peace on the earth but a sword, Matt. 10:34: see Luke 2:14¹⁴Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men. (Luke 2:14).

1. A symbol of keen searching judgment of the Word of God. Heb. 4:12¹²For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart. (Hebrews 4:12).

2. A symbol of war and bloodshed. Judgment. Rev. 6:4⁴And there went out another horse that was red: and power was given to him that sat thereon to take peace from the earth, and that they should kill one another: and there was given unto him a great sword. (Revelation 6:4); Rev. 19:15¹⁵And out of his mouth goeth a sharp sword, that with it he should smite the nations: and he shall rule them with a rod of iron: and he treadeth the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God. (Revelation 19:15).

3. A symbol of magisterial authority and power. Rom. 13:4⁴For he is the minister of God to thee for good. But if thou do that which is evil, be afraid; for he beareth not the sword in vain: for he is the minister of God, a revenger to execute wrath upon him that doeth evil. (Romans 13:4).

Sycamine This is supposed to be the black mulberry, which in the East is still called the Sycamenia. Luke 17:6⁶And the Lord said, If ye had faith as a grain of mustard seed, ye might say unto this sycamine tree, Be thou plucked up by the root, and be thou planted in the sea; and it should obey you. (Luke 17:6).

Sycamore Tree The Ficus Sycomorus of botanists, a species of mulberry tree, bearing sycamore-figs, which are small and are only eaten by the poor, but neither as fine nor large as the ordinary fig of Eastern lands. It has strong branches, low down, and is admirably adapted for the purpose for which Zacchaeus selected it. Luke 19:4⁴And he ran before, and climbed up into a sycomore tree to see him: for he was to pass that way. (Luke 19:4). The tree is used in the construction of the Mummy boxes of Egypt and in Egyptian articles of furniture generally. It is the most lasting wood known.

Sychar A city of Samaria, “near to the parcel of ground that Jacob gave to his son Joseph. Now Jacob’s well was there.” John 4:5⁵Then cometh he to a city of Samaria, which is called Sychar, near to the parcel of ground that Jacob gave to his son Joseph. (John 4:5). Its site has not been identified very clearly, but is associated by some with Sychem; but the Bordeaux Pilgrim, A.D. 333; speaks of Sichem as 1,000 paces from Sychar. Others place it at Askar.

Sychem The Greek form of Shechem. Acts 7:16¹⁶And were carried over into Sychem, and laid in the sepulchre that Abraham bought for a sum of money of the sons of Emmor the father of Sychem. (Acts 7:16). This is now mostly identified with the modern Nablous, which contains a small Samaritan synagogue, and five mosques. About a mile and a half to the S.E. is what is said to be Jacob’s well, and about a quarter of a mile to the north of this is the reputed Joseph’s tomb. Near to Nablous are the mountains of Ebal and Gerizim, on the latter of which the Samaritans still kill and eat the Passover, and there are ruins on a spot where it is supposed their temple stood (see John 4:20²⁰Our fathers worshipped in this mountain; and ye say, that in Jerusalem is the place where men ought to worship. (John 4:20)).

Synagogue {See “Synagogue and the Sanhedrin”.}

Syntyche A Christian woman at Philippi, who strove together with Paul in the gospel: she was exhorted to be of the same mind in the Lord with Euodias: they had apparently differed on some point. Phil. 4:2²I beseech Euodias, and beseech Syntyche, that they be of the same mind in the Lord. (Philippians 4:2).

SyracuseA renowned city on the east coast of Sicily. Paul spent three days there on his voyage to Rome. Acts 28:12¹²And landing at Syracuse, we tarried there three days. (Acts 28:12).

Syria It is named with Cilicia, and associated with the mission to the Gentiles. Syria lies to the north of Israel, with Mesopotamia on the east, and the Mediterranean Sea and Cilicia on the west; but the word “Syria” is used by the Romans as including Israel as well as the parts to the north. Matt. 4:24²⁴And his fame went throughout all Syria: and they brought unto him all sick people that were taken with divers diseases and torments, and those which were possessed with devils, and those which were lunatick, and those that had the palsy; and he healed them. (Matthew 4:24); Acts 15:23,41,²³And they wrote letters by them after this manner; The apostles and elders and brethren send greeting unto the brethren which are of the Gentiles in Antioch and Syria and Cilicia: (Acts 15:23)
⁴¹And he went through Syria and Cilicia, confirming the churches. (Acts 15:41) etc.

Syrophenician A woman who was a Greek, but a Syrophenician by race; that is, one who was a native of Phenicia in the province of Syria. Being a Gentile, when she took the place of a dog, the Lord granted her petition. Mark 7:26²⁶The woman was a Greek, a Syrophenician by nation; and she besought him that he would cast forth the devil out of her daughter. (Mark 7:26).

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