V

From: Bible Dictionary

Vagabond wandering. Acts 19:13¹³Then certain of the vagabond Jews, exorcists, took upon them to call over them which had evil spirits the name of the Lord Jesus, saying, We adjure you by Jesus whom Paul preacheth. (Acts 19:13).

Vail of the Tabernacle, with its Colours, Cherubim, and Material A symbol of Christ in absolute purity, in His varied glories and character heavenly and earthly as a man. Ex. 26:31³¹And thou shalt make a vail of blue, and purple, and scarlet, and fine twined linen of cunning work: with cherubims shall it be made: (Exodus 26:31); Heb. 10:20²⁰By a new and living way, which he hath consecrated for us, through the veil, that is to say, his flesh; (Hebrews 10:20).

Vail Symbol of that which hides the glory. 2 Cor. 3:13-16¹³And not as Moses, which put a vail over his face, that the children of Israel could not stedfastly look to the end of that which is abolished: ¹⁴But their minds were blinded: for until this day remaineth the same vail untaken away in the reading of the old testament; which vail is done away in Christ. ¹⁵But even unto this day, when Moses is read, the vail is upon their heart. ¹⁶Nevertheless when it shall turn to the Lord, the vail shall be taken away. (2 Corinthians 3:13‑16); Heb. 9:3; 10:20³And after the second veil, the tabernacle which is called the Holiest of all; (Hebrews 9:3)
²⁰By a new and living way, which he hath consecrated for us, through the veil, that is to say, his flesh; (Hebrews 10:20).

Vashti beauty. Gentile bride refuses to show her beauty in the world and before her Lord, but this the Jewish bride (Esther) will do in the coming day. Name occurs about 10 times, and only in the book of Esther. Esther 1.

Veil

1. The veil Moses put on when his face shone; it still remains on the hearts of Israel, though it is really done away in Christ for those who believe. 2 Cor. 3:13-16¹³And not as Moses, which put a vail over his face, that the children of Israel could not stedfastly look to the end of that which is abolished: ¹⁴But their minds were blinded: for until this day remaineth the same vail untaken away in the reading of the old testament; which vail is done away in Christ. ¹⁵But even unto this day, when Moses is read, the vail is upon their heart. ¹⁶Nevertheless when it shall turn to the Lord, the vail shall be taken away. (2 Corinthians 3:13‑16).

2. The veil of the tabernacle and the temple which shut in the holy of holies typical of Christ’s flesh. It was torn from the top to the bottom at His death, thus giving to the believer access to God Himself by a new and living way. Matt. 27:51⁵¹And, behold, the veil of the temple was rent in twain from the top to the bottom; and the earth did quake, and the rocks rent; (Matthew 27:51); Heb. 6:19; 9:3; 10:20¹⁹Which hope we have as an anchor of the soul, both sure and stedfast, and which entereth into that within the veil; (Hebrews 6:19)
³And after the second veil, the tabernacle which is called the Holiest of all; (Hebrews 9:3)
²⁰By a new and living way, which he hath consecrated for us, through the veil, that is to say, his flesh; (Hebrews 10:20).

Very, the the true. John 7:26²⁶But, lo, he speaketh boldly, and they say nothing unto him. Do the rulers know indeed that this is the very Christ? (John 7:26).

Vial bowl. Rev. 5:8; 15:7⁸And when he had taken the book, the four beasts and four and twenty elders fell down before the Lamb, having every one of them harps, and golden vials full of odors, which are the prayers of saints. (Revelation 5:8)
⁷And one of the four beasts gave unto the seven angels seven golden vials full of the wrath of God, who liveth for ever and ever. (Revelation 15:7).

Vile despicable. Deut. 25:3³Forty stripes he may give him, and not exceed: lest, if he should exceed, and beat him above these with many stripes, then thy brother should seem vile unto thee. (Deuteronomy 25:3).

Vine It is probably the most valuable in a commercial point of view of any plant cultivated by man; its fruit and wine, and the ease with which it is cultivated in warm countries make it a valuable product. The well-known bearer of grapes. Matt. 26:29²⁹But I say unto you, I will not drink henceforth of this fruit of the vine, until that day when I drink it new with you in my Father's kingdom. (Matthew 26:29); Mark 14:25²⁵Verily I say unto you, I will drink no more of the fruit of the vine, until that day that I drink it new in the kingdom of God. (Mark 14:25); Luke 22:18¹⁸For I say unto you, I will not drink of the fruit of the vine, until the kingdom of God shall come. (Luke 22:18); James 3:12¹²Can the fig tree, my brethren, bear olive berries? either a vine, figs? so can no fountain both yield salt water and fresh. (James 3:12). Christ was “the true Vine” when on earth in contrast to Israel who was not “true,” John 15:1-5¹I am the true vine, and my Father is the husbandman. ²Every branch in me that beareth not fruit he taketh away: and every branch that beareth fruit, he purgeth it, that it may bring forth more fruit. ³Now ye are clean through the word which I have spoken unto you. ⁴Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me. ⁵I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing. (John 15:1‑5); see also Psa. 80. The “vine of the earth” is gathered for judgment, Rev. 14:18-19¹⁸And another angel came out from the altar, which had power over fire; and cried with a loud cry to him that had the sharp sickle, saying, Thrust in thy sharp sickle, and gather the clusters of the vine of the earth; for her grapes are fully ripe. ¹⁹And the angel thrust in his sickle into the earth, and gathered the vine of the earth, and cast it into the great winepress of the wrath of God. (Revelation 14:18‑19).

1. A symbol of fruit-bearers on earth. Rev. 14:19¹⁹And the angel thrust in his sickle into the earth, and gathered the vine of the earth, and cast it into the great winepress of the wrath of God. (Revelation 14:19).

2. A symbol of Israel as the responsible fruit-bearing system on earth. Psa. 80; Jer. 2:21²¹Yet I had planted thee a noble vine, wholly a right seed: how then art thou turned into the degenerate plant of a strange vine unto me? (Jeremiah 2:21).

3. A symbol of Christ on earth morally replacing Israel. John 15.

Vinegar The thin, sour wine drunk by the soldiers. Matt. 27:34,48³⁴They gave him vinegar to drink mingled with gall: and when he had tasted thereof, he would not drink. (Matthew 27:34)
⁴⁸And straightway one of them ran, and took a spunge, and filled it with vinegar, and put it on a reed, and gave him to drink. (Matthew 27:48); John 19:29-30,²⁹Now there was set a vessel full of vinegar: and they filled a spunge with vinegar, and put it upon hyssop, and put it to his mouth. ³⁰When Jesus therefore had received the vinegar, he said, It is finished: and he bowed his head, and gave up the ghost. (John 19:29‑30) etc.

Vineyard Israel is the vineyard mostly alluded to in the Gospels. A portion of the produce was paid as rent. Matt. 20:1-15; 21:28-41¹For the kingdom of heaven is like unto a man that is an householder, which went out early in the morning to hire laborers into his vineyard. ²And when he had agreed with the laborers for a penny a day, he sent them into his vineyard. ³And he went out about the third hour, and saw others standing idle in the marketplace, ⁴And said unto them; Go ye also into the vineyard, and whatsoever is right I will give you. And they went their way. ⁵Again he went out about the sixth and ninth hour, and did likewise. ⁶And about the eleventh hour he went out, and found others standing idle, and saith unto them, Why stand ye here all the day idle? ⁷They say unto him, Because no man hath hired us. He saith unto them, Go ye also into the vineyard; and whatsoever is right, that shall ye receive. ⁸So when even was come, the lord of the vineyard saith unto his steward, Call the laborers, and give them their hire, beginning from the last unto the first. ⁹And when they came that were hired about the eleventh hour, they received every man a penny. ¹⁰But when the first came, they supposed that they should have received more; and they likewise received every man a penny. ¹¹And when they had received it, they murmured against the goodman of the house, ¹²Saying, These last have wrought but one hour, and thou hast made them equal unto us, which have borne the burden and heat of the day. ¹³But he answered one of them, and said, Friend, I do thee no wrong: didst not thou agree with me for a penny? ¹⁴Take that thine is, and go thy way: I will give unto this last, even as unto thee. ¹⁵Is it not lawful for me to do what I will with mine own? Is thine eye evil, because I am good? (Matthew 20:1‑15)
²⁸But what think ye? A certain man had two sons; and he came to the first, and said, Son, go work to day in my vineyard. ²⁹He answered and said, I will not: but afterward he repented, and went. ³⁰And he came to the second, and said likewise. And he answered and said, I go, sir: and went not. ³¹Whether of them twain did the will of his father? They say unto him, The first. Jesus saith unto them, Verily I say unto you, That the publicans and the harlots go into the kingdom of God before you. ³²For John came unto you in the way of righteousness, and ye believed him not: but the publicans and the harlots believed him: and ye, when ye had seen it, repented not afterward, that ye might believe him. ³³Hear another parable: There was a certain householder, which planted a vineyard, and hedged it round about, and digged a winepress in it, and built a tower, and let it out to husbandmen, and went into a far country: ³⁴And when the time of the fruit drew near, he sent his servants to the husbandmen, that they might receive the fruits of it. ³⁵And the husbandmen took his servants, and beat one, and killed another, and stoned another. ³⁶Again, he sent other servants more than the first: and they did unto them likewise. ³⁷But last of all he sent unto them his son, saying, They will reverence my son. ³⁸But when the husbandmen saw the son, they said among themselves, This is the heir; come, let us kill him, and let us seize on his inheritance. ³⁹And they caught him, and cast him out of the vineyard, and slew him. ⁴⁰When the lord therefore of the vineyard cometh, what will he do unto those husbandmen? ⁴¹They say unto him, He will miserably destroy those wicked men, and will let out his vineyard unto other husbandmen, which shall render him the fruits in their seasons. (Matthew 21:28‑41); Mark 12:1-9¹And he began to speak unto them by parables. A certain man planted a vineyard, and set an hedge about it, and digged a place for the winefat, and built a tower, and let it out to husbandmen, and went into a far country. ²And at the season he sent to the husbandmen a servant, that he might receive from the husbandmen of the fruit of the vineyard. ³And they caught him, and beat him, and sent him away empty. ⁴And again he sent unto them another servant; and at him they cast stones, and wounded him in the head, and sent him away shamefully handled. ⁵And again he sent another; and him they killed, and many others; beating some, and killing some. ⁶Having yet therefore one son, his wellbeloved, he sent him also last unto them, saying, They will reverence my son. ⁷But those husbandmen said among themselves, This is the heir; come, let us kill him, and the inheritance shall be ours. ⁸And they took him, and killed him, and cast him out of the vineyard. ⁹What shall therefore the lord of the vineyard do? he will come and destroy the husbandmen, and will give the vineyard unto others. (Mark 12:1‑9); Luke 13:6; 20:13-16⁶He spake also this parable; A certain man had a fig tree planted in his vineyard; and he came and sought fruit thereon, and found none. (Luke 13:6)
¹³Then said the lord of the vineyard, What shall I do? I will send my beloved son: it may be they will reverence him when they see him. ¹⁴But when the husbandmen saw him, they reasoned among themselves, saying, This is the heir: come, let us kill him, that the inheritance may be ours. ¹⁵So they cast him out of the vineyard, and killed him. What therefore shall the lord of the vineyard do unto them? ¹⁶He shall come and destroy these husbandmen, and shall give the vineyard to others. And when they heard it, they said, God forbid. (Luke 20:13‑16); 1 Cor. 9:7⁷Who goeth a warfare any time at his own charges? who planteth a vineyard, and eateth not of the fruit thereof? or who feedeth a flock, and eateth not of the milk of the flock? (1 Corinthians 9:7).

Viper(s) A small venomous snake. Acts 28:3³And when Paul had gathered a bundle of sticks, and laid them on the fire, there came a viper out of the heat, and fastened on his hand. (Acts 28:3). It is applied both by John the Baptist and by the Lord to the rulers of Israel, Matt. 3:7; 12:34; 23:33⁷But 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)
³⁴O generation of vipers, how can ye, being evil, speak good things? for out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh. (Matthew 12:34)
³³Ye serpents, ye generation of vipers, how can ye escape the damnation of hell? (Matthew 23:33); Luke 3:7⁷Then said he to the multitude that came forth to be baptized of him, O generation of vipers, who hath warned you to flee from the wrath to come? (Luke 3:7). They showed a moral likeness to the devil, the old serpent. A symbol of concealed poisonous doctrines and enemies. Matt. 3:7; 12:34⁷But 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)
³⁴O generation of vipers, how can ye, being evil, speak good things? for out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh. (Matthew 12:34); Luke 3:7⁷Then said he to the multitude that came forth to be baptized of him, O generation of vipers, who hath warned you to flee from the wrath to come? (Luke 3:7); Job 20:16¹⁶He shall suck the poison of asps: the viper's tongue shall slay him. (Job 20:16)

Virgins A symbol of undelifed, separation from the world, its idolatry and ways. Rev. 14:4⁴These are they which were not defiled with women; for they are virgins. These are they which follow the Lamb whithersoever he goeth. These were redeemed from among men, being the firstfruits unto God and to the Lamb. (Revelation 14:4); 2 Cor. 11:2²For I am jealous over you with godly jealousy: for I have espoused you to one husband, that I may present you as a chaste virgin to Christ. (2 Corinthians 11:2).

Virtue power. Mark 5:30³⁰And Jesus, immediately knowing in himself that virtue had gone out of him, turned him about in the press, and said, Who touched my clothes? (Mark 5:30).

Visitation Israel knew not when God visited them in the Person of Christ, Luke 19:44⁴⁴And shall lay thee even with the ground, and thy children within thee; and they shall not leave in thee one stone upon another; because thou knewest not the time of thy visitation. (Luke 19:44). The converted Jews ought so to walk that their enemies should confess to their integrity when God again visits Israel in blessing, 1 Peter 2:12¹²Having your conversation honest among the Gentiles: that, whereas they speak against you as evildoers, they may by your good works, which they shall behold, glorify God in the day of visitation. (1 Peter 2:12))

Vow The vow of Paul and of the four men appears to have been the vow of Nazariteship, by the head being shaven. Acts 18:18; 21:23¹⁸And Paul after this tarried there yet a good while, and then took his leave of the brethren, and sailed thence into Syria, and with him Priscilla and Aquila; having shorn his head in Cenchrea: for he had a vow. (Acts 18:18)
²³Do therefore this that we say to thee: We have four men which have a vow on them; (Acts 21:23). The final shaving must be at the temple, Num. 6:18¹⁸And the Nazarite shall shave the head of his separation at the door of the tabernacle of the congregation, and shall take the hair of the head of his separation, and put it in the fire which is under the sacrifice of the peace offerings. (Numbers 6:18).

Vulture There are several species comprehended under the common name “vulture,” all unclean under the Levitical law. This bird of prey feeds upon the carcass of man or beast, and frequently follows a victorious army in its march, pouncing upon the unburied slain. Lev. 11:14¹⁴And the vulture, and the kite after his kind; (Leviticus 11:14); Deut. 14:13¹³And the glede, and the kite, and the vulture after his kind, (Deuteronomy 14:13). “There is a path ... which the vulture’s eye hath not seen.” The sharp, keen vision of this rapacious bird is several times alluded to in the Scriptures. A symbol of quickness of sight; keen vision. Job 28:7⁷There is a path which no fowl knoweth, and which the vulture's eye hath not seen: (Job 28:7).

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