Fremitus
A fremitus is a palpable vibration, as of the walls of the chest.
Paul encouraged the Philippians to work out their salavation with fear and fremitus.
So then, my beloved, just as you have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your salvation with fear and trembling; (Philippians 2:12, NASB)
Gonfalon
A gonfalon is a banner suspended from a crossbar, often with several streamers or tails.
The lover in the Song of Solomon asserrt that her lover brought her to his banquet hall and that his gonfalon over her was love.
"He has brought me to his banquet hall,
And his banner over me is love." (Song of Solomon 2:4, NASB)
Concupiscence
Concupiscence is sexual desire; lust.
Jesus said that any man who looked at a woman with concupiscence committed adultery in his heart.
but I say to you that everyone who looks at a woman with lust for her has already committed adultery with her in his heart. (Matthew 5:28, NASB)
A related word is Cupid, the ancient Roman god of love.
Atheling
An atheling is a man of royal blood; a prince.
Hamor, an atheling of Shechem, raped Dinah, the daughter of Jacob and Leah.
When Shechem the son of Hamor the Hivite, the prince of the land, saw her, he took her and lay with her by force. (Genesis 34:2, NASB)
Dinah's brothers Simeon and Levi avenged her.
Note: This woodcut of Genesis 34 was created by Johann Christoph Weigel (1654-1726) in 1695.
Sapiential
Sapiential means containing, exhibiting, or affording wisdom; characterized by wisdom.
Proverbs asserts that having sapiential associates will produce wisdom.
He who walks with wise men will be wise,
But the companion of fools will suffer harm. (Proverbs 13:20, NASB)
Canoodle
To canoodle is to caress, fondle, or pet amorously.
Abimelech discovered that Isaac and Rebekah were not brother and sister as they had claimed when he caught them canoodling.
It came about, when he had been there a long time, that Abimelech king of the Philistines looked out through a window, and saw, and behold, Isaac was caressing his wife Rebekah. (Genesis 26:8, NASB)
Note: This sketch of Isaac and Rebekah comes from the after workshop of Raphael Sanzio (1483-1520). It is owned by the Louvre.
Asthenia
Asthenia is the lack or loss of strength; weakness.
After Delilah had Samson's hair cut, Samson suffered complete asthenia.
She made him sleep on her knees, and called for a man and had him shave off the seven locks of his hair. Then she began to afflict him, and his strength left him. (Judges 16:19, NASB)
Note: This oil on wood of Samson being betrayed by Delilah was painted by Rembrandt Harmenszoon van Rijn (1606–1669).
Descry
To descry is to see (something unclear or distant) by looking carefully; discern; espy.
While Jesus' trial was being held, one of the servant girls of the high priest descried Peter as one of his associates as he sat in the courtyard.
and seeing Peter warming himself, she looked at him and said, "You also were with Jesus the Nazarene." (Mark 14:67, NASB)
Peter famously denied her identification.
Note: This on canvas of Peter denouncing Christ was painted by Rembrandt Harmenszoon van Rijn (1606-1669).
Cachet
A cachet is an official seal, as on a letter or document.
Judah realizes that he is the father of his daughter-in-law Tamar's child when she presents his cachet. (Genesis 38)
He said, "What pledge shall I give you?" And she said, " Your seal and your cord, and your staff that is in your hand." So he gave them to her and went in to her, and she conceived by him. (Genesis 38:18, NASB)
Note: This oil on canvas of Judah and Tamar was painted by Emile-Jean-Horace Vernet (1789-1863) in 1840. It part of the Wallace Collection in London.
Impute
To impute is to attribute or ascribe.
King Herod the Great imputed Jesus' miracles to be the work of a resurrected John the Baptist. (Matthew 14:2; Mark 6:14)
and said to his servants, " This is John the Baptist; he has risen from the dead, and that is why miraculous powers are at work in him." (Matthew 14:2, NASB)
Malar
Malar means of or pertaining to the cheek or zygomatic bone.
The prophet Micaiah's malar region was struck by Zedekiah when Micaiah opposed the interpretation of his fellow prophets. (I Kings 22:24; II Chronicles 18:23)
Then Zedekiah the son of Chenaanah came near and struck Micaiah on the cheek and said, "How did the Spirit of the LORD pass from me to speak to you?" (I Kings 22:24, NASB)
Micaiah was vindicated when his prophecy came true.
Note: This miniature of Zedekiah striking Micaiah was created by the Master of Otto van Moerdrecht around 1430.
Perfervid
Perfervid means very fervent; extremely ardent; impassioned.
After being abusively rejected by the Jews in Corinth, Paul makes a perfervid speech in which he announces his intent to go to the Gentiles.
But when they resisted and blasphemed, he shook out his garments and said to them, "Your blood be on your own heads! I am clean From now on I will go to the Gentiles." (Acts 18:6, NASB)
Puissance
Puissance means power, might, or force.
In Romans, Paul asserts that the gospel has the puissance of salvation for everyone who believes.
For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek. (Romans 1:16, NASB)
Durance
Durance is incarceration or imprisonment (often used in the phrase durance vile).
Several of the letters canonized in the New Testament are said to have been written when Paul was in durance.
Now I want you to know, brethren, that my circumstances have turned out for the greater progress of the gospel, so that my imprisonment in the cause of Christ has become well known throughout the whole praetorian guard and to everyone else, and that most of the brethren, trusting in the Lord because of my imprisonment, have far more courage to speak the word of God without fear. (Philippians 1:12-14, NASB)
Philippians, Ephesians, Colossians, and Philemon are all considered "prison epistles" or "captivity letters".
Assignation
An assignation is an appointment for a meeting, especially a lover's secret rendezvous.
Abimelech discovered that Isaac and Rebekah were lovers (and not siblings as they had claimed) when he chanced upon an assignation between the two from his window.
It came about, when he had been there a long time, that Abimelech king of the Philistines looked out through a window, and saw, and behold, Isaac was caressing his wife Rebekah. (Genesis 26:8, NASB)
Note: This fresco of the assignation between Isaac and Rebekah was painted by Raphael Sanzio (1483-1520). It is owned by the Vatican.
Rapprochement
A rapprochement is an establishment or reestablishment of harmonious relations.
After years of separation, Jacob and Esau finally reached a rapprochement. (Genesis 33).
Then Esau ran to meet him and embraced him, and fell on his neck and kissed him, and they wept. (Genesis 33:4, NASB)
Note: This image of Jacob and Esau was created by contemporary American aritist Phillip Ratner.
Conversant
Conversant means familiar by use or study (usually followed by with): conversant with Spanish history.
From his childhood, Timothy was conversant with the Scriptures.
and that from childhood you have known the sacred writings which are able to give you the wisdom that leads to salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus. (II Timothy 3:15, NASB)
Polemic
A polemic is a controversial argument, as one against some opinion, doctrine, etc.
At an historic council in Jerusalem, Paul refuted the polemic against the uncircumcised Christian. (Acts 15)
And when Paul and Barnabas had great dissension and debate with them, the brethren determined that Paul and Barnabas and some others of them should go up to Jerusalem to the apostles and elders concerning this issue. (Acts 15:2, NASB)
Note: This woodcut of the Jerusalem Council was first published in 1702. Its author is unknown.
Aspersion
An aspersion is a damaging or derogatory remark or criticism; slander.
Paul told the Corinthians that when he faced aspersion, his response was to conciliate.
when we are slandered, we try to conciliate; we have become as the scum of the world, the dregs of all things, even until now. (I Corinthians 4:13, NASB)
What is your response to aspersion?
Pelf
Pelf is money or wealth, especially when regarded with contempt or acquired by reprehensible means.
After betraying Jesus, a remorseful Judas threw his pelf into the temple before committing suicide.
And he threw the pieces of silver into the temple sanctuary and departed; and he went away and hanged himself. (Matthew 27:5, NASB)
Note: This oil on canvas is "The Remorse of Judas" by Edward Armitage (1817-1896).
Posts
