Easton’s dictionary

Nearly 4,000 clear, readable entries on the people, places, words and ideas of the Bible, by a Scottish minister. A good first place to look.

• PaaraiOpening of the Lord, “the Arbite,” one of David’s heroes (2 Sam. 23:35); called also...
• PadanA plain, occurring only in Gen. 48:7, where it designates Padan-aram.
• Padan-AramThe plain of Aram, or the plain of the highlands, (Gen. 25:20; 28:2, 5-7; 31:18,...
• PagielGod allots, a prince of the tribe of Asher (Num. 1:13), in the wilderness.
• Pahath-MoabGovernor of Moab, a person whose descendants returned from the Captivity and assisted...
• PaintJezebel “painted her face” (2 Kings 9:30); and the practice of painting the face and...
• PalaceUsed now only of royal dwellings, although originally meaning simply (as the Latin...
• PalestineOriginally denoted only the sea-coast of the land of Canaan inhabited by the...
• PalluSeparated, the second son of Reuben (1 Chr. 5:3); called Phallu, Gen. 46:9. He was the...
• Palm Tree(Heb. tamar), the date-palm characteristic of Palestine. It is described as...
• Palm Trees, the City ofThe name given to Jericho (q.v.), Deut. 34:3; Judg. 1:16; 3:13.
• Palmer-Worm(Heb. gazam). The English word may denote either a caterpillar (as rendered by the...
• PalsyA shorter form of “paralysis.” Many persons thus afflicted were cured by our Lord...
• PaltiDeliverance from the Lord, one of the spies representing the tribe of Benjamin (Num. 13:9).
• PaltielDeliverance of God, the prince of Issachar who assisted “to divide the land by...
• PaltiteThe designation of one of David’s heroes (2 Sam. 23:26); called also the Pelonite (1...
• PamphyliaPaul and his company, loosing from Paphos, sailed north-west and came to Perga, the...
• PanA vessel of metal or earthenware used in culinary operations; a cooking-pan or...
• Pannag(Ezek. 27:17; marg. R.V., “perhaps a kind of confection”) the Jews explain as the name...
• PaperThe expression in the Authorized Version (Isa. 19:7), “the paper reeds by the brooks,”...
• PaphosThe capital of the island of Cyprus, and therefore the residence of the Roman...
• Parable(Gr. parabole), a placing beside; a comparison; equivalent to the Heb. mashal, a...
• ParadiseA Persian word (pardes), properly meaning a “pleasure-ground” or “park” or “king’s...
• ParahThe heifer, a town in Benjamin (Josh. 18:23), supposed to be identical with the ruins...
• ParanAbounding in foliage, or abounding in caverns, (Gen. 21:21), a desert tract forming...
• Paran, MountProbably the hilly region or upland wilderness on the north of the desert of Paran...
• Parbar(1 Chr. 26:18), a place apparently connected with the temple, probably a “suburb”...
• Parched Ground(Isa. 35:7), Heb. sharab, a “mirage”, a phenomenon caused by the refraction of the...
• ParchmentA skin prepared for writing on; so called from Pergamos (q.v.), where this was first...
• PardonThe forgiveness of sins granted freely (Isa. 43:25), readily (Neh. 9:17; Ps. 86:5),...
• Parlour(from the Fr. parler, “to speak”) denotes an “audience chamber,” but that is not the...
• ParmashtaStrong-fisted, a son of Haman, slain in Shushan (Esther 9:9).
• ParmenasConstant, one of the seven “deacons” (Acts 6:5).
• ParshandathaAn interpreter of the law, the eldest of Haman’s sons, slain in Shushan (Esther 9:7).
• ParthiansWere present in Jerusalem at Pentecost (Acts 2:9). Parthia lay on the east of Media...
• Partridge(Heb. kore, i.e., “caller”). This bird, unlike our own partridge, is distinguished by...
• ParuahFlourishing, the father of Jehoshaphat, appointed to provide monthly supplies for...
• ParvaimThe name of a country from which Solomon obtained gold for the temple (2 Chr. 3:6)....
• Pas-DammimThe border of blood = Ephes-dammim (q.v.), between Shochoh and Azekah (1 Sam. 17:1; 1...
• PasachClearing, one of the sons of Japhlet, of the tribe of Asher (1 Chr. 7:33).
• PashurRelease. (1.) The son of Immer (probably the same as Amariah, Neh. 10:3; 12:2), the...
• PassageDenotes in Josh. 22:11, as is generally understood, the place where the children of...
• PassionOnly once found, in Acts 1:3, meaning suffering, referring to the sufferings of our Lord.
• PassoverThe name given to the chief of the three great historical annual festivals of the...
• PataraA city on the south-west coast of Lycia at which Paul landed on his return from his...
• PathrosThe name generally given to Upper Egypt (the Thebaid of the Greeks), as distinguished...
• PatmosA small rocky and barren island, one of the group called the “Sporades,” in the AEgean...
• PatriarchA name employed in the New Testament with reference to Abraham (Heb. 7:4), the sons of...
• PatrobasA Christian at Rome to whom Paul sent salutations (Rom. 16:14).
• Pau(Gen. 36:39) or Pai (1 Chr. 1:50), bleating, an Edomitish city ruled over by Hadar.
• Paul=Saul (q.v.) was born about the same time as our Lord. His circumcision-name was Saul,...
• PavementIt was the custom of the Roman governors to erect their tribunals in open places, as...
• PavilionA tent or tabernacle (2 Sam. 22:12; 1 Kings 20:12-16), or enclosure (Ps. 18:11; 27:5)....
• Peace Offerings(Heb. shelamim), detailed regulations regarding given in Lev. 3; 7:11-21, 29-34. They...
• Peacock(Heb. tuk, apparently borrowed from the Tamil tokei). This bird is indigenous to...
• Pearl(Heb. gabish, Job 28:18; Gr. margarites, Matt. 7:6; 13:46; Rev. 21:21). The pearl...
• PeculiarAs used in the phrase “peculiar people” in 1 Pet. 2:9, is derived from the Lat....
• PedahelRedeemed of God, the son of Ammihud, a prince of Naphtali (Num. 34:28).
• PedahzurRock of redemption, the father of Gamaliel and prince of Manasseh at the time of the...
• PedaiahRedemption of the Lord. (1.) The father of Zebudah, who was the wife of Josiah and...
• PekahOpen-eyed, the son of Remaliah a captain in the army of Pekahiah, king of Israel, whom...
• PekahiahThe Lord opened his eyes, the son and successor of Menahem on the throne of Israel. He...
• PekodProbably a place in Babylonia (Jer. 50:21; Ezek. 23:23). It is the opinion, however,...
• PelaiahDistinguished of the Lord. (1.) One of David’s posterity (1 Chr. 3:24). (2.) A Levite...
• PelatiahDeliverance of the Lord. (1.) A son of Hananiah and grandson of Zerubbabel (1 Chr....
• PelegDivision, one of the sons of Eber; so called because “in his days was the earth...
• PeletDeliverance. (1.) A descendant of Judah (1 Chr. 2:47). (2.) A Benjamite who joined...
• PelethSwiftness. (1.) A Reubenite whose son was one of the conspirators against Moses and...
• PelethitesMentioned always along with the Cherethites, and only in the time of David. The word...
• PelicansAre frequently met with at the waters of Merom and the Sea of Galilee. The pelican is...
• Penny(Gr. denarion), a silver coin of the value of about 7 1/2d. or 8d. of our present...
• PentateuchThe five-fold volume, consisting of the first five books of the Old Testament. This...
• PentecostI.e., “fiftieth”, found only in the New Testament (Acts 2:1; 20:16; 1 Cor. 16:8). The...
• PenuelFace of God, a place not far from Succoth, on the east of the Jordan and north of the...
• PeorOpening. (1.) A mountain peak (Num. 23:28) to which Balak led Balaam as a last effort...
• Perazim, MountMount of breaches, only in Isa. 28:21. It is the same as BAAL-PERAZIM (q.v.), where...
• PeresDivided, one of the mysterious words “written over against the candlestick upon the...
• Perez=Pharez, (q.v.), breach, the son of Judah (Neh. 11:4). “The chief of all the captains...
• Perez-UzzahThe breach of Uzzah, a place where God “burst forth upon Uzzah, so that he died,” when...
• PerfectionSee SANCTIFICATION.
• PerfumesWere used in religious worship, and for personal and domestic enjoyment (Ex. 30:35-37;...
• PergaThe capital of Pamphylia, on the coast of Asia Minor. Paul and his companions landed...
• PergamosThe chief city of Mysia, in Asia Minor. One of the “seven churches” was planted here...
• PeridaKernel, Neh. 7:57. (See PERUDA.)
• PerizzitesVillagers; dwellers in the open country, the Canaanitish nation inhabiting the fertile...
• PersecutionThe first great persecution for religious opinion of which we have any record was that...
• Perseverance of the SaintsTheir certain continuance in a state of grace. Once justified and regenerated, the...
• PersiaAn ancient empire, extending from the Indus to Thrace, and from the Caspian Sea to the...
• PersisA female Christian at Rome whom Paul salutes (Rom. 16:12). She is spoken of as...
• PerudaOne whose descendants returned with Zerubbabel (Ezra 2:55); called also Perida (Neh. 7:57).
• PeterOriginally called Simon (=Simeon ,i.e., “hearing”), a very common Jewish name in the...
• Peter, First Epistle ofThis epistle is addressed to “the strangers scattered abroad”, i.e., to the Jews of...
• Peter, Second Epistle ofThe question of the authenticity of this epistle has been much discussed, but the...
• PethahiahLoosed of the Lord. (1.) The chief of one of the priestly courses (the nineteenth) in...
• PethorInterpretation of dreams, identified with Pitru, on the west bank of the Euphrates, a...
• PethuelVision of God, the father of Joel the prophet (Joel 1:1).
• PetraRock, Isa. 16:1, marg. (See SELA.)
• PeulthaiWages of the Lord, one of the sons of Obed-edom, a Levite porter (1 Chr. 26:5).
• Phalec(Luke 3:35)=Peleg (q.v.), Gen. 11:16.
• PhalluSeparated, the second son of Reuben (Gen. 46:9).
• PhaltiDeliverance of the Lord, the son of Laish of Gallim (1 Sam. 25:44)= Phaltiel (2 Sam....
• PhanuelFace of God, father of the prophetess Anna (q.v.), Luke 2:36.
• PharaohThe official title borne by the Egyptian kings down to the time when that country was...
• Pharaoh’s DaughtersThree princesses are thus mentioned in Scripture: (1.) The princess who adopted the...
• PharezBreach, the elder of the twin sons of Judah (Gen. 38:29). From him the royal line of...
• PhariseesSeparatists (Heb. persahin, from parash, “to separate”). They were probably the...
• PharparSwift, one of the rivers of Damascus (2 Kings 5:12). It has been identified with the...
• PhebeA “deaconess of the church at Cenchrea,” the port of Corinth. She was probably the...
• PheniceProperly Phoenix a palm-tree (as in the R.V.), a town with a harbour on the southern...
• Phenicia(Acts 21:2) = Phenice (11:19; 15:3; R.V., Phoenicia), Gr. phoinix, “a palm”, the land...
• PhicolGreat, the chief captain of the army of Abimelech, the Philistine king of Gerar. He...
• PhiladelphiaBrotherly love, a city of Lydia in Asia Minor, about 25 miles south-east of Sardis. It...
• PhilemonAn inhabitant of Colosse, and apparently a person of some note among the citizens...
• Philemon, Epistle toWas written from Rome at the same time as the epistles to the Colossians and...
• PhiletusAmiable, with Hymenaeus, at Ephesus, said that the “resurrection was past already” (2...
• PhilipLover of horses. (1.) One of the twelve apostles; a native of Bethsaida, “the city of...
• Philippi(1.) Formerly Crenides, “the fountain,” the capital of the province of Macedonia. It...
• Philippians, Epistle toWas written by Paul during the two years when he was “in bonds” in Rome (Phil....
• Philistia=Palestine (q.v.), “the land of the Philistines” (Ps. 60:8; 87:4; 108:9). The word is...
• Philistines(Gen. 10:14, R.V.; but in A.V., “Philistim”), a tribe allied to the Phoenicians. They...
• PhinehasMouth of brass, or from old Egypt, the negro. (1.) Son of Eleazar, the high priest...
• PhlegonBurning, a Roman Christian to whom Paul sent salutations (Rom. 16:14).
• Phoenicia(Acts 21:2). (See PHENICIA.)
• PhrygiaDry, an irregular and ill-defined district in Asia Minor. It was divided into two...
• PhutPhut is placed between Egypt and Canaan in Gen. 10:6, and elsewhere we find the people...
• PhygellusFugitive, a Christian of Asia, who “turned away” from Paul during his second...
• Phylacteries(Gr. phulakteria; i.e., “defences” or “protections”), called by modern Jews tephillin...
• PhysicianAsa, afflicted with some bodily malady, “sought not to the Lord but to the physicians”...
• Pi-Beseth(Ezek. 30:17), supposed to mean. “a cat,” or a deity in the form of a cat, worshipped...
• Pi-HahirothPlace where the reeds grow (LXX. and Copt. read “farmstead”), the name of a place in...
• Pieces(1) of silver. In Ps. 68:30 denotes “fragments,” and not properly money. In 1 Sam....
• PietyLat. pietas, properly honour and respect toward parents (1 Tim. 5:4). In Acts 17:23...
• PigeonPigeons are mentioned as among the offerings which, by divine appointment, Abram...
• Pilate, PontiusProbably connected with the Roman family of the Pontii, and called “Pilate” from the...
• PillarUsed to support a building (Judg. 16:26, 29); as a trophy or memorial (Gen. 28:18;...
• Pine TreeHeb. tidhar, mentioned along with the fir-tree in Isa. 41:19; 60:13. This is probably...
• PinnacleA little wing, (Matt. 4:5; Luke 4:9). On the southern side of the temple court was a...
• Pipe(1 Sam. 10:5; 1 Kings 1:40; Isa. 5:12; 30:29). The Hebrew word halil, so rendered,...
• PiramLike a wild ass, a king of Jarmuth, a royal city of the Canaanites, who was conquered...
• PirathonPrince, or summit, a place “in the land of Ephraim” (Judg. 12:15), now Fer’on, some 10...
• Pirathonite(1.) Abdon, the son of Hillel, so called, Judg. 12:13, 15. (2.) Benaiah the Ephraimite...
• PisgahA part, a mountain summit in the land of Moab, in the territory of Reuben, where Balak...
• PisidiaA district in Asia Minor, to the north of Pamphylia. The Taurus range of mountains...
• PisonBabylonian, the current, broad-flowing, one of the “four heads” into which the river...
• PitA hole in the ground (Ex. 21:33, 34), a cistern for water (Gen. 37:24; Jer. 14:3), a...
• Pitch(Gen. 6:14), asphalt or bitumen in its soft state, called “slime” (Gen. 11:3; 14:10;...
• PitcherA vessel for containing liquids. In the East pitchers were usually carried on the head...
• PithomEgyptian, Pa-Tum, “house of Tum,” the sun-god, one of the “treasure” cities built for...
• PlagueA “stroke” of affliction, or disease. Sent as a divine chastisement (Num. 11:33;...
• Plain(1.) Heb. ‘abel (Judg. 11:33), a “grassy plain” or “meadow.” Instead of “plains of the...
• Plain of Mamre(Gen. 13:18; 14:13; R.V., “oaks of Mamre;” marg., “terebinths”). (See MAMRE; TEIL-TREE.)
• Plane TreeHeb. ‘armon (Gen. 30:37; Ezek. 31:8), rendered “chesnut” in the Authorized Version,...
• PledgeSee LOAN.
• PleiadesHeb. kimah, “a cluster” (Job 9:9; 38:31; Amos 5:8, A.V., “seven stars;” R.V.,...
• PloughFirst referred to in Gen. 45:6, where the Authorized Version has “earing,” but the...
• PoetryHas been well defined as “the measured language of emotion.” Hebrew poetry deals...
• Poison(1.) Heb. hemah, “heat,” the poison of certain venomous reptiles (Deut. 32:24, 33; Job...
• PomegranateI.e., “grained apple” (pomum granatum), Heb. rimmon. Common in Egypt (Num. 20:5) and...
• Pommels(2 Chr. 4:12, 13), or bowls (1 Kings 7:41), were balls or “rounded knobs” on the top...
• Pontius PilateSee PILATE.
• PontusA province of Asia Minor, stretching along the southern coast of the Euxine Sea,...
• PoolA pond, or reservoir, for holding water (Heb. berekhah; modern Arabic, birket), an...
• Pools of SolomonThe name given to three large open cisterns at Etam, at the head of the Wady Urtas,...
• PoorThe Mosaic legislation regarding the poor is specially important. (1.) They had the...
• PoplarHeb. libneh, “white”, (Gen. 30:37; Hos. 4:13), in all probability the storax tree...
• Porch, Solomon’sA colonnade on the east of the temple, so called from a tradition that it was a relic...
• Porcius FestusSee FESTUS.
• PorterA gate-keeper (2 Sam. 18:26; 2 Kings 7:10; 1 Chr. 9:21; 2 Chr. 8:14). Of the Levites,...
• Post(1.) A runner, or courier, for the rapid transmission of letters, etc. (2 Chr. 30:6;...
• PotipharDedicated to Ra; i.e., to the sun-god, the Egyptian to whom the Ishmaelites sold...
• PotipherahA priest of On, whose daughter Asenath became Joseph’s wife (Gen. 41:45).
• PotsherdA “shred”, i.e., anything severed, as a fragment of earthenware (Job 2:8; Prov. 26:23;...
• PottageHeb. nazid, “boiled”, a dish of boiled food, as of lentils (Gen. 25:29; 2 Kings 4:38).
• Potters FieldThe name given to the piece of ground which was afterwards bought with the money that...
• PotteryThe art of, was early practised among all nations. Various materials seem to have been...
• Pound(1.) A weight. Heb. maneh, equal to 100 shekels (1 Kings 10:17; Ezra 2:69; Neh. 7:71,...
• PraetoriumThe Greek word (praitorion) thus rendered in Mark 15:16 is rendered “common hall”...
• PrayerIs converse with God; the intercourse of the soul with God, not in contemplation or...
• PredestinationThis word is properly used only with reference to God’s plan or purpose of salvation....
• PresidentsThree presidents are mentioned, of whom Daniel was the first (Dan. 6:2-7). The name in...
• PriestThe Heb. kohen, Gr. hierus, Lat. sacerdos, always denote one who offers sacrifices. At...
• PrinceThe title generally applied to the chief men of the state. The “princes of the...
• PriscillaThe wife of Aquila (Acts 18:2), who is never mentioned without her. Her name sometimes...
• PrisonThe first occasion on which we read of a prison is in the history of Joseph in Egypt....
• ProphecyOr prediction, was one of the functions of the prophet. It has been defined as a...
• Prophet(Heb. nabi, from a root meaning “to bubble forth, as from a fountain,” hence “to...
• PropitiationThat by which God is rendered propitious, i.e., by which it becomes consistent with...
• Proportion of Faith(Rom. 12:6). Paul says here that each one was to exercise his gift of prophecy, i.e.,...
• ProselyteIs used in the LXX. for “stranger” (1 Chr. 22:2), i.e., a comer to Palestine; a...
• ProverbA trite maxim; a similitude; a parable. The Hebrew word thus rendered (mashal) has a...
• Proverbs, Book ofA collection of moral and philosophical maxims of a wide range of subjects presented...
• ProvidenceLiterally means foresight, but is generally used to denote God’s preserving and...
• PsalmsThe psalms are the production of various authors. “Only a portion of the Book of...
• PsalteryA musical instrument, supposed to have been a kind of lyre, or a harp with twelve...
• PtolemaisA maritime city of Galilee (Acts 21:7). It was originally called “Accho” (q.v.), and...
• PuahSplendid. (1.) One of the two midwives who feared God, and refused to kill the Hebrew...
• PublicanOne who farmed the taxes (e.g., Zacchaeus, Luke 19:2) to be levied from a town or...
• Publius“the chief man of the island” of Malta (Acts 28:7), who courteously entertained Paul...
• PudensBashful, a Christian at Rome, who sent his greetings to Timothy (2 Tim. 4:21). (See CLAUDIA.)
• Pul(1.) An Assyrian king. It has been a question whether he was identical with...
• Pulpit(Neh. 8:4). (See EZRA.)
• Pulse(Dan. 1:12, 16), R.V. “herbs,” vegetable food in general.
• PunishmentThe New Testament lays down the general principles of good government, but contains no...
• Pur, PurimA lot, lots, a festival instituted by the Jews (Esther 9:24-32) in ironical...
• PurificationThe process by which a person unclean, according to the Levitical law, and thereby cut...
• Purse(1.) Gr. balantion, a bag (Luke 10:4; 22:35, 36). (2.) Gr. zone, properly a girdle...
• Put, Phut(1.) One of the sons of Ham (Gen. 10:6). (2.) A land or people from among whom came a...
• PuteoliA city on the coast of Campania, on the north shore of a bay running north from the...
• PygargHeb. dishon, “springing”, (Deut. 14:5), one of the animals permitted for food. It is...