Smith's Bible Dictionary.pdf - Online Christian Library

Smith's Bible Dictionary
Spinning
The notices of spinning in the Bible are confined to (Exodus 35:25,26; Proverbs 31:19; Matthew
6:28) The latter passage implies (according to the Authorized Version) the use of the same
instruments which have been in vogue for hand-spinning down to the present day, viz. the distaff
and spindle. The distaff however, appears to have been dispensed with, and the term so rendered
means the spindle itself, while that rendered “spindle” represents the whirl of the spindle, a button
of circular rim which was affixed to it, and gave steadiness to its circular motion. The “whirl” of
the Syrian women was made of amber in the time of Pliny. The spindle was held perpendicularly
in the one hand, while the other was employed in drawing out the thread. Spinning was the business
of women, both among the Jews and for the most part among the Egyptians.
Sponge
a soft, porous marine substance. Sponges were for a long time supposed to be plants, but are
now considered by the best naturalists to belong to the animal kingdom. Sponge is mentioned only
in the New Testament. (Matthew 27:48; Mark 15:36; John 19:29) The commercial value of the
sponge was known from very early times; and although there appears to be no notice of it in the
Old Testament, yet it is probable that it was used by the ancient Hebrews, who could readily have
obtained it good from the Mediterranean, where it was principally found.
Spouse
[Marriage]
Stachys
a Christian at Rome, saluted by St. Paul in the Epistle to the Romans. (Romans 16:9) (A.D.
56.)
Stacte
(Heb. nataf) the name of one of the sweet spices which composed the holy incense. See (Exodus
30:34)—the only passage of Scripture in which the word occurs. Some identify the nataf with the
gum of the storer tree (Styraz officinale), but all that is positively known is that it signifies an
odorous distillation from some plant.
Standards
The Assyrian standards were emblematic of their religion, and were therefore the more valuable
as instruments for leading and guiding men in the army. The forms were imitations of animals (1),
emblems of deities (2), and symbols of power and wisdom (3). Many of them were crude, but others
were highly artistic and of great cost. The Egyptian standards were designed in the same idea as
those of the Romans, exhibiting some sacred emblem (5,6,8), or a god in the form of an animal
(3,4), a group of victory (7), or the king’s name or his portrait as (1), of lower, and (2) of upper,
Egypt, or an emblematic sign, as No. 9.
Star Of The Wise Men
[Magi]
Stater
[Money]
Steel
In all cases were the word “steel” occurs in the Authorized Version the true rendering of the
Hebrew is “copper.” Whether the ancient Hebrews were acquainted with steel is not perfectly
certain. It has been inferred from a passage in (Jeremiah 15:12) that the “iron from the north” there
spoken of denoted a superior kind of metal, hardened in an unusual manner, like the steel obtained
710
William Smith