Boyd's Bible Dictionary: V
James P. Boyd
Table of Contents
Vagabond
(wanderer). In the Bible vagabond has the original meaning of fugitive or wanderer (Gen. 4:12; Psa. 109:10; Acts 19:13).
Vajezatha
(strong as the wind). One of the ten sons of Haman (Esther 9:9).
Vale, Valley
Five Hebrew words are rendered vale or valley in the Bible, only one of which seems to imply that broad sweep of land between mountains or hills generally understood by valley
The others imply (1) a narrow ravine, gorge, or glen (Deut. 34:3,6); (2) a wady, dry in summer but a torrent in rainy weather; (3) a plain (Josh. 11:8,17; 13:17; 2 Chron. 35:22; Zech. 12:11); (4) a stretch of sloping ground (Deut. 1:7; Josh. 10:40; 1 Kings 10:27; 2 Chron. 1:15; Jer. 33:13).
Vaniah
(praise of God). A son of Bani, who had married a foreign wife (Ezra 10:36).
Vashni
(second). Name of Samuel’s oldest son (1 Chron. 6:28). In 1 Samuel 8:2, Joel appears as his firstborn son.
Vashti
(beautiful). Wife of King Ahasuerus and queen of Persia (Esther 1:9-22).
Vat
A large vessel for holding liquids
“Fat” (Joel 2:24; 3:13). [WINE-FAT.]
Veil
(carry). The veil (Gen. 24:65; 38:14; Ruth 3:15; Song of Sol. 5:7; Isa. 3:23), was a shawl or mantle. The veil proper was worn by Hebrew women only on special occasions, as in marriage (Gen. 24:65); for ornament (Song of Sol. 4:1,3); for concealment as in harlotry (Gen. 38:14).
Vermilion
(little worm). A bright red color much affected by Hebrews in the painting of beams, ceilings, and conspicuous objects (Jer. 22:14; Ezek. 23:14).
Vetches
A plant of the bean family
[FITCHES.]
Vial
(shallow cup). In a general sense any bottle or vessel (1 Sam. 10:1).
Village
In addition to the ordinary meaning, the unwalled suburbs of a walled town
(Lev. 25:31).
Vine
(wine). A favorite Oriental plant of many varieties and cultivated from the earliest times (Gen. 9:20; Num. 13:23). Subject of frequent metaphor (Deut. 32:32); emblem of felicity and contentment (1 Kings 4:25; Psa. 128:3; Mic. 4:4); rebellious Israel compared to “wild grapes” (Isa. 5:2), “strange vine” (Jer. 2:21),”empty vine” (Hos. 10:1); symbol of spiritual union (John 15:1-5).
Vinegar
(sharp wine). A thin wine (Num. 6:3; Ruth 2:14); and (Prov. 10:26); unpalatable (Psa. 69:21). The thin sour wine of the Roman soldiers was the beverage (Matt. 27:48; Mark 15:36; John 19:29-30).
Vineyard
Vineyards were generally on hills
(Isa. 5:1; Jer. 31:5; Amos 9:13); surrounded by walls or hedges to keep out boars (Psa. 80:13); jackals and foxes (Num. 22:24; Neh. 4:3; Song of Sol. 2:15; Ezek. 13:4; Matt. 21:33). Towers were erected within the vineyard for watch-houses and dwellings for the vine-keeper (Isa. 1:8; 5:2; Matt. 21:33).
Vintage
(taking wine away). The vintage season a time of joy. Town people went out and lived among the vineyards in lodges and tents (Judg. 9:27; Isa. 16:10; Jer. 25:30). Grapes were gathered in baskets (Jer. 6:9). [WINE-PRESS.]
Vine of Sodom
(Deut. 32:32). A phrase used to describe the character of Israel.
Vineyards, Plain of
A place east of Jordan, beyond Aroer
(Judg. 11:33). [ABEL.]
Viol
(keep holiday, sacrifice). A stringed instrument like the psaltery (Amos 6:5). [PSALTERY.]
Viper
(bringing forth its young alive). The Hebrew word implies a hissing and venomous serpent, as the common European viper or adder, the horned vipers of the cerastes genus, and the Indian vipers (Job 20:16; Isa. 30:6; Acts 28:1-6). A symbol of deceit and destruction (Matt. 3:7; 12:34; 23:33; Luke 3:7).
Vision
(seeing). An inspired dream, fantasy, or apparition (Num. 24:4; Isa. 6; Ezek. 1; 8-10; Dan. 7; 8; Acts 26:13-19).
Vophsi
(gain). Father of Nahbi, the spy selected to represent the tribe of Naphtali (Num. 13:14).
Vow
(wish). Vows were threefold, vows of devotion, abstinence, and destruction, and respecting them certain laws were laid down (Deut. 23:21-23). The law in Leviticus 27 regulated the vow of Corban, and that in Numbers 6:1-21 the Nazarite vow.
Vulture
(tearer). A large falconoid bird, with naked head and neck, feeding mostly on carrion. The bird is pronounced unclean (Lev. 11:14; Deut. 14:13); but the original implies the kite, as also in Isaiah 34:15.
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