Topical Encyclopedia
In biblical times, beds were simple and functional, reflecting the modest lifestyle of the people. The concept of a bed in the Bible often extends beyond mere furniture, symbolizing rest, intimacy, and sometimes even moral or spiritual states.
Materials and Construction:Beds in ancient Israel were typically made from woven mats or rugs placed on the floor. Wealthier individuals might have had wooden frames or platforms. In
1 Samuel 19:15, King Saul sends messengers to see David, who is said to be "lying in bed," indicating that beds were a recognized part of household furnishings. The construction of beds could vary, with some being portable, allowing for easy movement, as seen in the account of the paralytic in
Mark 2:4, where his friends lower him through the roof on his mat.
Symbolism and Usage:Beds are often mentioned in contexts that highlight rest and repose. In
Psalm 63:6, David reflects, "When I remember You on my bed, I think of You through the watches of the night." Here, the bed becomes a place of meditation and communion with God. Similarly, in
Proverbs 3:24, the promise of peaceful sleep is given: "When you lie down, you will not be afraid; when you rest, your sleep will be sweet."
Beds also appear in narratives involving moral and spiritual lessons. In
2 Samuel 11:2-4, King David's sin with Bathsheba begins when he sees her from his rooftop and later brings her to his bed. This incident underscores the potential for beds to be places of moral testing and failure.
Cultural Practices:In the New Testament, beds are sometimes associated with healing and miracles. In
John 5:8, Jesus tells the invalid at the Pool of Bethesda, "Get up, pick up your mat, and walk." This command not only signifies physical healing but also spiritual renewal and liberation from a life of dependency.
Beds were also used in mourning practices. In
Amos 6:4, the prophet condemns those who "lie on beds of ivory," indicating a life of luxury and complacency in the face of impending judgment. This critique highlights the contrast between the comfort of beds and the spiritual lethargy they can symbolize.
Legal and Ritual Implications:The Mosaic Law includes regulations concerning beds, particularly in matters of ritual purity.
Leviticus 15:4 states, "Any bed on which the man with the discharge lies will be unclean." This reflects the broader biblical theme of cleanliness and holiness, where even everyday objects like beds are subject to divine law.
Conclusion:Throughout the Bible, beds serve as more than just physical objects; they are woven into the fabric of biblical narrative and teaching. Whether as places of rest, moral testing, or spiritual reflection, beds in the Bible invite readers to consider their own lives in light of divine truth and righteousness.
Greek
4237. prasia -- a garden bed... prasia Phonetic Spelling: (pras-ee-ah') Short Definition: a company formed into
divisions Definition: a company formed into divisions (like garden-
beds).
...Strong's Hebrew
6170. arugah -- a garden terrace or bed... 6169, 6170. arugah. 6171 . a garden terrace or bed. Transliteration: arugah
Phonetic Spelling: (ar-oo-gaw') Short Definition:
beds.
...4904. mishkab -- place of lying, a couch, act of lying
... Word Origin from shakab Definition place of lying, a couch, act of lying NASB Word
Usage bed (25), bedroom* (3),beds (6), couch (1), health* (1), intimately...
4296. mittah -- a couch, bed
... Word Origin from natah Definition a couch, bed NASB Word Usage bed (21), bedroom*
(2),beds (1), bier (1), couch (3), couches (1). bedchamber, bier....
Library
Verse 1. My Beloved is Gone Down into his Garden, to theBeds Of
... CHAPTER VI. VERSE 1. My beloved is gone down into His garden, to thebeds of. spices,
to feed in the gardens and to gather lilies. O blessed soul!...
And Then the Future Captivity under an Oppressive King is...
... Ye that are set apart for the day of evil, and come near to the seat of oppression."
Then are subjoined the evils of luxury: "ye that lie uponbeds of ivory...
And all the Methods I have Mentioned are Constantly Used by Nearly...
... Ye that are set apart for the day of evil, and come near to the seat of oppression."
Then are subjoined the evils of luxury: "ye that lie uponbeds of ivory...
The Songs of the Fugitive.
... So forgivingly, so lovingly does he think of them, ere he lays himself down to rest,
wishing that "on theirbeds," as on his, the peace of meditative...
The Right to what I Consider a Normal Standard of Living
... Rugs, to them, belonged onbeds, not on floors, and they would no more think
of walking on my rug than you would on my best blanket!...
The Races --A Letter
... Isle of the Blest, where people can sit on the grass in January"like live
flowerbeds of the most splendid and yet harmonious hues....
On Sleep.
... And those that can roll on otherbeds, having this, as it were, for a natural gymnasium
for sleep, digest food more easily, and render themselves fitter for...
The Life of Mr. John Blackadder.
... However with great fury and terrible oaths and execrations in the middle of the
night they turned out the children from theirbeds, caused one of them to hold...
Trust in the Guidance of God.
... The cheeks of the spouse are compared tobeds of flowers, to gardens filled
with fragrant blossoms. The divine action is the gardener...
Book xi. Epistle i. To John, Abbot.
... We have learnt from the report of our son Simplicius that there is a want ofbeds
and bedding in the Gerontocomium [124] , which has been constructed by one...
Thesaurus
Beds (22 Occurrences)...Beds (22 Occurrences). Mark 6:55 And ran through that whole region round about,
and began to carry about in
beds those that were sick, where they heard he was.
...Bedstead (1 Occurrence)
... 1. Old Testament Terms for Bed, and Sleeping Customs of the Hebrews: With a later
development and civilization, "beds" came to be built upon supports and...
Bedchamber (6 Occurrences)
... 1. Old Testament Terms for Bed, and Sleeping Customs of the Hebrews: With a later
development and civilization, "beds" came to be built upon supports and...
Bed (142 Occurrences)
... etc. 7. (n.) See Gun carriage, and Mortar bed. 8. (n.) The horizontal surface
of a building stone; as, the upper and lowerbeds. 9...
Couches (15 Occurrences)
... Acts 5:15 Insomuch that they brought forth the sick into the streets, and laid them
onbeds and couches, that at the least the shadow of Peter passing by might...
Balsam (10 Occurrences)
... (See NAS). Song of Songs 5:13 His face is asbeds of spices, giving out perfumes
of every sort; his lips like lilies, dropping liquid myrrh. (See NAS)....
Coal (7 Occurrences)
... 2. (n.) A black, or brownish black, solid, combustible substance, dug frombeds
or veins in the earth to be used for fuel, and consisting, like charcoal...
Plot (53 Occurrences)
... eagle with great wings and many feathers: and behold, this vine did bend its roots
toward him, and shot forth its branches toward him, from thebeds of its...
Rock (176 Occurrences)
... 4. (n.) Any natural deposit forming a part of the earth's crust, whether consolidated
or not, including sand, earth, clay, etc., when in naturalbeds....
Uncovered (78 Occurrences)
... 2 Samuel 22:16 Then the deepbeds of the sea were seen, and the bases of the world
were uncovered, because of the Lord's wrath, because of the breath of his...
Resources
How does the geologic timescale fit with the view of a young earth? | GotQuestions.orgHow can I become more Christlike? | GotQuestions.orgWhat was in the shadow of Peter that healed people (Acts 5:15-16)? | GotQuestions.orgBible Concordance •
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