Topical Encyclopedia
The term "bosom" in the Bible is rich with cultural and theological significance, often symbolizing intimacy, care, and closeness. It appears in various contexts throughout Scripture, each shedding light on different aspects of human and divine relationships.
1.
Literal and Familial Use: In its most literal sense, the bosom refers to the chest or the space between a person's arms and chest. It is often used to describe a place of comfort and security. For example, in the context of family, the bosom is a place where children are held close, symbolizing parental love and protection. In
Numbers 11:12, Moses speaks of carrying the Israelites "as a nurse carries an infant," highlighting the nurturing aspect of the bosom.
2.
Symbol of Intimacy and Friendship: The bosom is also a symbol of deep friendship and intimacy. In
John 13:23, we read about "the disciple whom Jesus loved" reclining in Jesus' bosom during the Last Supper. This imagery conveys a sense of closeness and trust, illustrating the special bond between Jesus and His beloved disciple.
3.
Abraham's Bosom: One of the most significant theological uses of the term is found in the parable of the rich man and Lazarus in
Luke 16:22-23. Here, "Abraham's bosom" is depicted as a place of comfort and rest for the righteous after death. Lazarus is carried by angels to Abraham's bosom, signifying a state of blessedness and communion with the patriarchs. This concept reflects Jewish beliefs about the afterlife and the hope of being gathered to one's ancestors.
4.
Divine Care and Provision: The bosom is also used metaphorically to describe God's care and provision for His people. In
Isaiah 40:11, the prophet speaks of God as a shepherd who "gathers the lambs in His arms and carries them close to His bosom." This imagery emphasizes God's tender care and the security found in His presence.
5.
Cultural and Economic Context: In ancient Near Eastern culture, the bosom was also associated with carrying and holding possessions. In
Luke 6:38, Jesus uses the imagery of a "good measure, pressed down, shaken together, and running over, will be poured into your lap." The term "lap" here is synonymous with bosom, indicating abundance and generosity.
6.
Expressions of Grief and Mourning: The bosom can also be a place of mourning and grief. In the book of Job, Job laments, "My face is red with weeping, and deep shadows ring my eyes; yet my hands have been free of violence, and my prayer is pure" (
Job 16:16-17). The bosom, in this context, is a place where tears are shed and sorrow is expressed.
In summary, the concept of the bosom in the Bible encompasses a range of meanings, from physical closeness and familial love to spiritual rest and divine care. It serves as a powerful metaphor for the intimate and nurturing aspects of both human and divine relationships, reflecting the deep connections that define the biblical narrative.
ATS Bible Dictionary
BosomThe front of the upper part of the body, the breast. The orientals generally wore long wide, and loose garments; and when about to carry any thing away that their hands would not contain, they used for the purpose a fold in the bosom of their robe above the girdle,Luke 6:38. Our Savior is said to carry his lambs in his bosom, which beautifully represents his tender care and watchfulness over them,Isaiah 40:11.
Easton's Bible Dictionary
In the East objects are carried in the bosom which Europeans carry in the pocket. To have in one's bosom indicates kindness, secrecy, or intimacy (
Genesis 16:5;
2 Samuel 12:8). Christ is said to have been in "the bosom of the Father," i.e., he had the most perfect knowledge of the Father, had the closest intimacy with him (
John 1:18). John (
13:23) was "leaning on Jesus' bosom" at the last supper. Our Lord carries his lambs in his bosom, i.e., has a tender, watchful care over them (
Isaiah 40:11).
Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary
1. (
n.) The breast of a human being; the part, between the arms, to which anything is pressed when embraced by them.
2. (n.) The breast, considered as the seat of the passions, affections, and operations of the mind; consciousness; secret thoughts.
3. (n.) Embrace; loving or affectionate enclosure; fold.
4. (n.) Any thing or place resembling the breast; a supporting surface; an inner recess; the interior; as, the bosom of the earth.
5. (n.) The part of the dress worn upon the breast; an article, or a portion of an article, of dress to be worn upon the breast; as, the bosom of a shirt; a linen bosom.
6. (n.) Inclination; desire.
7. (n.) A depression round the eye of a millstone.
8. (a.) of or pertaining to the bosom.
9. (a.) Intimate; confidential; familiar; trusted; cherished; beloved; as, a bosom friend.
10. (v. t.) To enclose or carry in the bosom; to keep with care; to take to heart; to cherish.
11. (v. t.) To conceal; to hide from view; to embosom.
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia
ABRAHAM'S BOSOMbooz'-um (kolpos Abraam; kolpoi Abraam): Figurative. The expression occurs inLuke 16:22, 23, in the parable of the Rich Man and Lazarus, to denote the place of repose to which Lazarus was carried after his death. The figure is suggested by the practice of the guest at a feast reclining on the breast of his neighbor. Thus, John leaned on the breast of Jesus at supper (John 21:20). The rabbis divided the state after death (Sheol) into a place for the righteous and a place for the wicked (see ESCHATOLOGY OF THE OLD TESTAMENT; SHEOL); but it is doubtful whether the figure of Jesus quite corresponds with this idea. "Abraham's bosom" is not spoken of as in "Hades," but rather as distinguished from it (Luke 16:23)-a place of blessedness by itself. There Abraham receives, as at a feast, the truly faithful, and admits them to closest intimacy. It may be regarded as equivalent to the "Paradise" ofLuke 23:43. SeeHADES;PARADISE.
James Orr
BOSOM
booz'-um: In the ordinary signification of the anterior upper portion of the trunk of the body, choq or cheq, "inlet", "lap" (Exodus 4:6, 7Numbers 11:12Deuteronomy 13:6;Deuteronomy 28:54, 56;Ruth 4:16Psalm 74:11Isaiah 65:6, 7Lamentations 2:12). "A present in the bosom" (Proverbs 21:14): bribes carried ready for use in the fold of the robe. chetsen = "bosom" (with special reference to that portion of the body which is between the arms), occurs inPsalm 129:7; chobh = "a cherisher," hence, "the bosom" (Job 31:33); tsallachath = something advanced or deep, "a bowl"; figurative "the bosom" (Proverbs 19:24 the King James Version;Proverbs 26:15 the King James Version). The Greek employs kolpos (Luke 6:38John 13:23). For Abraham's bosom, see separate article.
Figurative: In a figurative sense it denotes intimacy and unrestrained intercourse (Genesis 16:52 Samuel 12:8); tender care and watchfulness (Isaiah 40:11); closest intimacy and most perfect knowledge (John 1:18); "into their bosom" (Psalm 79:12) indicates the bosom as the seat of thought and reflection.
F. E. Hirsch
BOSOM, ABRAHAM'S
SeeABRAHAM'S BOSOM.
Greek
2859. kolpos -- thebosom... the
bosom. Part of Speech: Noun, Masculine Transliteration: kolpos Phonetic Spelling:
(kol'-pos) Short Definition:
bosom,
bosom of a garment, a bay, gulf
...4738. stethos -- the breast
... chest. Word Origin a prim. word Definition the breast NASB Word Usagebosom
(2), breast (1), breasts (1), chests (1). breast. From...
Strong's Hebrew
2683. chetsen --bosom (of a garment)... 2682, 2683. chetsen. 2684 .
bosom (of a garment). Transliteration: chetsen
Phonetic Spelling: (khay'-tsen) Short Definition:
bosom.
...2436. cheq --bosom
cheq or cheq or choq. 2435, 2436. cheq or cheq or choq. 2437 .bosom.
Transliteration: cheq or cheq or choq Phonetic Spelling: (khake) Short Definition:...
2243. chob --bosom
... chob. 2244 .bosom. Transliteration: chob Phonetic Spelling: (khobe) Short Definition:
bosom. Word Origin from chabab Definitionbosom NASB Word Usagebosom (...
2684. chotsen --bosom
... 2683, 2684. chotsen. 2685 .bosom. Transliteration: chotsen Phonetic Spelling:
(kho'tsen) Short Definition:bosom. Word Origin from...
6747. tsallachath -- a dish
...bosom, dish. From tsalach; something advanced or deep, ie A bowl; figuratively,
thebosom --bosom, dish. see HEBREW tsalach. 6746, 6747. tsallachath. 6748 >...
1717. dad -- breast, teat, nipple
... 1716, 1717. dad. 1718 . breast, teat, nipple. Transliteration: dad Phonetic
Spelling: (dad) Short Definition:bosom. Word Origin...
990. beten -- belly, body, womb
... From an unused root probably meaning to be hollow; the belly, especially the womb;
also thebosom or body of anything -- belly, body, + as they be born...
3519b. kabod -- abundance, honor, glory
... Word Origin from kabad Definition abundance, honor, glory NASB Word Usagebosom
(1), glorious (8), glory (147), honor (33), honorable (1), honored (1), riches...
2245. chabab -- to love
... love. A primitive root (compare chaba', chabah); properly, to hide (as in thebosom),
ie To cherish (with affection) -- love. see HEBREW chaba'....
Library
Through HerBosom, we are Told, Nana Conceived a Son by an Apple....
... Book V. 13 Through herbosom, we are told, Nana conceived a son by an apple.? Through
herbosom, we are told, [4356] Nana conceived a son by an apple....
Abraham'sBosom --What it Means.
... Book IV. Chapter 24."Abraham'sBosom"What It Means. As to your supposing
that "the Abraham'sbosom referred to is corporeal," and...
Whether the Limbo of Hell is the Same as Abraham'sBosom?
... THE RESURRECTION (QQ -86)OF MATTERS CONCERNING THE RESURRECTION, AND FIRST OF THE
PLACE WHERE SOULS ARE Whether the limbo of hell is the same as Abraham'sbosom...
Come Rest, and be Still in theBosom of Thy Mother, Son of the...
... Hymn IX. Come rest, and be still in thebosom of Thy Mother, Son of the Glorious.
Come rest, and be still in thebosom of Thy Mother, Son of the Glorious....
Blessed be He who Became Beyond Measure Low, that He Might Make us...
... 6. He dwelt in a narrowbosom, the Might that rules all."While He was dwelling there,
He held the reins of the whole:"to His Father He made offering, that...
Glory to all of Thee from all of Us!
... Thebosom of Mary amazes me, that it sufficed for Thee, Lord, and embraced
Thee."All creation were too small, to conceal Thy Majesty;"Heaven and earth too...
Judas Exposed.
... (John 13:23). 23. There was leaning on Jesus'bosom one of his disciples.... The disciple
next in front of the Savior would, therefore, be very near hisbosom....
John i. 18
... john. Homily XV. John i. 18. John i.18 "No man hath seen God at any time; the
Only-begotten Son, which is in thebosom of the Father, He hath declared Him."....
John Chapter xiii. 21-26.
... 4. "Now there was leaning on Jesus'bosom, one of His disciples, whom Jesus loved."
What he meant by saying "in Hisbosom," he tells us a little further on...
Second Great Group of Parables.
... soothing his sores with their saliva.] 22 And it came to pass, that the beggar died,
and that he was carried away by the angels into Abraham'sbosom [it is the...
Thesaurus
Bosom (47 Occurrences)... In the East objects are carried in the
bosom which Europeans carry in the pocket.
... John (13:23) was "leaning on Jesus'
bosom" at the last supper.
...Abraham's (34 Occurrences)
... Abraham'sbosom: (Luke 16:22, 23) refers to the custom of reclining on couches at
table, which was prevalent among the Jews, an arrangement which brought the...
Putteth (182 Occurrences)
... Exodus 4:6 And Jehovah saith to him again, 'Put in, I pray thee, thy hand into thy
bosom;' and he putteth in his hand into hisbosom, and he bringeth it out...
Layeth (76 Occurrences)
... into the city. (YLT). Ruth 4:16 And Naomi taketh the lad, and layeth him
in herbosom, and is to him for a nurse; (YLT). 1 Samuel 15...
Embrace (11 Occurrences)
... 9. (vi) To join in an embrace. 10. (n.) Intimate or close encircling with the arms;
pressure to thebosom; clasp; hug. Int.... Why embrace thebosom of another?...
Plucked (46 Occurrences)
... So Noah knew that the waters were abated from the earth. (WEB KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS
RSV NIV). Exodus 4:7 And he said, Put thine hand into thybosom again....
Caressed (3 Occurrences)
... and they played the prostitute in Egypt; they played the prostitute in their youth;
there were their breasts pressed, and there was handled thebosom of their...
Bringeth (313 Occurrences)
... Exodus 4:6 And Jehovah saith to him again, 'Put in, I pray thee, thy hand into thy
bosom;' and he putteth in his hand into hisbosom, and he bringeth it out...
Nurse (23 Occurrences)
... Have I brought them forth, that you should tell me,'Carry them in yourbosom, as
a nurse carries a nursing infant, to the land which you swore to their fathers...
Hades (11 Occurrences)
... It has been held that Hades is here the comprehensive designation of the locality
where the dead reside, and is divided into two regions, "thebosom of Abraham...
Resources
What is Abraham's bosom? | GotQuestions.orgWhat is the difference between Sheol, Hades, Hell, the lake of fire, Paradise, and Abraham's bosom? | GotQuestions.orgWhat does the Bible say about Limbo? | GotQuestions.orgBosom: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.comBible Concordance •
Bible Dictionary •
Bible Encyclopedia •
Topical Bible •
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