Topical Encyclopedia
In biblical terminology, the word "peep" is often associated with the sounds made by certain individuals or entities, particularly in the context of divination or necromancy. The term is primarily found in the Old Testament, where it is used to describe the faint, whispering sounds made by those who engage in forbidden spiritual practices.
Biblical References:1.
Isaiah 8:19 : "When men tell you to consult the spirits of the dead and the spiritists who whisper and mutter, should not a people consult their God? Why consult the dead on behalf of the living?" In this passage, the term "peep" is implied in the description of the sounds made by spiritists and mediums. The prophet Isaiah warns the Israelites against seeking guidance from these sources, emphasizing the importance of consulting God instead. The "whisper and mutter" are indicative of the deceptive and obscure nature of such practices.
2.
Isaiah 29:4 : "You will be brought low; you will speak from the ground, and your speech will mumble out of the dust. Your voice will come ghostlike from the earth; out of the dust your speech will whisper." Here, the imagery of a voice coming from the ground and whispering is reminiscent of the practices of necromancers, who were believed to communicate with the dead. The use of "peep" in this context underscores the futility and danger of seeking knowledge from the dead rather than from God.
Theological Implications:The use of "peep" in these contexts serves as a caution against engaging in practices that seek to gain knowledge or power through means that are contrary to God's commandments. The Bible consistently condemns divination, necromancy, and other forms of occultism as they lead individuals away from reliance on God and His revealed Word. In
Deuteronomy 18:10-12 , such practices are explicitly forbidden: "Let no one be found among you who sacrifices his son or daughter in the fire, practices divination or conjury, interprets omens, practices sorcery, casts spells, consults a medium or spiritist, or inquires of the dead. For whoever does these things is detestable to the LORD."
Cultural Context:In the ancient Near Eastern context, consulting the dead and engaging in divination were common practices among pagan nations. These practices were often associated with attempts to predict the future or gain insight into the will of the gods. However, for the Israelites, who were called to be a people set apart for God, such practices were strictly prohibited. The reliance on God for guidance and wisdom was a central tenet of their faith, distinguishing them from surrounding nations.
Moral and Ethical Considerations:From a moral and ethical standpoint, the warnings against "peeping" and similar practices highlight the importance of seeking truth and guidance from legitimate and divine sources. The Bible encourages believers to seek wisdom through prayer, study of the Scriptures, and reliance on the Holy Spirit. Engaging in practices that attempt to circumvent God's established means of communication is seen as an act of rebellion and a lack of trust in His sovereignty and provision.
In summary, the concept of "peep" in the Bible serves as a metaphor for the deceptive and ultimately unfulfilling nature of seeking knowledge apart from God. It is a reminder of the importance of faithfulness to God's commands and the dangers of turning to forbidden practices for guidance.
ATS Bible Dictionary
PeepInIsaiah 8:19, denotes the stifles, piping voice of necromancers.
Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary
1. (
v. i.) To cry, as a chicken hatching or newly hatched; to chirp; to cheep.
2. (v. i.) To begin to appear; to look forth from concealment; to make the first appearance.
3. (v. i.) To look cautiously or slyly; to peer, as through a crevice; to pry.
4. (n.) The cry of a young chicken; a chirp.
5. (n.) First outlook or appearance.
6. (n.) A sly look; a look as through a crevice, or from a place of concealment.
7. (n.) Any small sandpiper, as the least sandpiper (Trigna minutilla).
8. (n.) The European meadow pipit (Anthus pratensis).
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia
PEEPpep (tsphaph; the King James VersionIsaiah 8:19;Isaiah 10:14 (the Revised Version (British and American) "chirp")): In 10:14, the word describes the sound made by a nestling bird; in 8:19, the changed (ventriloquistic?) voice of necromancers uttering sounds that purported to come from the feeble dead. The modern use of "peep" equals "look" is found in Sirach 21:23, as the translation of parakupto: "A foolish man peepeth in from the door of another man's house."
Strong's Hebrew
6850. tsaphaph -- to chirp,peep... 6849, 6850. tsaphaph. 6851 . to chirp,
peep. Transliteration: tsaphaph Phonetic
Spelling: (tsaw-faf') Short Definition: whisper.
... chirp, chatter,
peep, whisper
...6692b. tsuts -- to gaze,peep
... tsuts. 6693 . to gaze,peep. Transliteration: tsuts Short Definition: peering.
Word Origin a prim. root Definition to gaze,peep NASB Word Usage peering (1)....
8259. shaqaph -- to overhang, look out or down
... A primitive root; properly, to lean out (of a window), ie (by implication)peep
or gaze (passively, be a spectacle) -- appear, look (down, forth, out)....
7688. shagach -- to gaze
... look narrowly. A primitive root; topeep, ie Glance sharply at -- look
(narrowly). 7687, 7688. shagach. 7689 . Strong's Numbers.
Library
Mr. ...
... Little BoPeep, she lost her sheep,. And didn't know where to find them;... Trailing
their tails behind them. Little BoPeep woke out of her sleep,....
Witnessing in Power.
... But a great many people now want something besides the Word of God, and are turning
aside to these false lights. SPIRITS THATPEEP AND MUTTER....
"There, Baby!" Said Diamond; "I'M So Happy that I Can Only Sing...
... When they had examined it well, they would kneel down one after the other andpeep
through the hole; but they always stood back to give Diamond the first look....
The Unclean Spirits.
... shall whisper out of the dust," Isa.29:4. "And when they shall say unto you, Seek
unto them that have familiar spirits, and unto wizards thatpeep, and that...
My Readers Will not Wonder That, after This, I did My Very Best to...
... "Do you remember what the song you were singing a week ago says about Bo-Peep"-how
she lost her sheep, but got twice as many lambs?" asked North Wind...
Christ.
... How the brave sun dothpeep up from beneath, Shows us his golden face, doth on us
breathe; Yea, he doth compass us around with glories Whilst he ascends up to...
The Right to Regulate My Private Affairs as I Wish
... What is decency anyway? In certain groups in India it is not decent for a woman
to show her face, but her bare feetpeep from beneath her long robes....
Dedication.
... wherein are things the angels desire to look unto, or with vehement desire bend,
as it were, their necks, and bow down their heads to look andpeep into, (as...
A Letter from a West Indian Cottage Ornee
... world kin. But there the kindred ends. A few green weeds, looking just
like English ones,peep up through the gravel. Weeds, all...
The Moody Colportage Library
... Thomas Waugh 71 Men of the Bible. DL Moody 72 APeep Behind the Scenes. OF Walton
73 The School of Obedience. A. Murray 74 Making the Home Happy....
Thesaurus
Peep (1 Occurrence)... 8. (n.) The European meadow pipit (Anthus pratensis). Int. Standard Bible
Encyclopedia.
PEEP.
... Multi-Version Concordance
Peep (1 Occurrence).
...Glint (1 Occurrence)
... 1. (n.) A glimpse, glance, or gleam. 2. (vi) To glance; topeep forth, as a flower
from the bud; to glitter. 3. (vt) To glance; to turn; as, to glint the eye....
Mutter (6 Occurrences)
... and indistinct is quite probable. SeePEEP. Burton Scott Easton. Multi-Version
Concordance Mutter (6 Occurrences). Job 27:4 surely...
Peels (1 Occurrence)
Pry (1 Occurrence)
... 3. (vi) Topeep narrowly; to gaze; to inspect closely; to attempt to discover something
by a scrutinizing curiosity; -- often implying reproach....
Peak (1 Occurrence)
... a peak. 7. (vi) To acquire sharpness of figure or features; hence, to look
thin or sickly. 8. (vi) To pry; topeep slyly. 9. (vt...
Peeped (1 Occurrence)
... Noah Webster's Dictionary (imp. & pp) ofPeep. Multi-Version Concordance
Peeped (1 Occurrence). Isaiah 10:14 And my hand hath found...
Chatter (5 Occurrences)
... chat'-er (tsaphaph): This word, which means to "peep," "twitter" or "chirp," as
small birds do, is translated "chatter" only in Isaiah 38:14, "Like a swallow...
Chirp (3 Occurrences)
... sounds made by wizards and ventriloquists, who imitated the chirping of the bats
which was supposed to proceed from the Iower world"; hence, for "peep" of the...
Tekoa (12 Occurrences)
... From the site, Bethlehem, the Mount of Olives and Nebi Samuel (Mizpah) are all visible;
to the Northeast is apeep of the Jordan valley near Jericho and of the...
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