Topical Encyclopedia
In biblical times, the act of spitting held various cultural and symbolic meanings, often associated with disdain, healing, or ritual purification. The Bible references spitting in several contexts, each providing insight into the social and religious practices of the time.
Disdain and RejectionSpitting was commonly understood as an expression of contempt or rejection. In the Old Testament, the act of spitting in someone's face was a severe insult. For instance, in
Deuteronomy 25:9, the law concerning the levirate marriage includes a provision where a widow, if her brother-in-law refuses to marry her, is to "remove his sandal from his foot and spit in his face." This act publicly shames the man for not fulfilling his familial duty.
Similarly, in
Numbers 12:14, when Miriam is struck with leprosy for speaking against Moses, the LORD says to Moses, "If her father had but spit in her face, would she not be in disgrace for seven days?" This indicates that spitting was a recognized form of expressing disapproval and disgrace.
Healing and MiraclesIn the New Testament, spitting takes on a different connotation in the context of Jesus' healing miracles. Jesus uses spit as a medium for healing, demonstrating His authority over physical ailments. In
Mark 7:33, Jesus heals a deaf and mute man by putting His fingers in the man's ears, spitting, and touching his tongue. Similarly, in
Mark 8:23, Jesus heals a blind man by spitting on his eyes and laying hands on him. These acts highlight the transformative power of Jesus' touch and the use of ordinary elements to perform extraordinary miracles.
Ritual PurificationSpitting also appears in the context of ritual purification. In
Leviticus 15:8, the law states, "If the man with the discharge spits on someone who is clean, that person must wash his clothes and bathe with water, and he will be unclean until evening." This regulation underscores the importance of maintaining ritual purity and the potential for bodily fluids to transmit impurity.
Mockery and Suffering of ChristThe Gospels recount the spitting upon Jesus as part of His suffering and humiliation before His crucifixion. In
Matthew 26:67, during His trial before the Sanhedrin, "they spit in His face and struck Him." This act of mockery fulfills the prophecy of
Isaiah 50:6, where the Suffering Servant declares, "I did not hide My face from scorn and spitting." The spitting upon Jesus symbolizes the ultimate rejection and scorn He endured for humanity's sake.
Cultural ContextUnderstanding the cultural context of spitting in biblical times is crucial for interpreting these passages. Spitting was a powerful non-verbal communication tool, conveying emotions ranging from contempt to compassion. The varied uses of spitting in the Bible reflect the complex social and religious dynamics of the ancient world.
In summary, the act of spitting in the Bible serves as a multifaceted symbol, representing disdain, healing, purification, and the suffering of Christ. Each instance provides a deeper understanding of the cultural and theological significance of this seemingly simple act.
Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary
1. (
n.) A long, slender, pointed rod, usually of iron, for holding meat while roasting.
2. (n.) A small point of land running into the sea, or a long, narrow shoal extending from the shore into the sea; as, a spit of sand.
3. (n.) The depth to which a spade goes in digging; a spade; a spadeful.
4. (n.) To thrust a spit through; to fix upon a spit; hence, to thrust through or impale; as, to spit a loin of veal.
5. (n.) To spade; to dig.
6. (v. i.) To attend to a spit; to use a spit.
7. (imp. & p. p.) of Spit
8. (n.) To eject from the mouth; to throw out, as saliva or other matter, from the mouth.
9. (n.) To eject; to throw out; to belch.
10. (n.) The secretion formed by the glands of the mouth; spittle; saliva; sputum.
11. (v. i.) To throw out saliva from the mouth.
12. (v. i.) To rain or snow slightly, or with sprinkles.
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia
SPIT; SPITTLEspit, spit'-l (yaraq, roq; (em)ptuo): Spitting in a person's face indicated gross contempt (Numbers 12:14Deuteronomy 25:9Job 30:10Isaiah 50:6Matthew 26:67;Matthew 27:30, etc.); when performed by an unclean person it produced defilement (Leviticus 15:8) which necessitated washing the clothes and a bath. When David allowed his spittle (rir) to run down over his beard, it was his purpose to behave like a lunatic (1 Samuel 21:13). "Till I swallow down my spittle" (Job 7:19) has the same import as the English "in the twinkling of an eye" (1 Corinthians 15:52). Spittle was used by our Lord in restoring sight and speech (Mark 7:33John 9:6) as signifying His will to cure. It was a widespread belief that spittle, accompanied with magical formulas, possessed medicinal qualities. "Oil" possessed a similar virtue. (Mark 6:13James 5:14).
T. Lewis
Greek
1716. emptuo -- tospit upon... emptuo. 1717 . to
spit upon. Part of Speech: Verb Transliteration: emptuo Phonetic
Spelling: (emp-too'-o) Short Definition: I
spit upon Definition: I
spit upon
...4429. ptuo -- tospit
... ptuo. 4430 . tospit. Part of Speech: Verb Transliteration: ptuo Phonetic Spelling:
(ptoo'-o) Short Definition: Ispit Definition: Ispit. Word Origin a prim....
1609. ekptuo -- tospit out, to spurn
... tospit out, to spurn. Part of Speech: Verb Transliteration: ekptuo Phonetic Spelling:
(ek-ptoo'-o) Short Definition: Ispit upon, disdain, reject, loathe...
4044. peripeiro -- to put on aspit, hence to pierce
... to put on aspit, hence to pierce. Part of Speech: Verb Transliteration: peripeiro
Phonetic Spelling: (per-ee-pi'-ro) Short Definition: I pierce through...
2044. ereugomai -- tospit, by ext. to speak aloud
... 2043, 2044. ereugomai. 2045 . tospit, by ext.... Word Origin a prim. verb Definition
tospit, by ext. to speak aloud NASB Word Usage utter (1). utter....
1692. emeo -- to vomit
... Word Origin a prim. word Definition to vomit NASB Word Usagespit (1). to vomit.
Of uncertain affinity; to vomit -- (will) spue. (emesai) -- 1 Occurrence....
466. antanapleroo -- to fill up in turn
... That is, venting their on His followers because they can no longer " orspit on
His face." So they do the "next best thing": persecute (cf. 1 Jn 4:17)....
Strong's Hebrew
3417. yaraq -- tospit... yaraq. 3418 . to
spit. Transliteration: yaraq Phonetic Spelling: (yaw-rak') Short
Definition:
spit.
... root Definition to
spit NASB Word Usage
spit (2). but,
spit...7556. raqaq -- tospit
... raqaq. 7557 . tospit. Transliteration: raqaq Phonetic Spelling: (raw-kak') Short
Definition: spits.... root Definition tospit NASB Word Usage spits (1).spit....
8611. topheth -- (act of) spitting
... 8610, 8611. topheth. 8612 . (act of) spitting. Transliteration: topheth
Phonetic Spelling: (to'-feth) Short Definition:spit. Word...
7536. roq -- spittle
... Word Origin from raqaq Definition spittle NASB Word Usage spitting (2), spittle
(1). spitting,. From raqaq; spittle --spit(-ting, -tle). see HEBREW raqaq....
Library
Shame on Account of God's Displeasure.
... SHAME ON ACCOUNT OF GOD'S DISPLEASURE. "And the Lord said unto Moses, If her father
had butspit in her face, should she not be ashamed seven days?...
The North African Church under the Vandals.
... Ghost. Fear not, he helps thee, that he may crown thee victor. Christ was
smitten on the face,spit upon, crowned with thorns. The...
Voluntary Suffering
... (1.). They began tospit upon Him in the High Priest's hall. The... abhorrence. But
the lowest of the peoplespit in the face of the Son of God....
Second Stage of Jewish Trial. Jesus Condemned by Caiaphas and the...
... b 65 And some began tospit on him, and... [Tospit in the face has been an insult in
all ages and in all lands. See Numbers 12:14; Deuteronomy 25:9; Job 30:10....
An Awful Contrast
... CH SPURGEON,. At [7]the Metropolitan Tabernacle, Newington. On Lord's-day Evening,
July 11th, 1886. "Then did theyspit in his face.""Matthew 26:67....
Synoptical Table
... of the Jews! 30 And theyspit upon him, and took the reed, and smote him
on the head. Mark xv. [cf. v.43.]. [cf. v.42.]. 15 ?? And...
The Testament of Zebulun Concerning Compassion and Mercy.
... it written in the writing of the law of Enoch, that whosoever will not raise up
seed to his brother, his sandal shall be unloosed, and they shallspit into his...
Matt. xxvi. 67, 68
... Homily LXXXV. Matt. XXVI. 67, 68. Matt. XXVI.67, 68. "Then did theyspit in His
face, and buffeted Him, and others smote Him with the palms of their hands...
Matt. xxvii. 27-29.
... the whole entire body throughout was made an object of insolence; the head through
the crown, and the reed, and the buffeting; the face, beingspit upon; the...
Of the Mockery which He Sustained at the Hands of Pilate's Cohort...
... And they smote Him on the head with a reed, and didspit upon Him, and, bowing their
knees, worshipped Him." [1369] Here, therefore, we perceive that while...
Thesaurus
Spit (15 Occurrences)... 2. (n.) A small point of land running into the sea, or a long, narrow shoal
extending from the shore into the sea; as, a
spit of sand.
...Spitted (1 Occurrence)
... 1. (imp. & pp) ofSpit. 2. (a.) Put upon aspit; pierced as if by aspit. 3. (a.)
Shot out long; -- said of antlers. 4. (p. p) ofSpit, vi, to eject, tospit....
Spittle (3 Occurrences)
... 3. (n.) A small sort of spade. 4. (n.) The thick, moist matter which is secreted
by the salivary glands; saliva;spit. Int....SPIT; SPITTLE....
Beat (85 Occurrences)
... RSV NIV). Matthew 26:67 Then theyspit in his face and beat him with their
fists, and some slapped him, (WEB NAS). Matthew 27:30 And...
Buffet (4 Occurrences)
... buf'-et (kolaphizo, "to beat with the fist"): Refers to bodily maltreatment and
violence: "Then did theyspit in his face and buffet him" (Matthew 26:67 Mark 14...
Smote (281 Occurrences)
... (KJV ASV WBS). Matthew 26:67 Then did theyspit in his face, and buffeted him; and
others smote him with the palms of their hands, (KJV ASV WBS)....
Spitting (5 Occurrences)
... Noah Webster's Dictionary 1. (p. pr. & vb. n.) ofSpit. 2. (p. pr. & vb. n.)
ofSpit. Multi-Version Concordance Spitting (5 Occurrences)....
Insult (25 Occurrences)
... (YLT). Mark 10:34 they will insult Him in cruel sport,spit on Him, scourge Him,
and put Him to death; but on the third day He will rise to life again." (WEY)....
Flog (7 Occurrences)
... NIV). Mark 10:34 They will mock him,spit on him, scourge him, and kill
him. On the third day he will rise again." (See NIV). Luke...
Fists (6 Occurrences)
... Multi-Version Concordance Fists (6 Occurrences). Matthew 26:67 Then theyspit in
his face and beat him with their fists, and some slapped him, (WEB NAS NIV)....
Resources
Why did Jesus spit for some of His miracles? | GotQuestions.orgWhat was Jesus' message to the church in Laodicea in Revelation? | GotQuestions.orgHow many prophecies did Jesus fulfill? | GotQuestions.orgSpit: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.comBible Concordance •
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