Bible Encyclopedia: Dowry

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International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

DOWRY

dou'-ri: In all Hebrew marriages, the dowry held an important place. The dowry sealed the betrothal. It took several forms. The bridegroom presented gifts to the bride. There was the mohar, "dowry" as distinguished from matttan, "gifts to the members of the family" (compare Genesis 24:22, 53 Genesis 34:12). The price paid to the father or brothers of the bride was probably a survival of the early custom of purchasing wives (Genesis 34:12 Exodus 22:17 1 Samuel 18:25; compare Ruth 4:10 Hosea 3:2). There was frequently much negotiation and bargaining as to size of dowry (Genesis 34:12). The dowry would generally be according to the wealth and standing of the bride (compare 1 Samuel 18:23). It might consist of money, jewelry or other valuable effects; sometimes, of service rendered, as in the case of Jacob (Genesis 29:18); deeds of valor might be accepted in place of dowry (Joshua 15:16 1 Samuel 18:25 Judges 1:12). Occasionally a bride received a dowry from her father; sometimes in the shape of land (Judges 1:15), and of cities (1 Kings 9:16). In later Jewish history a written marriage contract definitely arranged for the nature and size of the dowry.

Edward Bagby Pollard

Strong's Hebrew

4119. mohar -- purchase price (of a wife)
... 4118b, 4119. mohar. 4120 . purchase price (of a wife). Transliteration: mohar
Phonetic Spelling: (mo'-har) Short Definition: dowry. ... dowry. ...
/hebrew/4119.htm - 6k

7964. shilluchim -- a sending away, parting gift
... 7963, 7964. shilluchim. 7965 . a sending away, parting gift. Transliteration:
shilluchim Phonetic Spelling: (shil-loo'-akh) Short Definition: dowry. ...
/hebrew/7964.htm - 6k

2065. zebed -- endowment, gift
... Word Origin from zabad Definition endowment, gift NASB Word Usage gift (1). dowry.
From zabad; a gift -- dowry. see HEBREW zabad. 2064, 2065. zebed. 2066 . ...
/hebrew/2065.htm - 6k

4117. mahar -- to acquire by paying a purchase price
... Word Origin denominative verb from mohar Definition to acquire by paying a purchase
price NASB Word Usage bartered (1), pay a dowry (1). endow, surely. ...
/hebrew/4117.htm - 6k

Library

Whether the Dowry is the Same as Beatitude*? [*Cf. Fp, Q , a , Ad ...
... OF THE GIFTS* OF THE BLESSED (FIVE ARTICLES) [*The Latin 'dos' signifies
a dowry.] Whether the dowry is the same as beatitude*? [*Cf. ...
//christianbookshelf.org/aquinas/summa theologica/whether the dowry is the.htm

Whether any Gifts Should be Assigned as Dowry to the Blessed?
... OF THE GIFTS* OF THE BLESSED (FIVE ARTICLES) [*The Latin 'dos' signifies a dowry.]
Whether any gifts should be assigned as dowry to the blessed? ...
/.../christianbookshelf.org/aquinas/summa theologica/whether any gifts should be.htm

Whether it is Fitting that Christ Should Receive a Dowry?
... OF THE GIFTS* OF THE BLESSED (FIVE ARTICLES) [*The Latin 'dos' signifies a dowry.]
Whether it is fitting that Christ should receive a dowry? ...
/.../aquinas/summa theologica/whether it is fitting that 8.htm

Of the Gifts* of the Blessed (Five Articles) [*The Latin 'dos' ...
... OF THE GIFTS* OF THE BLESSED (FIVE ARTICLES) [*The Latin 'dos' signifies
a dowry.]. We must now consider the gifts of the blessed ...
//christianbookshelf.org/aquinas/summa theologica/of the gifts of the.htm

Whether Three Dowries of the Soul are Suitably Assigned?
... OF THE GIFTS* OF THE BLESSED (FIVE ARTICLES) [*The Latin 'dos' signifies a dowry.]
Whether three dowries of the soul are suitably assigned? ...
/.../aquinas/summa theologica/whether three dowries of the.htm

Whether the Angels Receive the Dowries?
... OF THE GIFTS* OF THE BLESSED (FIVE ARTICLES) [*The Latin 'dos' signifies
a dowry.] Whether the angels receive the dowries? Objection ...
/.../aquinas/summa theologica/whether the angels receive the.htm

Introduction to the Present Edition.
... which place the date of profession beyond dispute, namely the act of renunciation
of her right to the paternal inheritance and the deed of dowry drawn up ...
/.../teresa/the life of st teresa of jesus/introduction to the present edition.htm

These Things Being Said by God, While the Trumpets Uttered their ...
... If any one defile a virgin not yet betrothed, he shall bestow a dowry on the girl,
and thus take her to wife; but, if the father of the girl shall refuse to ...
/.../life and writings of sulpitius severus /chapter xviii these things being.htm

Justinus' Triad of Principles; his Angelography Founded on this ...
... For the entire of the power belonging unto herself, Edem conferred upon
Elohim as a sort of nuptial dowry. Whence, he says, from ...
/.../the refutation of all heresies/chapter xxi justinus triad of principles.htm

St. Ambrose Exhorts Parents to Train their Children to virginity.. ...
... A virgin is the inseparable pledge of her parents, who neither troubles them for
a dowry, nor forsakes them, nor injures them in word or deed. [3191]. 33. ...
/.../ambrose/works and letters of st ambrose/chapter vii st ambrose exhorts.htm

Smith's Bible Dictionary

Dowry

[MARRIAGE]

ATS Bible Dictionary

Dowry

In eastern countries the bridegroom was required to pay the father of his betrothed a stipulated portion, in money or other valuables, portion, in money or other valuables, proportioned to the rank and station of the family to which she belonged; this was the dowry. Jacob purchased his wives by his services to their father, Genesis 29:18-27; 34:12; Exodus 22:16,17; 1 Samuel 18:25; Hosea 3:2.

Easton's Bible Dictionary

(mohar; i.e., price paid for a wife, Genesis 34:12; Exodus 22:17; 1 Samuel 18:25), a nuptial present; some gift, as a sum of money, which the bridegroom offers to the father of his bride as a satisfaction before he can receive her. Jacob had no dowry to give for his wife, but he gave his services (Genesis 29:18; 30:20; 34:12).

Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary

1. (n.) The money or property a woman brings to her husband in marriage; a bride's portion on her marriage. See Dower.

2. (n.) A gift; endowment.

3. (n.) A gift or presents for the bride, on espousal. See Dower.

Thesaurus

Dowry (5 Occurrences)
... Jacob had no dowry to give for his wife, but he gave his services (Genesis 29:18;
30:20; 34:12). Noah Webster's Dictionary. ... Standard Bible Encyclopedia. DOWRY. ...
/d/dowry.htm - 11k

Endow (3 Occurrences)
... en-dou', en-du': "Endow" meant originally "to provide with a dowry"; "indue" took
the meaning "clothe"; the likeness between the literal meanings has confused ...
/e/endow.htm - 8k

Endue
... en-dou', en-du': "Endow" meant originally "to provide with a dowry"; "indue" took
the meaning "clothe"; the likeness between the literal meanings has confused ...
/e/endue.htm - 7k

Zebulun (46 Occurrences)
... the other two are frequent, and are used interchangeably; Zaboulon): In Genesis
30:20 Leah exclaims, "God hath endowed me with a good dowry," which suggests a ...
/z/zebulun.htm - 29k

Code (6 Occurrences)
... Matters concerning inheritance are carefully dealt with (sections 162). The dowry
of a wife belongs, after her death, to her children (section 162). ...
/c/code.htm - 40k

Marriage (74 Occurrences)
... Its central feature was the dowry (mohar), which was paid to the parents, not to
the bride. It may take the form of service (Genesis 29 1 Samuel 18:25). ...
/m/marriage.htm - 62k

Hammurabi
... Matters concerning inheritance are carefully dealt with (sections 162). The dowry
of a wife belongs, after her death, to her children (section 162). ...
/h/hammurabi.htm - 47k

Virgins (33 Occurrences)
... (WEB KJV WEY ASV BBE DBY WBS). Exodus 22:17 If her father utterly refuses to give
her to him, he shall pay money according to the dowry of virgins. ...
/v/virgins.htm - 16k

Zeb'ulun (41 Occurrences)
... Genesis 30:20 And Leah said: 'God hath endowed me with a good dowry; now will my
husband dwell with me, because I have borne him six sons.' And she called his ...
/z/zeb'ulun.htm - 16k

Naomi (25 Occurrences)
... treasury was often placed in Nanaea's temple; this, Epiphanes was anxious to secure
under the pretext of marrying the goddess and receiving the money as dowry. ...
/n/naomi.htm - 17k

Bible Concordance

Dowry (5 Occurrences)

Genesis 30:20 Leah said, "God has endowed me with a good dowry. Now my husband will live with me, because I have borne him six sons." She named him Zebulun.
(WEB KJV JPS ASV DBY YLT RSV)

Genesis 34:12 Ask me a great amount for a dowry, and I will give whatever you ask of me, but give me the young lady as a wife."
(WEB KJV JPS ASV DBY YLT)

Exodus 22:16 "If a man entices a virgin who isn't pledged to be married, and lies with her, he shall surely pay a dowry for her to be his wife.
(WEB JPS ASV NAS)

Exodus 22:17 If her father utterly refuses to give her to him, he shall pay money according to the dowry of virgins.
(WEB KJV JPS ASV DBY YLT NAS)

1 Samuel 18:25 Saul said, "You shall tell David,'The king desires no dowry except one hundred foreskins of the Philistines, to be avenged of the king's enemies.'" Now Saul thought to make David fall by the hand of the Philistines.
(WEB KJV JPS ASV DBY YLT NAS)

Subtopics

Dowry

Dowry: General Scriptures Concerning

Related Terms

Endow (3 Occurrences)

Endue

Zebulun (46 Occurrences)

Code (6 Occurrences)

Marriage (74 Occurrences)

Hammurabi

Virgins (33 Occurrences)

Zeb'ulun (41 Occurrences)