Dictionary of Bible Themes On a woman, the bosom; on a man the upper part of the chest. Female breasts are primarily referred to as a means of feeding young and as a figurative description of Israel and God as nursing mothers. Beating of the breast is a sign of remorse. The breast is protected in physical and spiritual warfare. Genesis 49:25Breasts as a symbol of fertility See also Breasts as the means of feeding young 1 Samuel 1:231 Kings 3:20 Job 3:12 until they are weaned Psalms 22:9Songs 8:1 Joel 2:16 Luke 11:27 Luke 23:29 "Nursing" includes breast-feeding. See also Nursing mothers and their children experience acute distress Job 24:9Matthew 24:19 pp Mk 13:17 pp Lk 21:23 Lamentations 4:3The implication is that children nursing at their mothers' breasts are completely vulnerable and defenceless. Other creatures breast-feed their young Songs 8:10Female breasts are attractive See also Proverbs 5:19Songs 4:5; 7:3,7-8 Proverbs 5:20 Breasts are a source of temptation Songs 8:8Undeveloped breasts are a sign of youth Ezekiel 16:7The figurative breasts of Israel Jerusalem as a breasted woman Isaiah 66:10-12Jerusalem as a nursing mother Ezekiel 23:3Jerusalem as a prostitute See also Ezekiel 23:8,21The two sisters are Samaria and Jerusalem. Hosea 2:2Hosea 9:14 Gomer's unfaithfulness is likened to that of Israel. Dry breasts are a sign of God's punishment Isaiah 49:15God's care exceeds that of nursing mothers See also Isaiah 49:23; 60:16The Gentiles will be used by God to provide nursing for Israel. Nahum 2:7Beating of breasts See also As a sign of grief Isaiah 32:12-13Ezekiel 21:12; 23:34 Luke 23:48 Luke 18:13 See also As a sign of contrition Jeremiah 31:19Exodus 25:7; 28:15-30; 29:5; 35:9,27; 39:8-21 Protection of the breast Leviticus 8:8The high priest's breastpiece Revelation 9:9,17Breastplates worn for protection in confrontations Ephesians 6:14See also Figurative breastplates as spiritual armour Isaiah 59:171 Thessalonians 5:8 Exodus 29:26-27 Animal breasts used in sacrificial offerings Leviticus 7:30-31; 8:29; 9:20-21; 10:14-15Numbers 6:20; 18:18 See also 1215 God, feminine descriptions4482 millstones 5199 womb 5237 breastplate 5428 nurse 5652 babies 5664 children 5718 mothers 5733 pregnancy 6239 prostitution 7239 Jerusalem 7320 breastpiece |
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