In biblical times, the term "suckling" refers to an infant or young child who is still nursing from the mother. This stage of life is often used in Scripture to symbolize innocence, dependence, and vulnerability. The imagery of a suckling child is employed in various contexts throughout the Bible, highlighting both the nurturing aspects of God's care and the fragility of human life.

Old Testament References

The Hebrew word often translated as "suckling" is "yonek," which appears in several passages. In the book of Exodus, the term is used in the context of the Passover instructions: "But if the household is too small for a lamb, they are to share with the nearest neighbor, taking into account the number of people; you are to determine the amount of lamb needed in accordance with what each person will eat" (Exodus 12:4). Here, the mention of households implies the presence of sucklings, emphasizing the inclusivity of God's deliverance.

In the Psalms, the innocence and purity of sucklings are highlighted: "Out of the mouths of children and infants You have ordained praise on account of Your adversaries, to silence the enemy and avenger" (Psalm 8:2). This verse underscores the idea that even the weakest and most dependent among us can be instruments of God's glory and power.

The prophet Isaiah uses the imagery of sucklings to convey a vision of peace and restoration: "The nursing child will play by the cobra’s den, and the weaned child will put his hand into the viper’s nest" (Isaiah 11:8). This prophetic vision speaks to a future time of harmony in God's kingdom, where even the most vulnerable are safe from harm.

New Testament References

In the New Testament, the Greek word "brephos" is used to describe sucklings. Jesus Himself refers to the wisdom revealed to the innocent and humble: "At that time Jesus declared, 'I praise You, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because You have hidden these things from the wise and learned, and revealed them to little children'" (Matthew 11:25). This passage highlights the spiritual insight granted to those with childlike faith.

The Gospel of Luke records an instance where Jesus is praised by children: "But when the chief priests and scribes saw the wonderful things He did and the children shouting in the temple courts, 'Hosanna to the Son of David,' they were indignant" (Matthew 21:15). Here, the praise of sucklings serves as a testament to Jesus' messianic identity and the fulfillment of prophecy.

Theological Significance

The concept of suckling in the Bible carries profound theological implications. It serves as a metaphor for spiritual nourishment and growth, as believers are encouraged to desire the "pure milk of the word" (1 Peter 2:2) to grow in their faith. The imagery of a suckling child also reminds Christians of their dependence on God, who provides for their needs and sustains them through His grace.

Furthermore, the vulnerability of sucklings underscores the call to protect and care for the most defenseless in society, reflecting God's heart for justice and compassion. The biblical portrayal of sucklings invites believers to embrace humility, trust, and a childlike openness to the divine mysteries revealed through Christ.1. (p. pr. & vb. n.) of Suckle.

2. (n.) A young child or animal nursed at the breast.

3. (n.) A small kind of yellow clover (Trifolium filiforme) common in Southern Europe.

5764. ul -- a sucking child, suckling
... 5763, 5764. ul. 5765 . a sucking child, suckling. Transliteration: ul Phonetic
Spelling: (ool) Short Definition: infant. Word Origin ...
/hebrew/5764.htm - 6k

5763. ul -- to nurse, give suck
... Word Origin a prim. root Definition to nurse, give suck NASB Word Usage ewes with
suckling lambs (1), milch (1), nursing (2), suckling lambs (1). to suckle. ...
/hebrew/5763.htm - 6k

5768. olel -- a child
... babe, young child, infant, little one. Or lolal {o-lawl'}; from uwl; a suckling --
babe, (young) child, infant, little one. see HEBREW uwl. 5767b, 5768. ...
/hebrew/5768.htm - 6k

2461. chalab -- milk
... milk. Word Origin of uncertain derivation Definition milk NASB Word Usage
cheese (1), milk (41), suckling (1). cheese, milk, sucking. ...
/hebrew/2461.htm - 6k

The Gods of Egypt
... two or four secondary divinities. She is mentioned along with Shait, destiny,
and Raninit, suckling. Her part of fairy godmother ...
/.../chapter ii the gods of egypt.htm

Walamir and St. Telemachus
... me, an unknown reporter, present"a coin which had been struck as a caricature of
Honorius, which represents, not the old Roman she-wolf suckling the immortal ...
/.../chapter lix walamir and st.htm

The Holy Family in Bethlehem after the Departure of the Kings.
... came near for her to be called to give suck to the Child, she did as all good mothers
are wont to do after being alarmed or upset: before suckling the Child ...
/.../emmerich/the life of the blessed virgin mary/xiv the holy family in.htm

1 John iv. 17-21
... great affection the mother yields herself to her young ones when they will have
the milk which is their right: and however impetuously the suckling rushes at ...
/.../ten homilies on the epistle of john to the parthians/homily ix 1 john iv.htm

The Upbringing of Jewish Children
... The next child-name, in point of time, is "jonek," which means, literally, "a suckling,"
being also sometimes used figuratively of plants, like our English ...
/.../edersheim/sketches of jewish social life/chapter 7 the upbringing of.htm

The Journey of the Three Holy Kings to Bethlehem
... with real faith; but she was so still, so quiet and so full of adoring mother-love,
and she did not give me the Child"I think because she was suckling Him. ...
/.../emmerich/the life of the blessed virgin mary/xiii the journey of the.htm

All who Walk According to Truth are Children of God.
... Again, when He says, "as suckling calves," He again alludes figuratively to us;
and "as an innocent and gentle dove," [1060] the reference is again to us. ...
/.../clement/the instructor paedagogus/chapter v all who walk according.htm

Appendix 2 Extracts from the Babylon Talmud
... habitation." The signs of this thing are as follows: In the first night watch the
ass brays, in the second the dogs bark, in the third the suckling sucks his ...
/.../edersheim/sketches of jewish social life/appendix 2 extracts from the.htm

"Two Missing" --"Go Ye. "
... He was much surprised, and went to the out-house of his dwelling to call his collie.
There she lay after the day's work suckling her own little ones. ...
//christianbookshelf.org/gordon/quiet talks on service/two missinggo ye.htm

At the Birth of the Son, There was a Great Shouting in Bethlehem
... They brought and presented a suckling lamb to the Paschal Lamb, a first-born to
the First-born, a sacrifice to the Sacrifice, a lamb of time to the Lamb of ...
/.../ephraim/hymns and homilies of ephraim the syrian/hymn v at the birth.htm

Suckling (19 Occurrences)
... Multi-Version Concordance Suckling (19 Occurrences). ... when I have called for thee
a suckling woman of the Hebrews, then she doth suckle the lad for thee;' (YLT). ...
/s/suckling.htm - 12k

Suckling-ewes (1 Occurrence)
Suckling-ewes. Suckling, Suckling-ewes. Sucklings . Multi-Version
Concordance Suckling-ewes (1 Occurrence). Psalms 78 ...
/s/suckling-ewes.htm - 6k

Infant (14 Occurrences)
... 1 Samuel 15:3 Now go and strike Amalek, and utterly destroy all that they have,
and don't spare them; but kill both man and woman, infant and suckling, ox and ...
/i/infant.htm - 12k

Infants (71 Occurrences)
... Deuteronomy 32:25 Outside the sword shall bereave, and in the chambers, terror;
on both young man and virgin, The suckling with the gray-haired man. (See NIV). ...
/i/infants.htm - 28k

Sucklings (18 Occurrences)

/s/sucklings.htm - 11k

Youths (28 Occurrences)
... Jeremiah 6:11 And with the fury of Jehovah I have been filled, (I have been weary
of containing,) To pour 'it' on the suckling in the street, And on the ...
/y/youths.htm - 14k

Smitten (215 Occurrences)
... hast smitten Amalek, and devoted all that it hath, and thou hast no pity on it,
and hast put to death from man unto woman, from infant unto suckling, from ox ...
/s/smitten.htm - 38k

Kine (24 Occurrences)
... Genesis 33:13 And he said to him, My lord knows that the children are tender, and
the suckling sheep and kine are with me; and if they should overdrive them ...
/k/kine.htm - 16k

Nursling (3 Occurrences)
... Deuteronomy 32:25 Outside the sword shall bereave, and in the chambers, terror;
on both young man and virgin, The suckling with the gray-haired man. (See NAS). ...
/n/nursling.htm - 7k

Lions (50 Occurrences)
... Testament for the lion. (1.) Gor (ie, a "suckling"), the lion's whelp (Genesis
49:9; Jeremiah 51:38, etc.). (2.) Kephir (ie, "shaggy ...
/l/lions.htm - 26k

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