Left (prop. שׂמאֹול, semôl´. a primitive word; Gr. εὐώνυμος ', lit. well-named, i.e. lucky, by euphemism for ptar ἀριστερός, as opposed to יָמַין, δεξιός, the right). The left hand, like the Latin laevus, was esteemed of ill omen, hence the term sinister as equivalent to unfortunate. This was especially the case among the superstitious Greeks and Romans (see Potter's Gr. Ant. 1:323. Adams, Romans Ant. p. 301). Among the Hebrews the left likewise indicated the north (Job 23:9; Ge 14:15), the person's face being supposed to be turned towards the east. In all these respects it was precisely the opposite of the right (q.v.).
The Cyclopedia of Biblical, Theological, and Ecclesiastical Literature was edited by John McClintock and James Strong. It contains nearly 50,000 articles pertaining to Biblical and other religious literature, people, creeds, etc. It is a fantastic research tool for broad Christian study.
John McClintock was born October 27, 1814 in Philadelphia to Irish immigrants, John and Martha McClintock. He began as a clerk in his father's store, and then became a bookkeeper in the Methodist Book Concern in New York. Here he converted to Methodism and considered joining the ministry. McClintock entered the University of Pennsylvania in 1832 and graduated with high honors three years later. Subsequently, he was awarded a doctorate of divinity degree from the same institution in 1848.WikipediaRead More