bot´um : Rendered by several Hebrew words: (1) שׁרשׁ , sheresh , "root"; Chaldaic, שׂרשׁ , shoresh (Job 36:30 , "the bottom of the sea"). (2) קרקע , ḳarḳa‛ , "soil," "pavement of tesserae" (Amos 9:3 ). (3) קצב , ḳecebh , "cutting," "chop," "extremity" (Jonah 2:6 , "the bottoms of the mountains"). (4) רפידה , rephı̄dhāh , "railing," "couch" (Song of Solomon 3:10 , "the bottom thereof of gold"). (5) חיק , ḥēḳ , "bosom," "lap" (Ezekiel 43:13 , Ezekiel 43:14 , Ezekiel 43:17 , the Revised Version, margin "hollow"). (6) מצלּה , mecullāh , "to be dark," "shadowy place," from primitive root cālal , "to tumble down," i.e. "settle"; hence, the idea of a valley ("the myrtle-trees that were in the bottom," Zechariah 1:8 the Revised Version, margin "shady place"). The prophet may have been wont to frequent the myrtle grove in the glen or bottoms, in the neighborhood of Jerusalem, for meditation and prayer ( BTP , II, 283).
The International Standard Bible Encyclopedia (ISBE) was edited by James Orr, John Nuelsen, Edgar Mullins, Morris Evans, and Melvin Grove Kyle and was published complete in 1939. This web site includes the complete text.
WikipediaThe ISBE is a classic Bible reference compiled from nearly 10,000 entries written by over 200 different Bible scholars and teachers. In addition to the encyclopedia articles, all of the major words of the Bible are represented and defined.
The historical, cultural, and linguistic information in the ISBE can be of great value in Bible study and research.
But as with any writings of men, the careful student of the Bible must always compare them with Scripture. As you use this helpful study resource, remember that only God's word is pure.
Read More