kap´tiv ( שׁבי , shebhı̄ , גּלה , gālāh ; αἰχμάλωτος , aichmálōtos and its derivatives): The frequent references in the Old Testament to captives as men forcibly deported (from the Hebrew root שׁבה , shābhāh ) or inhabiting a land foreign to them (from Hebrew גּלה , gālāh ) reflect the universal practice of the ancient world. The treatment of captives was sometimes barbarous (2 Samuel 8:2 ) but not always so (2 Kings 6:21 , 2 Kings 6:22 ). See further under ASSIR and WAR .
Figurative: Except in Job 42:10 the figurative use of the idea is confined to the New Testament, where reference is made to the triumphal reign of the Lord Jesus ( Luke 4:18; Ephesians 4:8 ), or, on the other hand, to the power of the devil (2 Timothy 2:26 ), or of false teachers (2 Timothy 3:6 ); compare also Romans 7:23; 2 Corinthians 10:5 . See CAPTIVITY .
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.
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