jin ( מוקשׁ , mōḳēsh , פח , paḥ ): A noose of hair or wire for snaring wild birds alive. There are over half a dozen traps and net devices indicated by different terms in the Bible. The gin was of horse-hair for small birds and wire for larger ones. It is mentioned in Amos 3:5 : "Can a bird fall in a snare upon the earth, where no gin is set for him? shall a snare spring up from the ground, and have taken nothing at all?" Job writing in mental and physical discomfort on the ash heap included all methods mentioned in one outburst:
"For he is cast into a net by his own feet.
And he walketh upon the toils .
A gin shall take him by the heel,
And a snare shall lay hold on him,
A noose is hid for him in the ground.
And a trap for him in the way" ( Job 18:8 ).
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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