This glossary wasn't written by a theologian, but gleaned from various references by the editor. Please study the Scriptures and read the treatises for yourself if you're interested to know more.
Balaam: A Gentile prophet who gave the first Messianic prophecy, and who was also a wordly celebrity who loved money, debauchery and fame. The worldliness of his values caused him to try to gain wealth and fame by cursing Israel for Balak, king of Moab. He would have almost died for that - had it not been for a donkey that God caused to speak to him. God reversed his efforts to curse Israel and caused him to bless them instead. To please Balak, Balaam then counseled the Moabites to send their Baal-worshipping women to the camp of Israel, and this caused the whole camp to turn to idolatry (Numbers 22).
bride price: A sum of money paid by a future groom and his family to the parents of his intended bride. The payment signifies that the man's intentions are sincere toward the woman. In some cultures where a bride price is used, the groom's parents select his future bride and negotiate the price with her parents. Jacob paid a high price for his bride Rachel, 14 years of labor.
cedar, hyssop, scarlet yarn: These were cleansing agents that were used to purify sacrificial offerings. They were burned along with the offering. According to the sources we've consulted, the scarlet yarn is believed to represent the majesty and supremacy of Almighty Father God. The hyssop symbolizes humility, in that Jesus, even though He is above all, became an outcast for the sake of all mankind. The cedar speaks of the everlasting fragrance of His presence, the Holy Spirit.
chaff: hulls, husks and other outer covering of cereal grains such as wheat. Separated during threshing and winnowing. If we are the "wheat," the process of threshing and winnowing is what separates our spiritual essence from the chaff in our lives.
dabar: There is no one English meaning to this word, which is used many times in the Bible. Generally, it means the creative word of God, or the power that gets things done when God makes a declaration. God's omnipotence guarantees that the words He speaks are backed by His power to bring it to pass. His Word can set events, occasions and justice in motion.
husbandry: the practice of breeding and raising lifestock, for example sheep. In this context, think of human "sheep," those given into a leader's care. Jesus repeatedly told his disciples to feed and care for His sheep.
indulgence: a pardon by the Pope which was sold to people who wanted to ensure that they would not be punished for sins committed. While the buyers wanted surety that the sins they had confessed to the priests would never have any future effect on their eternal future, the Pope's purpose in dispensing indulgences was to raise money. In Martin Luther's day, the construction of St. Peter's Basilica required a lot of money, so the Church stepped up the sale of indulgences to ensure it had the money.
Mashiach (Messiah): One anointed or smeared by the Oil of God, a divinely chosen or consecrated one. David prefigured Jesus the Messiah sent from the Father. According to the Scriptures, this Messiah was to descend from the lineage of David, as Mashiach ben David, but would also be a suffering son of Joseph - Mashiach ben Joseph.
manna: A fine, white flaky wafer-like food with a taste of honey, with which God fed the children of Israel in the wilderness; spiritual nourishment of divine origin. Generally regarded as bread, it was perishable and had to be collected daily, except for the Sabbath, when God allowed it to last until collection could resume. The gift of manna is remembered at Passover and also thought to foreshadow the bread used by at the Church in communion. If so, consider its symbolic association with the Body of Christ.
Missing parts (cf. shalom, below): According to Strong's Concordance, the Hebrew word shalom means completeness, wholeness, health, peace, welfare, safety soundness, tranquility, prosperity, perfectness, fullness, rest, harmony, the absence of agitation or discord. In everyday language that means nothing missing, nothing broken, but perfect and completely peaceful. Missing parts implies just the opposite -imbalance, out of harmony and imperfect - dysfunctional, if you will. So to focus on or claim missing parts is to dwell outside of God's wholeness or peace, and that keeps us far off from our potential in Him.
Nicolaitans (Nicolaitanes): A sect who maintained that there must be a religious hierarchy to control the spiritual development of the common people; they were priests in a two-class system in which they had absolute control over the laity (those who were not priests). In this way, the people would be completely dependent upon them for all spiritual knowledge, guidance, and access to God. The church at Ephesus is commended for hating their deeds, and the church of Pergamos (Pergamum) is blamed for harboring some who followed their doctrines (Rev. 2:6, 15).
parable: A story using human actors to teach a spiritual or moral principle. Jesus often used these to explain some aspect of the kingdom of heaven to those who did not believe or who were offended by his words.
red heifer: The Hebrew term for this sacrificial animal is parah adumah, and the instructions concerning it at Numbers Chapter 19 represent one of several mysteries of the Bible. The red heifer itself is a rare, genetic phenotype, only about nine of which have been reported in recorded history. It could not have even stray hairs of another color, and it could not ever have been yoked. It's suggested that this means it was never used for any profane purpose.
Except for the drops of blood sprinkled at slaughter in the direction of the Tabernacle, this cow was burned in the whole - body, hide, dung and blood, and it was the only sacrifice for which the blood was burned. The blood thus became mixed with the ashes of the sacrifice. These ashes were then mixed with living water (i.e. from a flowing source) to make the water of separation which purified those who were washed in it. These included priests who were to minister in the temple, those who were ritually unclean, and lepers, who were regarded as physically unclean (this relating perhaps to God's works of deliverance and healing).
The red heifer was also the only animal for which all the rituals associated with it were performed outside the camp of Israel.
These characteristics speak strongly of the nature and characteristics of Jesus the Messiah, sinless and never profaned, perfect and without blemish, who was given by Almighty as a living sacrifice, blood and all, and whose death brought life, through the vitality of the Holy Spirit, to all who want to receive His Holy cleansing.
reformation: Rescuing from error and returning to a rightful course; "the reclamation of delinquent children" (WordNet, Princeton Univ.). The Protestant Reformation was a movement to reform the Catholic Church. Martin Luther and others were troubled by the emergence of false doctrines and practices in the Church that had no basis in God's Word. One of these practices was the sale of indulgences. Another was the practice of buying and selling church positions (simony). There was great corruption in the Church at the time, even at the highest levels, but the churchgoing citizens did not know enough about the Scripture to realize it. So God raised up a man -- Martin Luther -- to speak for Him.
shalom: Means perfection, completeness, wholeness, health, peace, welfare, tranquility, prosperity, rest, harmony, the absence of agitation or discord.
Shema: prayer of consecration. The first verse is: Shema Yisrael Adonai Eloheinu Adonai Ehad. Translated it means, Hear O Israel, the Lord our God, the Lord is One.
The Shema was to be said daily, or as much of the first verse of it as can be said under the circumstances. It could be said by a dying person as part of an affirmation of faith upon death, or on the Day of Atonement.
staff: a long rod or stick that provides support for walking; a symbol of power and authority. e.g., Moses threw down His staff at God's command and witnessed His creative power as it was turmed to a serpent, and raised it to part the Red Sea. Jacob leaned on his staff as he blessed the children of Joseph.
talith (tallit): the Jewish prayer shawl, made according to the specifications God provided at Numbers 15: 37-41. It serves as a reminder to the wearer and to others of God's personal deliverance, that he is set apart unto God, and that the wearer is responsible to obey and honor God. I also think of it as symbolic of the atonement and covering provided by the Messiah's sacrifice of His life, so that God might forever see us as covered by the Blood of Christ, with full atonement having been paid for our sins, as we stand before Him.
vineyard: fertile land producing grapes. The vineyard symbolizes a Covenant people, the grapes their Fruit of the Spirit (or secularly, their good works). In this posting, consider the modern day Church as people of the New Covenant, the mistreated servants as today's prophets and the son as God's Son - the Living Word.
water: signifies the Holy Spirit.
