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•BITTERN is found three times in connection with the desolations to come upon Babylon, Idumea, and Nineveh (Isaiah 14:23; 34:11; Zephaniah 2:14). This bird belongs to the class of cranes. Its scientific name is Botaurus stellaris. It is a solitary bird, frequenting marshy ground. The Hebrew word (kippod) thus rendered in the Authorized Version is rendered “porcupine” in the Revised Version. But in the passages noted the kippod is associated with birds, with pools of water, and with solitude and desolation. This favours the idea that not the “porcupine” but the “bittern” is really intended by the word.
•BITUMEN Genesis 11:3, R.V., margin, rendered in the A.V. “slime”), a mineral pitch. With this the ark was pitched (6:14. See also Exodus 2:3.) (See SLIME.)
•BLACK properly the absence of all colour. In Proverbs 7:9 the Hebrew word means, as in the margin of the Revised Version, “the pupil of the eye.” It is translated “apple” of the eye in Deuteronomy 32:10; Psalm 17:8; Proverbs 7:2. It is a different word which is rendered “black” in Leviticus 13:31,37; Cant. 1:5; 5:11; and Zechariah 6:2, 6. It is uncertain what the “black marble” of Esther 1:6 was which formed a part of the mosaic pavement.
•BLADE applied to the glittering point of a spear (Job 39:23) or sword (Nah. 3:3), the blade of a dagger (Judges 3:22); the “shoulder blade” (Job 31:22); the “blade” of cereals (Matthew 13:26).
•BLAINS occurs only in connection with the sixth plague of Egypt (Exodus 9:9, 10). In Deuteronomy 28:27, 35, it is called “the botch of Egypt.” It seems to have been the fearful disease of black leprosy, a kind of elephantiasis, producing burning ulcers.
•BLASPHEMY In the sense of speaking evil of God this word is found in Psalm 74:18; Isaiah 52:5; Romans 2:24; Revelation 13:1, 6; 16:9, 11, 21. It denotes also any kind of calumny, or evil-speaking, or abuse (1 Kings 21:10; Acts 13:45; 18:6, etc.). Our Lord was accused of blasphemy when he claimed to be the Son of God (Matthew 26:65; comp. Matthew 9:3;