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“Whoso sheddeth man’s blood, by man shall his blood be shed …” (Gen. 9:6). While it is
frequently used in this sense of “shedding” or “pouring out” blood, the word is
commonly used of the “pouring out” of the contents of a vessel, such as water (Exod. 4:9;
1 Sam. 7:6), plaster or dust (Lev. 14:41), and drink offerings to false gods (Isa. 57:6).
In its figurative use,
indicates the “pouring out” of God’s wrath (Hos. 5:10),
of contempt (Job 12:21), of wickedness (Jer. 14:16), and of the Spirit of God (Ezek.
39:29). The psalmist describes his helpless condition in this picturesque phrase: “I am
poured out like water” (Ps. 22:14,
KJV
;
NEB
, “My strength drains away like water”;
JB
, “I
am like water draining away”).
POWER
( , 3581), “strength; power; force; ability.” This Hebrew word is used in
biblical, rabbinic, and modern Hebrew with little change in meaning. The root is
uncertain in Hebrew, but the verb is found in Arabic (
(
, “batter down,” and
(
,
“defeat”).
, which occurs 124 times, is a poetic word as it is used most frequently
in the poetic and prophetical literature.
The basic meaning of
is an ability to do something. Samson’s “strength” lay in
his hair (Judg. 16:5), and we must keep in mind that his “strength” had been
demonstrated against the Philistines. Nations and kings exert their “powers” (Josh. 17:17;
Dan. 8:24). It is even possible to say that a field has
, as it does or does not have
vital “powers” to produce and harvest: “When thou tillest the ground, it shall not
henceforth yield unto thee her strength [i.e., crops] …” (Gen. 4:12—the first occurrence).
In the Old Testament it is recognized that by eating one gains “strength” (1 Sam. 28:22),
whereas one loses one’s “abilities” in fasting (1 Sam. 28:20); “And he arose, and did eat
and drink, and went in the strength of that meat forty days and forty nights unto Horeb
the mount of God” (1 Kings 19:8).
The above definition of
fits well in the description of Daniel and his friends:
“Children in whom was no blemish, but well-favored, and skillful in all wisdom, and
cunning in knowledge, and understanding science, and such as had ability [
] in
them to stand in the king’s palace, and whom they might teach the learning and the
tongue of the Chaldeans” (Dan. 1:4). The “ability” is here not physical but mental. They
were talented in having the intellectual acumen of learning the skills of the Babylonians
and thus training for being counselors to the king. The internal fortitude was best
demonstrated by the difficulties and frustrations of life. A strong man withstood hard
times. The proverb bears out this important teaching: “If thou faint in the day of
adversity, thy strength is small” (Prov. 24:10).
A special sense of
is the meaning “property.” The results of native “abilities,”
the development of special gifts, and the manifestation of one’s “strength” led often to
prosperity and riches. Those who returned from the Exile gave willingly out of their
riches (
) to the building fund of the temple (Ezra 2:69). A proverb warns against
adultery, because one’s “strength,” or one’s wealth, may be taken by others: “Lest
strangers be filled with thy wealth [
]; and thy labors be in the house of a stranger”
(Prov. 5:10).