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the first time in the biblical text in Gen. 30:36, where it is stated that “Jacob fed the rest
of Laban’s flocks.” This statement reflects the word’s frequent use to show separation
from a primary group. Thus, Jacob “was left alone” (Gen. 32:24) when his family and
flocks went on beyond the brook Jabbok.
Sometimes the word indicates survivors, as in 2 Sam. 9:1: “Is there yet any that is left
of the house of Saul …?” The remnant idea is reflected in Ezek. 6:8: “Yet will I leave a
remnant, that ye may have some that shall escape the sword.…”
B. Noun.
(
"&
, 3499), “remainder; excess.” This noun occurs nearly 100 times. As
“remainder, excess,” it is used especially in the sense of a lesser number or quality as
compared to something of primary importance. So,
is used to refer to “the rest of
the vessels” left in Jerusalem by Nebuchadnezzar (Jer. 27:19-20,
RSV
), and the men who
were left after Joab had assigned his picked men in the battle lines (2 Sam. 10:10).
Occasionally
is used to indicate “excess” in a negative way, so the literal “lip of
excess” has the meaning of “false speech” (Prov. 17:7,
RSV
).
A few times this noun implies “superiority” or “pre-eminence,” as in Gen. 49:3,
where Jacob describes his son Reuben as being “preeminent in pride and pre-eminent in
power” (
RSV
). The name of Jethro, Moses’ father-inlaw, is derived from this word.
TO LIE
A. Verb.
(
'
, 7901), “to lie down, lie, have sexual intercourse with.” This word also
occurs in Ugaritic, Akkadian, Ethiopic, post-biblical Aramaic, and post-biblical Hebrew.
Biblical Hebrew attests it about 160 times and in all periods.
Basically this verb signifies a person’s lying down—though in Job 30:17 and Eccl.
2:23 it refers to something other than a human being.
-
is used of the state of
reclining as opposed to sitting: “And every thing that she lieth upon in her [menstruation]
shall be unclean: every thing also that she sitteth upon …” (Lev. 15:20). This general
sense appears in several nuances. First, there is the meaning “to lie down to rest.” Elisha
“came thither, and he turned into the chamber [which the Shunammite had prepared for
his use], and lay there” (2 Kings 4:11). Job remarks that his gnawing pains “take no rest”
(Job 30:17; cf. Eccl. 2:23).
-
can also be used of lying down on a bed, for example, when one is sick.
Jonadab told Amnon: “Lay thee down on thy bed, and make thyself [pretend to be] sick
…” (2 Sam. 13:5). The word can be used as an equivalent of the phrase “to go to bed”:
“But before they [Lot’s visitors] lay down, the men of the city, even the men of Sodom,
compassed the house round …” (Gen. 19:4—the first occurrence of the verb).
-
also signifies “lying down asleep.” The Lord told Jacob: “… The land whereon thou liest,
to thee will I give it, and to thy seed” (Gen. 28:13).
In Exod. 22:26-27 the verb denotes the act of sleeping more than the lying down: “If
thou at all take thy neighbor’s raiment to pledge, thou shalt deliver it unto him by that the
sun goeth down … [In what else] shall he sleep?”