Bible Dictionaries
Common

Holman Bible Dictionary

In the Old Testament, that which was common (alternately profane) was contrasted with that which was holy. Thus common bread was contrasted with the bread of the Presence (1 Samuel 21:4 ); the common journey was contrasted with the military campaign for which David and his men would need to be consecrated (1 Samuel 21:5 ). The common people (am ha arets , “people of the land”) were contrasted with rulers or people of standing in the community (Leviticus 4:22 ,Leviticus 4:22,4:27 ) and were buried in cemeteries for the common people (2 Kings 23:6; Jeremiah 26:23 ). By New Testament times, the concept of “common” also carried with it the connotation of “unclean.” Thus Peter declares that he has never eaten anything “common or unclean.” The response to Peter was: “What God hath cleansed, that call not thou common” (Acts 10:14-15 ).