the Week of Proper 28 / Ordinary 33
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Bible Dictionaries
Children
Morrish Bible Dictionary
or David proclaimed, "Lo, children are an heritage of Jehovah: and the fruit of the womb is his reward." Psalm 127:3 . Women in the East had a great desire for children, as may be seen by Sarah, Rachel, and Leah giving their handmaids to their husbands that they might have children by them, and this ever characterised the women of Israel afterwards.
The law commanded children to honour their parents, and if a son smote or cursed his parents he was put to death. Exodus 21:15,17 . Parents were to teach the law to their children, and to chastise them when needed, and if a son was disobedient and contumacious the men of the city were to stone such a one. Deuteronomy 21:18-21 . The first born was claimed by God, and had to be redeemed, Exodus 13:13; and the eldest son inherited a double portion of his father's possessions. Deuteronomy 21:17 .
Metaphorically we meet with 'children of Zion,' 'children of Belial,' 'children of the devil,' etc., often referring to their moral character.
In the N.T. various Greek words are translated children in the A.V. Thus in 1John, 'little children' occurs in 1 John 2:1,12,13,18,28; and though correct, yet there is a difference in the words. 1 John 2:1,12 and 28 refer to all Christians as God's children; but 1 John 2:13 and 18 refer to young children or babes as a class, in contrast to young men and fathers. Again, in many places where the word is υἱός, and should be translated 'sons,' the A.V. has 'child' or 'children,' as in Romans 9:26,27; 2 Corinthians 3:7,13; Galatians 3:7,26; Ephesians 2:2; Ephesians 5:6; Colossians 3:6; 1 Thessalonians 5:5; Hebrews 11:22; Hebrews 12:5; Revelation 2:14; Revelation 7:4; Revelation 12:5; Revelation 21:12; besides often in the Gospels and Acts. See SON. Again, in Acts 4:27,30 the word is παῖς, which is as often translated 'servant' as 'child,' the word signifying both. In these verses it would be much better to translate 'thy holy servant Jesus;' David is also called 'servant' in Acts 4:25 .
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Morrish, George. Entry for 'Children'. Morrish Bible Dictionary. https://www.studylight.org/dictionaries/eng/mbd/c/children.html. 1897.
