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Dust

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Concordances
Nave Topical Bible
• Dust
Thompson Chain Reference
• Dust
Treasury of Biblical Knowledge
• Hair, of Head, Oils & Gold Dust in, Baldness: & Beard, Absalom's
• Dust On Hair, Mourning
• Dust
•   (only first 3 shown)
Dictionaries
American Tract Society
• Dust
Easton's Bible Dictionary
• Dust
Fausset Bible Dictionary
• Dust
Holman Bible Dictionary
• Dust
Hastings' NT Dictionary
• Dust
King James Dictionary
• Dust
Morrish Bible Dictionary
• Dust
People's Bible Dictionary
• Dust
Smith Bible Dictionary
• Dust
Vines' Expository Dictionary
• Dust
• Dust
Wilson's Bible Types
• Dust
Webster Dictionary
• Dusting
• Dusted
• Dust-Point
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Watson's Theological Dictionary
• Dust
Encyclopedias
1911 Encyclopedia Britannica
• Dust
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia
• Dust
Kitto Biblical Cyclopedia
• Dust
McClintock and Strong's Bible Encyclopedia
• Dust
The Nuttall Encyclopedia
• Ethics of Dust, the
Lexicons
• ܚܰܠܳܐ
• ܥܰܦ݂ܪܳܐ
• ܥܰܦ݂ܪܳܢܳܐ
• κονιορτός
• λικμάω
• χόος , χοῦς
• אָבָק
• אֲדָמָה , אֲדָמָה
• אֵפֶר
•   (only first 3 shown)

dust ( עפר , ‛āphār ; κονιορτός , koniortós , χοῦς , choús ): Small particles of earth. The word has several figurative and symbolic meanings: (1) Dust being the material out of which God is said to have formed man ( Genesis 2:7 ), it became a symbol of man's frailty (Psalm 103:14 , "For he knoweth our frame; he remembereth that we are dust"; compare Genesis 18:27; Job 4:19 , etc.), and of his mortality (Genesis 3:19 , Dust thou art, and unto dust shalt thou return"; compare Job 34:15; Psalm 104:29; Ecclesiastes 3:20; Ecclesiastes 12:7 , etc.) Hence, it is used figuratively for the grave ( Psalm 22:15 , Psalm 22:29; Psalm 30:9; Daniel 12:2 ). (2) Such actions as to lie in the dust, to lick the dust, to sprinkle dust on the head, are symbols expressive of deep humiliation, abasement or lamentation (e.g. Job 2:12; Job 42:6 , Psalm 72:9; Isaiah 2:10; Isaiah 47:1; Isaiah 49:23; Lamentations 2:10; Lamentations 3:29; Ezekiel 27:30; Micah 7:17; Revelation 18:19 ). Hence, such expressions as "He raiseth up the poor out of the dust," i.e. out of their state of lowliness (1 Samuel 2:8; Psalm 113:7 ). (3) Throwing dust was an act expressive of execration. Thus, Shimei "cursed" David and "threw stones at him, and cast dust," literally, "dusted (him) with dust" (2 Samuel 16:13 ). So the crowd which Paul addressed at Jerusalem manifested their wrath against him by tossing about their garments and casting dust into the air (Acts 22:23 ). (4) Shaking the dust off one's feet against anyone (Matthew 10:14; Mark 6:11; Luke 9:5; Luke 10:11; Acts 13:51 ) is symbolic of renunciation, as we would say "washing one's hands of him," an intimation that all further intercourse was at an end. It was practiced by the Pharisees on passing from Gentile to Jewish soil, it being a rabbinical doctrine that the dust of a heathen land defiles. (5) It is also used figuratively for an innumerable multitude (e.g. Genesis 13:16; Genesis 28:14; Job 27:16; Psalm 78:27 ). (6) The expression "Yahweh will make the rain of thy land powder and dust" (Deuteronomy 28:24 ) means the dust in consequence of the drought shall fall down instead of rain on the dry ground. In Judea and vicinity during a sirocco, the air becomes filled with sand and dust, which are blown down by the wind with great violence.