Bible Encyclopedias
Widow

International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

Search for…

Enter query below:

or

A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W Y Z

Prev Entry
Wickedness

Next Entry
Wife

Resource Toolbox

Print Article

Additional Links

Concordances
Nave Topical Bible
• Widow
Thompson Chain Reference
• Widows
• Widow and Fatherless
Torrey Topical Textbook
• Widows
Dictionaries
American Tract Society
• Widow
Bridgeway Bible Dictionary
• Widow
Baker's Evangelical Dictionary
• Widow
Easton's Bible Dictionary
• Widows
Fausset Bible Dictionary
• Widow
Holman Bible Dictionary
• Poor, Orphan, Widow
Hastings' BibleDictionary
• Widow
Hastings' NT Dictionary
• Widows
• Widow
King James Dictionary
• Widow
Smith Bible Dictionary
• Widow
Vines' Expository Dictionary
• Widow
• Widow
Whyte's Bible Characters
• The Widow with the Two Mites
• The Importunate Widow
Wilson's Bible Types
• Widow
Webster Dictionary
• Chuck-Will's-Widow
• Widow
• Widow Bird
•   (only first 3 shown)
Watson's Theological Dictionary
• Widow
Encyclopedias
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia
• Widow
McClintock and Strong's Bible Encyclopedia
• Amalberga (St. and Widow)
• Athanasia, Saint and Widow
• Burning of Widows
•   (only first 3 shown)
The Nuttall Encyclopedia
• Wadman, Widow
The Catholic Encyclopedia
• Widow
The Jewish Encyclopedia
• Widow
Lexicons
• ܐܰܪܡܰܠܬ݁ܳܐ
• χήρα
• אַלְמָנָה
• אַלְמָנותּ
• אִשָּׁה

wid´ō ( אלמנה , 'almānāh ; χήρα , chḗra ): In the Old Testament widows are considered to be under the special care of Yahweh ( Psalm 68:5; Psalm 146:9; Proverbs 15:25 ). Sympathetic regard for them comes to be viewed as a mark of true religion (Job 31:16; James 1:27 ). Deuteronomy is rich in counsel in their behalf (Deuteronomy 24:17 , etc.).

The word is first mentioned in the New Testament in Acts 6:1 : "There arose a murmuring of the Grecian Jews against the Hebrews, because their widows were neglected in the daily ministration." Paul charges that they be particularly cared for, especially those that are "widows indeed," i.e. poor, without support and old ( 1 Timothy 5:2-16 ). Some try to find proof in this passage of that ecclesiastical order of widows mentioned in post-apostolic writings. See LITERATURE , SUB-APOSTOLIC; WOMAN , IV, 5.