Bible Dictionary
Explore biblical people, places, events, objects, ideas, and other terms. Search the dictionary directly, browse alphabetically, or narrow the list by category or Testament.
Cushite
People & Groups - Old Testament
Cushite means a person associated with Cush or Ethiopia. The term is used for the messenger sent to David and in references to a Cushite woman and other people connected with Cush.
CUSTODY
Government & Society - Both
Custody means being held under supervision or placed in another’s charge. In Scripture it may refer to a person’s guardianship or to an appointed responsibility entrusted to someone.
Custom
Measures & Money - New Testament
Custom can refer to a tax collected by Roman publicans on goods and transactions. Scripture also describes temple tribute, money-changing, and the abuses that made tax collectors objects of public hatred.
Cuth, Or Cuthah
Places & Geography - Old Testament
Cuth, or Cuthah, was one of the places from which the king of Assyria transplanted settlers into Samaria after the northern Israelites were carried away. Its exact location is uncertain.
Cuthah
Places & Geography - Old Testament
Cuthah was a Babylonian city or district from which Shalmaneser brought colonists to Samaria. It is commonly identified with Tell Ibrahim, northeast of Babylon, though the identification is not certain.
Cutting
Sin & Judgment - Both
Cutting the flesh was an idolatrous mourning or worship practice forbidden to Israel. The law prohibited bodily laceration and marking oneself for the dead or in allegiance to false gods.
Cuttings [in The Flesh]
Sin & Judgment - Old Testament
Cuttings in the flesh were self-inflicted wounds made in idolatrous worship, especially to seek favor from pagan gods. Israel was expressly forbidden to imitate this practice.
Cymbal, Cymbals
Worship & Prayer - Both
Cymbals were percussion instruments made of metal plates struck together. They were used in worship, public celebration, military settings, and musical praise.
Cymbals
Worship & Prayer - Both
Cymbals were paired metal plates clashed together to produce loud or high-pitched sounds. They accompanied worship, procession, celebration, and praise in Israel and the early church.
Cypress
Agriculture & Daily Life - Old Testament
The cypress is probably the hard, fragrant evergreen tree referred to in Isaiah 44:14, though the exact identification is uncertain. It was associated with durable wood and, in the East, with funerals.
CYPRIANS
People & Groups - Both
Cyprians were the inhabitants of Cyprus. The term occurs in the Maccabean account of a governor associated with Cyprus, and Barnabas is also identified in the New Testament as a man from Cyprus.
Cyprus
Places & Geography - Both
Cyprus was a large Mediterranean island known in the Old Testament as Kittim. Barnabas was from Cyprus, and Paul and his companions preached there during missionary journeys and visited its cities.
Cyrene
Places & Geography - New Testament
Cyrene was a Greek city in North Africa with a substantial Jewish population. Simon who carried Jesus’ cross came from Cyrene, and Cyrenians were present at Pentecost and helped establish the church at Antioch.
Cyrenius
Government & Society - New Testament
Cyrenius is the Greek form of Quirinus, a Roman official associated with the enrollment mentioned in Luke 2:2. The sources describe him as having governed Syria more than once, though the chronology is discussed.
CYRIA
People & Groups - New Testament
Cyria means “lady” and may be either a respectful form of address or the proper name of the woman addressed in 2 John. The text itself leaves the question uncertain.
Cyrus
Government & Society - Old Testament
Cyrus was the Persian ruler who conquered Babylon and issued the decree allowing the Jewish exiles to return and rebuild the temple. Isaiah also presents him as God’s appointed shepherd and anointed instrument for Israel’s restoration.
Dabareh
Places & Geography - Old Testament
Dabareh, or Daberath, was a town on the boundary of Zebulun and later a Levitical city in Issachar. It is identified with a village near the western foot of Mount Tabor.
Dabbasheth
Places & Geography - Old Testament
Dabbasheth was a town on the boundary of Zebulun. Its precise location is not established in the supplied sources.
DABBESHETH
Places & Geography - Old Testament
Dabbesheth was a town on the western boundary of the territory allotted to Zebulun. It is probably identified with the ruined site of Dabsheh east of Acre.
Daberath
Places & Geography - Old Testament
Daberath was a town of Issachar on the boundary with Zebulun. It was assigned to the Gershonite Levites and is probably identified with Dabuiriyeh near Mount Tabor.
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