McClintock Biblical Encyclopedia: Picture

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McClintock Biblical Encyclopedia: Picture


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the rendering in the A.V. in three passages of two Hebrew words which are from the same root ( ùָׂëָä , to look at).

1. Maskith, îִùְׂëַּéú , an image; used alone, either literally (plur. "pictures," Pro_25:11) or in the sense of imagination ("conceit," Pro_18:11; plur. "wish," Psa_73:7); with àֶáֶï , a stone ("image of stone," Lev_26:1; plur. " pictures," Num_33:52); with çֶãֶø , an apartment (plur. "chambers of imagery" [ q.v.], Eze_8:12), "it denotes idolatrous representations, either independent images, or more usually stones 'portrayed,' i.e., sculptured in low relief, or engraved and colored (Eze_23:14; Layard, Nin. and Bab. 2:306, 308). Movable pictures, in the modern sense, were doubtless unknown to the Jews; but colored sculptures and drawings on walls or on wood, as mummy-cases, must have been familiar to them in Egypt (see Wilkinson, Anc. Egyptians, 2:277). In later times we read of portraits ( åἰêüíáò ), perhaps busts or intagli, sent by Alexandra to Antony (Josephus, Ant. 15:2, 6). The 'pictures of silver' of Pro_25:11, were probably wall-surfaces or cornices with carvings, and the 'apples of gold' representations of fruit or foliage, like Solomon's flowers and pomegranates (1Ki_6:7). The walls of Babvlon wlere ornamented with pictures on enamelled brick."

2. Sekiyah, ùְׂëַéּä , the flag of a ship, as seen from afar (plur. "picture," Isa_2:16). The Phoenician and Egyptian vessels had their flags and sails of purple and other splendid colors (see Eze_27:7; comp. Diod. Sic. 1, 51; Wilkinson, Anc. Egypt. 3:211). SEE STANDARD.