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Commentary Index | Return to PrayerRequest.com | DownloadInternational Standard Bible Encyclopedia: Fair
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faÌ‚r: The word translated in the King James Version from 9 Hebrew and 4 Greek expressions has nowhere in the Bible the modern sense of “blond,†“fair-skinned.†The translation of , “fair colors,†refers to the cosmetic use of פוּך, puÌ„kh, stibium, antimony powder, with which black margins were painted around the eyelids, so as to make the eyes appear large and dark. The stones of rebuilt Jerusalem, beautifully laid in their black mortar, are compared with such eyes. We can distinguish the following varieties of meaning: (1) Beautiful, attractive, טוב, tÌ£oÌ„bh, יפה, yaÌ„phaÌ„h, יפה, yaÌ„pheh; Aramaic ש×פיר, shappı̄r; Septuagint καλοÌÏ‚, kaloÌs; in the New Testament ἀστεῖος, asteıÌosÌŒ. This latter word is in both places where it is found used of Moses (; , the Revised Version (British and American) “goodlyâ€), and means literally, town bred (as opposed to boorish), polite, polished in manners, urbane, then nice, pretty. (2) Pure, free of defilement, the Revised Version (British and American) “clean,†טהור, tÌ£aÌ„hoÌ„r (). (3) “Fair speech,†plausible, persuasive (לקח, lekÌ£ah, ; εὐÌλαλος, euÌlalos, Sirach 6:5; compare εὐλογιÌα, eulogıÌa, ). (4) Making a fine display (εὐπÏοσωπεῖν, euprosoÌ„peıÌn, , “to make a fair showâ€). (5) Good (of weather) (זהב, zaÌ„haÌ„bh, “golden,†“clear,†, , the Revised Version (British and American) “golden splendorâ€); εὐδιÌα, eudıÌa ().