Online Resource Library
Commentary Index | Return to PrayerRequest.com | DownloadInternational Standard Bible Encyclopedia: Spit; Spittle
Subjects in this Topic:
spit, spit´'l (ירק, yaÌ„rakÌ£, רק, roÌ„kÌ£; (ἐμ)πτυÌω, (em)ptuÌoÌ„): Spitting in a person's face indicated gross contempt (; ; ; ; ; , etc.); when performed by an unclean person it produced defilement () which necessitated washing the clothes and a bath. When David allowed his spittle (ריר, rı̄r) to run down over his beard, it was his purpose to behave like a lunatic (). “Till I swallow down my spittle†() has the same import as the English “in the twinkling of an eye†(). Spittle was used by our Lord in restoring sight and speech (; ) as signifying His will to cure. It was a widespread belief that spittle, accompanied with magical formulas, possessed medicinal qualities. “Oil†possessed a similar virtue. (; ).