Dictionaries :: Milk

Milk:

(1.) Hebrew halabh, "new milk", milk in its fresh state (Jdg 4:19). It is frequently mentioned in connection with honey (Exd 3:8; 13:5; Jos 5:6; Isa 7:15,22; Jer 11:5). Sheep (Deu 32:14) and goats (Pro 27:27) and camels (Gen 32:15), as well as cows, are made to give their milk for the use of man. Milk is used figuratively as a sign of abundance (Gen 49:12; Eze 25:4; Joe 3:18). It is also a symbol of the rudiments of doctrine (1Cr 3:2; Hbr 5:12,13), and of the unadulterated word of God (1Pe 2:2).

(2.) Heb. hem'ah, always rendered "butter" in the Authorized Version. It means "butter," but also more frequently "cream," or perhaps, as some think, "curdled milk," such as that which Abraham set before the angels (Gen 18:8), and which Jael gave to Sisera (Jdg 5:25). In this state milk was used by travellers (2Sa 17:29). If kept long enough, it acquired a slightly intoxicating or soporific power.

This Hebrew word is also sometimes used for milk in general (Deu 32:14; Job 20:17).

Milk:

milk (chalabh; gala; Latin lac (2 Esdras 2:19; 8:10)): The fluid secreted by the mammary glands of female mammals for the nourishment of their young. The word is used in the Bible of that of human beings (Isa 28:9) as well as of that of the lower animals (Ex 23:19). As a food it ranked next in importance to bread (Ecclesiasticus 39:26). Palestine is frequently described as a land "flowing with milk and honey" (Ex 3:8,17; Nu 13:27; De 6:3; Jos 5:6; Jer 11:5; Eze 20:6,15). Milk was among the first things set before the weary traveler (Ge 18:8). In fact, it was considered a luxury (Jud 5:25; So 5:1). The people used the milk of kine and also that of sheep (De 32:14), and especially that of goats (Pr 27:27). It was received in pails ('atinim, Job 21:24), and kept in leather bottles (no'dh, Jud 4:19), where it turned sour quickly in the warm climate of Palestine before being poured out thickly like a melting substance (nathakh; compare Job 10:10). Cheese of various kinds was made from it (gebhinah and charitse he-chalabh, literally, "cuts of milk"); or the curds (chem'ah) were eaten with bread, and possibly also made into butter by churning (Pr 30:33). See FOOD, II. It is possible that milk was used for seething other substances; at least the Israelites were strictly forbidden to seethe a kid in its mother's milk (Ex 23:19; 34:26; De 14:21), and by a very general interpretation of these passages Jews have come to abstain from the use of mixtures of meat and milk of all kinds.

Figuratively the word is used

(1) of abundance (Ge 49:12);

(2) of a loved one's charms (So 4:11);

(3) of blessings (Isa 55:1; Joe 3:18);

(4) of the (spiritual) food of immature people (1Co 3:2; Heb 5:12,13);

(5) of purity (1Pe 2:2).

Written by Nathan Isaacs

Milk: Used for Food

Gen 18:8; Jdg 4:19; Sgs 5:1; Eze 25:4; 1Cr 9:7

Milk: Of

Goats,

Pro 27:27;

sheep,

Deu 32:14; Isa 7:21, 22;

camels,

Gen 32:15;

cows,

Deu 32:14; 1Sa 6:7, 10.

Milk: Churned

Pro 30:33

Milk: Kid (Baby Goat) Not to Be Boiled in Its Own Mother's

Exd 23:19; Deu 14:21

Milk: Figurative:

Exd 3:8, 17; 13:5; 33:3; Num 13:27; Deu 26:9, 15; Isa 55:1; 60:16; Jer 11:5; 32:22; Eze 20:6; Joe 3:18; 1Cr 3:2; Hbr 5:12, 13; 1Pe 2:2

Milk: An Animal Secretion, of a White Colour

Lam 4:7

Milk: Used as Food by the Jews

Gen 18:8; Jdg 5:25

Milk: Different Kinds Mentioned

Of cows

Deu 32:14; 1Sa 6:7

Of camels

Gen 32:15

Of goats

Pro 27:27

Of sheep

Deu 32:14

Of sea-monsters

Lam 4:3

Milk: Flocks and Herds Fed for Supply Of

Pro 27:23,27; Isa 7:21,22; 1Cr 9:7

Milk: Canaan Abounded With

Exd 3:8,17; Jos 5:6

Milk: Made Into

Butter

Pro 30:33

Cheese

Job 10:10

Milk: Kept by the Jews in Bottles

Jdg 4:19

Milk: Young animals not to be seethed in that of the mother

Exd 23:19

Milk: Illustrative Of

Temporal blessings

Gen 49:12

Blessings of the gospel

Isa 55:1; Joe 3:18

First principles of God's word

1Cr 3:2; Hbr 5:12; 1Pe 2:2

Godly and edifying discourses

Sgs 4:11

Wealth of the Gentiles

Isa 60:16

Doctrines of the gospel

Sgs 5:1

Milk:

is used

(a) literally, 1Cr 9:7;

(b) metaphorically, of rudimentary spiritual teaching, 1Cr 3:2; Hbr 5:12, 13; 1Pe 2:2; here the meaning largely depends upon the significance of the word logikos, which the AV renders "of the word," RV "spiritual." While logos denotes "a word," the adjective logikos is never used with the meaning assigned to it in the AV, nor does the context in 1Pe 1:23 compel this meaning. While it is true that the Word of God, like "milk," nourishes the soul, and this is involved in the exhoration, the only other occurrence in the NT is Rom 12:1, where it is translated "reasonable," i.e., rational, intelligent (service), in contrast to the offering of an irrational animal; so here the nourishment may be understood as of that spiritually rational nature which, acting through the regenerate mind, develops spiritual growth. God's Word is not given so that it is impossible to understand it, or that it requires a special class of men to interpret it; its character is such that the Holy Spirit who gave it can unfold its truths even to the young convert. Cp. 1Jo 2:27.

Milk:

As an article of diet, milk holds a more important position in eastern countries than with us. It is not a mere adjunct in cookery, or restricted to the use of the young, although it is naturally the characteristic food of childhood, both from its simple and nutritive qualities (1 Peter 2:2) and particularly as contrasted with meat (1 Corinthians 3:2; Hebrews 5:12) but beyond this it is regarded as substantial food adapted alike to all ages and classes. Not only the milk of cows, but of sheep (Deuteronomy 32:14) of camels (Genesis 32:15) and of goats (Proverbs 27:27) was used; that latter appears to have been most highly prized.