P
PALACE — the large home of a king (2 Chron. 9:11).
PALESTINE [pal´-es-tine] — a tiny piece of land that connects the continents of Asia, Africa, and Europe (1 Sam. 13:19). The word “Palestine” (Palestina) originally meant “the land of the Philistines,” but the older name, Canaan, was used more often in the Old Testament. After the Israelites took the land from the Canaanites, the entire country became known as the “land of Israel” (Matt. 2:20, NKJV) and the “land of promise” (Heb. 11:9, NKJV).
PALM TREE — a tree that grows in the Jordan Valley (1 Kings 6:29). Palm branches were considered a symbol of victory (John 12:13; Rev. 7:9).
The Hasbani Brook in northern Palestine—one of the tributaries of the Jordan River—with Mount Hermon in the background.
PALSY — paralysis (Luke 5:18, KJV).
PAMPHYLIA [pam-fil´-e-ah] (a region of every tribe) — a Roman province on the southern coast of central Asia Minor (modern Turkey). The province consisted mainly of a plain about eighty miles long and up to about twenty miles wide. The capital of Pamphylia was its largest city, Perga (Acts 13:13–14).
PANGS — pain, especially the pain of childbirth (Isa. 26:17, NKJV).
Palm trees in southern Palestine. The leaves of palm trees were used as tokens of peace and victory (John 12:12–13; Rev. 7:9).
PAPHOS [pa´-fos] — a city on the island of Cyprus. Paul, Barnabas, and John Mark visited Paphos during Paul’s first missionary journey, about A.D. 47 or 48 (Acts 13:6–13).
PAPYRUS [pa-py´-rus] — a tall plant that grows at the edge of a body of water in southern Europe and northern Africa, especially in the Nile River valley. This plant no longer grows wild in Egypt, but it still grows in the Sudan. It can also be found growing in the marshes at the northern end of Lake Huleh in Palestine.
Papyrus is also a kind of paper made from the stems of the papyrus plant.
PARABLE — a short, simple story used as an example to explain a spiritual truth, a religious principle, or to teach a moral lesson (Luke 15).
PARACLETE [par-a-clete´] — the Holy Spirit. Paraclete is a transliteration of the Greek word parakletos, which means “one who speaks in favor of,” as an intercessor, advocate, or legal assistant. The word, translated as “Comforter” or “Counselor,” appears only in the Gospel of John. Jesus applied the term to the Holy Spirit, who would be an advocate on behalf of Jesus’ followers after His ascension; the Spirit would plead their case before God (John 14:16, 26; 15:26; 16:7).
PARADISE (park, garden) — a place of great blessedness, complete happiness, and total delight, also another name for heaven. Originally “paradise” was a Persian word that meant “a wooded park,” “an enclosed or walled orchard,” or “a garden with fruit trees.”
PARAMOUR — a lover in an adulterous relationship; also a mistress. The Hebrew word for paramours is usually translated as concubines. A paramour could be male or female (Ezek. 23:20, NKJV).
Several stalks of papyrus, reedlike plants used for making a primitive type of paper in Bible times.
PARAN [pa´-ran] — a wilderness region in the central part of the Sinai Peninsula (Gen. 21:21).
PARCHED — burnt; roasted (Jer. 17:6; Ruth 2:14, NKJV).
PARCHMENT — material made from animal skins and used to write on (2 Tim. 4:13, NKJV).
PARDON — to forgive; to release a person from punishment. The Bible says God is always “ready to pardon” His people from their sins (Mic. 7:18, NKJV).
Parable
Matthew
Mark
Luke
1. Lamp Under a Basket
5:14–16
4:21, 22
2. A Wise Man Builds on Rock and a Foolish Man Builds on Sand
7:24–27
6:47–49
3. Unshrunk (New) Cloth on an Old Garment
9:16
2:21
5:36
4. New Wine in Old Wineskins
9:17
2:22
5:37, 38
5. The Sower
13:3–23
4:2–20
8:4–15
6. The Tares (Weeds)
13:24–30
7. The Mustard Seed
13:31, 32
4:30–32
13:18, 19
8. The Leaven
13:33
13:20, 21
9. The Hidden Treasure
13:44
10. The Pearl of Great Price
13:45, 46
11. The Dragnet
13:47–50
12. The Lost Sheep
18:12–14
15:3–7
13. The Unforgiving Servant
18:23–35
14. The Laborers in the Vineyard
20:1–16
15. The Two Sons
21:28–32
16. The Wicked Vinedressers
21:33–45
12:1–12
20:9–19
17. The Wedding Feast
22:2–14
18. The Fig Tree
24:32–44
13:28–32
21:29–33
19. The Wise and Foolish Virgins
25:1–13
20. The Talents
25:14–30
21. The Growing Seed
4:26–29
22. The Absent Householder
13:33–37
23. The Creditor and Two Debtors
7:41–43
24. The Good Samaritan
10:30–37
25. A Friend in Need
11:5–13
26. The Rich Fool
12:16–21
27. The Watchful Servants
12:35–40
28. The Faithful Servant and the Evil Servant
12:42–48
29. The Barren Fig Tree
13:6–9
30. The Great Supper
14:16–24
31. Building a Tower and a King Making War
14:25–35
32. The Lost Coin
15:8–10
33. The Lost Son
15:11–32
34. The Unjust Steward
16:1–13
35. The Rich Man and Lazarus
16:19–31
36. Unprofitable Servants
17:7–10
37. The Persistent Widow
18:1–8
38. The Pharisee and the Tax Collector
18:9–14
39. The Minas
19:11–27
PARTAKE — to join in; to participate (Heb. 3:1, NKJV).
PARTIALITY — choosing one person or group over another for the wrong reason. In the Old Testament, the Hebrew people had to be reminded not to show partiality (Lev. 19:15, NKJV; Deut. 16:19, NKJV; 2 Chron. 19:7, NKJV). The New Testament says that salvation is freely given to all who believe in Jesus Christ, whether Jew or Gentile, male or female, bondslave or free (Gal. 3:28). God does not show partiality among His children.
PASCHAL [pas´-kal] — relating to Passover (1 Cor. 5:7, RSV).
PASSAGE — the right to travel through an area. The Edomites refused to give the Israelites passage through their territory (Num. 20:21, NKJV).
A ford or river crossing is also called a passage (Jer. 51:32, NKJV).
PASSION OF CHRIST — a phrase that refers to the suffering and death of Jesus Christ by crucifixion (Acts 1:3, KJV).
PASSOVER, FEAST OF — the first of the three great feasts celebrated by the Israelites. When the people of Israel were slaves in Egypt, they were told to sacrifice a lamb and smear (paint) the blood of the lamb on their doorposts as a sign for God to “pass over” their houses when He destroyed all the firstborn of Egypt (Exod. 12:13).
Passover was celebrated on the fourteenth day of the first month, and the service began in the evening (Lev. 23:6) because it was on the evening of this day that the Israelites left Egypt. Unleavened bread was used in the celebration because the people had no time to leaven their bread as they prepared their last meal in Egypt. The meal was eaten in a hurry so they could leave. Passover helped them to remember how God saved them when they left Egypt.
PASTOR — the feeder, protector, and guide, or shepherd, of a flock of God’s people in New Testament times. In speaking of spiritual gifts, the apostle Paul wrote that Christ “gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers” (Eph. 4:11, NKJV). The term “pastor” at that time in church history wasn’t an official title for the leader of the church. It was actually a term used to describe a person who helped and cared for God’s people.
PASTORAL EPISTLES — the books of First Timothy, Second Timothy, and Titus are called the Pastoral Epistles because they are three letters written by the apostle Paul and they clearly show Paul’s love and concern for them as pastor and administrator of several local churches.
PATIENCE — the ability to wait for suffering to end and the ability to stay strong when facing a problem (Rom. 5:3).
PATMOS [pat´-mos] — a small rocky island. The apostle John was banished (sent away) to Patmos. While he was there, he wrote the Book of Revelation (Rev. 1:9).
PATRIARCH [pa´-tre-ark] (head of a father’s house) — the founder or leader of a tribe, family, or clan. “The patriarchs” usually refers to the tribal leaders of Israel who lived before the time of Moses. This included Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, and Jacob’s twelve sons (Acts 7:8–9, NKJV; Heb. 7:4, NKJV).
PAUL, THE APOSTLE — a Christian missionary in the early church. He wrote letters to several of the early Christian churches, and those letters became books in the Bible.
PAVILION — any kind of temporary shelter, such as a tent, tabernacle, or booth (2 Kings 16:18, NKJV; Ps. 27:5, NKJV; 31:20, NKJV; Jer. 43:10, NKJV).
PEACE — in the Old Testament, the meaning of peace was completeness, soundness, and the well-being of a person (Ps. 119:165; Ps. 4:8; Isa. 26:3; Ps. 122:6–7; 1 Sam. 7:14). The traditional Jewish greeting, shalom, means “peace” and was a wish for peace.
In the New Testament, peace usually refers to the inner peace (peace of mind) of the Christian who trusts God through Christ.
The peace that Jesus spoke of was a combination of hope, trust, and quiet in the mind and soul that comes when a person makes their relationship with God right (Luke 2:14; Matt. 5:9; John 14:27).
PEACE OFFERING — an animal sacrifice (Exod. 20:24, NKJV).
Ruins of the walls and city gate at Perga, a city visited by Paul and Barnabas on their first missionary journey (Acts 13:13, 14).
PEARL — a jewel used for jewelry and decoration (1 Tim. 2:9). A pearl was also a symbol for a spiritual truth (Matt. 13:46).
PENTATEUCH [pen´-ta-tyook] — a Greek word that refers to the first five books of the Old Testament. The Jews usually call the Pentateuch “the Book of the Law,” or just “the Law.” Another word for the Pentateuch is “Torah.” Torah means “instruction, teaching, or doctrine.”
PENTECOST, FEAST OF — another name for the Feast of Weeks, a yearly Jewish celebration of harvest (Deut. 16:9–10). The early Christian believers, who were gathered in Jerusalem for observance of this feast, experienced the outpouring of God’s Holy Spirit in a miraculous way.
Book
Key Idea
The Nation
The People
God’s Character
God’s Role
God’s Command
Genesis
Beginnings
Chosen
Prepared
Powerful Sovereign
Creator
“Let there be!”
Exodus
Redemption
Delivered
Redeemed
Merciful
Deliverer
“Let my people go!”
Leviticus
Worship
Set Apart
Taught
Holy
Sanctifier
“Be holy!”
Numbers
Wandering
Directed
Tested
Just
Sustainer
“Go in!”
Deuteronomy
Renewed Covenant
Made Ready
Retaught
Loving Lord
Rewarder
“Obey!”
Date
Event
Reference
Fifteenth day, first month, first year
Exodus
Exodus 12
Fifteenth day, second month, first year
Arrival in Wilderness of Sin
Exodus 16:1
Third month, first year
Arrival in Wilderness of Sinai
Exodus 19:1
First day, first month, second year
Erection of Tabernacle
Exodus 40:1, 17
Dedication of Altar
Numbers 7:1
Consecration of Levites
Numbers 8:1–26
Fourteenth day, first month, second year
Passover
Numbers 9:5
First day, second month, second year
Census
Numbers 1:1, 18
Fourteenth day, second month, second year
Supplemental Passover
Numbers 9:11
Twentieth day, second month, second year
Departure from Sinai
Numbers 10:11
First month, fortieth year
In Wilderness of Zin
Numbers 20:1, 22–29; 33:38
First day, fifth month, fortieth year
Death of Aaron
Numbers 20:22–29; 33:38
First day, eleventh month, fortieth year
Moses’ Address
Deuteronomy 1:3
PERCEIVE — to know (John 4:19, NKJV).
PERDITION — destruction, ruin, or waste, especially the eternal destruction of the wicked by God (Heb. 10:39, NKJV; 2 Pet. 3:7, NKJV).
PEREZ [pe´-res] (breakthrough) — Judah and Tamar had twin sons. Perez was the son born first (Gen. 38:29; Pharez, KJV). Perez was an ancestor of David and Jesus (Ruth 4:12, 18; Matt. 1:3; Luke 3:33).
PERFECT, PERFECTION — without flaw (no mistakes) or error; a state of being complete or fulfilled. God’s perfection means that He is complete in Himself and He lacks nothing. He has no flaws. He is perfect in every way (Job 36:4, NKJV; Ps. 18:30, NKJV; 19:7, NKJV; Matt. 5:48).
PERFORM — to do; to complete; to confirm (Rom. 15:28, NKJV; Deut. 25:5, NKJV).
PERGA [pur´-gah] — the capital city of Pamphylia. Paul visited Perga twice (Acts 13:13–14; Acts 14:25).
The modern city of Pergamum, or Pergamos, with the ruins of the Basilica of St. John in the center.
PERGAMOS [pur´-ga-mos] — the main city of Mysia, and the site of one of the seven churches of Asia (Rev. 2:12–17).
PERISH — to be lost or destroyed (Ps. 1:6, NKJV; John 3:15, NKJV).
PERIZZITES [per´-iz-ites] (villagers) — the people who lived in the forest country (Josh. 17:15) in the territory of the tribes of Ephraim, Manasseh, and Judah (Judg. 1:4–5).
PERPLEXED — confused (Esther 3:15, NKJV).
PERSECUTE, PERSECUTION — the hatred and suffering that tries to stop the witness and holy life of God’s people (Matt. 5:10).
PERSEVERANCE — the continual effort to follow God’s commands and to do His work. The New Testament makes it clear that Christians are saved by their faith. But it also makes it clear that perseverance in doing good works is the greatest sign that a person’s faith is real (James 2:14–26).
PERSIA [per´-she-ah] — an ancient world empire that thrived from 539–331 B.C. The Babylonian Empire was taken over by the Persians. This was the beginning of the phase for the return of the Jews to Jerusalem in 538 B.C., after their long period of captivity by the Babylonians.
PERVERSE — improper; wrong; evil (Prov. 14:2, NKJV; Matt. 17:17, NKJV).
PERVERT — to change something and make it bad (Exod. 23:8, NKJV; Acts 13:10, NKJV).
PESTILENCE — a plague (Exod. 5:3, NKJV).
PETER, EPISTLES OF — two New Testament epistles bearing the name of “Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ” (1 Pet. 1:1) and “Simon Peter, a servant and apostle of Jesus Christ” (2 Pet. 1:1). Except for the name, these books have nothing else in common.
First Peter is written in fine Greek and refers frequently to the Old Testament. It is an epistle for the downhearted, written to give encouragement in times of trial and disappointment. First Peter anchors the Christian’s hope on the matchless sacrifice of Jesus Christ, who “suffered for you. He gave you an example to follow. So you should do as he did” (2:21).
Second Peter is shorter and written with less style. It strongly criticizes the following of false teachers, while reminding believers that they are chosen by God and assuring them that Jesus will return.
PETER, SIMON — one of Jesus’ twelve apostles. The New Testament gives more information about Peter than any other disciple, except Paul.
PHARAOH [fa´-ra-o] — the title of the kings of Egypt until 323 B.C. (Gen. 40–47). In the Egyptian language, the word pharaoh means “great house.” This word was originally used to describe the palace of the king. Around 1500 B.C., this term was applied to the Egyptian kings. It meant something like “his honor” or “his majesty.”
Jaffa, the biblical Joppa, where Peter received the heavenly vision about God’s acceptance of the Gentiles (Acts 10:1–23).
Entrance to the tomb of Pharaoh Tutankhamun of Egypt in the foreground with the tomb of Ramses VI just behind it.
The modern Turkish city of Alashehir, the biblical Philadelphia, on the Hermus River. John commended the Christians at Philadelphia for their faithfulness (Rev. 1:11; 3:7–13).
PHARISEES [far´-i-sees] (separated ones) — a religious and political group in Palestine (Matt. 23). The Pharisees were known for insisting that the law of God be followed exactly as the scribes interpreted it and for their special commitment to keeping the laws of tithing and ritual purity.
PHILADELPHIA [fil-a-del´-fe-ah] (brotherly love) — a city of the province of Lydia in western Asia Minor (modern Turkey) and the site of one of the seven churches of Asia. John wrote to the Philadelphians in the Book of Revelation (Rev. 1:11).
PHILEMON [fi-le´-mon] — a wealthy Christian from Colossae who allowed the church to meet in his house. Philemon became a Christian while listening to and learning from the apostle Paul (Philem. 19), probably when Paul was ministering in Ephesus (Acts 19:10).
He had a slave named Onesimus, who, after damaging or stealing his master’s property (Philem. 11, 18), ran away to Rome. While Onesimus was in Rome, he met the apostle Paul and also became a Christian (Philem. 10).
PHILEMON, EPISTLE TO — the shortest and most personal of Paul’s epistles. Philemon tells the story of a runaway slave named Onesimus. The letter is written in a warm and caring style and reminds us that the presence of Christ can change every relationship in life.
The Epistle to Philemon is a lesson in Christian relationships. There isn’t a better example of “speaking the truth in love” (Eph. 4:15, NKJV). While it was Philemon’s legal right to punish or even kill a runaway slave, Paul hoped (v. 19) that Philemon would accept Onesimus back as a brother in the Lord and not as a slave (v. 16). In the entire book, Paul talks to Philemon as a trusted friend rather and not an enemy (v. 22). He focuses on Philemon’s good qualities (vv. 4–7, 13–14, 17, 21) and even though he encourages Philemon to forgive Onesimus, he is careful not to force Philemon to do what is right. He helps Philemon decide and choose for himself (vv. 8–9, 14).
PHILIP [fil´-ip] (lover of horses) — the name of four men in the New Testament:
1. A native of Bethsaida who was one of the twelve apostles (Matt. 10:3; Mark 3:18; Luke 6:14).
2. A son of Herod the Great (Matt. 14:3; Luke 3:19).
3. Philip the tetrarch, who was also a son of Herod the Great.
4. Philip the evangelist (Acts 6:5).
PHILIPPI [fil´-ip-pi] (city of Philip) — a city in eastern Macedonia (modern Greece) visited by the apostle Paul. Philippi was named for Philip II of Macedonia, the father of Alexander the Great.
PHILIPPIANS [fi-lip´-pe-ans] — the people who were born in or who lived in Philippi (Phil. 4:15).
PHILIPPIANS, EPISTLE TO THE — one of four shorter epistles written by the apostle Paul while he was in prison. The others are Ephesians, Colossians, and Philemon. Because Paul started the church at Philippi (Acts 16:12–40), the Philippians always held a special place in his heart. When Paul first came to Philippi, he was thrown in jail. Late at night, after he had been tied up and beaten, he sang a hymn (song) to God (Acts 16:25). Ten years later Paul was in prison again and he was still celebrating the Christians’ joy even though he was suffering. He said,“Be full of joy in the Lord always. I will say again, be full of joy”(Phil. 4:4).
Ruins of the agora, or marketplace, of Philippi, with the ruins of a pagan temple in the foreground.
PHILISTIA [fil-is´-te-ah] — the land of the Philistines mentioned in the poetry of the Book of Psalms (60:8; 108:9). This land was located between Joppa and Gaza on the coastal plain of Palestine.
PHILISTINES [fil-is´-tinz] — a strong nation that occupied part of southwest Palestine from about 1200 to 600 B.C. The name Philistine was first used by the Egyptians in reference to the people defeated by Rameses III. The Assyrians called the people Pilisti or Palastu.
PHILOSOPHY — the love of wisdom (from phileo, “to love,” and sophia, “wisdom”). The philosopher Pythagoras said there were three types of people: lovers of money, lovers of fame, and lovers of wisdom.
PHINEHAS [fin´-e-has] (the Nubian) — the name of three men in the Old Testament:
1. A son of Eleazar and grandson of Aaron (Exod. 6:25).
2. The younger of the two sons of Eli the priest (1 Sam. 1:3).
3. The father of Eleazar (Ezra 8:33).
PHOEBE (fee´-bee) — a deaconess recommended to the Roman Christians by Paul (Rom. 16:1–2).
PHOENICIA [fo-nee´-she-ah] — the land north of Palestine on the eastern shore of the Mediterranean Sea (Acts 11:19). Phoenicia is a Greek word that means “land of purple.” The area was famous from early times for its purple dyes that were produced from shellfish. In the KJV, Phoenicia is spelled Phenicia.
Phoenicia was also known for its cedar trees. The cedars of Phoenicia were cut and shipped as far away as Egypt and eastern Mesopotamia because most other nations in that part of the world had very few trees that were good for timber.
PHRYGIA [frij´-e-ah] — a large province of the mountainous region of Asia Minor (modern Turkey), visited by the apostle Paul (Acts 2:10; 16:6; 18:23).
PHYLACTERIES [fi-lack´-ter-ies] — small square leather boxes or cases that hold four strips of parchment with verses from the Pentateuch written on them (Matt. 23:5, NKJV). Every male Israelite over thirteen years of age wore phylacteries during the morning prayer service, except on the Sabbath and holidays.
PIETY — a word usually defined as religious devotion and reverence to God. It means faithfulness in taking care of one’s family, especially the parents (1 Tim. 5:4, NKJV).
This inscription from a theater in Caesarea mentions Pontius Pilate, prefect of Judea, who pronounced the death sentence against Jesus (Mark 15).
PILATE, PONTIUS [pi´-lut, pon´-shius] — the fifth Roman prefect (ruler) of Judea, who issued the official order sentencing Jesus to death by crucifixion (Matt. 27; Mark 15; Luke 23; John 18–19).
PILLAR — a structure that supports a roof, or a pile of stones (standing upright) with religious significance (importance). During the Exodus, God’s presence was described as a “pillar of fire” and a “pillar of cloud” (Exod. 13:21).
PINE — a type of tree (Isa. 41:19). When used as a verb it means to be weary (tired and weak) or sick of heart (very sad) (Ezek. 24:23, NKJV).
PINNACLE — a part of the temple mentioned in the temptation of Jesus (Matt. 4:5, NKJV; Luke 4:9, NKJV). The pinnacle was a high place on some part of the temple. It was probably the battlement (tower or top of a castle) or the roof of Solomon’s Porch.
PIPE — a musical instrument that may have been similar to a flute or bagpipes (1 Sam. 10:5, NKJV).
PISGAH [piz´-gah] — a word that refers to the rugged ridge at the top of a mountain. As a proper noun, the word “Pisgah” was sometimes identified with Mount Nebo (Deut. 34:1).
PISIDIA [pi-sid´-e-ah] — a mountainous province in central Asia Minor (modern Turkey), visited by the apostle Paul (Acts 13:14; 14:24). Pisidia was a wild, mountainous country that had many bandits (robbers).
PIT — a deep hole in the ground that can be natural (Gen. 14:10) or man-made (Gen. 37:20, NKJV).
PITCH — when used as a verb it means to set up (like set up a tent) (Heb. 8:2, KJV); when used as a noun it is a tarlike substance (Exod. 2:3, NKJV).
PITY — a feeling of sorrow for a person in a sad (unfortunate) situation (Matt. 18:33, NKJV). Pity is the emotional side of mercy. Mercy is the desire to help the person in the sad situation.
PLAGUE — an affliction (something that causes suffering) sent by God as punishment for sin and disobedience. In the Bible, the affliction is usually a widespread disease. The Hebrew word for “plague” means a blow (hit) or a lash (whipped once), which is a reference to punishment or chastisement (Exod. 7:14–12:30, NKJV).
Statue of Rameses II of Egypt. Many scholars believe he was the ruling Pharaoh at the time of the Exodus.
The Plague
The Effect
1. Blood (7:20)
Pharaoh hardened (7:22)
2. Frogs (8:6)
Pharaoh begs relief, promises freedom (8:8), but is hardened (8:15)
3. Lice (8:17)
Pharaoh hardened (8:19)
4. Flies (8:24)
Pharaoh bargains (8:28), but is hardened (8:32)
5. Livestock diseased (9:6)
Pharaoh hardened (9:7)
6. Boils (9:10)
Pharaoh hardened (9:12)
7. Hail (9:23)
Pharaoh begs relief (9:27), promises freedom (9:28), but is hardened (9:35)
8. Locusts (10:13)
Pharaoh bargains (10:11), begs relief (10:17), but is hardened (10:20)
9. Darkness (10:22)
Pharaoh bargains (10:24), but is hardened (10:27)
10. Death of firstborn (12:29)
Pharaoh and Egyptians beg Israel to leave Egypt (12:31–33)
God multiplied His signs and wonders in the land of Egypt that the Egyptians might know that He is the Lord.
PLASTER — a wall covering made from clay (Deut. 27:2).
PLEDGE — an item or items given as proof of the guarantee to fulfill an obligation or keep a promise. As proof of his intention to send Tamar a young goat from his flock, Judah left his signet, cord, and staff with her as a pledge (Gen. 38:17–18, 20, NKJV).
PLEIADES [ple´-ya-dez] — a brilliant cluster of stars seen in the shoulder of Taurus (the Bull). The name Pleiades comes from the seven daughters of Atlas and Pleione in Greek mythology (Job 9:9).
PLOWSHARE — the blade of a plow used for tilling the soil. In early times plows were made of wood. Later, metal tips were placed over the wood. The prophets Micah and Isaiah spoke of making plowshares from weapons as a sign of the peace that would come during the coming reign of God (Isa. 2:4, NKJV; Mic. 4:3, NKJV).
PLUCK — to remove (John 10:28, KJV).
PLUMB LINE, PLUMMET — a small heavy weight on the end of a long cord, used to make sure a wall is standing vertically straight (2 Kings 21:13). In a vision, the prophet Amos saw the Lord measuring the nation of Israel with a plumb line. The people were not considered true and straight in their devotion to God because they worshiped false gods (Amos 7:7–8).
POLLUTE — to make something dirty or morally impure; to defile; to profane; to corrupt. Allowing a murderer to go unpunished polluted the land of Israel (Num. 35:33, NKJV).
POLYGAMY — the practice of having several spouses, especially wives, at one time. This was a common practice in the ancient world.
POLYTHEISM — the belief in many gods.
POMEGRANATE — a round, sweet fruit about four inches across with a hard rind. It is green and turns red when ripe. Its inside is full of edible seeds. Pomegranates were used for food (Num. 20:5), drink (Song of Sol. 8:2), and decoration (Exod. 28:33–34; 39:24–26; 1 Kings 7:18, 20).
POMP — much show; large display of ceremony (Acts 25:23, NKJV).
POSSESSED — acquired, owned; also under control of (Matt. 4:24, NKJV).
POSTERITY — descendants (Dan. 11:4, NKJV).
POTIPHAR [pot´-i-far] (dedicated to Ra) —the Egyptian who bought Joseph as a slave (Gen. 39:1). Potiphar was a high officer of Pharaoh and a wealthy man (Gen. 37:36). In time, he put Joseph in charge of his household.
POTSHERD — a fragment (piece) of broken pottery. Job used a potsherd to scrape the sores off of his body (Job 2:8, NKJV).
POTTAGE — a soup or stew (Gen.25:29, KJV).
POTTER’S FIELD — the field that was purchased with the thirty pieces of silver paid to Judas for his betrayal of Jesus (Matt. 27:7, 10). Because the field was purchased with blood money, it wasn’t good for anything but a cemetery where foreigners were buried. The potter’s field was probably located at the eastern end of the Valley of Hinnom.
A flowering pomegranate. In biblical times, pomegranates were widely cultivated in Palestine (Num. 13:23; Deut. 8:7–8). The juice of the fruit made a pleasant drink (Song of Sol. 8:2).
POUND — a weight and an amount of money (John 12:3, NKJV; Ezra 2:69, KJV; Luke 19:13, KJV). (See Money of the Bible; also see Weights and Measures of the Bible.)
POWER — the ability or strength to perform an activity or deed (Ps. 111:6).
PRAETORIUM, PRAETORIAN GUARD — a special group of Roman soldiers in New Testament times. Their job was to guard the emperor of the Roman Empire (Mark 15:16). They were an elite corps (group) of soldiers and their salaries (pay), privileges (rights), and working conditions were better than the regular soldiers of the Roman Empire.
PRAISE — an act of worship or acknowledgment of goodness or kind actions of another. Human beings should seek praise from God, not from each other (Prov. 27:21; “honor” Matt. 6:1–5). We can earn praise from God by having a true servant’s heart (1 Cor. 4:5; Eph. 1:3–14).
PRAYER — communication with God. Anyone can say a prayer to God, but sinners who haven’t trusted Jesus for their salvation remain separated from God. So while unbelievers can pray, they aren’t able to have a rewarding relationship with God.
PRECEPT — a lesson or a principle (basic truth) (Ps. 119:4, NKJV).
PREDESTINATION, PREDESTINE — the biblical teaching that clearly shows the power of God and His mighty plan but allows humans to have free will (Rom. 8:29–30, NKJV).
PREEMINENCE — top honor; superior (Col. 1:18).
PREPARATION DAY — the day immediately before the Sabbath and other Jewish festivals. Preparation Day always fell on Friday, because all religious festivals began on the Sabbath, or Saturday (Matt. 27:62; John 19:14, 31).
PRESCRIBE — to write (Isa. 10:1, NKJV).
An ancient oilpress in Capernaum, used for crushing olives in Bible times (Isa. 5:2).
PRESENCE OF GOD — God’s ways of making Himself known to an individual (Exod. 3:2–5; Exod. 40:34–38; John 1:14).
PRESS — when used as a noun, it is a tool used to collect juice or oil from foods (Prov. 3:10); when used as a verb, it means to strain (Phil. 3:14, NKJV).
PRESUMPTUOUS — overly bold, filled with pride (Exod. 21:14, KJV; 2 Pet. 2:10, NKJV).
PREVAIL — to conquer (Matt. 16:18, NKJV).
PREVENT — to anticipate (Ps. 119:147, KJV); to precede (come before) (Matt. 17:25, KJV; 1 Thess. 4:15). In the King James Version of the Bible, prevent does not mean “to stop from happening.”
PREY — a victim (Num. 14:3, KJV).
PRIDE — arrogance; unjustified self-esteem (Prov. 29:23).
PRIEST, HIGH — the high priest was the supreme religious leader of his people. Aaron was the first to hold this position and this office would continue to be passed down through Aaron’s bloodline through the firstborn son of each generation. The high priest was different from other priests and this was shown by the clothes he wore, the duties he performed, and the particular requirements placed upon him (Lev. 21:10; 2 Chron. 19:11).
PRIESTS — official ministers or worship leaders in the nation of Israel who represented the people before God. The father of a family or the head of a tribe performed the job of the priest before the time of Moses and Aaron. After Aaron became the high priest, the priesthood was formed and Aaron’s descendants were established as the priestly line in Israel. They performed the important duties of a priest and were known as a special group devoted to God’s service.
PRINCIPALITY — a powerful ruler, or the rule of someone in authority. The word may refer to human rulers (Titus 3:1, KJV), demonic spirits (Rom. 8:38, NKJV), angels and demons in general (Eph. 3:10, NKJV), or any type of ruler other than God (Eph. 1:21, NKJV). While Christians must often wrestle against evil principalities (Eph. 6:12, NKJV), they can be victorious because Christ defeated all wicked spirits (Col. 2:15, NKJV).
PRISCILLA [pris´-sil-lah] — the wife of Aquila and a strong supporter of the Christian cause (Rom. 16:3; 1 Cor. 16:19). Aquila and Priscilla left their home in Rome for Corinth when the emperor Claudius made all the Jews leave the city (Acts 18:2). They were fellow passengers of the apostle Paul on his journey from Corinth to Ephesus (Acts 18:18). Ephesus is where they met Apollos and taught him more about the Christian faith (Acts 18:26).
PRISON, PRISONER — a place of confinement; a person held by force in a place of confinement. Most prisons of the ancient world were filthy and crude and made the prisoners feel like animals. People guilty of breaking the laws of a community were detained (held) in several different types of prisons.
PRIZE — an award (1 Cor. 9:24; Phil. 3:14).
PROCLAIM — to tell; to announce (Exod. 33:19, NKJV; Luke 12:3, NKJV).
PROCLAMATION — an official public announcement (Dan. 5:29, NKJV).
PROCONSUL [pro-con´-sul] — a title given to the governor of a senatorial province in the Roman Empire. Under the Roman system of government, the Empire was divided into senatorial provinces and imperial provinces. Imperial provinces were watched over by representatives of the emperor and the senatorial provinces were watched over by proconsuls appointed by the Roman senate. Two proconsuls are mentioned in the New Testament: Sergius Paulus (Acts 13:7–8, 12, NKJV) and Gallio (Acts 18:12, NKJV).
PROFANE — to treat anything holy with disrespect. The word “profane” is often given to a person who is foolish or irresponsible. Esau was foolish and irresponsible with his birthright and he was called a “profane” person (Heb. 12:16, NKJV).
The Prophecy
The Fulfillment
The Messiah . . .
Jesus Christ . . .
will be born of a virgin (Isa. 7:14).
was born of a virgin named Mary (Luke 1:26–31).
will have a Galilean ministry (Isa. 9:1, 2).
ministered in Galilee of the Gentiles (Matt. 4:13–16).
will be an heir to the throne of David (Isa. 9:7).
was given the throne of His father David (Luke 1:32, 33).
will have His way prepared (Isa. 40:3–5).
was announced by John the Baptist (John 1:19–28).
will be spat on and struck (Isa. 50:6).
was spat on and beaten (Matt. 26:67).
will be exalted (Isa. 52:13).
was highly exalted by God and the people (Phil. 2:9, 10).
will be disfigured by suffering (Isa. 52:14; 53:2).
was scourged by the soldiers who gave Him a crown of thorns (Mark 15:15–19).
will make a blood atonement (Isa. 53:5).
shed His blood to atone for our sins (1 Pet. 1:2).
will be widely rejected (Isa. 53:1, 3).
was not accepted by many (John 12:37, 38).
will bear our sins and sorrows (Isa. 53:4, 5).
died because of our sins (Rom. 4:25; 1 Pet. 2:24, 25).
will be our substitute (Isa. 53:6, 8).
died in our place (Rom. 5:6, 8; 2 Cor. 5:21).
will voluntarily accept our guilt and punishment (Isa. 53:7, 8).
was silent about our sin (Mark 15:4, 5; John 10:11; 19:30).
will be buried in a rich man’s tomb (Isa. 53:9).
was buried in the tomb of Joseph, a rich man from Arimathea (Matt. 27:57–60; John 19:38–42).
will save us who believe in Him (Isa. 53:10, 11).
provided salvation for all who believe (John 3:16; Acts 16:31).
will die with transgressors (Isa. 53:12).
was numbered with the transgressors (Mark 15:27, 28; Luke 22:37).
will heal the brokenhearted (Isa. 61:1, 2).
healed the brokenhearted (Luke 4:18, 19).
PROMISE — a pledge to do or give something.
PRONOUNCE — to say or speak (Jer. 11:17, NKJV).
PROPHECY, PROPHESY — predictions about the future and the end times, or special messages from God, often delivered through a human spokesman (Mark 7:6).
PROPHET — a person who spoke for God and gave His message to God’s chosen people—the nation of Israel (Mic. 1:1; Judg. 4:4; Acts 21:9).
PROPHETESS — a female prophet.
PROPITIATION [pro-pish´-e-a-shun] — the act of Jesus dying on the cross to pay the price for sin demanded by a holy God (1 John 2:2, NKJV; 4:10, NKJV).
PROSELYTE — a convert from one religious belief to another. In the New Testament, the term is used to describe Gentile converts who had committed themselves to the teachings of the Jewish faith (Matt. 23:15, NKJV; Acts 2:10, NKJV).
PROSTITUTE, PROSTITUTION — the act of having sexual relations outside of marriage, especially for money. Several words are used for a woman who participates in this type of activity, including harlot and whore (Hosea 3:3).
PROVE — to try; to test (Ps. 17:3, KJV; Luke 14:19, KJV).
PROVENDER — a grass-based animal food (Judg. 19:21, KJV).
PROVERB — a short, meaningful statement about human nature and life. In the Bible Solomon is known for his use of proverbs (1 Kings 4:32). His wisdom was shown by his ability to make clear, true statements about the nature of things. Proverbs are designed to make God’s truth accessible to all people, so they can live their lives according to His will.
PROVERBS, BOOK OF — one of the “wisdom books” of the Old Testament, containing instructions on many of the practical matters of daily life. The Book of Proverbs points the believer to God with instructions on how to live a holy, upright life.
PROVIDENCE — the continuous activity of God in His creation by which He preserves and governs (Acts 24:2, KJV). The doctrine of providence affirms God’s absolute lordship over His creation and confirms the dependence of all creation on the Creator. It is the denial of the idea that the universe is governed by chance or fate.
PROVINCE — an administrative district of the government or civil ruling authority. The word “province” is used only four times for rulers in Israel. All these occurrences come from the time of King Ahab (1 Kings 20:14–15, 17, 19, NKJV).
The other occurrences of the word refer to the administrative districts during the Babylonian and Persian rules (Ezra 2:1; 4:15; Neh. 1:3). The term occurs only twice in the New Testament (Acts 23:34, NKJV; 25:1, NKJV).
PROVOCATION — anything that provokes, excites, incites, or stimulates. The reference in Hebrews 3:8, 15 to “the provocation” (KJV), or “the rebellion” (NKJV, NIV), is a quotation from Psalm 95:7–11. This passage points back to a specific time when the Israelites provoked God by their rebellion against Moses during the Exodus (Exod. 17:1–7).
PRUDENT — smart; wise (Prov. 18:15, NKJV; Matt. 11:25, NKJV).
PRUNING HOOKS — small knives with curved blades used for pruning grapevines. The prophets Isaiah, Joel, and Micah spoke of pruning hooks in a way that allowed these knives to become symbols of peace (Isa. 2:4; Joel 3:10; Mic. 4:3).
PSALM — a song (Col. 3:16).
PSALMS, BOOK OF — a collection of prayers, poems, and hymns that focus the worshiper’s thoughts on God in praise and adoration. Parts of this book were used as a hymnal in the worship services of ancient Israel.
PSEUDEPIGRAPHA [su-de-pig´-graph-ah] — a collection of Jewish books containing different kinds of literature that used the names of famous people in Israel’s history for the titles of the books. The real authors are unknown.
PUBLICAN — a word for a tax collector (Matt. 9:10, KJV).
PUBLISH — to proclaim; to tell (Mark 1:45, KJV).
PUFFED UP — full of false pride (1 Cor. 4:6, NKJV).
PULPIT — a raised platform that could only be reached by steps, or a desk used for preaching and teaching in a worship service (Neh. 8:4; platform, ICB).
PURE — (See Chaste.)
PURGE — to remove the undesirable; to refine or free from impurities (Dan. 11:35, KJV; 1 Cor. 5:7, NKJV; Heb. 9:14, KJV).
PURIFICATION — the act of making clean and pure before God and people. The Mosaic Law gave instructions for both physical and spiritual purification.
PURIM [pur´-im] (lots) — a Jewish holiday observed on the fourteenth and fifteenth days of the month of Adar. This holiday happened a month before Passover to remind the Jews how Esther and Mordecai saved the Jewish people from being killed by Haman (Pur, Esther 3:7; 9:24–32).
PURPLE — a color that is a symbol for royalty (Acts 16:14).