BREAST

brest: Signifying the front view of the bust in humans and the corresponding portion of the body in animals. chazeh, occurs in Exodus 29:26, 27 Leviticus 7:30, 31, 34; Leviticus 8:29; Leviticus 10:14, 15 Numbers 6:20; Numbers 18:18; and chadhi, in Daniel 2:32. shadh or shodh = "breast" in the sense of pap of a woman or animal (Job 24:9 Songs 8:1, 8, 10 Isaiah 60:16 Lamentations 4:3). Only one word occurs with this signification in the New Testament: stethos = "bosom," "chest" (Luke 18:13; Luke 23:48 John 13:25; John 21:20).

See WAVE OFFERING.

Figurative: "The breasts of virginity," pressed and bruised (Ezekiel 23:3, 8 the King James Version), indicative of Ezekiel's belief that Israel practiced idolatry in Egypt (compare Ezekiel 20:8). "To tear (pluck off) thy breasts" (Ezekiel 23:34) denotes the anguish of the people in parting with their beloved sin (compare Hosea 2:2). "Its breast of silver" (Daniel 2:32) is possibly expressive of the humanity and wealth of the Medo-Persian empire.

Frank E. Hirsch