Daughter

Share

Easton's Bible Dictionary - Daughter

Daughter [N] [S]

This word, besides its natural and proper sense, is used to designate,

  • A niece or any female descendant ( Genesis 20:12 ; 24:48 ; 28:6 ).
  • Women as natives of a place, or as professing the religion of a place; as, "the daughters of Zion" ( Isaiah 3:16 ), "daughters of the Philistines" ( 2 Samuel 1:20 ).
  • Small towns and villages lying around a city are its "daughters," as related to the metropolis or mother city. Tyre is in this sense called the daughter of Sidon ( Isaiah 23:12 ).
  • The people of Jerusalem are spoken of as "the daughters of Zion" ( Isaiah 37:22 ).
  • The daughters of a tree are its boughs ( Genesis 49:22 ).
  • The "daughters of music" (Eccl 12:4 ) are singing women.

    These dictionary topics are from
    M.G. Easton M.A., D.D., Illustrated Bible Dictionary, Third Edition,
    published by Thomas Nelson, 1897. Public Domain, copy freely.
    [N] indicates this entry was also found in Nave's Topical Bible
    [S] indicates this entry was also found in Smith's Bible Dictionary
    Bibliography Information

    Easton, Matthew George. "Entry for Daughter". "Easton's Bible Dictionary". .

    • Smith's Bible Dictionary - Daughter

    Daughter. [N] [E]

    The word is used in Scripture not only for daughter, but for granddaughter or other female descendant. ( Genesis 24:48 ) It is used of the female inhabitants of a place or country, ( Genesis 6:2 ; Luke 23:28 ) and of cities in general, ( Isaiah 10:32 ; 23:12 ) but more specifically of dependent towns or hamlets, while to the principal city the correlative "mother" is applied. ( Numbers 21:25 ) "Daughters of music," i.e. singing birds, ( Ecclesiastes 12:4 ) refers to the power of making and enjoying music.

    [N] indicates this entry was also found in Nave's Topical Bible
    [E] indicates this entry was also found in Easton's Bible Dictionary
    Bibliography Information

    Smith, William, Dr. "Entry for 'Daughter'". "Smith's Bible Dictionary". . 1901.

    International Standard Bible Encyclopedia - Daughter

    DAUGHTER

    do'-ter (bath; thugater):

    Used in Scriptures in several more or less distinct senses:

    1. for daughter in the ordinary, literal sense (Genesis 46:25; Exodus 1:16);
    2. daughter-in-law (Ruth 2:2);
    3. grand-daughter or other female descendant (Exodus 21; Luke 1:5; 13:16);
    4. the women of a country, or of a place, taken collectively (Luke 23:28), of a particular religion (Malachi 2:11);
    5. all the population of a place, taken collectively, especially in Prophets and poetic books (Psalms 9:14; Isaiah 23:10; Jeremiah 46:24; Matthew 21:5);
    6. used in familiar address, "Daughter, be of good comfort" (Matthew 9:22 the King James Version; Mark 5:34; Luke 8:48);
    7. women in general (Proverbs 31:29);
    8. the personification of towns or cities, as of the female sex (Isaiah 47:1; Ezekiel 16:44,46; compare Nahum 3:4,7), especially of dependent towns and villages (Psalms 48:11; Numbers 21:25 margin; Judges 1:27 margin);
    9. in Hebrew idiom for person or thing belonging to or having the characteristics of that with which it is joined, as "daughter of ninety years," of Sarah, ninety years old (Genesis 17:17); "daughters of music," singing birds, or singing women (Ecclesiastes 12:4); daughters of a tree, i. e. branches; daughter of the eye, i. e. the pupil.

    Daughters were not so highly prized as sons, not being usually mentioned by name. A father might sometimes sell his daughter as bondwoman (Exodus 21:7); though not to a foreigner (Exodus 21:8); daughters might sometimes inherit as did sons, but could not take the inheritance outside of the tribe (Numbers 36:1-12).

    Edward Bagby Pollard

    Copyright Statement
    These files are public domain.

    Bibliography Information
    Orr, James, M.A., D.D. General Editor. "Entry for 'DAUGHTER'". "International Standard Bible Encyclopedia". 1915.