Page 627 - Way of Life Encyclopedia of the Bible Christianity. Based on the King James Bible

SUR - SYNAGOGUE

SUR (recession, departure). 2 Ki. 11:6. SWORD. (1) As a weapon (Ge. 27:40; 34:25). “Two
SURE (1) To know confidently (Ex. 3:19; Nu. 32:23; types of swords were used in the Middle East. One was
1 Sa. 20:7; 2 Sa. 1:10; Lk. 10:11; Jn. 6:69; Ro. 2:2). (2) straight, with a triangular blade sharpened on both
To seal; to make secure; strong (Mt. 27:64-66). (3) sides and at the point. This was the type used in Israel.
Certain; faithful; dependable; safe (1 Sa. 2:35; 1 Ki. The weapon was primarily used for thrusting. The other
11:38; Pr. 11:15, 18; Da. 4:26). God’s Word is sure (Ps. type of sword was curved. It was sharpened only on one
19:7; 93:5). God’s promises are sure (2 Sa. 23:5; Ro. edge, with the other edge thickened to add weight. With
4:16). God’s mercies are sure (Is. 55:3; Ac. 13:34). this sword, a warrior would slash at an
God’s prophecies are sure (Da. 2:45; 2 Pe. 1:19). God’s opponent” (Revell). (2) As a symbol for the Word of
foundation is sure (Is. 28:16; 2 Ti. 2:19). God’s hope is God (Ep. 6:7; He. 4:12; Re. 1:16; 2:12, 16; 19:15, 21).
sure (He. 6:19). [See Eternal Security.] (3) As an instrument of capital punishment (Ro. 13:4).
SURELY. Securely (Pr. 10:9). [See Bible, Military.]
SURETISHIP. The office of surety; holding security SYCHAR (a conclusion). Jn. 4:5.
against a loan (Pr. 11:15). [See Surety.] SYCHEM (a gift). Ac. 7:16.
SURETY. Guarantee; security for payment (Ge. SYENE (remotest dwelling). Eze. 29:10.
44:32; Pr. 6:1; 11:15; 17:18; 20:16; 27:13; He. 7:22). SYMBOL, SYMBOLICAL. Type; picture; image;
[See Borrower, Eternal Security, Holy Spirit, Hope.] illustration. [See Allegorical, Parable, Prophecy, Type.]
SURETY, OF A. Surely; certainly; for certain (Ge. SYNAGOGUE. Jewish religious meeting places (Mt.
15:13; 18:13; 26:9; Ac. 12:11). 12:9; 13:54; Ac. 6:9; 13:14, 15). Synagogues were built
SURFEITING. Drunkenness; rioting; gluttony (Lk. after the First Temple was destroyed by the Babylonians
21:34). [See Drunkenness, Strong Drink.] in 586 BC and the Jews were dispersed during the 70
SURMISING. Questioning; suspicions (1 Ti. 6:4). Year Captivity. Though the temple was rebuilt during the
SUSANCHITES. Inhabitants of Susa or Susi (Ez. 4:9). days of Ezra, most of the Jews remained in Babylon.
After the destruction of the second temple by the
SUSANNA (lily). Lk. 8:3. Romans in 70 AD and the destruction of Jerusalem in
SUSI (joy, my house). Nu. 13:11. 135 AD, most Jews were forced out of the land of Israel.
SWADDLE. To wrap; to bind around, as with a Many were taken captive, and many fled the Roman
bandage or blanket (Job 38:9; Lk. 2:7, 12). armies. They spread throughout the nations during the
SWADDLINGBAND. A bandage used for infants (Job time of the Persian Empire, the Greek Empire, the
38:9). Roman Empire, and into modern times. Everywhere
SWEET SAVOUR OFFERINGS. The sweet savour they went they built synagogues for worship.
offerings depict Christ offering Himself to God the The synagogue was the place of teaching and the
Father (Eph. 5:2). “The sweet savour offerings (Le. 1-3) performance of religious duties. The synagogue was one
are so called because they typify Christ in His own of the ways that God kept the Jews from being dissolved
perfections, and in His affectionate devotion to the into the nations. The synagogues preserved the Jewish
Father’s will. The non-sweet savour offerings typify Scripture and way of life. Jews had contact with fellow
Christ as bearing the whole demerit of the sinner. Both Jews, practiced circumcision, held Jewish weddings,
are substitutional. In our place Christ, in the burnt- kept the passover and other feasts, and taught the law
offering, makes good our lack of devotedness, and, in and the traditions. The synagogues helped keep the
the sin and trespass offerings, suffers because of our Jews separated from their Gentile neighbors.
disobedience” (Scofield). [See Offerings.] The synagogues were study centers where the rabbis
SWELLING. (1) To swell out; to overflow (Ps. 46:3; preserved the Scriptures. After Jerusalem was destroyed
Je. 12:5). (2) Proud; inflated (2 Pe. 2:18; Jude 16). by the Romans in AD 135, the Masoretic scribes began
[See Pride.] painstakingly copying the Scriptures in order to preserve
SWERVE. To go aside out of the way; to miss the them. They counted each letter of the Hebrew Bible,
mark (1 Ti. 1:6). and if a mistake was made they destroyed the
manuscript. The most famous Masoretic Hebrew Bible is
SWINE. The pig. The Jews were forbidden to eat the Aleppo Codex of AD 900. The Protestant Reformers
pork under the Mosaic law (Le. 11:7; De. 14:8). All such used the Masoretic Hebrew text as the basis for the
dietary restrictions have been removed in the N.T. Protestant Bibles such as the German Luther and the
church dispensation (1 Tim. 4:4-5). [See Beast, English King James. At that time it was not possible to
Vegetarian.] know what the Hebrew Bible looked like prior to AD
900, because no manuscripts existed that were older

Way of Life Encyclopedia of the Bible & Christianity 627