CUCUMBER to CURSING

CUCUMBER

(Heb. plur. kishshuim; i.e., "hard," "difficult" of digestion, only in Num. 11:5).

This vegetable is extensively cultivated in the East at the present day, as it appears to have been in earlier times among the Hebrews. It belongs to the gourd family of plants.

In the East its cooling pulp and juice are most refreshing. "We need not altogether wonder that the Israelites, wearily marching through the arid solitudes of the Sinaitic peninsula, thought more of the cucumbers and watermelons of which they had had no lack in Egypt, rather than of the cruel bondage which was the price of these luxuries." Groser's Scripture Natural History.

Isaiah speaks of a "lodge" (Isa 1:8; Heb. sukkah), i.e., a shed or edifice more solid than a booth, for the protection throughout the season from spring to autumn of the watchers in a "garden of cucumbers."

General scriptures concerning Nu 11:5; Isa 1:8

CUD

Chewing of, was one of the facts by which ceremonially clean and unclean animals were distinguished Le 11:3-8; Deut 14:3-8

CUMMIN

(Heb. kammon; i.e., a "condiment"), the fruit or seed of an umbelliferous plant, the Cuminum sativum, still extensively cultivated in the East. Its fruit is mentioned in Isa. 28:25, 27.

In the New Testament it is mentioned in Matt. 23:23, where our Lord pronounces a "woe" on the scribes and Pharisees, who were zealous in paying tithes of "mint and anise and cummin," while they omitted the weightier matters of the law."

"It is used as a spice, both bruised, to mix with bread, and also boiled, in the various messes and stews which compose an Oriental banquet." Tristram, Natural History.

A plant bearing a small aromatic seed Isa 28:25, 27; Mt 23:23

CUP

a wine-cup (Gen. 40:11, 21), various forms of which are found on Assyrian and Egyptian monuments.

All Solomon's drinking vessels were of gold (1 Kings 10: 21).
The cups mentioned in the New Testament were made after Roman and Greek models, and were sometimes of gold (Rev. 17:4).

The art of divining by means of a cup was practiced in Egypt (Gen. 44:2-17), and in the East generally.

The "cup of salvation" (Ps. 116:13) is the cup of thanksgiving for the great salvation. The "cup of consolation" (Jer. 16:7)
refers to the custom of friends sending viands and wine to console relatives in mourning (Prov. 31:6).

In 1 Cor. 10:16, the "cup of blessing" is contrasted with the "cup of devils" (1 Cor. 10:21). The sacramental cup is the "cup of blessing," because of blessing pronounced over it (Matt. 26:27; Luke 22:17).
The "portion of the cup" (Ps. 11:6; 16:5) denotes one's condition of life, prosperous or adverse. A "cup" is also a type of sensual allurement (Jer. 51:7; Prov. 23:31; Rev. 17:4).

We read also of the "cup of astonishment," the "cup of trembling," and the "cup of God's wrath" (Ps. 75:8; Isa. 51:17; Jer. 25:15; Lam. 4:21; Ezek. 23:32; Rev. 16:19; comp. Matt. 26:39, 42; John 18:11).
The cup is also the symbol of death (Matt. 16:28; Mark 9:1; Heb. 2:9).

General scriptures concerning Ge 40:11; 2Sa 12:3; 1Ki 7:26; Mt 23:25
Made of silver Ge 44:2
Made of gold 1Ch 28:17; Jer 52:19

Used in the institution of the Lord's Supper Mt 26:27; Mr 14:23; Lk 22:20; 1Co 10:21
Of the table of demons 1Co 10:21

FIGURATIVE
Of sorrow Ps 11:6; 73:10; 75:8; Isa 51:17, 22; Jer 25:15-28; Eze 23:31-34; Mt 20:22, 23; 26:39; Mr 14:36; Lk 22:42; Jn 18:11; Re 14:10
Of consolation Jer 16:7 .Of joy Ps 23:5
Of salvation Ps 116:13

CUPBEARER

an officer of high rank with Egyptian, Persian, Assyrian, and Jewish monarchs. The cup-bearer of the king of Egypt is mentioned in connection with Joseph's history (Gen. 40:1-21; 41:9). Rabshakeh (q.v.) was cup-bearer in the Assyrian court (2 Kings 18:17).

Nehemiah filled this office to the king of Persia (Neh. 1:11). We read also of Solomon's cup-bearers (1 Kings 10:5; 2 Chr. 9:4).

General scriptures concerning Ge 40:1, 11; 1Ki 10:5; 2Ch 9:4; Ne 1:11

CUPIDITY

See AVARICE
See COVETOUSNESS
See LUST

CURES

denounced by God against the serpent (Gen. 3:14), and against Cain (4:11). These divine maledictions carried their effect with them. Prophetical curses were sometimes pronounced by holy men (Gen. 9:25; 49:7; Deut. 27:15; Josh. 6:26). Such curses are not the consequence of passion or revenge, they are predictions.

No one on pain of death shall curse father or mother (Ex. 21:17), nor the prince of his people (22:28), nor the deaf (Lev. 19:14). Cursing God or blaspheming was punishable by death (Lev. 24:10-16).

The words "curse God and die" (R.V., "renounce God and die"), used by Job's wife (Job 2:9), have been variously interpreted. Perhaps they simply mean that as nothing but death was expected, God would by this cursing at once interpose and destroy Job, and so put an end to his sufferings.

(Miraculous)

See MIRACLES
See DISEASE
See PHYSICIAN

CURIOSITY

General scriptures concerning Pr 27:20; Ec 7:21

INSTANCES OF
Of Eve Ge 3:6 .
Of Abraham, to know whether God would destroy the righteous people who lived in Sodom Ge 18:23-32
Of Jacob, to know the name of the angel Ge 32:29
Of the Israelites
To see God Ex 19:21, 24
To witness the offering in the Holy of Holies Nu 4:19, 20
Of Manoah, to know the name of an angel Jud 13:17, 18
Of the people of Beth-shemish, to look inside the ark of the covenant 1Sa 6:19
Of the Babylonians, to see Hezekiah's treasures 2Ki 20:13
Of Daniel, to know a vision Da 12:8, 9
Of Peter .To know what was being done with Jesus Mt 26:1 all
To know what John would be appointed to do Jn 21:21, 22
A disciple, to know if few would be saved Lk 13:23
Of Herod (Antipas), to see Jesus Lk 9:9; 23:8
Of the Jews .To see Lazarus, after he was raised from the dead Jn 12:9
And to see Jesus Jn 12:20, 21
Of the disciples, to know whether Jesus would restore the kingdom of the Jews Ac 1:6, 7
Of the Athenians, to hear some new thing Ac 17:19-21
Of angels, to look into the mysteries of salvation 1Pe 1:12

CURSE

Denounced .Against the serpent Ge 3:14, 15 Against Adam and Eve Ge 3:15-19 Against the ground Ge 3:17, 18 Against Cain Ge 4:11-16 Against Canaan, Noah's son Ge 9:24-27 Against Meroz Jud 5:23 .Against Gehazi 2Ki 5:27

Barak commands Balaam to curse Israel Nu 22:6; 23:11

See BENEDICTIONS

CURSES OF THE MOSAIC LAW Deut 27:1-26; Jos 8:30-34

See BLESSING

CURSING

Of parents -Shimei curses David 2Sa 16:5-8 The precepts of Jesus concerning Mt 5:44; Lk 6:28

Apostolic Ro 12:4

See ANATHEMA MARAN-ATHA
See BLASPHEMY
See GOD, NAME OF, NOT TO BE PROFANED
See OATH