The Standard Works
Bible Dictionary
Vanity
Falsehood or deceit (Ps. 12: 2; Ps. 24: 4; Ps. 144: 8, 11; Prov. 30: 8). Empty, transitory, or fleeting (Eccl. 1: 2-4; Eccl. 12: 8).
The Standard Works
Bible Dictionary
Vashti
Queen of Ahasuerus (Esth. 1; Esth. 2); deposed in favor of Esther (Esth. 2: 17).
The Standard Works
Bible Dictionary
Veil
Worn by women (Gen. 24: 65; Gen. 38: 14; Ruth 3: 15; 1 Cor. 11: 5-10); of the temple, see Temple; on Moses’ face (Ex. 34: 34-35); its spiritual significance (2 Cor. 3: 7-15).
The Standard Works
Bible Dictionary
Vine
Palestine has always been famous for its vines (Deut. 8: 7-8). The growing of grapes was part of the regular occupation of the Israelites after the settlement in Canaan. The vine was frequently regarded as a symbol of the Jewish or Christian Church (Ps. 80: 8-17; Isa. 5: 1-7; Isa. 27: 2-3; Jer. 2: 21; Ezek. 19: 10-14; Matt. 21: 33-40; Mark 12: 1-9; Luke 20: 9-16; see especially John 15: 1-8).
The Standard Works
Bible Dictionary
Viol
A large harp, its shape and number of strings being uncertain. The same Heb. word is also translated psaltery.
The Standard Works
Bible Dictionary
Vows
These were of two kinds: (a) dedication - some person or thing was given to the Lord (Lev. 27: 1-24); (b) abstinence - a promise made to abstain from some lawful act or enjoyment (Num. 6: 3). No unnatural mutilation was permitted (Lev. 19: 28; Deut. 14: 1, etc.). Nothing already holy to the Lord, or intrinsically unholy, or blemished in the slightest degree, could be offered as a vow (Lev. 27: 26; Deut. 23: 18; Lev. 22: 23). Provisions were made for ransoming votive offerings that could not be fitly sacrificed (Lev. 27: 11). The vows of dependent women (wives or daughters) did not stand unless ratified explicitly or implicitly by the husband or father (Num. 30: 3-16; cf. Jer. 44: 19). Vows often had an entreating character; they were offered in order to obtain some favor from Jehovah (Gen. 28: 20; 2 Sam. 15: 7-8).
The Standard Works
Bible Dictionary
Vulgate
The name of the Latin (or “common”) version of the scriptures in use since the days of Jerome (4th century A.D.), which before his time was known as the Old Latin. The Vulgate was the Bible of the Middle Ages and the parent of all the translations into the modern languages of Western Europe.
The Standard Works
Bible Dictionary
Vulture
See
Gier eagle
.