Table
TABLE
See BREAD, and EATING.
Fuente: American Tract Society Bible Dictionary
Table
()
This word is used in the NT in various senses. On a technical meaning which it has in the Gospels see article Bank in Dict. of Christ and the Gospels .
1. In the primitive Church the apostles deemed it unfitting that they should turn aside from their proper task of preaching the Word of God and give themselves to that of serving tables ( , Act 6:2). They accordingly secured the appointment of the Seven, which left them free to give their undivided time and strength to the ministry of the Word ( , Act 6:4). Two kinds of service, or deaconship, are thus specified, both of them evangelical and honourable, but each so arduous and absorbing that a division of labour became imperative. The serving of tables probably included not merely the literal provision of repasts for the poor, but the task of determining the fitness of applicants for relief and the allocation of a central fund.
2. It is in one of St. Pauls letters that we first find the Eucharist called the table of the Lord ( , 1Co 10:21). It would be interesting to know whether he coined the phrase or found it already in use in the primitive Church (cf. Luk 22:30), but the point has to be left undetermined. Contrasting the Lords table with the tables of demons, as he scornfully calls the riotous feasts of pagan idolatry, he urges the moral impossibility of passing from the pure atmosphere of Christian fellowship into the tainted air of heathen licence and debauchery.
3. Among the furniture of the Holy Place the writer of Hebrews names the table ( , Heb 9:2), meaning the table of shewbread, for the construction and ornamentation of which directions are given in Exo 25:23-30. See Shewbread.
Another word translation table is , which is used in the Septuagint for . St. Paul contrasts the tables of stone on which the Ten Commandments were written by the finger of God with the tables that are not of stone but are hearts of flesh, whereon the Holy Spirit writes the laws of the New Covenant (2Co 3:3).
James Strahan.
Fuente: Dictionary of the Apostolic Church
Table
is the rendering in the A.V. usually of , shulchn (New Test. , likewise invariably so translated, except Luk 19:23 [bank]’; Act 16:34 [meat]), so called from being extended (; comp. Homer, Od. 10:37; and see Psa 69:23), and denoting especially a table spread with food (Jdg 1:7; 1Sa 20:29; 1Sa 20:34; 1Ki 5:7; 1Ki 10:5; Job 36:16; Neh 5:17); but spoken likewise of the table of shew-bread (see below), and likewise of the lectisternia prepared before idols (Isa 45:11; see. Schumann, De Lectisferniis in Sacro Cod. [Lips. 1739]). For the tables of stone on which the Decalogue was engraved, see below. The word. , mesb, a divan (q.v.), is once rendered at table (Song of Solomon 1, 12). SEE SITTING.
Little is known as to the form of tables among the Hebrews; but, as in other Oriental nations, they were probably not high. In Exo 25:23, indeed, the table for the shew-bread is described as a cubit and a half in height; but the table of Herod’s temple, as depicted on the arch of Titus at Rome, is only half a cubit high. Probably the table of the ancient Hebrews differed little from that of the modern Arabs, namely, a piece of skin or leather spread upon the ground (hence the figure of entanglement in it, Psa 69:23). In Palestine, at the present day, the general custom, even of the better classes, is to bring a polygonal stool (kursi), about fourteen inches high, into the common sitting-room for meals. Upon this is placed a tray (seniyeh) of basketwork or of metal, generally copper, on which the food is arranged. These two pieces of furniture together compose the table (sfrah). The bread lies upon the mat beneath the tray, and a cruse of water stands near by, from which all drink as they have need. On formal occasions, this is held in the hand by a servant, who waits upon the guests. Around this stool and tray the guests gather, sitting on the floor (Thomson, Land and Book, 1, 180). SEE EATING.
Among the ancient Egyptians, the table was much the same as that of the present day in Egypt, a small stool, supporting a round tray, on which the dishes are placed (see Lane, Mod. Eg. 1, 190); but it differed from this in having its circular summit fixed on a pillar, or leg, which was often in the form of a man, generally a captive, who supported the slab upon his head, the whole being of stone or some hard wood. On this the dishes were placed together with loaves of bread, some of which were not unlike those of the present day in Egypt, flat and round, as our crumpets. Others had the form of rolls or cakes, sprinkled with seeds. The table was not generally covered with any linen, but, like the Greek table, was washed with a sponge, or napkin, after the dishes were removed, and polished by the servants, when the company had retired; though an instance sometimes occurs of a napkin spread on it, at least on those which bore offerings in honor of the dead. One or two guests generally sat at a table, though, from the mention of persons seated in rows according to rank, it has been supposed the tables were occasionally of a long shape; as may have been the case when the brethren of Joseph sat before him, the first-born according to his birthright, and the youngest according to his youth, Joseph eating alone at another table where they set on for him by himself. But even if round, they might still sit according to rank, one place being always the post of honor, even at the present day, at the round table of Egypt (Wilkinson, Anc. Egypt. 1. 179). SEE DINE.
The tables of the ancient Assyrians, as delineated upon the monuments, were often of a highly ornamental character (Layard, Nineveh, 2, 236; Botta, Nineveh, p. 188). SEE BANQUET. For the triclinium of the Roman period, SEE ACCUBATION; SEE SUP. Other Greek words than above (which likewise denotes occasionally a broker’s counter, SEE MONEY-CHANGER, not to mention etc., often rendered sit’ at table), which are translated table in the A. V. in a different sense, are: (Mar 7:4), a bed (as elsewhere rendered), or couch used for eating, i.e. the triclinium above noticed; and (2Co 3:3; Heb 9:4),a tablet for inscription; more fully , a writing-table (Luk 1:63). SEE TABLE OF THE LAW.
Fuente: Cyclopedia of Biblical, Theological and Ecclesiastical Literature
Table (2)
(, luach, a tablet, whether of stone [as below], wood [board, Exo 27:8, etc.], or for writing on [Isa 40:8; Habakkuk 8:9; Pro 3:3]) OF THE LAW (only plur. in the phrases tables of stone [ , Exo 24:12; Exo 31:18; or , Exo 34:1; Exo 34:4], and tables of the covenant [Deu 9:9; Deu 9:15] or of the testimony [Exo 31:18]), such as those that were given to Moses upon Mount Sinai, being written by the finger of God, and containing the Decalogue, or Ten Commandments of the law, as they are rehearsed in Exodus 20. Many idle questions have been started about these tables; about their matter, their form, their number, who wrote them, and what they contained. The words which intimate that the tables were written by the finger of God, some understand simply and literally; others, of the ministry of an angel; and others explain merely to signify an order of God to Moses to write them. The expression, however, in Scripture always signifies the immediate Divine agency. See Walther, De Duabus Tacbulis Lapideis (Regiom. 1679); Michaelis, De Tab. Faed. Prioribus (Vitemb. 1719).
T
able,
the name given to the supreme ecclesiastical court of the Waldensian Church (q.v.):
Fuente: Cyclopedia of Biblical, Theological and Ecclesiastical Literature
Table
TABLE.See House, 8; Meals, 3, 4. For Table of Shewbread see Shewbread, Tabernacle, 6 (a), Temple, 5, 9, 12.
Fuente: Hastings’ Dictionary of the Bible
Table
We meet with this word in the Holy Scriptures for various and very different purposes. The Table of the Lord, the Table of Shew-bread, the Tables of the Law given to Moses on Mount Sinai, are all of them very different to each other, both in their office and design. I must refer the reader to the sacred word itself, for the several explanations of each. (See Exo 32:1-35 throughout, Num 4:1-49 etc.) But I detain the reader to make a short remark on the method constantly used in the old church, in providing such rich and costly provisions for the Lord’s table in the Temple. (See Exo 40:4, etc.) Surely, these things were emblematical of the Lord’s table under the New Testament dispensation. The bread and the wine, and the salt of the Covenant, (See Lev 2:13) and this constantly burning, and the perfumes always shedding forth their fragrancy: what could be more expressive of the Lord Jesus, and his rich and costly salvation? He is himself the living bread, and not only the salt of the covenant, but the whole of the covenant. (See Isa 42:6) The sum and substance of it, the Messenger, the Surety, the Fulfiller, the Administrator, the All in all. And at his table every view of his endearing character is set forth in his body represented as broken, and his blood shed, with the enlightenings of his holy Spirit, and all the graces he sheds abroad in the hearts of his redeemed guests, as the costly perfumes of his incense and sacrifice. Lord grant that when thy people sit at thy table, they may have to say, “the cup of blessing which we bless, is it not the communion of the blood of Christ? the bread which we break, is it not the communion of the body of Christ?” (1Co 10:16)
Fuente: The Poor Mans Concordance and Dictionary to the Sacred Scriptures
Table
Table is derived from the Latin tabula, meaning primarily a board, but with a great variety of other significances, of which writing-tablet is the most important for the Biblical use of table. So in English table meant at first any surface and, in particular, a surface for writing, and further specialization was needed before table became the name of the familiar article of furniture (object with a horizontal surface), a meaning not possessed by tabula in Latin. After this specialization table in the sense of a surface for writing was replaced in later English by the diminutive form tablet. But surface for writing was still a common meaning of table, and in this sense it represents , luah (Exo 24:12, etc.), a word of uncertain origin, , plax, something flat (2Co 3:3; Heb 9:4), , deltos, a writing tablet (1 Macc 8:22; 14:18, 27, 48), or , pinakdion writing tablet (Luk 1:63 – a rather unusual word). the American Standard Revised Version has kept the word in the familiar combination tables of stone (Exo 24:12, etc.), but elsewhere (Pro 3:3; Pro 7:3; Isa 30:8; Jer 17:1; Hab 2:2; Luk 1:63) has replaced table by tablet, a change made by the English Revised Version only in Isa 30:8; Luk 1:63. See TABLET.
The table as an article of furniture is , shulhan, in the Hebrew and , trapezal, in the Greek. The only exceptions are Son 1:12, , mesabh, something round, perhaps a round table, perhaps a cushion, perhaps a festal procession, and Mar 7:4, the King James Version , klne, couch (so the Revised Version (British and American)), while Joh 13:28 and Joh 12:2, the King James Version at the table, and Tobit 7:8, the King James Version on the table, represent only the general sense of the original. Of the two regular words, shulhan is properly a piece of hide, and so a leather mat, placed on the ground at meal time, but the word came to mean any table, however elaborate (e.g. Exo 25:23-30). Trapeza means having four feet.
2Ki 4:10 seems to indicate that a table was a necessary article in even the simpler rooms. Curiously enough, however, apart from the table of shewbread there is no reference in the Bible to the form or construction of tables, but the simpler tables in Palestine of the present day are very much lower than ours. The modern tables of the money changers (Mar 11:15 and parallel’s) are small square trays on stands, and they doubtless had the same form in New Testament times. See SHEWBREAD, TABLE OF; MONEY-CHANGERS.
To eat at a king’s table (2Sa 9:7, etc.) is naturally to enjoy a position of great honor, and the privilege is made by Christ typical of the highest reward (Luk 22:30). Usually to eat at one’s table is meant quite literally, but in 1Ki 18:19; Neh 5:17 (compare 1Ki 10:5) it probably means be fed at one’s expense. On the other hand, the misery of eating the leavings of a table (Jdg 1:7; Mar 7:28; Luk 16:21) needs no comment. The phrase table of the Lord (Yahweh) in Mal 1:7, Mal 1:12 the King James Version (compare Eze 41:22; Eze 44:16 – Eze 39:20 is quite different) means the table (altar) set before the Lord, but the same phrase in 1Co 10:21 is used in a different sense and the origin of its use by Paul is obscure. Doubtless the language, if not the meaning, of Malachi had its influence and may very well have been suggested to Paul as he wrote 1Co 10:18. On the other hand, light may be thrown on the passage by such a papyrus fragment as Chareimon invites you to dine at the table (kline) of the lord Serapis, a formal invitation to an idol-banquet (1Co 8:10; Pap. Oxyr. i. 110; compare iii. 523). This would explain Paul’s table of demons – a phrase familiar to the Corinthians – and he wrote table of the Lord to correspond (compare, however, Pirke ‘Abhoth, iii. 4). Table at which the Lord is Host, at any rate, is the meaning of the phrase. On the whole passage see the comms., especially that of Lietzmann (fullest references). Probably Luk 22:30 has no bearing on 1Co 10:21. The meaning of Psa 69:22 (quoted in Rom 11:9), Let their table before them become a snare, is very obscure (let them be attacked while deadened in revelings?), and perhaps was left intentionally vague.
Fuente: International Standard Bible Encyclopedia
Table
In a few places this term refers to a tablet which could be written on, as in Hab 2:2; Luk 1:63; 2Co 3:3. In Mar 7:4 the word translated ‘table’ is , ‘a couch,’ often translated ‘bed’ in the A.V
Fuente: Concise Bible Dictionary
Table
1. An article of furniture:
– General references
Jdg 1:7; 1Sa 20:29; 1Sa 20:34; 2Ki 4:10; Joh 2:15
– Made of silver
1Ch 28:16
– Figurative:
b Of the altar
Mal 1:7; Mal 1:12
b Of the Lord’s supper
1Co 10:21
b Of idolatrous feasts
1Co 10:21
b Of charities
Act 6:2
2. Of shewbread
Shewbread, Table of
3. Of testimony:
– General references
Exo 31:18; Exo 32:15; Exo 34:29
– The commandments engraved upon
Exo 20:3-17; Exo 24:12; Deu 4:13; Deu 5:4-22; Deu 9:10; Hos 8:12
– Broken
Exo 24:12; Exo 31:18; Exo 32:15-19; Deu 4:13; Deu 9:9-11; Deu 9:17
– A second set engraved
Exo 34:1; Deu 10:1-4
– Placed in the ark
Deu 10:5; 1Ki 8:9; Heb 9:4
4. A slab on which inscriptions were made:
– General references
Isa 30:8; Hab 2:2; Luk 1:63
Figurative
Pro 3:3; Jer 17:1; 2Co 3:3
Fuente: Nave’s Topical Bible
TABLE
(1) An Article of Furniture
Jdg 1:7; 2Sa 9:7; 1Ki 10:5; 1Ki 18:19; Neh 5:17; Mat 15:27
(2) Of Shewbread, used in the Tabernacle
Exo 25:23; Exo 31:8; Exo 37:10; Exo 40:22; Num 3:31; 2Ch 13:11; Heb 9:2
–SEE Shewbread, SHEWBREAD
Fuente: Thompson Chain-Reference Bible
Table
is used of (a) “a dining table,” Mat 15:27; Mar 7:28; Luk 16:21; Luk 22:21, Luk 22:30; (b) “the table of shewbread,” Heb 9:2; (c) by metonymy, of “what is provided on the table” (the word being used of that with which it is associated), Act 16:34; Rom 11:9 (figurative of the special privileges granted to Israel and centering in Christ); 1Co 10:21 (twice), “the Lord’s table,” denoting all that is provided for believers in Christ on the ground of His death (and thus expressing something more comprehensive than the Lord’s Supper); “the table of demons,” denoting all that is partaken of by idolaters as the result of the influence of demons in connection with their sacrifices; (d) “a moneychanger’s table,” Mat 21:12; Mar 11:15; Joh 2:15; (e) “a bank,” Luk 19:23 (cp. trapezites: see BANKERS); (f) by metonymy for “the distribution of money,” Act 6:2. See BANK.
primarily denotes “anything flat and broad,” hence, “a flat stone, a tablet,” 2Co 3:3 (twice); Heb 9:4.
Note: Some texts have the word kline, “a couch,” in Mar 7:4 (AV, “tables”).
Fuente: Vine’s Dictionary of New Testament Words
Table
Psa 23:5 (b) David indicates the rich provision which the Lord makes for His children. He feeds them on heavenly dainties as they travel through this world. They have sources of joy that the world does not have. They feed on the Living Bread, and drink the Living Water, and their hearts are satisfied.
Psa 69:22 (b) This table represents the sinner’s preparations for a good time. The Psalmist asks that their good times be turned into times of sorrow because of their hatred toward him, GOD’s servant.
Psa 78:19 (b) By this picture we understand that GOD made provision for food and sustenance in the wilderness where there were no natural supplies.
Isa 28:8 (b) This is a type of the provision made by false religions for feeding their followers. The food which they offer is called “vomit.” It represents good things taken into the person’s soul and mind: there it is mixed with their own ideas and notions and this mixture is given out for others to feed on, and to accept as the doctrine of GOD. All false religions offer this vomit. The leaders take in some of the Word of GOD, change the meaning of it, mix it with their own ideas, and then give it out in books and speeches for others to accept and believe.