Butter
חֶמְאָה/BUH-ter/
“Coagulated, curdled”
Summary
A dairy product made from milk, though in Scripture the Hebrew word often refers more broadly to curdled milk or cream.
☩Meaning and Preparation
The Hebrew word 'chemah' usually translated 'butter' more often refers to curdled milk or cream rather than churned butter as known today. The Arabs prepared it by placing milk in a goatskin bag hung from poles and rocking it back and forth for several hours. The resulting butter was white and more fluid than Western butter.
Key verses:Proverbs 30:33Job 29:6
☩Cultural Significance
Butter and honey together were considered among the richest delicacies of the land. Abraham offered 'butter and milk' to his divine visitors, following the hospitality customs still practiced in the East. Isaiah's prophecy mentions butter and honey as the food of Immanuel.
Key verses:Genesis 18:8Judges 5:25Isaiah 7:15Isaiah 7:22
Related Verses10 mentions
See Also
References
- 1.John McClintock and James Strong, "Butter," in Cyclopedia of Biblical, Theological and Ecclesiastical Literature, vol. I (Harper & Brothers, 1867–1887).
- 2.F. N. Peloubet & M. A. Peloubet (ed.), "Butter," in Smith's Bible Dictionary (Porter & Coates, 1884).
- 3.Andrew Robert Fausset, "Butter," in The Englishman's Critical and Expository Bible Cyclopædia (Hodder & Stoughton, 1878).