Prayer Tents Bible References - Prayer Tents

DAUGHTER

In most instances, a household’s female child (Heb. baṯ). The term may also designate a female descendant, perhaps a granddaughter (e.g., 2 Kgs. 8:26 = 2 Chr. 22:2), or the inhabitant of a city (e.g., Judg. 21:21) or region (e.g., Gen. 24:3). At times, Heb. bēn, “son,” encompasses both sexes; like sons, daughters are regarded as blessings (Ps. 128:3) and must honor their parents (Exod. 20:10); both will prophesy in messianic times (Joel 2:28[MT 3:1]).

Daughters were highly valued because of their physical labor and because life continued through them (Gen. 29:9; Exod. 21:7). Sexual prohibitions (Lev. 18) protect daughters and forbid a man from having sexual relations with his daughter, son’s daughter, daughter’s daughter, daughter-in-law, a woman and her daughter, and the daughter of his father’s wife.

When a daughter married, her father received a bride price; generally this was returned to her as dowry (Gen. 31:15). A father could annul his daughter’s vow (Num. 30:3-5). Although genealogies primarily list firstborn sons, they also name daughters when there are no sons (Gen. 46:17; Num. 26:46 [= 1 Chr. 7:30]; 27:1-11; 36:1-12; Josh. 17:3).

The daughters of foreigners — especially the Canaanites and Philistines — received little praise and were credited with Israel’s ruin (Judg. 3:6; Mal. 2:11). The law forbade intermarriage with them (Deut. 7:3). After the Exile, the Israelites agreed not to give their daughters in marriage to the peoples around them or take foreign daughters for their sons (Neh. 10:30[31]).

In genealogical materials, towns or villages are depicted as “daughters,” indicating their relationship as colonies or dependencies of a state (e.g., Ps. 48:11) or city (1 Chr. 2:3, 21, 35, 49). Elsewhere “daughter” is used metaphorically. The daughters of Jerusalem are the bride’s friends (Cant. 8:4), and the “daughter of Zion” (NRSV “daughter Zion”) is the personification of Jerusalem (Isa. 1:8; 62:11; Jer. 4:31; Lam. 2:8).

Jesus used “daughter” as a term of respect and endearment (e.g., Mark 5:34 par.).

Robin Gallaher Branch

Prayer Tents Bible References - Prayer Tents

DAUGHTER

Eerdmans Dictionary of the Bible (2000)