Prayer Tents Bible References - Prayer Tents

LIVER

The largest and heaviest organ in animal and human bodies. The Hebrew term (kāḇēḏ) apparently derives from the common Semitic root kbd, “to be heavy,” and can refer to a physical organ or to the depths of one’s being.

In all but one OT occurrence the term concerns an animal. The lobe or appendage of the sacrificed animal’s liver, along with two kidneys and the fat attached to the entrails and kidneys, was consumed on the altar (e.g., Exod. 29:13, 22; Lev. 3:4, 10, 14-15).

Prov. 7:23 depicts an arrow plunging into the liver of a deer trapped in a snare, mortally wounding it, as descriptive of the man who submits to the seduction of a harlot. Lam. 2:11, the only OT reference to human liver, articulates intense grief occasioned by the tragic destruction of Jerusalem. Although the more general term “bowels” more commonly connotes passionate emotion, the expression “my liver is poured out upon the ground” serves a similar function (the Akkadian and Ugaritic cognate can denote the seat of emotions).

Assyrian and Babylonian literature have abundant references to the examination of a liver for divination purposes. Numerous textbooks on liver observation, collections of omen texts, and as many as 32 models of a liver found at Mari indicate the importance and prevalence of this practice. In his declaration that judgment would come upon Israel by means of the Babylonians, the prophet Ezekiel (Ezek. 21:21[MT 26]) depicts Nebuchadnezzar utilizing three varieties of divination to determine the proper route for his military force. According to Ezekiel, Nebuchanezzar would cast lots by shooting arrows, consult idols, and examine a liver (hepatoscopy).

Bibliography. C. Dohmen and P. Stenmans, “kāḇēḏ I,” TDOT 7:13-22; H. W. Wolff, Anthropology of the Old Testament (Philadelphia, 1974).

Michael A. Grisanti

Prayer Tents Bible References - Prayer Tents

LIVER

Eerdmans Dictionary of the Bible (2000)