Bible Encyclopedias
Curious

International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

kū´ri -us ( מחשׁבת , maḥăshebheth ; περίεργος , perı́ergos ): The above Hebrew word, meaning "thought," "device," "design," is translated "curious," Exodus 35:32 the King James Version "curious works"; the English Revised Version "cunning"; the American Standard Revised Version "skilful"; ḥēshebh ("device," "devised work"), translated the King James Version "curious girdle," is translated by the English Revised Version "cunningly woven band," the American Standard Revised Version "skilfully" (Exodus 28:8 , Exodus 28:27 , Exodus 28:28; Exodus 29:5; Exodus 39:5 , Exodus 39:20 , Exodus 39:21; Leviticus 8:7 ). In Psalm 139:15 rāḳam , "embroidered," "variegated" is used figuratively of a child in the womb, translated "curiously wrought"; "the body or the fetus is described as woven together of so many different-colored threads, like a cunning and beautiful network or tapestry" (Perowne in the place cited.). See also CURDLE . Periergos , "working round about," is used of the "curious arts" of some in Ephesus who brought their books to be burned (Acts 19:19 the American Standard Revised Version "magical"). See ASTROLOGY 14.