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  • Lod
    Insight on the Scriptures, Volume 2
    • principal route between Egypt and Babylon and the main road from Joppa to Jerusalem. During the Common Era this strategic position exposed the city to ravages by the armies of the Romans, Saracens, Crusaders, and Mongols.

  • Lo-debar
    Insight on the Scriptures, Volume 2
    • LO-DEBAR

      (Lo-deʹbar).

      The site where Machir, a contemporary of King David, had his home. (2Sa 9:4, 5; 17:27) Lo-debar is usually thought to be the same as Debir in Gad.​—Jos 13:24, 26; see DEBIR No. 4.

  • Log
    Insight on the Scriptures, Volume 2
    • LOG

      The smallest liquid measure mentioned in the Bible. Talmudic evidence indicates the log to be one twelfth of a hin, or 0.014 bath. On the basis of archaeological findings, the bath is estimated to be 22 L (5.81 gal). If correct, this would give the log measure a capacity of about 0.31 L (0.66 pt). One log measure of oil was part of the prescribed offering by a cleansed leper.​—Le 14:2, 10, 12, 15, 21, 24.

  • Loins
    Insight on the Scriptures, Volume 2
    • LOINS

      The abdominal region and the area about the hips. The Bible uses both the Hebrew words chala·tsaʹyim (loins) and moth·naʹyim (hips) to refer to this area. (Isa 5:27; 2Ki 4:29) The Greek o·sphysʹ is also applied in the ordinary sense in describing John the Baptizer as clothed about the loins with a leather girdle.​—Mt 3:4.

      The section of the body designated by the word “loins” contains the reproductive organs; therefore offspring are said to ‘come out of the loins.’ (Ge 35:11; 1Ki 8:19; Ac 2:30) Paul uses this fact when showing that Jesus’ priesthood according to the manner of Melchizedek is superior to Aaron’s, in that Levi, Aaron’s forefather, was in the loins of Abraham, and in that sense paid tithes to Melchizedek. (Heb 7:5-10; Ge 14:18-20) Paul also argued similarly at Romans 7:9, saying: “I [Paul the Jew, in his forefathers’ loins before the Law was given] was once alive apart from law; but when the commandment arrived, sin came to life again, but I died.”

      To “gird up the loins” meant to gather up the ends of the robes under the sash to facilitate physical activity and came to be used as an expression denoting preparation for vigorous mental or spiritual activity, and at times, it conveyed the idea of strengthening.​—Lu 12:35; compare 1Pe 1:13, “Brace up your minds [literally, “Gird up the loins of your mind”] for activity.”

      At Ephesians 6:14, Christians are told to have their “loins girded about with truth,” that is, strengthened by the truth of God’s Word as an essential support, just as a tight girding of the physical loins protects them against damage due to extreme stress.

      Jehovah foretold the pain and distress of Jerusalem by the figure “every able-bodied man with his hands upon his loins like a female that is giving birth.”​—Jer 30:6.

      The Hebrew word keʹsel (loins) appears several times at Leviticus 3:4-15, referring to communion sacrifices. It is also used at Job 15:27 and Psalm 38:7. It is translated “flanks” and “loins” in the King James Version.

  • Lois
    Insight on the Scriptures, Volume 2
    • LOIS

      (Loʹis).

      Timothy’s grandmother and apparently the mother of his mother Eunice. That she was not Timothy’s paternal grandmother is indicated by the Syriac rendering “thy mother’s mother.” Lois is commended by Paul, who indicates that she was a Christian woman having ‘faith without hypocrisy.’ (2Ti 1:5) The family’s residence apparently was in Lystra. (Ac 16:1, 2) A comparison of 2 Timothy 1:5 with 2 Timothy 3:15 suggests that Lois and Eunice both taught Timothy from the Scriptures.

  • Long-suffering
    Insight on the Scriptures, Volume 2
    • LONG-SUFFERING

      The patient endurance of wrong or provocation, combined with a refusal to give up hope for improvement in the disturbed relationship. Long-suffering therefore has a purpose, looking particularly to the welfare of the one causing the disagreeable situation. It does not mean the condoning of wrong, however. When the purpose for long-suffering is accomplished, or when there is no point in further putting up with the situation, long-suffering ends. It ends either with good to those giving provocation or with action against the wrongdoers. In any case the one exercising long-suffering is not harmed in spirit.

      The literal meaning of the Hebrew expression translated “slow to anger” (“long-suffering” in some translations) is “length of nostrils [where anger flares up].” (Ex 34:6; Nu 14:18; see ANGER.) The Greek word ma·kro·thy·miʹa (long-suffering) literally means “longness of spirit.” (Ro 2:4, Int) Both the Hebrew and Greek expressions denote patience, forbearance, slowness to anger. The English word “suffering” in the word “long-suffering” has the sense of “putting up with, permitting, tolerating, holding up, or delaying.” “Long-suffering” means more than merely enduring pain or trouble. It does not mean merely “suffering long” but involves deliberate restraint.

      The Scriptures reveal God’s evaluation of long-suffering and point out the foolishness and bad results of not maintaining “longness of spirit.” The long-suffering person may seem weak, but he actually is using discernment. “He that is slow to anger is abundant in discernment, but one that is impatient is exalting foolishness.” (Pr 14:29) Long-suffering

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