Meaning
Breast brest: Signifying the front view of the bust in humans and the corresponding portion of the body in animals. chazeh, occurs in Exo 29:26, Exo 29:27, Lev 7:30, Lev 7:31, Lev 7:34, Lev 8:29, Lev 10:14, Lev 10:15, Num 6:20, Num 18:18; and chadhi, in Da 2:32. shadh or shodh = "breast" in the sense of pap of a woman or animal (Job 24:9, Son 8:1, Son 8:8, Son 8:10, Isa 60:16, Lam 4:3). Only one word occurs with this signification in the New Testament: stethos = "bosom," "chest" (Luk 18:13, Luk 23:48, Joh 13:25, Joh 21:20).
See WAVE OFFERING.
Figurative: "The breasts of virginity," pressed and bruised (Eze 23:3, Eze 23:8 the King James Version), indicative of Ezekiel's belief that Israel practiced idolatry in Egypt (compare Eze 20:8). "To tear (pluck off) thy breasts" (Eze 23:34) denotes the anguish of the people in parting with their beloved sin (compare Ho 2:2). "Its breast of silver" (Da 2:32) is possibly expressive of the humanity and wealth of the Medo-Persian empire.
Frank E. Hirsch
