DITRA (du'ra), (Heb. doo-raw'), the plain in which Nebuchadnezzar set up his golden image (Dan. iii:1).
Traces of the name have been idly sought in quarters too distant from Babylon to have been historically possible, as it is clear from the con text that 'the plain of Dura' could be no other. than that plain (or some part of it) in which Babylon itself was situated.
DURE (drir), (Gr. icr7-1, es-tee', consist, remain), R. V., "endure." Yet bath he not root in himself, but dureth for a while (Matt. xiii :21).
This is the same word which we now write endure. Our word during conies from the same root.
DUST (dust), (generally Heb. aw-finor', powdered ashes, clay, dust).
Figurative. 1) The tutting of dust and ashes on the hood; rolling one's self in dust; sitting in the dust, putting the mouth mum the dust; import great mourning and distress (Josh. vii:6; 1:io; Job xlii:6; Is. xivii:i; Lam. iii:29). (2) The Jews throwing dust in the air against Paul imported an outrageous desire to have reduced him to powder (Acts xxii:231. (3) The apostles shaking of the dust of their feet, against those who refused to receive them, imported a condem nation of them (Matt. x :t4; Luke x :5). (4) The shaking one's self from the dust imports recovery from distress, contempt, and grief (Is. Ili :2). (5) To lick the dust of one's feet is to pay him the utmost reverence and subjection ; as the subjects in some eastern courts fell on the earth, and kissed the dust at the feet of their sovereign (Ps. lxxii :9; Is. xlix :23). (6) To pant for the dust on the head of the poor, is to wish for their utter ruin, or to be earnestly covetous of their meanest enjoyments (Amos ii :7). (7) Dust shall be the serpent's meat, i. e.. Satan shall only harass wicked men; and wicked men shall have a poor pittance of outward enjoyments (Gen.
iii:14; Is. lxv :25). (8) Dust is put for the grave, where men's bodies are encompassed with, and turned into dust (Gen. iii:t9; Job vii:2t; Eccles. xii :7) ; and for a low and wretched condition (t Sam. ii :8; Nah. :18; Ps. xxii:29). (9) Men are called dust and oshes; their bodies are formed from, nourished with, and shall return to dust (Gcn. xviii :27). (to) Dead men are called dust (Ps. xxx :9). (II) The Jews are likened to dust for their multitude (Gen. xiii 16; Num. xxiii :to; and for their great distress (2 Kings xiii :7) ; and the quails for their vast num ber ( Ps. I xxviii :27). (12) Ariction consols not forth of the dust, neither dot trouble spring out of the ground; it comes not by mere chance or course of nature, hut from a sinful cause, and by means of the providence of God (Job v:6).
DUTY (da't1•). 1. (Ileh. daw-bawr', a mat ter, 2 Chron. viii:14; Ezra iii:4), means the task of each day.
2. o-naw', cohabitation.
In the New Testament the word is the render ing of the Greek 80/(Xew, of-r-/eh'o, to be tinder obligation (Luke xvii :to; Rom. xv :27), and sig nifies that which ought to be done.
It thus denotes what one owes, is obliged to render by equity, law, or engagement (E7ek. xviii :1 t ). The duty of marriage is the same with what Paul calls due benevolence, together with a proper authority in the family (Exod. xxi :to; Cor. vii :3). The duty of a husband's brother, if unmarried, was to marry the widow of his de ceased brother, and raise up children to him (Deut. xxv :5-7).