TOOTH, TEETH (tooth, teth), (Heb. shone; Sept. 66oth, oef-oos', Ps. lviii:6; Prov. xxx:14; Joel i:6).
in Ps. iii:7, lekh-ee' (Heb. is used for the human jawbone, for that of an ass (Judg. xv:t5-17), and for that of a leviathan (Job xli:t4).
Although shin-flaky:in is the general word for teeth, yet the Hebrews had a distinct term for molars or jaw teeth especially of the larger ani mals; thus meth-al-leh-oth' (Heb. Job xxix:17; Ps. Ivii:4; Prov. xxx:t4; Joel i:6),and, by transposition, rnal-et-teh-olh' (Heb. Ps. lviii:6).
1. Literal Use. The term is used first, with reference to the literal member itself in man, the loss of which, by violence, is specified by Moses, in illustration of his law concerning taliones, 'tooth for tooth' (Exod. xxi :24). This outrage occurring between freemen (or between an Israel ite and a foreigner, Lev. xxiv:2o), admitted like other cases of maiming, most probably of a pe cuniary compensation, and under private arrange ment, unless the injured party proved exorbitant in his demand, when the case was referred to the judge, who seems addressed in Dem. xix:2I.
2. FiguratiVe. (t) A 'broken (or rather 'bad,' that is, decayed) tooth,' is referred to in Prov. xxv :19, as furnishing an apt similitude of 'confi dence in an unfaithful man in the time of trou ble.' (2) 'The teeth of beasts,' or rather 'toeth.' is a phrase expressive of devastation by wile. ani mals: thus, `I will send the teeth of beasts itpu: them' (Dent. xxxii :24 ; comp. 2 Kings xvii :25). (3) The word is sometimes metaphorically used for a sharp cliff or summit of a rock (Job xxxix : 28) : thus,`Theeagledwelleth and abideth upon the tooth of the rock.' So also (I Sam. xiv :4) : 'a start rock on the one side and a sharp rock on the other side.' (4) 'His teeth shall be white with milk' (Gen. xlix :t2), which the Sept. and Vulg. understand to mean 'whiteness greater than milk' (Num. xi:33; Prov. x :26; Cant. iv:2; vi: 6). (5) 'A flesh-hook with three teeth' means prongs (I Sam. ii:13). (See HOOKS.) (6) 'The teeth of lions' is a symbol of the cruelty and rapac ity of the wicked (Job iv :to). (7) `To take one's Resit into one's teeth,' signifies to gnaw it with anguish (Job xiii :14 ; comp. Rev. xvi :to). (8) 'The skin of his teeth,' with which Job says he had 'escaped' in his affliction, is understood by the Vulgate, of the lips; but Gesenius understands it as a proverbial expression, meaning, I have scarcely a sound spot in my body. (9) 'To smite
upon the jawbone' and 'to break the teeth' mean to disgrace, and to disable (Ps. iii:7; comp. Mic. vi:t3; I Kings xx :35 ; Lam. iii:3o). (to) The teeth of calumniators, etc., are compared to 'spears and arrows' (Ps. lvii :4; comp. I Sam. xxiv :9)• To break the teeth of such persons, means to dis able them (Ps. lviii :6). (It) To escape the mal ice of enemies is called an 'escape from their teeth' (Ps. cxxiv :6 ; Zech. ix:7). (t2) Oppres sion is compared to 'jaw-teeth like swords, and grinders like knives' (Prov. xxx :14). (13) Beau tiful teeth are compared to 'sheep newly shorn and washed' in Cant. iv:2; vi :6 ; but the remain ing part of the comparison, 'whereof every one beareth twins, and none is barren among them,' is much better rendered by Le Clerc, 'all of them twins, and none hath lost his fellow.' (t4) To 'break the teeth with gravel stones,' is a most hy perbolical metaphor for inflicting the harshest dis appointment (Lam. iii :t6). (t5) 'Iron teeth' are the symbol of destructive power (Dan. vii :7, 19). (16) A nation having the teeth of lions, and the cheek-teeth of a great lion, denotes one which devours with irresistible force (Joel i :6; comp. Ecclus. xxi :2; Rev. ix :8). (t7) 'Prophets who bite with their teeth,and cry Peace,' are greedy and hypocritical prophets (Mic. :5). (t8) 'To take away blood out of the mouth, and abominations from between the teeth,' means, to rescue the in tended victims of cruelty (Zech. ix :7). 'Clean ness of teeth,' is a periphra::is for hunger, famine (Amos iv:6). (t9) Gnashing of teeth means prop erly grinding the teeth with rage or despair (Job xvi :9 ; Lam. ii :t 6 ; Ps. xxxv :t 6 ; xxxvii :12 ; cxii : to). (2o) `To cost in the teeth,' is an old Eng lish phrase (for the Hebrew has no such idiom), signifying to reproach; thus 'the thieves who were crucified with Jesus cast the some in his teeth' (Matt. xxvii :44). (2t) A 'sharp threshing in strument having teeth', means, literally having 'edges' (Is. xli :15). (22) The action of acids on the teeth is referred to in the proverb. 'the fathers have eaten sour grapes, and the children's teeth are set on edge' (Ezek. xviii :2 ; Prov. x :26).
J. F. D.
TOPAZ (15'paz). Sec PITDAII.