The Life of Jesus in Harmony | Index

bosom

BOSOM.

There are two possibilities under consideration:

  1. "lap"; Gk. kolpos. The bunchy fold of the dress in front of the breast, into which one grabs with his hand (Ps 74:11); also used as a pocket or bag in which bread, grain, and other kinds of food were carried (Hag 2:12; Lk 6:38).

Shepherds also carried lambs (Is 40:11).

  1. The front of the body between the arms; to "lean on one's bosom" is to so recline at the table that the head covers, as it were, the breast of the one next to him (Jn 13:23).

The expression "carried away . . . to Abraham's bosom" (Lk 16:22) means to obtain the seat next to Abraham, i.e., to be partaker of the same blessedness as Abraham.

Christ "is in the bosom of the Father" (Jn 1:18), i.e., "He who is most intimately connected with the Father, and dearest to Him."