Topic
Dowry
16 passages cited, from 4 classic reference works.
These works date from 1884–1915 and are in the public domain. They reflect the Protestant scholarship of their time: their history, archaeology and dates can be out of date, and where they interpret, other traditions read the text differently. The verses are shown in the King James Version, the wording these works were written against.
The verses
The passages the works cite, those cited by more of them first.
- Exodus 22:17Easton · ISBE · Nave General scriptures concerning
If her father utterly refuse to give her unto him, he shall pay money according to the dowry of virgins.
- Genesis 29:18Easton · ISBE
And Jacob loved Rachel; and said, I will serve thee seven years for Rachel thy younger daughter.
- Genesis 34:12Easton · ISBE
Ask me never so much dowry and gift, and I will give according as ye shall say unto me: but give me the damsel to wife.
- 1 Samuel 18:25Easton · ISBE
And Saul said, Thus shall ye say to David, The king desireth not any dowry, but an hundred foreskins of the Philistines, to be avenged of the king’s enemies. But Saul thought to make David fall by the hand of the Philistines.
- Genesis 24:22ISBE
And it came to pass, as the camels had done drinking, that the man took a golden earring of half a shekel weight, and two bracelets for her hands of ten shekels weight of gold;
- Genesis 24:53ISBE
And the servant brought forth jewels of silver, and jewels of gold, and raiment, and gave them to Rebekah: he gave also to her brother and to her mother precious things.
- Genesis 30:20Easton
And Leah said, God hath endued me with a good dowry; now will my husband dwell with me, because I have born him six sons: and she called his name Zebulun.
- Exodus 22:16Nave General scriptures concerning
¶ And if a man entice a maid that is not betrothed, and lie with her, he shall surely endow her to be his wife.
- Joshua 15:16ISBE
¶ And Caleb said, He that smiteth Kirjath-sepher, and taketh it, to him will I give Achsah my daughter to wife.
- Judges 1:12ISBE
And Caleb said, He that smiteth Kirjath-sepher, and taketh it, to him will I give Achsah my daughter to wife.
- Judges 1:15ISBE
And she said unto him, Give me a blessing: for thou hast given me a south land; give me also springs of water. And Caleb gave her the upper springs and the nether springs.
- Ruth 4:3–9Nave General scriptures concerning
And he said unto the kinsman, Naomi, that is come again out of the country of Moab, selleth a parcel of land, which was our brother Elimelech’s: And I thought to advertise thee, saying, Buy it before the inhabitants, and before the elders of my people. If…
Show 4 more
- Ruth 4:10 ISBE
- 1 Samuel 18:23 ISBE
- 1 Kings 9:16 ISBE
- Hosea 3:2 ISBE
In the reference works
Easton's Bible Dictionary (1897) · 6 references
(mohar; i.e., price paid for a wife, Gen. 34:12; Ex. 22:17; 1 Sam. 18:25), a nuptial present; some gift, as a sum of money, which the bridegroom offers to the father of his bride as a satisfaction before he can receive her. Jacob had no dowry to give for his wife, but he gave his services (Gen. 29:18; 30:20; 34:12).
Smith's Bible Dictionary (1884) · 0 references
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia (1915) · 16 references
dou'-ri: In all Hebrew marriages, the dowry held an important place. The dowry sealed the betrothal. It took several forms. The bridegroom presented gifts to the bride. There was the mohar, "dowry" as distinguished from matttan, "gifts to the members of the family" (compare Ge 24:22,53; Ge 34:12). The price paid to the father or brothers of the bride was probably a survival of the early custom of purchasing wives (Ge 34:12; Ex 22:17; 1Sa 18:25; compare Ru 4:10; Ho 3:2). There was frequently much negotiation and bargaining as to size of dowry (Ge 34:12). The dowry would generally be according to the wealth and standing of the bride (compare 1Sa 18:23). It might consist of money, jewelry or other valuable effects; sometimes, of service rendered, as in the case of Jacob (Ge 29:18); deeds of valor might be accepted in place of dowry (Jos 15:16; 1Sa 18:25; Jud 1:12). Occasionally a bride received a dowry from her father; sometimes in the shape of land (Jud 1:15), and of cities (1Ki 9:16). In later Jewish history a written marriage contract definitely arranged for the nature and size of the dowry.
Edward Bagby Pollard
In the topical indexes
Texts: Easton's Bible Dictionary (1897); Smith's Bible Dictionary (1884); International Standard Bible Encyclopedia (1915); Nave's Topical Bible (1896), from the CrossWire SWORD modules (public domain). Verse references were parsed from the works' own markup and checked against the KJV verse list.