WFT- uxorial

03 April 2010

The Merriam-Webster Word of the Day for March 29th was uxorial.

of, relating to, or characteristic of a wife

The origins of the word:

With help from "-ial," "-ious," and "-icide," the Latin word "uxor," meaning "wife," has given us the English words "uxorial," "uxorious" (meaning "excessively fond of or submissive to a wife"), and "uxoricide" ("murder of a wife by her husband" or "a wife murderer"). Do we have equivalent "husband" words? Well, sort of. "Maritus" means "husband" in Latin, so "marital" can mean "of or relating to a husband and his role in marriage" (although "maritus" also means "married," and the "of or relating to marriage or the married state" sense of "marital" is far more common). And while "mariticide" is "spouse killing," it can also be specifically "husband-killing."

There are plenty of examples of wives (or brides) in Scripture.  Proverbs 31:10-31 provides us with one of the best known examples of a G-dly wife and serves as a Sabbath blessing for wives all over the world.

The first uxorial reference in Scripture is found in Genesis 2:24-

For this reason a man shall leave his father and his mother, and be joined to his wife; and they shall become one flesh.

Notice the "wife" in this passage is singular not plural.  The Hebrew word for "wife" is ishah.  It appears to be G-d's intent that there be a single husband married to a single bride.

The last uxorial reference in Scripture is found in the book of Revelation:

Then one of the seven angels who had the seven bowls full of the seven last plagues came and spoke with me, saying, "Come here, I will show you the bride, the wife of the Lamb." And he carried me away in the Spirit to a great and high mountain, and showed me the holy city, Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, having the glory of God. Her brilliance was like a very costly stone, as a stone of crystal-clear jasper.  (Revelation 21:9)

Paul writes the following to Titus:

Older women likewise are to be reverent in their behavior, not malicious gossips nor enslaved to much wine, teaching what is good, so that they may encourage the young women to love their husbands, to love their children, to be sensible, pure, workers at home, kind, being subject to their own husbands, so that the word of God will not be dishonored.  (Titus 2:3-5)

Consider also these two passages:

And I saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, made ready as a bride adorned for her husband.  (Revelation 21:2)

I will rejoice greatly in the LORD, My soul will exult in my God; For He has clothed me with garments of salvation, He has wrapped me with a robe of righteousness, As a bridegroom decks himself with a garland, And as a bride adorns herself with her jewels.  (Isaiah 61:10)

Here is one final uxorial verse that comes to mind:

The Spirit and the bride say, "Come." And let the one who hears say, "Come." And let the one who is thirsty come; let the one who wishes take the water of life without cost.  (Revelation 22:17)

Come quickly, Lord Yeshua, come quickly.

Torah Portion

unknown

 

 

or view this week's triennial cycle reading.

Today is

Yom Shishi, 11 Nisan, 5784

Friday, April 19, 2024

 

Learn more about this date in history.