GREEK SCRIPTURES

See CHRISTIAN GREEK SCRIPTURES; MANUSCRIPTS OF THE BIBLE.

GREEN

See COLORS.

GREETING

See ATTITUDES AND GESTURES.

GREYHOUND

A very swift, keen-sighted dog, with a pointed muzzle, a slender streamlined body and long, strong legs. There is considerable uncertainty, though, as to what is designated by the Hebrew expression zar·zirʹ math·naʹyim, literally meaning “the (animal) girded in at the hips (loins).” A number of Bible translations use “greyhound” in the main text at Proverbs 30:31, but in footnotes list “war horse” and “rooster” as alternate renderings. (AS, NW, 1957 ed., Ro) The reading “rooster” or “cock” (AT, Dy, JB, Kx, Mo, RS) has the support of the Greek Septuagint and the Latin Vulgate. “Greyhound” is an appropriate rendering, however, for it fits the description of an animal that does well with its “pacing.” (Prov. 30:29) The greyhound has been clocked at a speed of 40 m.p.h. (c. 64 k.p.h.). Also, the slenderness of the greyhound’s lumbar regions, as if the animal is “girded in at the hips,” would harmonize with what is considered to be the literal significance of the Hebrew designation.

GRIEF

See MOURNING.

GUARD

In the pre-Christian Scriptures the word “guard” is drawn, in many instances, from Hebrew words having the basic meaning of “watch” and “keep.” Cherubs were posted by Jehovah at the E of the garden of Eden to guard (keep) the way of the tree of life. (Gen. 3:24) The workmen rebuilding Jerusalem’s wall under Nehemiah’s direction served also as guards at night. (Neh. 4:22, 23) Kings had runners accompanying their chariots as guards, as did Absalom and Adonijah when each tried to take the throne of Israel. (2 Sam. 15:1; 1 Ki. 1:5) Runners served under King Rehoboam as watchmen at the palace doors and kept guard over valued copper shields. (1 Ki. 14:27, 28) High Priest Jehoiada used runners at the temple, along with the Carian bodyguard, to protect young King Jehoash and to execute Athaliah.—2 Ki. 11:4-21; see CARIAN BODYGUARD; RUNNERS.

The Hebrew word tab·bahhʹ, translated “cook” at 1 Samuel 9:23, meant, basically, “slayer” or “butcher” and gained the meaning of executioner; it is elsewhere used with reference to the bodyguard of Pharaoh of Egypt and of King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon. (Gen. 37:36; 2 Ki. 25:8, 11, 20; Dan. 2:14) The Hebrew word mish·maʹʽath, meaning, basically, “hearers” or “[obedient] subjects,” is used to refer to David’s bodyguard (2 Sam. 23:23; 1 Chron. 11:25) and to the bodyguard of Saul, over which David had been chief.—1 Sam. 22:14.

It was the practice in Roman prisons to chain a prisoner to a soldier guard or, for maximum security, to two guards. (Acts 12:4, 6) However, during the apostle Paul’s first imprisonment in Rome he was accorded the respect of being free from this form of restraint, having only a soldier guard living with him in his own hired house. (Acts 28:16, 30) During his second imprisonment he was likely chained to a guard.

The chief priests and Pharisees had their own guards whom Pilate allowed to be posted at Christ’s tomb. To prevent the people from learning about Jesus’ resurrection the chief priests bribed these guards to circulate the lie that Jesus’ followers had stolen his body.—Matt. 27:62-66; 28:11-15.

The Roman Praetorian Guard was formed by Caesar Augustus in 13 B.C.E. to serve as imperial bodyguards. (Phil. 1:12, 13) Emperor Tiberius had this guard encamped permanently near the walls of Rome and by means of them held in check any unruliness of the people. This attached great importance to the commander of the guard, whose force came to amount to about 10,000 men. In time the Praetorian Guard became so powerful that it was able both to put emperors into office and to dethrone them.

GUARD, GATE OF THE

See GATE, GATEWAY.

GUDGODAH

(Gudʹgo·dah) [cleft, division].

A wilderness encampment of the Israelites; probably the same as Hor-haggidgad. (Deut. 10:6, 7; compare Numbers 33:33.) Many geographers, believing the name “Gudgodah” to be preserved in Wadi Ghadaghed, suggest that this place may have been located on Wadi Ghadaghed, about forty-two miles (68 kilometers) N-NW of the Gulf of Aqabah. But this has been questioned, since the Hebrew consonants of Gudgodah do not actually correspond with those of Ghadaghed. Concerning the order in which the Israelite camping sites are listed in Numbers and Deuteronomy, see BENE-JAAKAN.

GUEST

See HOSPITALITY.

GUILT

See LEGAL CASE.

GUILT OFFERING

See OFFERINGS.

GULL

[Heb., shaʹhhaph].

Although the Authorized Version renders the Hebrew name of this bird as “cuckow” (cuckoo), this translation has generally been abandoned in favor of the sea gull (sometimes called “sea mew”). (See CUCKOO.) Some Lexicographers understand the name to be derived from a root meaning to “be thin, slender or lean,” which might describe the gull from the standpoint of its trim appearance and the relative narrowness of the body as compared with the long, pointed wings. Others believe the Hebrew name shaʹhhaph is in imitation of the shrill cry made by this generally noisy bird. The older versions (LXX, Vg) also understood it to refer to the seagoing gull. It is one of the birds hunting prey or eating carrion that were prohibited as food according to God’s law given to the Israelites.—Lev. 11:13, 16; Deut. 14:12, 15.

The gull family (called Laridae) is composed of a number of closely related web-footed sea birds, including true gulls, terns and skimmers, all powerful fliers that catch their food in flight or from the surface of the water (rather than diving or plunging for it), and that can swim well, rest and even sleep on the water. The gull alternately flaps its wings, soars, wheels and glides downward to pick up food in the form of fish, insects, and practically any kind of offal and garbage (thus serving as a valuable scavenger in ports and harbors). Gulls often carry mussels or other mollusks up into the air and then drop them