Bible dictionaries
Open
What Bible dictionaries say about “Open”, one article after the other.
Easton’s Bible Dictionary & Webster’s 1828 Dictionary
Open - (Webster's 1828 Dictionary)
OPEN, a o'pn.
1. Unclosed; not shut; as, the gate is open; an open door or window; an open book; open eyes.
2. Spread; expanded. He received his son with open arms.
3. Unsealed; as an open letter.
4. Not shut or fast; as an open hand.
5. Not covered; as the open air; an open vessel.
6. Not covered with trees; clear; as an open country or field.
7. Not stopped; as an open bottle.
8. Not fenced or obstructed; as an open road.
9. Not frosty; warmer than usual; not freezing severely; as an open winter.
An open and warm winter portendeth a hot and dry summer.
Johnson interprets open, in this passage, by not cloudy, not gloomy. I think the definition wrong. In America, an open winter is one in which the earth is not bound with frost and covered with snow.
10. Public; before a court and its suitors. His testimony was given in open court.
11. Admitting all persons without restraint; free to all comers. He keeps open house at the election.
12. Clear of ice; as, the river or the harbor is open.
13. Plain; apparent; evident; public; not secret or concealed; as an open declaration; open avowal; open shame; open defiance. The nations contend to open war or in open arms.
14. Not wearing disguise; frank; sincere; unreserved; candid; artless.
He was held a man open and of good faith.
His generous, open undesigning heart.
15. Not clouded; not contracted or frowning; having an air of frankness and sincerity; as an open look.
With aspect open shall erect his head.
16. Not hidden; exposed to view.
We are to exercise our thoughts and lay open the treasures of divine truth.
17. Ready to hear or receive what is offered.
His ears are open to their cry. Psa 34.
18. Free to be employed for redress; not restrained or denied; not precluding any person.
The law is open. Acts 19.
19. Exposed; not protected; without defense. The country is open to the invaders.
- Hath left me open to all injuries.
20. Attentive; employed in inspection.
Thine eyes are open upon all the ways of the sons of men - Jer 32.
21. Clear; unobstructed; as an open view.
22. Unsettled; not balanced or closed; as an open account.
Open accounts between merchants.
23. Not closed; free to be debated; as a question open for discussion.
24. In music, an open note is that which a string is tuned to produce.
OPEN, v.t. o'pn.
1. To unclose; to unbar; to unlock; to remove any fastening or cover and set open; as, to open a door or gate; to open a desk.
2. To break the seal of a letter and unfold it.
3. To separate parts that are close; as, to open the lips; to open the mouth or eyes or eyelids; to open a book.
4. To remove a covering from; as, to open a pit.
5. To cut through; to perforate; to lance; as, to open the skin; to open an abscess.
6. To break; to divide; to split or rend; as, the earth was opened in many places by an earthquake; a rock is opened by blasting.
7. To clear; to make by removing obstructions; as, to open a road; to open a passage; the heat of spring opens rivers bound with ice.
8. To spread; to expand; as, to open the hand.
9. To unstop; as, to open a bottle.
10. To begin; to make the first exhibition. The attorney general opens the cause on the part of the king or the state. Homer opens his poem with the utmost simplicity and modesty.
11. To show; to bring to view or knowledge.
The English did adventure far to open the north parts of America.
12. To interpret; to explain.
- While he opened to us the Scriptures. Luke 24.
13. To reveal; to disclose. He opened his mind very freely.
14. To make liberal; as, to open the heart.
15. To make the first discharge of artillery; as, to open a heavy fire on the enemy.
16. To enter on or begin; as to open a negotiation or correspondence; to open a trade with the Indies.
17. To begin to see by the removal of something intercepted the view; as, we sailed round the point and opened the harbor.
OPEN, v.i. o'pn.
1. To unclose itself; to be unclosed; to be parted.
The earth opened and swallowed up Dathan, and covered the company of Abiram. Psa 106.
2. To begin to appear. As we sailed round the point, the harbor opened to our view.
3. To commence; to begin. sales of stock open at par.
4. To bark; a term in hunting.
Matthew George Easton, Easton’s Bible Dictionary; Noah Webster, American Dictionary of the English Language (1828)
The article in Easton + Webster 1828International Standard Bible Encyclopedia (ISBE 1915)
o'-p'-n: In the Old Testament represents chiefly pathach, but also other words, as galah, "to uncover"; of the opening of the eyes in vision, etc. (thus Balaam, Nu 22:31; 24:4; compare Job 33:16; 36:10; Ps 119:18; Jer 32:11,14). In the New Testament the usual word is anoigo (of opening of mouth, eyes, heavens, doors, etc.). A peculiar word, trachelizomai (literally, to have the neck bent back, to be laid bare), is used for "laid open" before God in Heb 4:13.
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia — James Orr, general editor and contributors; CrossWire SWORD module ISBE 2.2
The article in ISBE 1915