Encyclopedia entry
Bed
(Heb. mittah), for rest at night (Ex. 8:3; 1 Sam. 19:13, 15, 16, etc.); during sickness (Gen. 47:31; 48:2; 49:33, etc.); as a sofa for rest (1 Sam. 28:23; Amos 3:12). Another Hebrew word (er’es) so rendered denotes a canopied bed, or a bed with curtains (Deut. 3:11; Ps. 132:3), for sickness (Ps. 6:6; 41:3).
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In the New Testament it denotes sometimes a litter with a coverlet (Matt. 9:2, 6; Luke 5:18; Acts 5:15).
The Jewish bedstead was frequently merely the divan or platform along the sides of the house, sometimes a very slight portable frame, sometimes only a mat or one or more quilts. The only material for bed-clothes is mentioned in 1 Sam. 19:13. Sleeping in the open air was not uncommon, the sleeper wrapping himself in his outer garment (Ex. 22:26, 27; Deut. 24:12, 13).
Also from Smith's (1884) +−
The Jewish bed consisted of the mattress, a mere mat, or one or more quilts; the covering, a finer quilt, or sometimes the outer garment worn by day, (1 Samuel 19:13) which the law provided should not be kept in pledge after sunset, that the poor man might not lack his needful covering, (24:13) the pillow, (1 Samuel 19:13) probably formed of sheep’s fleece or goat’s skin with a stuffing of cotton, etc.; the bedstead, a divan or bench along the side or end of the room, sufficing at a support for the bedding. Besides we have bedsteads made of ivory, wood, etc. referred to in (3:11; Amos 6:4) The ornamental portions were pillars and a canopy, Judith 13:9, ivory carvings, gold and silver, and probably mosaic work, purple and fine linen. (Esther 1:6; Song of Solomon 3:9,10) The ordinary furniture of a bedchamber in private life is given in (2 Kings 4:10)
In the Bible
102
Verses where Bed is named. Berean Standard Bible (public domain).
- 1 Chronicles 5:1
These were the sons of Reuben the firstborn of Israel. Though he was the firstborn, his birthright was given to the sons of Joseph son of Israel, because Reuben defiled his father’s bed. So he is not reckoned according to birthright.
- 1 Kings 1:47
The king’s servants have also gone to congratulate our lord King David, saying, ‘May your God make the name of Solomon more famous than your own name, and may He make his throne greater than your throne.’ And the king has bowed in worship on his bed,
- 1 Kings 17:19
But Elijah said to her, “Give me your son.” So he took him from her arms, carried him to the upper room where he was staying, and laid him on his own bed.
- 1 Kings 21:4
So Ahab went to his palace, sullen and angry because Naboth the Jezreelite had told him, “I will not give you the inheritance of my fathers.” He lay down on his bed, turned his face away, and refused to eat.
- 1 Samuel 19:13
Then Michal took a household idol and laid it in the bed, placed some goat hair on its head, and covered it with a garment.
- 1 Samuel 19:15
But Saul sent the messengers back to see David and told them, “Bring him up to me in his bed so I can kill him.”
+96 more verses naming Bed.
Scripture on Bed
72
See all 72 +−
- 2 Samuel 42 Kings 1Daniel 4Matthew 9Genesis 47Genesis 49Exodus 8Deuteronomy 31 Samuel 282 Samuel 11Job 33Psalms 6Psalms 132Proverbs 7Song of Solomon 3Isaiah 57Ezekiel 17Ezekiel 23Daniel 2Amos 3Luke 5Acts 9Genesis 19Genesis 39Genesis 48Exodus 21Exodus 22Deuteronomy 22Deuteronomy 24Deuteronomy 272 Samuel 131 Kings 11 Kings 171 Kings 211 Chronicles 52 Chronicles 162 Chronicles 24Esther 1Esther 7Job 7Job 17Psalms 4Psalms 36Psalms 41Psalms 63Psalms 139Proverbs 22Proverbs 26Proverbs 31Song of Solomon 1Song of Solomon 5Isaiah 14Isaiah 28Ezekiel 32Daniel 7Amos 6Matthew 8Mark 1Mark 4Mark 7Luke 8Luke 11Luke 17Acts 5Acts 28Hebrews 13Revelation 2
Entries that reference Bed
1
Voices on Bed
24
Surfaced by name match — accuracy varies by title clarity.
Sources · Easton's Bible Dictionary (1897) · Smith's Bible Dictionary (1884)
Public-domain text. Modernized only where archaic spelling impedes reading; original facts preserved. Verify against an authoritative modern reference before quoting.