SPECIAL TOPIC: VIRGIN DAUGHTERS OF. . .
This is the NOUN CONSTRUCT of "virgin" (BDB 413) and "daughter" (BDB 123 I).
The CONSTRUCT "daughter(s) of _________" is a way to refer to a nation.
- Zion/Jerusalem/Judah — Ps. 9:14; Isa. 1:8; 10:32; 16:1; 37:22; 52:2; 62:11; Jer. 4:11; 6:2, 23,26; 8:11,19,21,22;
9:1,7; 14:17; Lamentations (many times); Micah 1:13; 4:8,10; Zeph. 3:14; Zech. 2:10; 9:9
- Israel — 2 Sam. 1:24; Ezek. 16:55
- Tyre — Ps. 45:12; Isa. 23:12
- Babylon/Chaldea — Ezra 2:61; Ps. 137:8; Isa. 47:1,5; Jer. 50:42; 51:33; Zech. 2:7
- Egypt — Jer. 46:24
- Tarshish — Isa. 23:10
- Philistia — Ezek. 16:27,57
- all nations — Ezek. 32:16
When the term "virgin daughter" is used it seems to emphasize the vulnerability of the nation addressed.
- Zion — 2 Kgs. 19:21; Isa. 37:22; Jer. 14:17; Lam. 2:10,13
- Israel — Jer. 18:13; 31:4,21; Amos 5:2
- Babylon — Isa. 47:1
- Egypt — Jer. 46:11
In 2 Kgs. 19:21 both forms are found in poetic parallel. Also note the changing meaning of "Israel,"
sometimes referring to all of the covenant people, descendants from Jacob/Israel, and in other contexts (i.e., the
Divided Monarchy, 922 B.C. — 722 B.C.) it refers to the Northern Ten Tribes
(i.e., Israel, Samaria, Ephraim).
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