Customs and Culture of the Bible
The Bible was written in cultures very different from our own. Explore customs, institutions, daily practices and figures of speech that help explain what biblical writers and their first readers would have understood.
188 customs found
Patronage, Benefactors and Clients
Greco-Roman society was shaped by networks of patrons, clients, benefactors, and reciprocal obligations. Public generosity could bring honor and loyalty.
Primary Scripture: Luke 22:24-27
Perfume, Spices and Costly Ointments
Perfumes and aromatic spices were valuable commodities used in grooming, hospitality, worship, medicine, and burial.
Primary Scripture: John 12:1-8
Pharisees, Scribes and Teachers of the Law
Pharisees, scribes, and teachers of the law overlap in the Gospel narratives but are not interchangeable labels: one denotes a movement, while the others primarily describe expertise or function.
Primary Scripture: Matthew 23:1-7
Phylacteries and Garment Fringes
Jewish men could wear Scripture-containing phylacteries and commanded garment fringes as visible reminders of God's law. Jesus criticized ostentatious use of these practices, not the biblical commands themselves.
Primary Scripture: Matthew 23:5
Physicians and Ancient Medical Care
Biblical people sought treatment from physicians and used medicines, bandaging, oils, wine, and other therapies available within ancient medical traditions.
Primary Scripture: Mark 5:25-26
Pilgrimage to Jerusalem
Israelite law called for males to appear before the Lord at major annual festivals, and by the Second Temple period Jerusalem drew pilgrims from Judea, Galilee, and the wider Jewish diaspora.
Primary Scripture: Deuteronomy 16:16
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