Bell

King James Dictionary

BELL, n.

1. A vessel or hollow body,used for making sounds. Its constituent parts are a barrel or hollow body, enlarged or expanded at one end, an ear or cannon by which it is hung to a beam, and a clapper on the inside. It is formed of a composition of metals. Bells are of high antiquity. The blue tunic of the Jewish High Priest was adorned with golden bells and the kings of Persia are said to have the hem of their robe adorned with them in like manner. Among the Greeks, those who went the nightly rounds in camps or garrisons, used to ring a bell, at each sentinel-box, to see that the soldier on duty was awake. Bells were also put on the necks of criminals, to warn persons to move out of the way of so an omen, as the sight of a criminal or his executioner also on the necks of beasts and birds, and in houses. In churches and other public buildings, bells are now used to notify the time of meeting of any congregation or other assembly.

In private houses, bells are used to call servants, either hung and moved by a wire, or as hand-bells. Small bells are also used in electrical experiments.

2. A hollow body of metal, perforated, and containing a solid ball, to give sounds when shaken used on animals, as on horses or hawks. 3. Any thing in form of a bell, as the cup or calix of a flower.

To bear the bell, is to be the first or leader, in allusion to the bell-wether of a flock, or the leading horse of a team or drove, that wears bells on his collar.

To shake the bells, a phrase of Shakespeare, signifies to move, give notice or alarm.

Webster's Dictionary

(1): (v. i.) To call or bellow, as the deer in rutting time; to make a bellowing sound; to roar.

(2): (n.) The strikes of the bell which mark the time; or the time so designated.

(3): (v. t.) To utter by bellowing.

(4): (n.) A hollow metallic vessel, usually shaped somewhat like a cup with a flaring mouth, containing a clapper or tongue, and giving forth a ringing sound on being struck.

(5): (n.) A hollow perforated sphere of metal containing a loose ball which causes it to sound when moved.

(6): (n.) Anything in the form of a bell, as the cup or corol of a flower.

(7): (v. i.) To develop bells or corollas; to take the form of a bell; to blossom; as, hops bell.

(8): (n.) That part of the capital of a column included between the abacus and neck molding; also used for the naked core of nearly cylindrical shape, assumed to exist within the leafage of a capital.

(9): (v. t.) To make bell-mouthed; as, to bell a tube.

(10): (v. t.) To put a bell upon; as, to bell the cat.

Hastings' Dictionary of the Bible

BELL . A number of small bronze bells, both of the ordinary shape with clapper and of the ‘ball and slit’ form, have been found at Gezer ( PEFSt [Note: Quarterly Statement of the same.] , 1904, 354, with illustt.). The bells of ‘pure gold’ (  Exodus 39:25 ), which alternated with pomegranate ornaments on the skirt of the high priest’s robe (  Exodus 28:33 f.), were doubtless of one or other of these forms. Their purpose is stated in   Exodus 28:35 , but the underlying idea is obscure (see the Comm.). The ‘bells of the horses’ of   Zechariah 14:20 represent another word akin to that rendered ‘cymbals.’ Whether these ornaments were really bells or, as is usually supposed, small metal discs (cf. the ‘crescents’ of   Judges 8:21 RV [Note: Revised Version.] ) Is uncertain.

A. R. S. Kennedy.

Wilson's Dictionary of Bible Types

 Exodus 28:33 (c) This represents the gracious and beautiful testimony of GOD's people as they go about in the service of the King. (See also  Zechariah 14:20).

Easton's Bible Dictionary

 Exodus 28:33,34,35 Zechariah 14:20

Holman Bible Dictionary

 Exodus 28:33-35 Exodus 39:25-26

Cyclopedia of Biblical, Theological and Ecclesiastical Literature

The body of a Corinthian or Composite capital, supposing the foliage stripped off, is called the bell; the same name is applied also to the Early English and other capitals in Gothic architecture which in any degree partake of this form.

Kitto's Popular Cyclopedia of Biblial Literature

The first bells known in history are those small golden bells which were attached to the lower part of the blue robe (the robe of the ephod) which formed part of the dress of the high-priest in his sacerdotal ministrations ( Exodus 28:33-34; comp.  Sirach 45:11). They were there placed alternately with the pomegranate-shaped knobs, one of these being between every two of the bells. The number of these bells is not mentioned in Scripture; but tradition states that there were sixty-six. We need not seek any other reason, for this rather singular use of bells than that which is assigned: 'His sound shall be heard when he goeth into the holy place before the Lord, and when he cometh out, that he die not' ( Exodus 28:35); by which we may understand that the sound of the bells manifested that he was properly arrayed in the robes of ceremony which he was required to wear when he entered the presence-chamber of the Great King; and that as no minister can enter the presence of an earthly potentate abruptly and unannounced, so he (whom no human being could introduce) was to have his entrance harbingered by the sound of the bells he wore. This sound, heard outside, also notified to the people the time in which he was engaged in his sacred ministrations, and during which they remained in prayer ( Luke 1:9-10).

'Bells of the Horses' are mentioned in  Zechariah 14:20, which were probably such as were hung to the bridles or foreheads, or to belts around the necks, of horses trained for war, that they might thereby be accustomed to noise and tumult, and not by their alarm expose the riders to danger in actual warfare. We incline to think, however, that the use of horse-bells with which the Jews were most familiar, and which the prophet, had in view, was that which at present exists in the East, and in other countries where carriage by pack-horses and mules is common. The laden animals, being without riders, have bells hung from their necks, that they may be kept together, in traversing by night the open plains and deserts, by paths and roads unconfined by fences or boundaries; that they may be cheered by the sound of the bells; and that if any horse strays, its place may be known by the sound of its bell, while the general sound from the caravan enables the traveler who has strayed or lingered, to find and regain his party, even in the night.

That the same motto, Holiness to the Lord, which was upon the miter of the high-priest, should, in the happy days foretold by the prophet, be inscribed even upon the bells of the horses, manifestly signifies that all things, from the highest to the lowest, should in those days be sanctified to God.

It is remarkable that there is no appearance of bells of any kind in the Egyptian monuments.

International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

(מצלּות , mecillōth , פעמון , pa‛ămōn ): The former of these terms occurs only once ( Zechariah 14:20 ) where it is Thus translated. It is derived from a verb meaning "to tingle" or "dirl" ( 1 Samuel 3:11 ), and there is, therefore, no objection etymologically to rendering the noun by "bells." But the little bell attached to the harness of horses would hardly be a suitable place for a fairly long inscription, and as buckles shaped exactly like cymbals (see Music ) were used as ornaments for horses, "cymbals" is probably a better rendering.

The other Hebrew word for bell is found only in  Exodus 28:33 f;   Exodus 39:25 ,  Exodus 39:26 , where "bells of gold" are directed to be attached to the hem of Aaron's official robe, that the people may hear him when he enters and quits the sanctuary. Bells were not employed by the Hebrews to summon the congregation to worship, nor do Mohammedans so use them at the present day. The church bell is a peculiarly Christian institution, said to have been introduced by Bishop Paulinus of Nola in Campania, who lived about the end of the 4th century. Little bells, however, like those attached to the hem of Aaron's robe, frequently form part of the harness of horses, or are fastened to the necks of the he-goats or wethers that lead the flock in eastern lands.