In biblical literature, the term "teats" refers to the mammary glands of female animals, particularly those of livestock, which are often mentioned in the context of agricultural prosperity and the provision of nourishment. The imagery of teats is used metaphorically in Scripture to convey abundance, fertility, and the nurturing aspects of God's creation.

Biblical References:

1. Genesis 49:25 : In Jacob's blessing over his sons, he speaks of the blessings of the "breast and womb," which can be understood as a reference to fertility and the nurturing provision of God. The imagery of the breast, or teats, symbolizes the sustenance and life-giving nourishment that comes from God.

2. Isaiah 66:11 : "So that you may nurse and be satisfied at her comforting breasts; you may drink deeply and delight in her glorious abundance." This passage uses the imagery of nursing at a mother's breasts to describe the comfort and satisfaction found in God's abundant provision for His people. The metaphor highlights the nurturing and sustaining nature of God's care.

3. Job 21:24 : "His body is well nourished, and his bones rich with marrow." While the term "teats" is not directly used here, the concept of nourishment and fullness is present. The imagery of a well-nourished body can be associated with the abundance provided through the teats of livestock, which were essential for sustenance in an agrarian society.

Theological Significance:

In the biblical context, teats are often associated with the blessings of fertility and the sustenance of life. They are a symbol of God's provision and the natural order He established for the care and nurturing of His creation. The imagery of teats in Scripture underscores the importance of agricultural prosperity and the dependence of humanity on God's creation for sustenance.

The use of such imagery also reflects the agrarian culture of the biblical world, where livestock played a crucial role in daily life. The health and productivity of animals were directly linked to the well-being of families and communities. Thus, references to teats in the Bible often carry connotations of divine blessing and the flourishing of life under God's care.

Cultural Context:

In ancient Israel, livestock such as sheep, goats, and cattle were vital to the economy and daily sustenance. The ability of these animals to produce milk was essential for the nourishment of families and the production of dairy products. The mention of teats in Scripture would have resonated with the original audience, who understood the significance of healthy, productive animals as a sign of God's favor and provision.

Overall, the biblical references to teats serve as a reminder of the interconnectedness of creation and the divine order established by God. They highlight the nurturing aspects of God's character and His ongoing provision for His people through the natural world.

Heaven is the Home of virginity, and the Son of God Its Author...
... The teats shall not fail from the rock, nor snow from Lebanon, nor the water which
is borne by the strong wind." [3180] Who is this virgin that is watered with ...
/.../ambrose/works and letters of st ambrose/chapter v heaven is the.htm

1 John iv. 17-21
... mother yields herself to her young ones when they will have the milk which is their
right: and however impetuously the suckling rushes at the teats, yet that ...
/.../ten homilies on the epistle of john to the parthians/homily ix 1 john iv.htm

How those are to be Admonished who have had Experience of the Sins ...
... in sins to come, saying, They committed whoredoms in Egypt; they committed whoredoms
in their youth: then were their breasts pressed, and the teats of their ...
/.../leo/writings of leo the great/chapter xxviii how those are.htm

It is Then My Purpose to Prove to You...
... teats which now, after very long thirst, I almost exhausted and dry, have returned
to with all greediness, and with deeper weeping and groaning have shaken ...
/.../augustine/on the profit of believing /section 2 it is then.htm

Of the Condition of the Beasts and Man.
... all these, when they have brought forth their young, have no care except for their
own food; from which it is effected that, their teats being spontaneously ...
/.../lactantius/on the workmanship of god/chap iii of the condition of.htm

Psalm XL.
... Do you not see tender [1088] lambs striking their dams' teats with their heads,
in order that they may get their fill of milk?..."And He took heed unto me, and ...
/...//christianbookshelf.org/augustine/exposition on the book of psalms/psalm xl.htm

"Martin, Then, Clothed in this Garment, Proceeds to Offer the ...
... the poison mixed with blood press through the small puncture of the wound, just
as a long line of abundant milk is wont to flow forth from the teats of goats ...
/.../life and writings of sulpitius severus /chapter ii martin then clothed.htm

Of the Gods and Sacred Rites of the Barbarians.
... The goat is beside him, by the teats of which Amalthea nourished the boy. The
sacred rites of the mother of the gods also show the same thing. ...
/.../lactantius/the divine institutes/chap xxiii of the gods and.htm

Of ??sculapius, Apollo, Mars, Castor and Pollux, and of Mercurius ...
... relates that ??sculapius was born of doubtful parents, and that on this account he
was exposed; and being taken up by hunters, and fed by the teats of a hound ...
/.../lactantius/the divine institutes/chap viii of aesculapius apollo mars.htm

Germination of Seeds.
... For when these seeds are committed to the earth, the soil milks upon the seeds,
as from its teats, the moisture which it has received into itself by the will ...
/.../unknown/recognitions of clement /chapter xxvi germination of seeds.htm

Teats (3 Occurrences)
... Multi-Version Concordance Teats (3 Occurrences). Isaiah 32:12 They shall lament
for the teats, for the pleasant fields, for the fruitful vine. (KJV). ...
/t/teats.htm - 7k

Teat
... To "smite upon the breasts" (Isaiah 32:12, where the King James Version translates
wrongly "lament for the teats") means "to mourn and grieve in the ...
/t/teat.htm - 7k

Whoredoms (34 Occurrences)
... 3 And they committed whoredoms in Egypt; they committed whoredoms in their youth:
there were their breasts pressed, and there they bruised the teats of their ...
/w/whoredoms.htm - 17k

Tebah (2 Occurrences)

/t/tebah.htm - 7k

Paps (4 Occurrences)
... (KJV WBS). Ezekiel 23:21 Thus thou calledst to remembrance the lewdness of thy youth,
in bruising thy teats by the Egyptians for the paps of thy youth. (KJV). ...
/p/paps.htm - 7k

Bruising (5 Occurrences)
... (WEB JPS ASV). Ezekiel 23:21 Thus thou calledst to remembrance the lewdness of thy
youth, in bruising thy teats by the Egyptians for the paps of thy youth. ...
/b/bruising.htm - 8k

Calledst (6 Occurrences)
... (KJV ASV DBY WBS). Ezekiel 23:21 Thus thou calledst to remembrance the lewdness
of thy youth, in bruising thy teats by the Egyptians for the paps of thy youth. ...
/c/calledst.htm - 8k

Strip (33 Occurrences)
... 5. (vt) To deprive of all milk; to milk dry; to draw the last milk from; hence,
to milk with a peculiar movement of the hand on the teats at the last of a ...
/s/strip.htm - 18k

Lament (44 Occurrences)
... (Root in WEB ASV YLT NAS RSV NIV). Isaiah 32:12 They shall lament for the teats,
for the pleasant fields, for the fruitful vine. (KJV DBY WBS YLT). ...
/l/lament.htm - 20k

Bruised (36 Occurrences)
... 3 And they committed whoredoms in Egypt; they committed whoredoms in their youth:
there were their breasts pressed, and there they bruised the teats of their ...
/b/bruised.htm - 18k

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