Countryman (Hastings' Dictionary)

1. Of the same ncUion, 2 Co ll" 'in perils by mine own countrymen ' ((k y^i-oi/j, Wyclif 'of kyn,' other VSS 'mine own nation'). 2. Of the same tribe, 1 Th 2''' ' ye also have suftered like things of your oAvn countrymen ' (rCiy lolwr ffvfKpvXfTwv, the Jewish inhabitants of Macedonia). The word is only here in eccles. writers ; Wytlif, 'lynagis' ( = ' lineage,' Rheims), Tindale 'kins- men ' ; Geneva and Bishops' as AV). 3. Of the same citi/, 2 Es lu-" {cives, AV, RV ' neighbours,' RVm ' townsmen '). J. Hastings. COUPLE is now used only of two persons or things having some affinity, or wont to be con- sidered in pairs. But in older Eng. the usage was free, as Steele, Sped. No. 8, ' I shall here com- municate to the world a couple of letters.' So in AV, 2 S 13' ' make me a c. of cakes.' J. Hastings. COURAGE ranks as one of the four cardinal virtues (Wis 8') ace. to the classification derived from Gr. philosophers. In the early days of Israel's battles, courage in its simplest sense was naturally rated very highly. Much stress is laid on it in Dt 31 and Jos 1 ; neither of these passages, however, ' Many (counterfeit gems], in the form of beads, have been met with in different parts of Egypt, particularly at Thebes ; and BO far did the Egyptians carry tliia spirit of imitation, that even small figures, scarabsDi, and objects made of ortlinary porcelain, were counterfeited, being coniimsed of still cheuper materials. A figure which was entirely of earthenware, with a glazed exterior, underwent a somewhat more comphcat«d process than when cut out of stone and simply covered with a vitrified coating ; this last could therefore be sold at a low price ; it otfereo all the brilliancy of the former, and its weight alone betrayed its inferiority.' — Wilkinson, Ajicient Jtgi/ptianf, li. 148. COUKSE COVENANT 509 belongs to the earlier parts of the Pentateuch. The conrageous feats of Jonathan and David and others are related with admiration (e.g. 1 S 14. 17). We hear much of ' men of valour' (Jg, S, etc., and esp. Ch). The faint-hearted are not to be allowed to serve in battle (Jg 7^ Dt 20«, 1 Mac 3"). Be- tween the earlier kings and the Maccabees we hear little or nothine of courage in war. The coura<je of endurance shown by martyrs is a lea<lint; topic m Dn, Mac, and parts of KT, esp. He II, 1 P and Rev. The secondary forms of the virtue also have their place in the Bible. Man is not to fear un- g)pularity nor the blame of his fellow-men (Is 51', zr 10, Pr 29" etc.). This moral courage is esp. demanded of the prophets {e.g. Ezk 3', cf. ^Ik IS"") : they were therefore encouraged for their work by special revelations and calls (Ex 4'°'", Jer I', Ezk 2). Men must not be daunted by tribu- lation (Ps 27" 31") ; nor give way to any super- stitious fear of false gods (Jos 23-', 2 Ch 15, Jer 10"). Again, David charges Solomon to be of good courage in building the temple (I Ch 22" 28"). Jehosliaphat bids his judges of assize deal cour- ageou.tly (2 Ch 19"). The spiritual conflict with the hosts of evil demands courage (Eph 6'°""). The Heb. words for courage and kindred ideas(e.^. r5?> P!9) suggest firmness, strength, power of resist- ance. The man is to be himself, his best self, in spite of all that might unman him. Here the thought is close to that of dvSpela, manliness (not in NT, but dySpiCo/iai occurs I Co 10", and is common in LXX). That which will enable a man to stand firm is faith, which is expressly connected with courage in Ps 5G», Mt 8 etc. (cf. 2 S 10"). Faith implies the consciousness of God's sympathy, which is the secret of all courage that is more than natural spirit and the love of fighting (see Is 50', Pr 28', 1 Ti 3"). In a secondary degree the knowledge of man's sympathy confirms courage ( Ac28", He 12''"). In Rev 21° cowardice is coupled with unbelief, and the two head the list of deadly sins (cf. Sir 2"- "). See also Pear. W. O. Burrows.