King James Bible Dictionary

Heb. Madai, which is rendered in the Authorized Version (1) "Madai," Genesis 10:2; (2) "Medes," 2 Kings 17:6; 18:11; (3) "Media," Esther 1:3; 10:2; Isaiah 21:2; Daniel 8:20; (4) "Mede," only in Daniel 11:1.

We first hear of this people in the Assyrian cuneiform records, under the name of Amada, about B.C. 840. They appear to have been a branch of the Aryans, who came from the east bank of the Indus, and were probably the predominant race for a while in the Mesopotamian valley. They consisted for three or four centuries of a number of tribes, each ruled by its own chief, who at length were brought under the Assyrian yoke (2 Kings 17:6). From this subjection they achieved deliverance, and formed themselves into an empire under Cyaxares (B.C. 633). This monarch entered into an alliance with the king of Babylon, and invaded Assyria, capturing and destroying the city of Nineveh (B.C. 625), thus putting an end to the Assyrian monarchy (Nahum 1:8; 2:5, 6; 3:13, 14).

Media now rose to a place of great power, vastly extending its boundaries. But it did not long exist as an independent kingdom. It rose with Cyaxares, its first king, and it passed away with him; for during the reign of his son and successor Astyages, the Persians waged war against the Medes and conquered them, the two nations being united under one monarch, Cyrus the Persian (B.C. 558).

The "cities of the Medes" are first mentioned in connection with the deportation of the Israelites on the destruction of Samaria (2 Kings 17:6; 18:11). Soon afterwards Isaiah (13:17; 21:2) speaks of the part taken by the Medes in the destruction of Babylon (comp. Jeremiah 51:11, 28). Daniel gives an account of the reign of Darius the Mede, who was made viceroy by Cyrus (Daniel 6:1-28). The decree of Cyrus, Ezra informs us (6:2-5), was found in "the palace that is in the province of the Medes," Achmetha or Ecbatana of the Greeks, which is the only Median city mentioned in Scripture.

measure; habit; covering

See Medes
Medes

ME'DIAL, adjective [Latin medius, middle.] Mean; noting a mean or average.

Medial alligation, is a method of finding the mean rate or value of a mixture consisting of two or more ingredients of different quantities and values. In this case, the quantity and value of each ingredient are given.

Darius, "the son of Ahasuerus, of the seed of the Medes," (Daniel 9:1) or "the Mede," ch. (Daniel 11:1) is thus denoted in (Daniel 5:31)

ME'DIANT, noun In music, an appellation given to the third above the key-note, because it divides the interval between the tonic and dominant into thirds.

ME'DIATE, adjective [Latin medius, middle.] Middle; being between the two extremes.

Anxious we hover in a mediate state.

1. Interposed; intervening; being between two objects.

Soon the mediate clouds shall be dispelled.

2. Acting by means, or by an intervening cause or instrument. Thus we speak of mediate and immediate cause of its motion; the oar with which a man rows a boat is the immediate cause of its motion; but the rower is the mediate cause, acting by means of the oar.

ME'DIATE, verb intransitive To interpose between parties, as the equal friend of each; to act indifferently between contending parties, with a view to reconciliation; to intercede. The prince that mediates between nations and prevents a war, is the benefactor of both parties.

1. To be between two. [Little used.]

ME'DIATE, verb transitive To effect by mediation or interposition between parties; as, to mediate a peace.

1. To limit by something in the middle. [Not used.]

ME'DIATELY, adverb By means or by a secondary cause, acting between the first cause and the effect.

God worketh all things amongst us mediately by secondary means.

The king grants a manor to A, and A grants a portion of it to B. In this case, B holds his lands immediately of A, but mediately of the king.

See Intercession; Jesus, The Christ, Mediation of
Intercession; Jesus, The Christ, Mediation of

MEDIA'TION, noun [Latin medius, middle.]

1. Interposition; intervention; agency between parties at variance, with a view to reconcile them. The contentions of individuals and families are often terminated by the mediation of friends. The controversies of nations are sometimes adjusted by mediation The reconciliation of sinners to God by the mediation of Christ, is a glorious display of divine benevolence.

2. Agency interposed; intervenient power.

The soul, during its residence in the body, does all things by the mediation of the passions.

3. Intercession; entreaty for another.

One who intervenes between two persons who are at variance, with a view to reconcile them. This word is not found in the Old Testament; but the idea it expresses is found in Job 9:33, in the word "daysman" (q.v.), marg., "umpire."

This word is used in the New Testament to denote simply an internuncius, an ambassador, one who acts as a medium of communication between two contracting parties. In this sense Moses is called a mediator in Galatians 3:19.

Christ is the one and only mediator between God and man (1 Timothy 2:5; Hebrews 8:6; 9:15; 12:24). He makes reconciliation between God and man by his all-perfect atoning sacrifice. Such a mediator must be at once divine and human, divine, that his obedience and his sufferings might possess infinite worth, and that he might possess infinite wisdom and knowlege and power to direct all things in the kingdoms of providence and grace which are committed to his hands (Matthew 28:18; John 5:22, 25, 26, 27); and human, that in his work he might represent man, and be capable of rendering obedience to the law and satisfying the claims of justice (Hebrews 2:17, 18; 4:15, 16), and that in his glorified humanity he might be the head of a glorified Church (Romans 8:29).

This office involves the three functions of prophet, priest, and king, all of which are discharged by Christ both in his estate of humiliation and exaltation. These functions are so inherent in the one office that the quality appertaining to each gives character to every mediatorial act. They are never separated in the exercise of the office of mediator.

MEDIA'TOR, noun One that interposes between parties at variance for the purpose of reconciling them.

1. By way of eminence, Christ is the mediator the divine intercessor through whom sinners may be reconciled to an offended God. Tim.2.

Christ is a mediator by nature, as partaking of both natures divine and human; and mediator by office, as transacting matters between God and man.

MEDIATO'RIAL, adjective Belonging to a mediator; as mediatorial office or character. [Mediatory is not used.]

MEDIA'TORSHIP, noun The office of a mediator.

MEDIA'TRESS

MEDIA'TRIX, noun A female mediator.