Ezekiel, Book ofconsists mainly of three groups of prophecies. After an account of his call to the prophetical office ( (1-3:21), ), Ezekiel (1) utter...
Building [N] [E]From Sacred Space to Holy House The localized presence of God and God's glory among his people is central to the unfolding story of th...
FastThe sole fast required by the law of Moses was that of the great Day of Atonement (q.v.), Leviticus 23:26-32 . It is called the fast ( Acts 27:9 ...
Cloud, Cloud of the Lord The Old Testament. The Literal Cloud. Natural phenomena involving clouds are depicted occasionally in the Old Testament, but ...
Fire [N] [T] [B] [S] For sacred purposes. The sacrifices were consumed by fire ( Genesis 8:20 ). The ever-burning fire on the altar was first kindled...
Allegory [N] [E] [S]A popular form of literature in which a story points to a hidden or symbolic parallel meaning. Certain elements, such as people, ...
Humility [N] [T] [E]Biblical humility is grounded in the character of God. The Father stoops down to help the poor and needy ( Psalm 113:4-9 ; 138:6-...
Deliver The Old Testament. The concept of deliverance occurs in the Old Testament with two meanings. The first is in a nontheological sense signifying...
Marriage [N] [T] [E] [S]An intimate and complementing union between a man and a woman in which the two become one physically, in the whole of life. Th...
Law of Christ The phrase the law of Christ appears only in Galatians 6:2, although it is implied by the wording of 1 Corinthians 9:21 as well. In both...
Funeral [E]In ancient Israel burial occurred soon after death. In a hot climate, internment took place as quickly as possible after a person had expir...
Poor [E] [S]Atonement money of, uniform with that of the rich people Exodus 30:15 Inexpensive offerings of people who have very little money Levit...
Kill, Killing The Old Testament. The Old Testament uses many terms to refer to the act ofkilling, some of which can be used interchangeably (see 2 Sa...
Lamb, Lamb of God Definitions. In the pastoral setting of the Bible, there were numerous words for a lamb or a sheep. The Hebrew words were kebes [f,b...
Priest, Christ as The Old Testament. The priestly activity of drawing near to God in sacrifice and prayer is introduced in the Old Testament through A...
Providence of God The word providence comes from the Latin providentia (Gk. pronoia [provnoia]) and means essentially foresight or making provision be...
Destroy, Destruction Destroy in the Bible usually refers to violent action causing physical death ( Num 16:33 ; Psalm 2:12 ; Heb. abad [d;b'a]). But ...
Prayer [N] [T] [B] [S]is converse with God; the intercourse of the soul with God, not in contemplation or meditation, but in direct address to him. Pr...
Animals [N]God as Creator and Sustainer. Animals, like the rest of the uNIVerse, are created by God. In Genesis 1, God's approval of the created world...
Teach, Teacher Although several Hebrew words are translated teach in English translations of the Old Testament, two words predominate: yara [h'ry], to...