Questions tagged [context]
The immediate literary setting in which a text appears.
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Why does Isa 32:19 seem to take a turn of doom & gloom by stating "it will hail when the forest comes down, And the city will be utterly laid low"
Isaiah 32:15-20
New American Standard Bible 1995
15 Until the Spirit is poured out upon us from on high, And the
wilderness becomes a fertile field, And the fertile field is
considered as a forest. 16 ...
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In 1 Corinthians 13:8, it says 'will pass away' in reference to spiritual gifts. Does this mean that they will pass away or that they already have?
A lot of people say that there are no prophets today and cite this verse saying 'will pass away' means it already has for us today. I believe that this verse is referring to the new earth with the ...
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In Proverbs 6:13, what is meant by the phrase, "he speaks with his feet, he teaches with his fingers"?
Proverbs 6:13 KJV
He winks with his eyes, he speaks with his feet, he teaches with his fingers;
The context is speaking of the characteristics of an evil, perverse person who continually devises ...
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What is the context of Proverbs 7:17?
I have perfumed my bed with myrrh, aloes, and cinnamon. (Proverbs 7:17 NRSVCE)
Forgive my over-literalness, but this seems like it's describing something really stupid: the impudent woman is pouring ...
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In biblical geneaological lists can the term בן denote descendant?
This is more of a general question on the scholarly consensus of what the Hebrew term בן can denote (specifically in a genealogical list context). I noticed a few times in Chronicles where בן couldn't ...
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Deeper contextual understanding of Isaiah 14:29b's reference to "serpent's root" , "viper" , "flying serpent"
Isaiah 14:28-30 New American Standard Bible 1995
28 In the year that
King Ahaz died this [a]oracle came:
29 “Do not rejoice, O Philistia, all of you,
Because the rod that struck you is broken; For ...
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According to John 14:16-21, is Jesus the Comforter and Spirit of truth?
It appears that Jesus is speaking in third person because he states that he will send another comforter in v16 and then goes back to first person by saying that he will come to comfort the disciples ...
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Why are women and children viewed as plunder in Deuteronomy 20:14?
Deuteronomy 20 is about how Israel should wage war against nations that are far from them (excluding Canaan)
However, I am having trouble understanding why verse 14 views women and children as plunder,...
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Were the accused even present for the crime? (Acts 2)
Peter straightforwardly accuses his audience on the day of Pentecost of murdering their Messiah.
this Jesus, delivered up according to the definite plan and foreknowledge of God, you crucified and ...
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Deep contextual Comparison & Contrast of Isaiah 6:9-13 to Mark 4:10-12 (esp. in regards to seeing & hearing but Not comprehending)
Isaiah 6:9-13 to Mark 4:10-12 seem quite similar. One difference is that Mark 4:10-12 does specify (Mark 4:11) "outside" when referring to people who are Not Jesus Christ's followers along ...
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Who thought Jesus was crazy? His family or the Pharisees and Scribes? Mark 3:21 [duplicate]
There are some questions posted in this SE related to Mark 3:21. But I think it's still not clear of whom thought Jesus was crazy and "out of his mind".
And when His own people heard about ...
user53371
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Which stones "are there to this day" in Joshua 4:9?
Joshua 4:8-9 read
8 So the Israelites did as Joshua commanded them. They took twelve stones from the middle of the Jordan, according to the number of the tribes of the Israelites, as the Lord had ...
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In this particular verse and context, what does “overcome the world” mean here in 1 John 5:4? Sin? Godless system?
“For whatever is born of God overcomes the world.
And this is the victory that has overcome the world—our faith. Who is he who overcomes the world, but he who believes that Jesus is the Son of God?” ...
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Is the Greek verb βιάζεται from Luke 16:16 in the middle or the passive voice?
Luke 16:16
The Law and the Prophets were until John; since then the good news of the kingdom of God is preached, and everyone (βιάζεται) into it.
Grammatically, the verb βιάζεται could be either ...
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Luke 23:34 “Father, forgive them” forgive or tolerate? Hermeneutics and Atonement
The text at hand:
“Then Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what
they do.” And they divided His garments and cast lots.” Luke
23:34 NKJV
Many English translations still ...
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What is Acts 11:28 and Luke 2:1 referring to with the greek word "οἰκουμένην"?
I'm just curious as to what Luke is referring to here. Is he referring to "the world" or "the inhabited land" as the whole Roman Empire or only the province of Judaea?
Now in ...
user53371
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How do we reconcile Matthew 6:14-15 with 1 John 2:1?
The verses in dispute:
“For if you forgive others for their transgressions, your heavenly
Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive others, then
your Father will not forgive your ...
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Ephesians 2:2 symbolism of "air"
KJV:
Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world,
according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now
worketh in the children of disobedience
Quoting part ...
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How do we reconcile the kings law Deuteronomy 17:14-20 with 2 Samuel 12:8?
The two texts:
“When you come to the land which the Lord your God is giving you, and
possess it and dwell in it, and say, ‘I will set a king over me like
all the nations that are around me,’ you ...
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Does Colossians 4:2 condemn being a "prayer squirrel"?
My question arises from a preacher's Facebook post condemning the practice of being a "prayer squirrel" (i.e., getting distracted while praying). He offers the following as an example of ...
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(Proverbs 23:1-3) what does Not desiring deceptive food have anything to do with behaving while dining with important leaders?
(Proverbs 23:1-3)
New American Standard Bible 1995
1 When you sit down
to dine with a ruler, Consider carefully [a]what is before you, 2 And
put a knife to your throat If you are a man of great ...
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Does Colossians 1:16 represent the creation of a sub-set of things within the universe?
For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by ...
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Does Genesis 1:14-15 indicate God making the light (stars) instantaneously shine on the Earth?
We read:
“God said, “Let there be lights in the expanse of the sky to separate the day from the night, and let them be signs to indicate seasons and days and years, and let them serve as lights in the ...
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John 6:37 “I will never cast out” in what sense?
“Everyone whom the Father gives me will come to me, and the one who comes to me I will never send away.”
John 6:37 NET
“All that the Father gives Me will come to Me, and the one who comes to ...
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Trying to understand 1st Chronicles 23:21-23 lawful marriage or no?
The NASB1995 puts it this way:
“The sons of Merari were Mahli and Mushi. The sons of Mahli were
Eleazar and Kish. Eleazar died and had no sons, but daughters only, so
their brothers, the sons of Kish,...
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How do we reconcile 2 Corinthians 6:16 with 1 Corinthians 3:16-17?
We read:
And what agreement has the temple of God with idols? For you are the
temple of the living God. As God has said: “I will dwell in them And
walk among them. I will be their God, And they ...
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1 Peter 2:2 textual variations, which is proper?
The NKJV says:
“Therefore, laying aside all malice, all deceit, hypocrisy, envy, and
all evil speaking, as newborn babes, desire the pure milk of the
word, that you may grow thereby, if indeed you ...
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Why did the woman invoke the name of God over bread? (1st Kings 17:12)
We read:
“But she said, “As the Lord your God lives, I have no bread, only
a handful of flour in the bowl and a little oil in the jar; and
behold, I am gathering a few sticks that I may go in and ...
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How do we reconcile John 15:15 with Romans 6:22?
Compare:
“No longer do I call you slaves, for the slave does not know
what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all
things that I have heard from My Father I have made known to you....
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Elaborate on what Proverbs 14:9a says about "fools" and "sin" in order to get a deeper understanding. (layers of meaning)
משלי 14:9 Hebrew OT: Westminster Leningrad Codex אֱ֭וִלִים יָלִ֣יץ
אָשָׁ֑ם וּבֵ֖ין יְשָׁרִ֣ים רָצֹֽון׃
Proverbs 14:9 (New American Standard Bible 1995)
9 Fools mock at
[a]sin, But among the upright ...
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Is Ephesians 5:25 talking about “sacrificial love” or “laying down one’s life”?
“Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loved the church and
gave Himself for her,
that He might sanctify and cleanse her with the washing of water by
the word, that He might present her to ...
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Isaiah 44:6 Distinction of persons or distinction of titles? (Grammar)
We read:
“Thus says the Lord, the King of Israel, And his Redeemer, the Lord of
hosts: ‘I am the First and I am the Last; Besides Me there is no God.”
Isaiah 44:6 NKJV
“Thus says Yahweh, the ...
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Would Matthew 25:27 have communicated usury?
How would Jesus’s 1st century Jewish audience react to the activity described in Matthew 25 verse 27? Would they have associated this with “usery” as forbidden by Jewish custom or would this have been ...
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Why are the Israelites told to stay home until morning if they were meant to leave Egypt at midnight?
The context in Exodus 12 makes it abundantly clear that the Israelites left Egypt in the middle of the night:
At midnight the Lord struck down all the firstborn in Egypt... During
the night Pharaoh ...
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Does 1 Corinthians 7:7 mean God sovereignly decree’s some people to be married & others to singleness?
We have the similar question: Is celibacy a gift according to 1 Corinthians 7:7?
I’m not asking if Celibacy is a gift, but my question is: Q: Does 1 Corinthians 7:7 mean God predestines some to be ...
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What is the deeper contextual meaning of Mark 4:11's "outside"?
Mark 4:10-12
New American Standard Bible 1995
10 As soon as He was alone, [a]His followers, along with the twelve,
began asking Him about the parables. 11 And He was saying to them, “To
you has been ...
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Anyway of interpreting adultery verses in Proverbs 2,3,6,7 & 9 in a more gender-neutral / gender-inclusive / politically correct manner [closed]
Proverbs 2:16-19
Proverbs 5:3-20
Proverbs 6:24-35
Proverbs 7:5-27
Proverbs 9:13-18 ( may be more broader than just adultery, sexual
fornification, sexual lust because it could also include being
...
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What are the various contexts we should consider in Hermeneutics?
Living by the Book by Howard Hendricks explores how to interpret Bible passages and has much to tell about context. There is much literature about this beyond Hendricks, but I want to know what they ...
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What does Paul mean in 1 Corinthians 9:14?
Paul writes:
Even so the Lord has commanded that those who preach the gospel should
live from the gospel. 1 Corinthians 9:14
Q: What does he mean here?
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Do John 17:3 and Matthew 25:46 refer to different meanings of "eternal life"?
John 17:3 (ESV):
3 And this is eternal life, that they know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent.
Matthew 25:46 (ESV):
46 And these will go away into eternal punishment, but ...
user38524
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What is Peter speaking about in 1 Peter 5:10?
Applying the historical-grammatical method in our exegesis, looking at the Greek text as well, how can I understand what Peter is saying in 1 Peter 5:8-11, specifically verse 10?
I have a few ...
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Reconciling between Ecclesiastes 11:9 & 11:10?
Ecclesiastes 11:9 seems to be encouraging sin in terms of doing whatever you want, but Ecclesiastes 11:10 seems to make it clear that sin/evil is forbidden. This “seems” like a contradiction in the ...
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What did the medium of En-dor mean by "god(s)" in 1 Samuel 28:13?
1 Samuel 28:12-14:
12 And the woman seeth Samuel, and crieth with a loud voice, and the woman speaketh unto Saul, saying, `Why hast thou deceived me -- and thou Saul?' 13 And the king saith to her, `...
user38524
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What does Acts 1:8 mean by "being a witness"?
Acts 1:8 (ESV):
But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.”
What does it ...
user38524
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Romans 6:7 Was Christ Set Free From Sin?
Ignoring one's own particular theology and overall integrated understanding of the Bible, for a moment, is it good Greek to translate Romans 6:7 as something like the following?
"for he having ...
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Is there any fundamental difference between the "spirit" of a human being ("breath of life") and the "spirit" of a disembodied (evil) spirit?
Simply put, I'm interested in knowing if there is any difference at all (in a fundamental sense) between two uses of the word "spirit":
Context 1: "spirit" in the context of the ...
user38524
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What is the biblical worldview of the arabs that Paul encountered in his three years from his conversion? [closed]
Did he encounter a view of God that was based on Abraham as the father of the Arabs apart from the Jews?
Could God have been helping him to understand abrahamic covenant theology from the Arab ...
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Luke 14:25-33 (Discipleship Tested/Counting the cost Parable) as instructions for Personal Financial Planning/Project management/Business Planning
Is evaluating Luke 14:25-33 verses which discusses the Parable about Discipleship Tested / Counting the cost as instructions for Personal Financial Planning/Project management/Business Planning be ...
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Why does Ezekiel refer to Jerusalem as "south"?
Ezekiel 21:2 (in other versions 20:46)
"Son of man, set your face toward the south; preach against the south
and prophesy against the forest of the southland."
As is evident from v. 6 (in ...
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Is Ezekiel 20:26 intimating that God actually commanded child sacrifice?
Ezekiel 20:25-26
So I gave them other statutes that were not good and laws through
which they could not live; 26 and I defiled them through their gifts—the
sacrifice of every firstborn—that I might ...
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