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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Why do some think that Ezekiel had his first vision on his 30th birthday?
Why do some think that Ezekiel had his first vision on his 30th birthday in [Ezekiel 1]?
The Bible Project mentions the vision happening on Ezekiel's birthday in this video
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Was King Solomon dark in complexion or something? (Songs of Solomon 1:6)
As I read the Songs of Solomon, I can't help wondering if King Solomon was dark in complexion or something, when he said,
"Look not upon me, because I am black, because the sun hath looked upon me: ...
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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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Are the words "beginning" and "word" mentioned in 1John 2:7 the same as those found in John 1:1?
In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word
was God; John 1:1 (YLT)
Brethren, a new command I write not to you, but an old command, that
ye had from the beginning -- 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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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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How should we contextualize Paul's "Jesus is accursed" in I Co 12:3?
In Paul's chapter concerning spiritual gifts (1 Co 12), with the "bookends" being the subject of the Corinthians' appalling behavior at their love feasts (chapter 11) and the nature and importance of ...
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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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How come God didn't bless the land animals with reproduction?
That being said, among all the living creatures (humanity included), isn't it quite funny that the Lord didn't bless the land beasts with reproduction and multiplication? In Genesis 1:24-25 He just ...
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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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Amos 6:13 names of places or something else?
The Hebrew in Amos 6:13 reads
הַשְּׂמֵחִים לְלֹא דָבָר הָאֹמְרִים הֲלוֹא בְחָזְקֵנוּ לָקַחְנוּ
לָנוּ קַרְנָיִם
The KJV translates thus:
Ye which rejoice in a thing of nought, which say, ...
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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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My little finger is thicker than my father’s waist
In 1 Kings 12:10 (NASB)
And the young men who had grown up with him spoke to him, saying, “This is what you should say to this people who spoke to you, saying: ‘Your father made our yoke heavy, now ...
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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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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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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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What is meant by "reward" in the context of "And your Father who sees in secret will reward you" (Matthew 6)?
Matthew 6:2-4 (ESV):
2 “Thus, when you give to the needy, sound no trumpet before you, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may be praised by others. Truly, I say to ...
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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 ...
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Did Moses fast for 81-days straight in Deuteronomy 9:9-18?
Did Moses fast (without food or water) for 81-days straight in Deuteronomy 9:9-18 | Or did Moses eat & drink in verses 12-17?
If the descent from Mount Horeb, destruction of the Golden Calf, and ...
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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 the context of Psalm 44?
As part of my daily Bible reading, I was going through Psalm 44, which contains a very familiar verse from Paul's writings:
22 Yet for your sake we are killed all the day long;
we are regarded ...
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What does it mean to be "equal with God" in John 5:18?
John 5:18 (ESV):
18 This was why the Jews were seeking all the more to kill him, because not only was he breaking the Sabbath, but he was even calling God his own Father, making himself equal with ...
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What does fire mean in the context of "divided tongues, as it were of fire" (Acts 2:3)?
Acts 2:3 (YLT):
3 and there appeared to them divided tongues, as it were of fire; it sat also upon each one of them,
What does fire mean in this context? And how is the fire related to the divided ...
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How are we to understand MT 6:34b in the Hebraic context?
Mt. 6:34b "Each day has enough trouble of its own."
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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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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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What deeper understanding can the bible reader get from the 2 Samuel 8:2's account of how David killed off the defeated people of Moab?
( Related Posting: Was the use of a measuring line literal or symbolic in 2 Samuel 8:2?
Related Posting: What are the Dangers of the Judgemental side of David's life in the Bible?
)
What deeper ...
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Who are "the sons of disobedience" in Colossians 3:6?
If this variant represents the original text, then who are "the sons of disobedience" (τοὺς υἱοὺς τῆς ἀπειθείας, tous huious tēs apeitheias) in Colossians 3:6?
NA28:
δι᾿ ἃ ἔρχεται ἡ ὀργὴ τοῦ ...
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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 ...
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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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In Genesis 8:20, why did Noah offer sacrifices after the Flood?
In Genesis 8:20, Noah creates an altar after getting off the Ark:
Gen 8:20 ASV - 20 And Noah builded an altar unto Jehovah, and took of every clean beast, and of every clean bird, and offered burnt-...
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How should ἱλαστήριον (hilasterion) be translated in Romans 3:25?
The word ἱλαστήριον (hilasterion) is often translated in Romans 3:25 as "propitiation," "atonement," or "sacrifice [of atonement]" in Western conservative biblical translations. In Hebrews 9:5 it is ...
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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 ...
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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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What does it mean to have a scent as "the wine of Lebanon" Hosea 14:7
Hosea 14:7 (NKJV)
7 Those who dwell under his shadow shall return;
They shall be revived like grain,
And grow like a vine.
Their scent shall be like the wine of Lebanon.
What is the wine ...
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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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(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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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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Is casting lots considered prophecy?
In Joshua 18:6 (NASB)
And you shall write a description of the land in seven divisions, and bring the description here to me. Then I will cast lots for you here before the Lord our God.
or in Jonah ...
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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 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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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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Is "the bread is in effect common" (1 Samuel 21:5) as translated by the NKJV accurate?
The MT reads:
וַיַּ֩עַן֩ דָּוִ֨ד אֶת־הַכֹּהֵ֜ן וַיֹּ֣אמֶר ל֗וֹ כִּ֣י אִם־אִשָּׁ֤ה
עֲצֻֽרָה־לָ֙נוּ֙ כִּתְמ֣וֹל שִׁלְשֹׁ֔ם בְּצֵאתִ֕י וַיִּהְי֥וּ
כְלֵֽי־הַנְּעָרִ֖ים קֹ֑דֶשׁ וְהוּא֙ דֶּ֣רֶךְ חֹ֔ל ...
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Why is Jeremiah so opposed to a Jewish settlement in Egypt?
Jeremiah 42:7-19
Ten days later the word of the Lord came to Jeremiah. 8So he called
together Johanan son of Kareah and all the army officers who were with
him and all the people from the least to ...
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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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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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