11
votes
Accepted
Understanding the Parable of the Weeds (Matthew 13:24-30)
The Greek ζιζάνια for tares/weeds has often been understood as a reference to darnel (a type of ryegrass, see here). If so, the meaning is clarified.
Wheat & darnel look essentially the same in ...
- 16k
10
votes
In Luke 3:16, what does:"not worthy to untie the straps of his sandals" mean?
I wouldn't call it a "deeper hidden meaning", but a "graphic obvious meaning" -- at least to John the Baptist's hearers.
Here, and in the parallel synoptic passages (Matt 3:11 // Mark 1:7 // Luke 3:...
- 24.7k
7
votes
In Matthew 25:8-9 what does the oil in the ten virgins parable represent?
I agree with the gist of several comments and previous answers that the oil does not need to have an specific symbolic meaning for the parable to make sense. That said, meaning can still be tied to ...
- 4,202
7
votes
What species of flower might Jesus have been referring to when he said, "Consider the lilies"?
According to John Chancellor, in his book The Flowers and Fruits of the Bible (NY: Beaufort Books, Inc., 1982, p.42), the lily (actually "lilies of the field") Jesus spoke of in Matthew 6:28-29 was ...
- 7,367
7
votes
What species of flower might Jesus have been referring to when he said, "Consider the lilies"?
In Search of Lost Lilies (and reliable Bible commentaries)
“[A]lthough there is little doubt that the word [κρίνον] denotes
some plant of the lily species, it is by no means certain what
...
- 2,601
7
votes
What does "milk and honey" refer to?
I think it's helpful to frame answers in parts. So here goes a three-part response:
First, 'flowing' connotes the abundance of something. (This point is a one-liner, because I won't insult anyone's ...
- 411
7
votes
What is the significance of the skull of Golgotha?
Strong's 2898 - kranion - meaning a skull.
Latin Vulgate translation - "Calvariae" meaning a skull, from which the English gets "Calvary"
Speculation on this name has been lodged in church history ...
- 9,795
6
votes
What is the symbolic significance of performing circumcision on the "8th day"?
In a compilation made in mid-13th century France by Chizkuni, there is an explanation quoting Rabbi Shimon ben Yochai, that the 8th day had been chosen by God for circumcision of the newly born so ...
- 992
6
votes
In Revelation 6:6 what is meant by "Do not damage the oil and the wine”?
The English Standard Version Study Bible offers an interesting and insightful comment on verse 6:
ESV Comment - Do not harm the oil and wine: Local crops such as oil and wine are unaffected, showing ...
- 8,764
6
votes
What are the significance of these three items
The significance of those pledges in bound up with the whole story of Onan violating his obligations with leverate marriage to Tamar, as recorded in Genesis chapter 38. Assuming this is understood, ...
- 21.2k
6
votes
What is an "ephod" and what is its meaning?
An ephod (Hebrew: אֵפוֹד ʾēfōḏ; /ˈɛfɒd/ or /ˈiːfɒd/) was a type of apron, which according to the Hebrew Bible, was worn by the Jewish high priest the kohen gadol, an artifact and an object to be ...
- 1,296
5
votes
What is the reason for the darkening of the sun during the crucifixion?
Also Mark 15:33 and Luke 23:44-45.
In his commentary on Luke's passage (Sermon CLIII), Cyril of Alexandria (378-444) saw allusions to Amos and to Psalm 69 here:
Amos 5:18 (NKJV)
Woe to ...
- 12.1k
5
votes
In Ezekiel 23 what acts of prostitution did Israel commit while she was a youth in Egypt?
The 'prostitution' referenced by Ezekiel is in most senses a reference to idolatry:
"They committed adultery with their idols; they even sacrificed their children, whom they bore to me, as food ...
- 5,596
5
votes
"... where their worm does not die and the fire is not quenched" - Is Jesus' description of Hell (Gehenna) literal or figurative?
Is Jesus' description of Gehenna (Hell) literal or figurative?
This is an admittedly difficult subject because we do not recognize our wretchedness before God. The reason that animal sacrifices were ...
- 9,120
5
votes
Accepted
"... where their worm does not die and the fire is not quenched" - Is Jesus' description of Hell (Gehenna) literal or figurative?
God revealed himself in literal fire a number of times. He appeared in a burning bush to Moses, Exodus 3:1-6. Fire came out of the tabernacle from before the Lord and consumed upon the altar the burnt ...
- 29.5k
4
votes
In Matthew 25:8-9 what does the oil in the ten virgins parable represent?
Oil symbolises something without which it is impossible to enter the Kingdom of Heaven. Moreover, this something is that which does not depend solely on the merit of God, for otherwise all virgins, i....
- 10.1k
4
votes
Do the specific gifts the father gives to the prodigal son have any special significance?
there were five gifts
The robe: a sign of royalty in the house of the Father, a protection as well from the elements and danger
The sandals: the son is not a servant but also the sandals to protect ...
- 41
4
votes
What does it mean to be "born of water"?
In John 3:5, Jesus tells Nicodemus that to enter the kingdom one must be "born of water and the Spirit". What does 'to be born of water' mean?
Mat 3:11 (NIV) (John the Baptist:)“I baptize ...
- 1,003
4
votes
What is the purpose of listing two different birds in the curse of Proverbs 30:17?
I am seeing parallelism here. There is a two-fold disobedience; one in disobeying the father by mocking and the other in disobeying the mother by disregarding her direction. I lean towards your ...
- 41
4
votes
In Amos 9:13 - What does "The Plowman will Overtake the Reapers" Mean?
Rashi states that the seasons will be so bountiful that the plowing and reaping seasons will overlap, therefore the plowman "will meet" (וְנִגַּ֤שׁ) the reaper. This is in keeping with the next phrase ...
- 41
4
votes
Could Jesus actually have risen from the dead on the fourth day, instead on the third day?
The English versions are correct in translating "on the third day."
To take Matthew 16.21 as an example, this is the relevant section in the Greek.
καὶ τῇ τρίτῃ ἡμέρᾳ ἐγερθῆναι
[Jesus began to ...
4
votes
In Revelation 21:16 do the walls of the new Jerusalem rise 12,000 furlongs?
If I am not mistaken, a figurative object in Sacred Scripture must be interpreted as figurative (analogical) in all its parts. That is, one should not begin with an analogy representing spiritual ...
- 125
4
votes
Accepted
What is the allusion in Matt 12:6, "something greater"?
Note the following verses:
Matt. 12:6: τοῦ ἱεροῦ μεῖζόν ἐστιν ὧδε (“greater than the temple is here”)
Matt. 12:41: πλεῖον Ἰωνᾶ ὧδε (“greater than Jonah is here”)
Matt. 12:42 cf. Luke 11:31: πλεῖον ...
- 11.4k
4
votes
Accepted
Trumpet Call of God
I can only venture a partial answer to your question because, apart from considering whether this “trumpet call of God” is literal or symbolic, I cannot imagine what else it might be. My imagination ...
- 21.2k
4
votes
Did the men of Solomon's time preferred lighter skin women?
In context to the poem, we find in Song of Songs ( שִׁ֥יר הַשִּׁירִ֖ים ) Chapter 1 : verse 5 - The Woman who loves My-Beloved (Dodi, דּוֹדִ֥י) is questioning the contributions of Maidens who ...
- 8,327
4
votes
Understanding the Parable of the Weeds (Matthew 13:24-30)
@HoldToTheRod did an excellent job of explaining the agricultural references being made.
I would just point out that the OT background for this parable includes:
[Jer 31:27 NASB20] 27 "Behold, ...
- 14.8k
4
votes
Does physical birth in amniotic fluid parallel the spiritual rebirth of John 3:4-5?
I certainly don't claim any of these thoughts are original to me, but I see a comparable connection.
Jesus often used metaphors that were familiar to people to illustrate a point.
Physical birth ...
- 16k
4
votes
Accepted
Could this be the same song in Revelation 5 and 14?
Rev 5:9, 10 contains a hymn of praise sung by the four living creatures and the 24 elders to the Lamb. It is one of the seven hymns found among the seven seals - see appendix below.
By contrast, the ...
- 95.3k
4
votes
What do the stones represent in Isaiah 5:2?
Each element in a parable, being a short story, is indispensable to the plot, but may or may not have metaphoric significance. Let us treat these two aspects separately.
Plot Element: Stones
In the ...
- 95.3k
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