Topical Encyclopedia
The term "alternate" is not directly found in the Bible; however, the concept of alternation or substitution is present in various biblical narratives and teachings. This entry explores the idea of alternation as it relates to biblical themes such as sacrifice, leadership, and divine intervention.
Sacrificial SystemIn the Old Testament, the sacrificial system established by God for the Israelites involved the concept of substitution. Animals were offered as substitutes for the sins of the people, symbolizing the transfer of guilt and the need for atonement.
Leviticus 16:21-22 describes the Day of Atonement, where the high priest lays hands on a scapegoat, confessing the sins of the people, and then sends it into the wilderness as an alternate bearer of their iniquities: "Aaron shall lay both of his hands on the head of the live goat and confess over it all the iniquities of the Israelites and all their transgressions in regard to all their sins. He shall place them on the head of the goat and send it away into the wilderness by the hand of a man appointed for the task."
Leadership and Prophetic RolesThe Bible also presents instances where leadership roles are alternated or transferred. Moses, for example, was succeeded by Joshua as the leader of Israel. This transition is marked by divine appointment and the laying on of hands, signifying the alternation of leadership under God's guidance (
Deuteronomy 34:9). Similarly, the prophet Elijah's mantle was passed to Elisha, indicating a divinely ordained alternation in prophetic ministry (
2 Kings 2:13-14).
Divine Intervention and Alternate OutcomesThroughout Scripture, God often provides alternate outcomes to situations that seem dire or hopeless. The account of Abraham and Isaac in
Genesis 22 is a prime example. God commands Abraham to sacrifice his son Isaac, but at the last moment, provides a ram as an alternate sacrifice: "Then Abraham looked up and saw behind him a ram in a thicket, caught by its horns. So he went and took the ram and offered it as a burnt offering in place of his son" (
Genesis 22:13). This narrative underscores the theme of divine provision and substitution.
New Testament FulfillmentIn the New Testament, the concept of alternation reaches its fulfillment in the person of Jesus Christ. Jesus is presented as the ultimate substitute for humanity's sins. The Apostle Paul writes in
2 Corinthians 5:21, "God made Him who knew no sin to be sin on our behalf, so that in Him we might become the righteousness of God." Here, Christ's sacrificial death is the alternate means by which believers are reconciled to God, replacing the Old Testament sacrificial system with a once-for-all atonement.
Alternate Paths and ChoicesThe Bible frequently addresses the theme of choosing between alternate paths, emphasizing the importance of obedience to God's will. In
Deuteronomy 30:19, Moses sets before the Israelites the choice between life and death, blessing and curse, urging them to choose life: "I call heaven and earth as witnesses against you today that I have set before you life and death, blessing and curse. So choose life, so that you and your descendants may live." This call to choose reflects the biblical understanding of human responsibility and the consequences of alternate decisions.
ConclusionThe concept of alternation in the Bible is multifaceted, encompassing themes of substitution, leadership transition, divine intervention, and moral choice. While the term "alternate" itself is not explicitly used, its underlying principles are woven throughout the biblical narrative, illustrating God's sovereignty, provision, and the call to faithful obedience.
Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary
1. (
a.) Being or succeeding by turns; one following the other in succession of time or place; by turns first one and then the other; hence, reciprocal.
2. (a.) Designating the members in a series, which regularly intervene between the members of another series, as the odd or even numbers of the numerals; every other; every second; as, the alternate members 1, 3, 5, 7, etc. ; read every alternate line.
3. (a.) Distributed, as leaves, singly at different heights of the stem, and at equal intervals as respects angular divergence.
4. (n.) That which alternates with something else; vicissitude.
5. (n.) A substitute; one designated to take the place of another, if necessary, in performing some duty.
6. (n.) A proportion derived from another proportion by interchanging the means.
7. (v. t.) To perform by turns, or in succession; to cause to succeed by turns; to interchange regularly.
8. (v. i.) To happen, succeed, or act by turns; to follow reciprocally in place or time; -- followed by with; as, the flood and ebb tides alternate with each other.
9. (v. i.) To vary by turns; as, the land alternates between rocky hills and sandy plains.
Greek
1356. diopetes -- fallen from heaven... which fell down from Jupiter. From the
alternate of Zeus and the
alternate of pipto;
sky-fallen (ie An aerolite) -- which fell down from Jupiter.
...4797. sugcheo -- to pour together, ie to confuse, throw into...
... Or sugchuno (soong-khoo'-no) from sun and cheo (to pour) or itsalternate; to commingle
promiscuously, ie (figuratively) to throw (an assembly) into disorder...
4890. sundrome -- a running together, ie a concourse (esp. of a...
... run together. From (thealternate of) suntrecho; a running together, ie (riotous)
concourse -- run together. see GREEK suntrecho. (sundrome) -- 1 Occurrence....
4976. schema -- figure, shape
... outward appearance, form, shape. From thealternate of echo; a figure (as a mode
or circumstance), ie (by implication) external condition -- fashion....
4851. sumphero -- to bring together, to be profitable
... From sun and phero (including itsalternate); to bear together (contribute), ie
(literally) to collect, or (figuratively) to conduce; especially (neuter...
4906. sunesthio -- to eat with
... eat with. From sun and esthio (including itsalternate); to take food in company
with -- eat with. see GREEK sun. see GREEK esthio. (sunesthiei) -- 1 Occurrence...
4416. prototokos -- first-born
... firstborn From protos and thealternate of tikto; first-born (usually as noun,
literally or figuratively) -- firstbegotten(-born). see GREEK protos....
3911. paraphero -- to bring to, to carry away
... From para and phero (including itsalternate forms); to bear along or aside, ie
Carry off (literally or figuratively); by implication, to avert -- remove, take...
4483 -- command, make, say, speak of.
... For certain tenses of which a prolonged form ereo (er-eh'-o) is used; and both as
alternate for epo; perhaps akin (or identical) with rheo (through the idea of...
5295. hupotrecho -- to run in under
... run under. From hupo and trecho (including itsalternate); to run under, ie (specially),
to sail past -- run under. see GREEK hupo. see GREEK trecho....
Strong's Hebrew
3090. Yehoshabath -- Jehoshabeath... Short Definition: Jehoshabeath. Word Origin
alternate spelling of Yehosheba,
qv NASB Word Usage Jehoshabeath (2). Jehoshabeath. A form
...Library
Appendix I:Alternate Versions F[Psalm 46] God is Our Stronghold...
... Appendix I:Alternate Versions f[Psalm 46] God is our stronghold firm and sure,.
8,7,8,7,6,6,6,6,7 Ein feste Burg. [154]Luther.1530. trans....
Jesu Redemptor Omnium
... Jesu Redemptor OmniumAlternate setting by Taler Dominican Monk Monastery of Strasbourg
1361 Arr. by NAM. May be sung inalternate fashion with 155a....
Argument: Man Ought Indeed to Know Himself, but this Knowledge...
... What shall I say of the recurring changes of darkness and light; how there is thus
provided for us analternate restoration of labour and rest?...
It is Somewhat the Same Argument which You Use against the Pope...
... In reference to youralternate praise and disparagement of me, you argue with great
acuteness that you have the same right to speak good and evil of me that I...
On the Creation of the World
... over the night as an occasion of rest for men's labours; that, again, day might
overcome, and thus that labour might be refreshed with thisalternate change of...
The Chosen People
... i, l,. "Yes; so it was ere Jesus came --Alternate then His Altar flame Blazed up
and died away, And Silence took her torn with Song, And Solitude with the fair...
A Strain of Sodom.
... His friends with courteous offices. The night. 55 Had brought repose:alternate
[1224] dawn had chased. The night, and Sodom with her shameful law....
The Ascension of Messiah to Glory
... a great concourse of the people. The language of the latter part of the
Psalm is evidentlyalternate. And we may conceive that when...
The Sermon of the Seasons
... Till comes the close of time, the rolling year, made up ofalternate day
and night, shall pass through cold and heat in due order....
God Just as Well as Merciful; Accordingly, Mercy must not be...
... debtors; [744] but it is not becoming to distend further, on the ground of the
authority of such Scriptures, the cable of contention withalternate pull into...
Thesaurus
Alternate (2 Occurrences)... regularly intervene between the members of another series, as the odd or even numbers
of the numerals; every other; every second; as, the
alternate members 1, 3
...Other (4924 Occurrences)
... 4. (pron. & a.)Alternate; second; -- used esp. in connection with every; as, every
other day, that is, eachalternate day, every second day. 5. (pron....
Roll (57 Occurrences)
... away. 16. (vi) To turn; to move circularly. 17. (vi) To move, as waves or
billows, withalternate swell and depression. 18. (vi) To...
Oak (22 Occurrences)
... 1. (n.) Any tree or shrub of the genus Quercus. The oaks havealternate leaves,
often variously lobed, and staminate flowers in catkins....
Jebus (5 Occurrences)
... used centuries before the time of David (see JERUSALEM, I). It would appear probable
that the name "Jebus" was evolved by the Hebrews as analternate name, and...
Table (125 Occurrences)
... 25. (vt) To insert, as one piece of timber into another, byalternate scores or
projections from the middle, to prevent slipping; to scarf. 26....
Defeat (16 Occurrences)
... Exodus 32:18 And he said, It is not the sound of a shout of victory, neither is
it the sound of a shout of defeat: it is the noise ofalternate singing I hear....
Pile (16 Occurrences)
... 10. (n.) A large building, or mass of buildings. 11. (n.) Same as Fagot, n., 2.
12. (n.) A vertical series ofalternate disks of two dissimilar metals, as...
Play (61 Occurrences)
... 6. (n.) To move in any manner; especially, to move regularly withalternate or
reciprocating motion; to operate; to act; as, the fountain plays....
Battlement (2 Occurrences)
... 1. (n.) One of the solid upright parts of a parapet in ancient fortifications. 2.
(n.) pl. The whole parapet, consisting ofalternate solids and open spaces....
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