Topical Encyclopedia
The concept of "construct" in the Bible often relates to the act of building or creating something with purpose and intention. This can be seen in both physical and metaphorical contexts throughout the Scriptures. The act of construction is frequently associated with divine instruction, human obedience, and the manifestation of God's plans.
Old TestamentIn the Old Testament, construction is prominently featured in the building of altars, the Ark of the Covenant, and the Temple. These constructions were not merely architectural feats but were imbued with spiritual significance, serving as places where God would meet with His people.
1.
Noah's Ark: One of the earliest examples of divine construction is Noah's Ark. God provided Noah with specific instructions on how to build the Ark to preserve life during the flood.
Genesis 6:14-16 states, "Make for yourself an ark of gopher wood; make rooms in the ark and coat it with pitch inside and out. And this is how you are to build it: The ark is to be three hundred cubits long, fifty cubits wide, and thirty cubits high."
2.
The Tabernacle: The construction of the Tabernacle was a significant event for the Israelites, as it was the dwelling place of God among His people.
Exodus 25:8-9 records God's command, "And they are to make a sanctuary for Me, so that I may dwell among them. You must make the tabernacle and design all its furnishings according to the pattern I will show you."
3.
Solomon's Temple: King Solomon's construction of the Temple in Jerusalem was a monumental task that symbolized the permanence of God's presence with Israel.
1 Kings 6:1 notes, "In the four hundred and eightieth year after the Israelites had come out of the land of Egypt, in the fourth year of Solomon’s reign over Israel, in the month of Ziv, the second month, he began to build the house of the LORD."
New TestamentIn the New Testament, the concept of construction takes on a more spiritual dimension, often referring to the building up of the Church and the individual believer's life in Christ.
1.
The Church as a Spiritual House: The Apostle Peter describes believers as living stones being built into a spiritual house.
1 Peter 2:5 states, "You also, like living stones, are being built into a spiritual house to be a holy priesthood, offering spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ."
2.
Wise and Foolish Builders: Jesus uses the metaphor of construction to teach about the importance of a strong foundation in His parable of the wise and foolish builders.
Matthew 7:24-25 says, "Therefore everyone who hears these words of Mine and acts on them is like a wise man who built his house on the rock. The rain fell, the torrents raged, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because its foundation was on the rock."
3.
Edification of the Body of Christ: The Apostle Paul frequently uses construction language to describe the growth and strengthening of the Church. In
Ephesians 4:12 , he writes about the purpose of spiritual gifts: "to equip the saints for works of ministry, to build up the body of Christ."
Symbolism and ThemesThe theme of construction in the Bible often symbolizes preparation, obedience, and the fulfillment of God's promises. It underscores the importance of following divine instructions and the role of human agency in God's redemptive plan. The physical act of building serves as a metaphor for spiritual growth and the establishment of God's kingdom on earth.
Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary
1. (
v. t.) To put together the constituent parts of (something) in their proper place and order; to build; to form; to make; as, to construct an edifice.
2. (v. t.) To devise; to invent; to set in order; to arrange; as, to construct a theory of ethics.
3. (a.) Formed by, or relating to, construction, interpretation, or inference.
Greek
2680. kataskeuazo -- to prepare... Transliteration: kataskeuazo Phonetic Spelling: (kat-ask-yoo-ad'-zo) Short Definition:
I build, prepare, make Definition: I build,
construct, prepare, make
...4160. poieo -- to make, do
... Part of Speech: Verb Transliteration: poieo Phonetic Spelling: (poy-eh'-o) Short
Definition: I do, make Definition: (a) I make, manufacture,construct, (b) I do...
3618. oikodomeo -- to build a house
... From the same as oikodome; to be a house-builder, ieConstruct or (figuratively)
confirm -- (be in) build(-er, -ing, up), edify, embolden. see GREEK oikodome....
4925. sunoikodomeo -- to build together, fig. to build up together
... build together. From sun and oikodomeo; toconstruct, ie (passively) to compose
(in company with other Christians, figuratively) -- build together....
Strong's Hebrew
960. bazoh -- to despise... Word Origin infinitive
construct of bazah Definition to despise NASB Word Usage
despised (1). despise. From bazah; scorned -- despise. see HEBREW bazah.
...1129. banah -- to build
... Definition to build NASB Word Usage besieged* (1), build (112), build* (1), builders
(10), building (16), builds (8), built (177),construct (1), constructed (1...
2589. channoth -- be gracious, entreat
... be gracious, entreat. Transliteration: channoth Phonetic Spelling: (klan-noth')
Short Definition: gracious. Word Origin infinitiveconstruct of chanan, qv....
7418. Ramoth-negeb -- "height of the south," a place in Simeon
... Or Ramath Negeb {raw'-math neh'-gheb}; from the plural orconstruct form of ramah
and negeb; heights (or height) of the South; Ramoth-Negeb or Ramath-Negeb, a...
6213a. asah -- do, make
... 1), certainly perform (2), commit (8), commits (7), commits and does (1), committed
(35), committed and practices (1), committing (6),construct (3), deal (30...
Library
The Failure of Plato and Other Ancient Philosophers toConstruct a...
... Section I. The failure of Plato and other ancient philosophers toconstruct
a Theodicy, not a ground of despair. The supposed want...
Our Attitude Toward Destructive Criticism.
... If atheistic scientists canconstruct a universe without God, by evolutionary processes,
and the critics canconstruct a Bible without the supernatural, "the...
Israel and the Nations.
... Suppose that a city whose citizens for ages have been drinking each from his own
cistern proposes toconstruct a reservoir that will supply every home....
By the vision of the Cross, and by the Appearance of Christ...
... by this symbol, conquer!" And it is said that Christ himself appeared to him, and
showed him the symbol of the cross, and commanded him toconstruct one like...
Science and the Savages
... Men canconstruct a science with very few instruments, or with very plain instruments;
but no one on earth couldconstruct a science with unreliable instruments...
Chapter xl
... By a dispensation of divine providence these two prisoners come to the very prison
which is "the place where Joseph was bound." Meqom isconstruct state before...
Chapter xli
... The two nouns are not inconstruct relationship but purely appositional as
is often the case with terms of weight and measure (KS333 e)....
Involution
... It is as if one were toconstruct a theory of the career of a millionaire
in terms of the pocket-money allowed him when a schoolboy....
Chapter xxxix
... The Hebrew idiom says "beautiful in form" and "beautiful of appearance," using the
construct relationship (KS336 h). We believe that 'itto, "with him" used...
Whether the Movement of the Heavenly Bodies Will Cease?
... But potentiality to situation in a place is related to a heavenly body, as the
craftsman's potentiality toconstruct various houses of one kind: for if he...
Thesaurus
Construct (6 Occurrences)... 1. (vt) To put together the constituent parts of (something) in their proper place
and order; to build; to form; to make; as, to
construct an edifice.
...Abi (2 Occurrences)
... The word 'abhi may be a nominative with an archaic ending ("father"), or in the
construct state ("father-of"), or the form with the suffix ("my father")....
Make (12882 Occurrences)
... fashion; to create. 3. (vt) To form of materials; to cause to exist in a
certain form; toconstruct; to fabricate. 4. (vt) To produce...
Constructed (7 Occurrences)
... Noah Webster's Dictionary (imp. & pp) ofConstruct. Multi-Version Concordance
Constructed (7 Occurrences). Hebrews 9:2 For a sacred...
Languages (36 Occurrences)
... 12. Syntax of the Noun: In the Semitic languages, compound words do not occur, but
this deficiency is made up by what is called theconstruct state....
Constraint (6 Occurrences)
Nehelamite (4 Occurrences)
... 12. Syntax of the Noun: In the Semitic languages, compound words do not occur, but
this deficiency is made up by what is called theconstruct state....
Trinity
... comprehend Him. Many attempts have, nevertheless, been made toconstruct
a rational proof of the Trinity of the God head. Among...
Levy (19 Occurrences)
... 9. (vt) To erect, build, or set up; to make orconstruct; to raise or cast
up; as, to levy a mill, dike, ditch, a nuisance, etc. 10....
Iyim (1 Occurrence)
... Standard Bible Encyclopedia IYIM. i'-yim (iyim, "heaps"-the form of which, `iye,
is theconstruct): (1) A short form of the name Iye-abarim (Numbers 33:45)....
Resources
What is constructivism? | GotQuestions.orgWhat is the difference between a covenant and a contract? | GotQuestions.orgWhat was the significance of the altar King Ahaz built? | GotQuestions.orgConstruct: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.comBible Concordance •
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