Topical Encyclopedia
In biblical literature, the term "arch" is not explicitly mentioned in the context of architectural structures as we understand them today. However, arches as architectural elements were known in ancient times and may have been used in various constructions, including gates, bridges, and buildings. The concept of an arch can be symbolically related to strength, support, and the bridging of spaces, which can be seen in various biblical themes and narratives.
Symbolism and Themes1.
Strength and Support: The arch, as a structural element, is known for its ability to bear weight and provide support. This can be symbolically related to the strength and support that God provides to His people. In
Isaiah 41:10 , God reassures His people, "Do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with My righteous right hand."
2.
Bridging and Connection: Arches often serve as bridges, connecting two separate points. This can be seen as a metaphor for the reconciliation between God and humanity through Jesus Christ. In
2 Corinthians 5:18-19 , Paul writes, "All this is from God, who reconciled us to Himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation: that God was reconciling the world to Himself in Christ, not counting men’s trespasses against them."
3.
Protection and Shelter: The arch can also symbolize protection, as it often forms part of a gateway or entrance, providing shelter and security.
Psalm 91:1-2 speaks of God's protection: "He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High will abide in the shadow of the Almighty. I will say of the LORD, 'He is my refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust.'"
Architectural Context in the BibleWhile the Bible does not specifically mention arches, it does describe various architectural features of ancient structures, such as gates, walls, and temples. The construction of Solomon's Temple, for example, involved intricate architectural design, as detailed in
1 Kings 6. Although arches are not explicitly mentioned, the grandeur and complexity of the temple's design suggest the use of advanced building techniques.
Historical and Cultural ContextIn the ancient Near East, arches were used in various forms of construction. The Romans, who occupied Judea during the New Testament period, were particularly known for their use of arches in aqueducts, bridges, and buildings. This architectural influence would have been present in the regions where biblical events took place, providing a cultural backdrop to the biblical narrative.
ConclusionWhile the Bible does not directly reference arches, the symbolic themes associated with arches—such as strength, support, and connection—are deeply embedded in the biblical message. These themes reflect the nature of God's relationship with His people and the redemptive work of Christ, bridging the gap between the divine and the human.
Easton's Bible Dictionary
An architectural term found only in
Ezek. 40:16, 21, 22, 26, 29. There is no absolute proof that the Israelites employed arches in their buildings. The arch was employed in the building of the pyramids of Egypt. The oldest existing arch is at Thebes, and bears the date B.C. 1350. There are also still found the remains of an arch, known as Robinson's Arch, of the bridge connecting Zion and Moriah. (see
TYROPOEON VALLEY.)
Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary
1. (
n.) Any part of a curved line.
2. (n.) Usually a curved member made up of separate wedge-shaped solids, with the joints between them disposed in the direction of the radii of the curve; used to support the wall or other weight above an opening. In this sense arches are segmental, round (i. e., semicircular), or pointed.
3. (n.) A flat arch is a member constructed of stones cut into wedges or other shapes so as to support each other without rising in a curve.
4. (n.) Any place covered by an arch; an archway; as, to pass into the arch of a bridge.
5. (n.) Any curvature in the form of an arch; as, the arch of the aorta.
6. (v. t.) To cover with an arch or arches.
7. (v. t.) To form or bend into the shape of an arch.
8. (v. i.) To form into an arch; to curve.
9. (a.) Chief; eminent; greatest; principal.
10. (a.) Cunning or sly; sportively mischievous; roguish; as, an arch look, word, lad.
11. (n.) A chief.
12. (n.) A suffix meaning a ruler, as in monarch (a sole ruler).
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia
ARCHarch ('ayil; Septuagint ta ailam, in sense of "posts" or "colonnade"): Referred to repeatedly inEzekiel 40:16, but translation is an error for "porch" or "portico." the Revised Version (British and American) gives in marg, "or, colonnade. The meaning of the Hebrew word is uncertain." The principle of arch construction was known to the Jews and examples of early Jewish rude arches have been found in Palestine. An arched form need not necessarily be constructed with radiating joints; it can be corbelled as at Mycenae (Treasury of Atreus). This type of construction has been found also in Palestine.
Greek
476. antidikos -- an opponent, adversary... adversary. From anti and dike; an opponent (in a lawsuit); specially, Satan (as
the
arch-enemy) -- adversary. see GREEK anti. see GREEK dike.
...Strong's Hebrew
361. elam -- a porch...arch. Or (shortened);elam {ay-lawm'}; or (feminine) ielammah {ay-lam-maw'}; probably
from 'ayil; a pillar-space (or colonnade), ie A pale (or portico) --
arch.
...8382. taam -- to be double
... root; to be complete; but used only as denominative from ta'owm, to be (causatively,
make) twinned, ie (figuratively) duplicate or (arch.) Jointed -- coupled...
92. aguddah -- a band
... bunch, burden, troop. Feminine passive participle of an unused root (meaning to
bind); a band, bundle, knot, orarch -- bunch, burden, troop. 91, 92....
7198. qesheth -- a bow
... From qashah in the original sense (of qowsh) of bending: a bow, for shooting (hence,
figuratively, strength) or the iris -- Xarch(-er), + arrow, bow((-man...
8561. timorah -- palm (tree) figure
... (plural o or (feminine) timmorah (singular and plural) {tim-mo-raw'}; from the same
root as tamar; (arch.) A palm-like pilaster (ie Umbellate) -- palm tree....
7549. raqia -- an extended surface, expanse
... firmament. From raqa'; properly, an expanse, ie The firmament or (apparently) visible
arch of the sky -- firmament. see HEBREW raqa'. 7548, 7549. raqia. 7550...
8064. shamayim -- heaven, sky
... of an unused singular shameh {shaw-meh'}; from an unused root meaning to be lofty;
the sky (as aloft; the dual perhaps alluding to the visiblearch in which...
8121. shemesh -- sun
... From an unused root meaning to be brilliant; the sun; by implication, the east;
figuratively, a ray, ie (arch.) A notched battlement -- + east side(-ward), sun...
1610. gaph -- body, self, height, elevation
... highest places, himself. From an unused root meaning toarch; the back; by extensive
the body or self -- + highest places, himself. 1609, 1610. gaph. 1611...
2588. chanuth -- a cell, vault
... cabin. From chanah; properly, a vault or cell (with anarch); by implication, a
prison -- cabin. see HEBREW chanah. 2587, 2588. chanuth. 2589 ....
Library
Circular Letter to the Clergy of theArch-Deaconry of Suffolk.
... Circular Letter to the Clergy of theArch-Deaconry of Suffolk. My Worthy Brethren,...
HUMPHREY PRIDEAUX,.Arch-Deacon of Suffolk. August 17th, 1692. Footnotes:...
Transactions of that Period, and Progress of Christian Doctrine...
... Book III. Chapter XVII."Transactions of that Period, and Progress of Christian
Doctrine through the Joint Efforts of Emperors andArch-Priests....
Athanasius Again Reinstated by the Letter of Constantius, and...
... Book III. Chapter XX."Athanasius again reinstated by the Letter of Constantius,
and receives his See. TheArch-Priests of Antioch....
The Life of Mr. Patrick Hamilton.
... James Beaton wasarch-bishop, Hugh Spence dean of divinity, John Waddel rector,
James Simson official, Thomas Ramsay canon and dean of the abbey, with the...
The Life of David Hackston of Rathillet.
... that party, until the 3d of May 1679, that we find him, with other eight gentlemen,
who were in quest of one Carmichael, who, by means of thearch-bishop, had...
The Life of Robert Ker of Kersland, Esq.
... guards, and kept in the guard house till next day; when the commanding officer would
have dismissed him, but first he behoved to know thearch-bishop's pleasure...
The Life of Mr. Robert Bailey.
... After his study of divinity, he took orders fromarch-bishop Law, about the year
1622, and was soon after presented by the earl of Eglinton to the church of...
Concerning Jonathan, one of the Sicarii, that Stirred up a...
... [8] Vespasian and his two sons, Titus and Domitian. [9] See the representations
of these Jewish vessels as they still stand on Titus's triumphalarch at Rome...
The Life of Mr. Angus Macbean.
... In August, the presbytery were informed not only that he absented wilfully, but
that he disowned the government of the church byarch-bishops, bishops, &c....
The Life of Mr. James Mitchel.
... Mr. Mitchel, being now excluded from all mercy or favour from the government, and
having not yet laid down arms, and taking thearch-bishop of St....
Thesaurus
Arch (24 Occurrences)... The
arch was employed in the building of the pyramids of Egypt. The oldest
existing
arch is at Thebes, and bears the date BC 1350.
...Cope (1 Occurrence)
... 2. (n.) Anything regarded as extended over the head, as thearch or concave
of the sky, the roof of a house, thearch over a door....
Vault (2 Occurrences)
... 7. (vt) To form with a vault, or to cover with a vault; to give the shape of an
arch to; toarch; as, vault a roof; to vault a passage to a court....
Tyropoeon
... A fragment of thearch (qv) of this bridge (called "Robinson'sArch"), where it
projects from the sanctuary wall, was discovered by Robinson in 1839....
Arched (3 Occurrences)
... Noah Webster's Dictionary 1. (imp. & pp) ofArch. 2. (a.) Made with anarch or curve;
covered with anarch; as, an arched door. Multi-Version Concordance...
Candlestick (34 Occurrences)
... shown him. Its form is described in Exodus 25:31-40; 37:17-24, and may
be seen represented on theArch of Titus at Rome. It was...
Thessalonica (8 Occurrences)
... Jason," with whom Paul and Silas lodged, are in the original called politarchai,
an unusual word, which was found, however, inscribed on anarch in Thessalonica...
Gabbatha (1 Occurrence)
... of the Aramaic gabhetha', meaning "height" or "ridge." Tradition which now locates
the Pretorium at the Antonia and associates the triple Romanarch near there...
Thrust (92 Occurrences)
... 9. (n.) An attack; an assault. 10. (n.) The force or pressure of one part of a
construction against other parts; especially (Arch.), a horizontal or diagonal...
Barber
... LITERATURE. Benzinger, heb.Arch., 110; Nowack, Lehrbuch der Heb.Arch.,
134; W. Max Muller, Asien und Europa, 296. George B. Eager....
Resources
Why is edification important in the life of a Christian? | GotQuestions.orgWhat does the Bible say about church hierarchy? | GotQuestions.orgHow big is heaven? | GotQuestions.orgArch: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.comBible Concordance •
Bible Dictionary •
Bible Encyclopedia •
Topical Bible •
Bible Thesuarus
