Topical Encyclopedia
In the context of the Bible, the term "beats" can be understood in various ways, often related to physical actions or rhythmic patterns. While the specific term "beats" as understood in modern musical or rhythmic contexts is not directly mentioned in the Bible, the concept of beating or striking is present in several passages, often with significant spiritual or moral implications.
1. Physical Beating as Punishment or Discipline:The Bible contains numerous references to physical beating as a form of punishment or discipline. In the Old Testament, corporal punishment was a common practice. For instance,
Proverbs 23:13-14 advises, "Do not withhold discipline from a child; although you strike him with a rod, he will not die. Strike him with a rod, and you will deliver his soul from Sheol." This reflects the cultural and historical context of using physical discipline as a means to correct behavior and instill wisdom.
In the New Testament, the concept of beating is also present, often in the context of persecution. For example, in
Acts 16:22-23 , Paul and Silas are beaten and imprisoned: "The crowd joined in the attack against Paul and Silas, and the magistrates ordered that they be stripped and beaten with rods. And after striking them with many blows, they threw them into prison and ordered the jailer to guard them securely."
2. Beating as a Metaphor for Spiritual Struggle:The Apostle Paul uses the metaphor of beating in a spiritual sense to describe the discipline and effort required in the Christian life. In
1 Corinthians 9:26-27 , Paul writes, "Therefore I do not run aimlessly; I do not fight like I am beating the air. No, I discipline my body and make it my slave, so that after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified." Here, the imagery of beating is used to convey the rigorous self-discipline necessary to live a life pleasing to God.
3. Beating as a Symbol of Judgment:In some biblical passages, beating is associated with divine judgment or the consequences of sin. In
Luke 12:47-48 , Jesus speaks of a servant who knows his master's will but does not prepare or act accordingly: "That servant who knows his master’s will but does not get ready or follow his instructions will be beaten with many blows. But the one who unknowingly does things worthy of punishment will be beaten with few blows." This parable illustrates the principle of accountability and the varying degrees of judgment based on knowledge and action.
4. Rhythmic Beating in Worship:While the Bible does not explicitly mention "beats" in the musical sense, rhythmic elements are implied in the context of worship and celebration. Instruments such as tambourines and cymbals, which produce rhythmic sounds, are mentioned in passages like
Psalm 150:4-5 : "Praise Him with tambourine and dancing; praise Him with strings and flute. Praise Him with clashing cymbals; praise Him with resounding cymbals." These instruments would have contributed to the rhythmic and celebratory nature of worship in ancient Israel.
In summary, while the term "beats" is not directly used in the Bible, the concept is present in various forms, from physical discipline and spiritual metaphors to elements of worship and expressions of judgment. Each context provides insight into the broader biblical themes of discipline, accountability, and the worship of God.
Strong's Hebrew
1986. halam -- to smite, hammer, strike down... root Definition to smite, hammer, strike down NASB Word Usage beat (2),
beats (1),
overcome (1), smash (1), smite (1), struck (1), trampled down (1).
...Library
The Poet.
... Itbeats out with a more or less regular proportion of stresses or heavy accents.
It diverts into an order of words different from the order normal in prose....
The Sympathy of the Two Worlds
... as it were on the foot, yet from the feet even to the head, there are nerves and
veins that do unite the whole, The same great heart whichbeats in heaven...
The Great Reservoir
... of the advantages of education, in many of those niceties which are so much looked
upon in society; but once give him a good strong heart thatbeats hard, and...
The Great Reservoir
... of the advantages of education, in many of those niceties which are so much looked
upon in society; but once give him a good strong heart, thatbeats hard, and...
The Strife for Precedence.
... The bellbeats; and what old bugle-strain, what pibroch, what rattling drum,
ever sounded a more perilous call? And on what battle...
The Ark of the House of Obed-Edom
... Itbeats the one down, makes him squalid, querulous, faithless, irreligious, drives
him to drink, crushes him; and the other man it steadies and quiets and...
1 John iv. 12-Apr
... gentle. A fatherbeats a boy, and a boy-stealer caresses.... blows? If thou mark
the persons, it is charity thatbeats, iniquity that caresses....
The First Cry from the Cross
... Let us continue in prayer so long as our heartbeats; let no excess of suffering
drive us away from the throne of grace, but rather let it drive us closer to it...
Death to Sin's Penalty is the Way Out into a Life of Justification...
... For there is glory be to God, a definite way out from the prison life of sruggling
and failure, sinning and repenting, wherein many a soulbeats its wings for...
Be not Deceived; God is not Mocked.
... It has been asserted that during the late Franco-German war, German drummers and
trumpeters used to give the Frenchbeats and calls in order to deceive their...
Thesaurus
Beats (3 Occurrences)... Multi-Version Concordance
Beats (3 Occurrences).
... (See NIV). Job 39:13 The wing of
the ostrich
beats joyously But is it the stork's pinion and plumage? (DBY).
...Measure (269 Occurrences)
... 11. (n.) The group or grouping ofbeats, caused by the regular recurrence
of accentedbeats. 12. (n.) The space between two bars. 13....
Beauteous (15 Occurrences)
Beatitudes
Joyously (8 Occurrences)
... Thee. (See RSV). Job 39:13 The wing of the ostrichbeats joyously But is
it the stork's pinion and plumage? (DBY JPS NAS). Psalms...
Thresher (1 Occurrence)
... 2. (n.) A large and voracious shark (Alopias vulpes), remarkable for the great length
of the upper lobe of its tail, with which itbeats, or thrashes, its prey...
Train (17 Occurrences)
... 17. (v.) Regular method; process; course; order; as, things now in a train for
settlement. 18. (n.) The number ofbeats of a watch in any certain time. 19....
Pulse (3 Occurrences)
... 4. (vi) To beat, as the arteries; to move in pulses orbeats; to pulsate; to throb.
5. (vt) To drive by a pulsation; to cause to pulsate. Int....
Against (17413 Occurrences)
... 2. (prep.) From an opposite direction so as to strike or come in contact with;
in contact with; upon; as, hailbeats against the roof....
Strike (168 Occurrences)
... 7. (vt) To cause to sound by one or morebeats; to indicate or notify by audible
strokes; as, the clock strikes twelve; the drums strike up a march....
Resources
When can music be considered 'Christian music'? | GotQuestions.orgWhy does the Bible allow slave owners to beat their slaves? | GotQuestions.orgIs artificial intelligence (AI) biblically possible? | GotQuestions.orgBible Concordance •
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