Topical Encyclopedia
Definition and Meaning:The term "Beulah" is derived from the Hebrew word "בְּעוּלָה" (be'ulah), meaning "married" or "to marry." It is used in the Bible to symbolize a state of being favored, blessed, and in a covenant relationship with God. The name signifies a transformation from desolation to delight, reflecting God's promise of restoration and blessing.
Biblical References:The primary reference to Beulah is found in the book of Isaiah. In
Isaiah 62:4 , the prophet declares, "No longer will you be called Forsaken, nor your land named Desolate; but you will be called Hephzibah, and your land Beulah; for the LORD will take delight in you, and your land will be married." This passage is part of a prophetic vision concerning the future glory of Zion, where God promises to restore His people and their land, transforming their status from abandonment to one of divine favor and union.
Theological Significance:Beulah represents the intimate and covenantal relationship between God and His people. In the context of
Isaiah 62, it signifies the renewal and restoration of Israel, portraying the nation as a bride adorned for her husband. This imagery underscores the faithfulness of God to His promises and His desire for a close, personal relationship with His people. The transformation from "Forsaken" to "Beulah" illustrates the redemptive power of God's love and His commitment to His covenant.
Symbolism in Christian Thought:In Christian theology, Beulah is often interpreted as a symbol of the Church, the Bride of Christ. It reflects the eschatological hope of the Church's ultimate union with Christ, as described in the New Testament. The imagery of marriage is frequently used to depict the relationship between Christ and the Church, emphasizing themes of love, fidelity, and eternal commitment. Beulah, therefore, serves as a metaphor for the spiritual blessings and eternal inheritance promised to believers.
Cultural and Historical Context:In the ancient Near Eastern context, marriage was a significant social institution, symbolizing stability, prosperity, and continuity. The use of marital imagery in Isaiah would have resonated deeply with the original audience, conveying a message of hope and assurance. The transformation of the land into "Beulah" would have been understood as a promise of agricultural abundance and societal flourishing, reflecting God's comprehensive blessing.
Literary Usage:The concept of Beulah has also permeated Christian literature and hymnody. The term is often used to describe a state of spiritual bliss and communion with God, as seen in the popular hymn "Beulah Land," which envisions a place of peace and rest for the believer. This usage highlights the enduring appeal of the Beulah imagery as a representation of the believer's ultimate hope and destiny.
Conclusion:The term "Beulah" encapsulates a profound biblical theme of transformation, covenant, and divine favor. It serves as a powerful reminder of God's unwavering commitment to His people and His promise of restoration and blessing. Through the lens of Beulah, believers are encouraged to anticipate the fulfillment of God's promises and the joy of eternal communion with Him.
Hitchcock's Bible Names Dictionary
Beulahmarried
Smith's Bible Dictionary
Beulah(married), the name which the land of Israel is to bear when "the land shall be married." (Isaiah 62:4)
ATS Bible Dictionary
BeulahMarried, a term applied to the Israel of God, inIsaiah 62:4, to signify his intimate and vital union with them.
Easton's Bible Dictionary
Married, is used in Isaiah 62:4 metaphorically as the name of Judea: "Thy land shall be married," i.e., favoured and blessed of the Lord.
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia
BEULAHbu'-la (be`ulah "married"): A name symbolically applied to Israel: "Thy land (shall be called) Beulah. thy land shall be married.. so shall thy sons marry thee" (Isaiah 62:4 f). In this figure, frequently used since Hosea, the prophet wishes to express the future prosperity of Israel. The land once desolate shall again be populated.
Library
Beulah Land. LM
... 284Beulah Land. LM. Rest of Faith. I've reached the land of corn and wine.
And all its riches freely mine; Here shines undimmed...
The Land ofBeulah. D.
... 285 The Land ofBeulah. 8s & 7s. D.Beulah Land. I am dwelling on the mountain,
Where the golden sunlight gleams O'er a land whose...
June the Seventeenth the Invisible Presence
... The pilgrim could bear a brightness inBeulah land that he could not have borne
at the wicket-gate; and the brilliance of the entry into the celebrated city...
The Otterbein Hymnal
... 11s. 282 Are You Washed in the Blood? PM. 283 The Cleansing Wave. CM. 284Beulah
Land. LM. 285 The Land ofBeulah. 8s & 7s. D. 286 Ortonville. CM....
Preparing to Depart
... John Bunyan very graphically describes this state, when he tells us of what he calls
"the country ofBeulah, whose air was very sweet, and pleasant, and the...
Conflicts with Giant Mistake
... He has a possession in one of the most charming vales ofBeulah, and the beautiful
flowers blooming there and the luscious fruit growing there tend to make him...
The Routing of Giant Doubt
... Can it be we must fight all of them? Is not this that rest-land!". "My dear pilgrims,
this isBeulah-land, and Sabbath-land. Here is the true rest....
A Peal of Bells
... There is the day, too, when Israel shall be restored to its own land, when its country
shall be called no more desolate, butBeulah, and no more forsaken, but...
Mark xii. 34
... actually entered before our death; so the best thing that can be said of us here,
is, that we are not far from it; but we are in the land ofBeulah, so happily...
The Feast of the Lord
... but that if we tarry at the feast, they will grow sweeter, and sweeter, and sweeter,
until at last, when we shall come into the landBeulah, and especially...
Thesaurus
Beulah (1 Occurrence)...BEULAH. bu'-la (be`ulah "married"): A name symbolically applied to Israel: "Thy
land (shall be called)
Beulah. thy land shall be married..
...Beulah (1 Occurrence).
...Betwixt (16 Occurrences)
Bewail (9 Occurrences)
Termed (1 Occurrence)
... You shall no more be termed Forsaken; neither shall your land any more be termed
Desolate: but you shall be called Hephzibah, and your landBeulah; for Yahweh...
Espoused (7 Occurrences)
... shalt no more be termed Forsaken; neither shall thy land any more be termed Desolate:
but thou shalt be called Hephzi-bah, and thy landBeulah; for Jehovah...
Delighteth (23 Occurrences)
... 4 Thou shalt no more be termed Forsaken; neither shall thy land any more be termed
Desolate: but thou shalt be called Hephzibah, and thy landBeulah: for the...
Delights (39 Occurrences)
... You shall no more be termed Forsaken; neither shall your land any more be termed
Desolate: but you shall be called Hephzibah, and your landBeulah; for Yahweh...
Joel (22 Occurrences)
... The idea in its purer form is found in the "landBeulah," "married land" (Isaiah
62:4, 5). If it was this that was in Joel's mind, the mention of the priests...
Desolate (189 Occurrences)
... You shall no more be termed Forsaken; neither shall your land any more be termed
Desolate: but you shall be called Hephzibah, and your landBeulah; for Yahweh...
Hephzibah (2 Occurrences)
... You shall no more be termed Forsaken; neither shall your land any more be termed
Desolate: but you shall be called Hephzibah, and your landBeulah; for Yahweh...
Resources
What is Beulah Land? | GotQuestions.orgWhat is the meaning of “Hephzibah” in the Bible? | GotQuestions.orgDid God give Israel the Promised Land for all time (Deuteronomy 4:40)? | GotQuestions.orgBeulah: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.comBible Concordance •
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