Topical Encyclopedia
Branding, in the contemporary sense, refers to the practice of marking ownership or identity, often through symbols or names, to distinguish one entity from another. While the modern concept of branding as related to marketing and corporate identity is not directly addressed in the Bible, the Scriptures do provide insights into the broader themes of identity, ownership, and marking, which can be related to the idea of branding.
Biblical Context of Marking and OwnershipIn the Bible, marking is often associated with ownership, protection, or covenant. One of the earliest examples is found in
Genesis 4:15, where God places a mark on Cain to protect him: "But the LORD said to him, 'Not so! If anyone kills Cain, he will suffer vengeance seven times over.' And the LORD placed a mark on Cain, so that no one who found him would kill him." This mark served as a divine sign of protection and identity.
In the context of covenant, circumcision is a significant mark of the Abrahamic covenant.
Genesis 17:11 states, "You are to undergo circumcision, and it will be the sign of the covenant between Me and you." This physical mark was a sign of belonging to God's chosen people and a reminder of the promises made by God to Abraham and his descendants.
Spiritual Marking and IdentityThe New Testament expands on the concept of spiritual marking and identity. Believers are described as being sealed with the Holy Spirit, which signifies God's ownership and the believer's identity in Christ.
Ephesians 1:13-14 states, "And in Him, having heard and believed the word of truth—the gospel of your salvation—you were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit, who is the pledge of our inheritance until the redemption of those who are God’s possession, to the praise of His glory."
This sealing with the Holy Spirit is akin to a spiritual brand, marking believers as belonging to God and setting them apart for His purposes. It is a guarantee of the believer's inheritance and a testament to their identity in Christ.
The Mark of the BeastIn the eschatological context, the Book of Revelation speaks of a different kind of marking, known as the mark of the beast.
Revelation 13:16-17 describes this mark: "And the second beast required all people small and great, rich and poor, free and slave, to receive a mark on their right hand or on their forehead, so that no one could buy or sell unless he had the mark—the name of the beast or the number of its name." This mark represents allegiance to the beast and is contrasted with the seal of God on the foreheads of His servants (
Revelation 7:3).
Symbolism and AllegianceThroughout Scripture, marks and symbols often denote allegiance and identity. In the Old Testament, the Israelites were instructed to bind God's commandments as a sign on their hands and foreheads (
Deuteronomy 6:8), symbolizing their commitment to God's law and their identity as His people.
In a broader sense, branding, as understood in the biblical context, involves the concepts of identity, ownership, and allegiance. Whether through physical marks, spiritual seals, or symbolic actions, the Bible emphasizes the importance of belonging to God and living in accordance with His will.
Topical Bible Verses
Leviticus 19:28You shall not make any cuttings in your flesh for the dead, nor print any marks on you: I am the LORD.
Topicalbible.org1 Timothy 4:2
Speaking lies in hypocrisy; having their conscience seared with a hot iron;
Topicalbible.org
Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary
(
p. pr. & vb. n.) of Brand.
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia
BRANDINGSeePUNISHMENTS.
Greek
2741b. kausteriazo -- to mark bybranding... 2741a, 2741b. kausteriazo. 2742 . to mark by
branding. Transliteration:
kausteriazo Short Definition:
branding. Word Origin from
...2743. kauteriazo -- sear with a hot iron.
... [2743 () literally referred tobranding a person with a red-hot iron which
sears the flesh and deadens (numbs) the nerves. After...
5480. charagma -- a stamp, impress
... parties. 5480 ("brand-mark") was originally any on a coin or a seal, used by
an engraver on a die (stamp,branding iron). 5480 () later...
Strong's Hebrew
3587. ki -- a burning,branding... 3586, 3587. ki. 3588 . a burning,
branding. Transliteration: ki Phonetic
Spelling: (kee) Short Definition:
branding. Word Origin
...3555. keviyyah -- a burning
... Word Origin from kavah Definition a burning NASB Word Usage burn (2). burning. From
kavah; abranding -- burning. see HEBREW kavah. 3554, 3555....
5348. naqod -- speckled
... speckled. From an unused root meaning to mark (by puncturing orbranding); spotted --
speckled. 5347, 5348. naqod. 5349 . Strong's Numbers.
Library
He Does Battle for the Faith; He Restores Peace among those who...
... was dissolved. Burnt with such abranding-iron he meditated flight, for
he could not bear to be of ill repute and dishonoured. And...
The Apostles not Ignorant the Heretical Pretence of St. Peter's...
... Now, with the view ofbranding [2091] the apostles with some mark of ignorance,
they put forth the case of Peter and them that were with him having been...
When, Therefore, it is Said that the Tradition against Female...
... But nobody ought to regard it merely as making a cross on paper; everyone ought
to regard it as what it ultimately is,branding the fleur-de-lis, marking the...
Jesus Charged with Blasphemy
... It correctly understands, but it fatally rejects, His claims; and does not hesitate
to take the further step, on the ground of these, ofbranding Him as a...
The Second Cleansing of the Temple
... Now, in the fullness of His newly asserted royalty, He calls it My House: He denounces
the iniquity of their traffic bybranding it as a den of robbers; He...
Paul's Reasons for Temperance
... of light.' A very important part of such walk is recoiling from all share in 'the
unfruitful works of darkness,'"a significant expressionbranding such deeds...
Marcion, Justifying his Antithesis Between the Law and the Gospel...
... the decrees of the Creator proves that none other God was preached by the apostle
than He whose purposes he now wished to have recognised,branding as false...
What is the Philosophy which the Apostle Bids us Shun?
... man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after
the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ;" [1919]branding not all...
Consistency of the Apostle in his Other Epistles.
... he warns (them) concerning the future: "In which we too had our conversation, doing
the concupiscences and pleasures of the flesh." [903]Branding, in fine...
That the Holy Spirit is in Every Conception Separable from the...
... from the Spirit. Thebranding-iron is conceived of together with the fire;
and yet the material and the fire are distinct. Thus too...
Thesaurus
Branding (3 Occurrences)... (p. pr. & vb. n.) of Brand. Int. Standard Bible Encyclopedia.
BRANDING. See
PUNISHMENTS. Multi-Version Concordance
Branding (3 Occurrences).
...Printed (2 Occurrences)
... has been quite changed in the Revised Version (British and American), and, if the
idea is one of printing at all, it refers rather tobranding than stamping...
Printing
... has been quite changed in the Revised Version (British and American), and, if the
idea is one of printing at all, it refers rather tobranding than stamping...
Print (3 Occurrences)
... has been quite changed in the Revised Version (British and American), and, if the
idea is one of printing at all, it refers rather tobranding than stamping...
Brand (4 Occurrences)
... 4. (n.) A mark put upon criminals with a hot iron. Hence: Any mark of infamy or
vice; a stigma. 5. (n.) An instrument to brand with; abranding iron....
Brandish (4 Occurrences)
Writing (194 Occurrences)
... Or yet again the marks on the animals in the Pyrenean caves may have been ownership
marks and point back to abranding of marks or a primitive tattooing by...
Girding (8 Occurrences)
... there shall be rottenness; instead of a belt, a rope; instead of well set hair,
baldness; instead of a robe, a girding of sackcloth; andbranding instead of...
Rottenness (9 Occurrences)
... there shall be rottenness; instead of a belt, a rope; instead of well set hair,
baldness; instead of a robe, a girding of sackcloth; andbranding instead of...
Rope (10 Occurrences)
... there shall be rottenness; instead of a belt, a rope; instead of well set hair,
baldness; instead of a robe, a girding of sackcloth; andbranding instead of...
Resources
What does the Bible say about body piercings? | GotQuestions.orgAre the teachings of Arnold Murray and Shepherd's Chapel biblical? | GotQuestions.orgWhat does the Bible have to say to victims of human trafficking? | GotQuestions.orgBranding: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.comBible Concordance •
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