Topical Encyclopedia
In the context of the Bible, the concept of "compare" involves examining similarities and differences between people, events, teachings, or spiritual truths. This process is often used to gain deeper understanding and insight into God's Word and His will for humanity. The act of comparison is a tool for discernment, allowing believers to distinguish between truth and falsehood, wisdom and folly, righteousness and sin.
Biblical Examples of Comparison1.
Parables of Jesus: Jesus frequently used parables to compare the Kingdom of Heaven to familiar earthly experiences. For instance, in
Matthew 13:31-32 , Jesus compares the Kingdom of Heaven to a mustard seed, illustrating how something small can grow into something great: "He put before them another parable: 'The kingdom of heaven is like a mustard seed that a man planted in his field. Although it is the smallest of all seeds, yet when it grows, it is the largest of garden plants and becomes a tree, so that the birds of the air come and nest in its branches.'"
2.
Wisdom Literature: The Book of Proverbs often uses comparison to convey wisdom.
Proverbs 16:16 states, "How much better to acquire wisdom than gold; to gain understanding is more desirable than silver." Here, the value of wisdom and understanding is compared to material wealth, emphasizing the superiority of spiritual riches.
3.
Old and New Covenants: The New Testament frequently compares the Old Covenant, given through Moses, with the New Covenant, established through Jesus Christ.
Hebrews 8:6 highlights this comparison: "But now Jesus has received a more excellent ministry, just as the covenant He mediates is better and is founded on better promises."
4.
Righteousness and Wickedness: The Psalms often compare the lives and outcomes of the righteous and the wicked.
Psalm 1:3-4 contrasts the righteous man with the wicked: "He is like a tree planted by streams of water, yielding its fruit in season, whose leaf does not wither, and who prospers in all he does. Not so the wicked! For they are like chaff driven off by the wind."
Theological ImplicationsComparison in Scripture serves as a means to highlight the moral and spiritual lessons God desires to impart to His people. By comparing earthly and heavenly realities, temporal and eternal values, and human and divine wisdom, believers are encouraged to align their lives with God's truth. The act of comparison also underscores the transformative power of the Gospel, as it reveals the stark contrast between life in the flesh and life in the Spirit.
Practical ApplicationBelievers are called to exercise discernment by comparing teachings, behaviors, and spiritual experiences against the truth of Scripture. In 1
John 4:1 , the apostle John advises, "Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, because many false prophets have gone out into the world." This testing involves comparing what is heard and seen with the Word of God to ensure alignment with His will.
In summary, the biblical concept of comparison is a vital tool for understanding and applying God's Word. It encourages believers to seek wisdom, discern truth, and live in accordance with the divine standards set forth in Scripture.
Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary
1. (
v. t.) To examine the character or qualities of, as of two or more persons or things, for the purpose of discovering their resemblances or differences; to bring into comparison; to regard with discriminating attention.
2. (v. t.) To represent as similar, for the purpose of illustration; to liken.
3. (v. t.) To inflect according to the degrees of comparison; to state positive, comparative, and superlative forms of; as, most adjectives of one syllable are compared by affixing - er and -est to the positive form; as, black, blacker, blackest; those of more than one syllable are usually compared by prefixing more and most, or less and least, to the positive; as, beautiful, more beautiful, most beautiful.
4. (v. i.) To be like or equal; to admit, or be worthy of, comparison; as, his later work does not compare with his earlier.
5. (v. i.) To vie; to assume a likeness or equality.
6. (n.) Comparison.
7. (n.) Illustration by comparison; simile.
8. (v. t.) To get; to procure; to obtain; to acquire
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia
COMPAREkom-par' (damah, mashal, [`arakh]; paraballo, sugkrino): "Compare" is the translation of damah, "to be like" (Songs 1:9); of mashal, "to liken," "compare" (Isaiah 46:5); of `arakh, "to set in array," "compare" (Psalm 89:6Isaiah 40:18); of shawah, "to be equal" (Proverbs 3:15;Proverbs 8:11).
In the New Testament sugkrino, "to judge" or "sift together," is translated "comparing," "comparing spiritual things with spiritual" (1 Corinthians 2:13 the English Revised Version), the American Standard Revised Version "combining" ("adapting the discourse to the subject," Thayer), the Revised Version, margin "interpreting spiritual things to spiritual (men)."
W. L. Walker
Greek
4793. sugkrino -- to combine,compare... to combine,
compare. Part of Speech: Verb Transliteration: sugkrino Phonetic Spelling:
(soong-kree'-no) Short Definition: I combine,
compare Definition: I join
...3865. paratheoreo -- tocompare, to overlook
... tocompare, to overlook. Part of Speech: Verb Transliteration: paratheoreo Phonetic
Spelling: (par-ath-eh-o-reh'-o) Short Definition: I overlook, neglect...
3666. homoioo -- to make like
... to make like. Part of Speech: Verb Transliteration: homoioo Phonetic Spelling:
(hom-oy-o'-o) Short Definition: I make like, liken,compare Definition: I make...
3846. paraballo -- to throw beside
... to throw beside. Part of Speech: Verb Transliteration: paraballo Phonetic Spelling:
(par-ab-al'-lo) Short Definition: Icompare, arrive Definition: Icompare...
2443. hina -- in order that, that, so that
... Probably from the same as the former part of heautou (through the demonstrative
idea;compare ho); in order that (denoting the purpose or the result) -- albeit...
2736. kato -- down, below
... beneath, bottom, down, under. Also (compare) katotero (kat-o-ter'-o); (compare
katoteros); adverb from kata; downwards -- beneath, bottom, down, under....
2487. ichnos -- a track
...Compare Ro 10:6-8,17 with Ro 14:23.]. Word Origin a prim.... a track, footprint, step.
From ikneomai (to arrive;compare heko); a track (figuratively) -- step....
2065. erotao -- to ask, question
... Apparently from ereo (compare ereunao); to interrogate; by implication, to request --
ask, beseech, desire, intreat, pray.Compare punthanomai. see GREEK ereo....
5537. chrematizo -- to transact business, to make answer
... From chrema; to utter an oracle (compare the original sense of chraomai), ie Divinely
intimate; by implication, (compare the secular sense of chreia) to...
4474. rhapizo -- to strike with a rod, hence to strike with the...
... From a derivative of a primary rhepo (to let fall, "rap"); to slap -- smite
(with the palm of the hand).Compare tupto. see GREEK tupto....
Strong's Hebrew
1819. damah -- to be like, resemble... root Definition to be like, resemble NASB Word Usage alike (1),
compare (3), compared
(1), equal (1), gave parables (1), imagine (1), intend (1), intended (2
...2616. chacad -- to be good, kind
... A primitive root; properly, perhaps to bow (the neck only (compare chanan)
in courtesy to an equal), ie To be kind; also (by euphem....
4911. mashal -- to represent, be like
... Short Definition: like. become like,compare, use as a proverb, speak in proverbs,
utter Denominative from mashal; to liken, ie (transitively...
6957. qav -- line
... line Or qav {kawv}; from qavah (compare qaveh); a cord (as connecting), especially
for measuring; figuratively, a rule; also a rim, a musical string or accord...
3855. Lahad -- a man of Judah
... Lahad. From an unused root meaning to glow (compare lahab) or else to be earnest
(compare lahag); Lahad, an Israelite -- Lahad. see HEBREW lahab....
6186. arak -- to arrange or set in order
... set the battle, array,compare, direct, equal, esteem, estimate, expert
in war, A primitive root; to set in a row, ie Arrange, put...
5537. sala -- to weigh
... root Definition to weigh NASB Word Usage weighed (1).compare. A primitive root;
to suspend in a balance, ie Weigh --compare. 5536, 5537. sala. 5538 ....
7737. shavah -- to agree with, be like, resemble
... avail, behave, bring forth,compare, countervail, be, make equal, lay, A
primitive root; properly, to level, ie Equalize; figuratively...
8321. soreq -- (choice species of) the vine
... Or sowreq {so-rake'}; and (feminine) soreqah {so- ray-kaw'}; from sharaq in the
sense of redness (compare saruq); a vine stock (properly, one yielding purple...
5708. ed -- filthy
... filthy From an unused root meaning to set a period (compare adah, uwd); the menstrual
flux (as periodical); by implication (in plural) soiling -- filthy....
Library
And Since YouCompare Christ and the Other Deities as to the...
... Book I. 49 And since youcompare Christ and the other deities as to the
blessings of health? And since youcompare Christ and...
Therefore, if weCompare the Things Themselves, we May no Way...
... Section 28. Therefore, if wecompare the things themselves, we may no way
doubt that the? 28. Therefore, if wecompare the things...
And Now we May WellCompare the Present with Former Things...
... Pronounced on the thirtieth anniversary of his reign. Chapter IX. And
now we may wellcompare the present with former things?...
But as Celsus WouldCompare the Venerable Customs of the Jews with...
... Chapter XLIV. But as Celsus wouldcompare the venerable customs of the
Jews with the laws of? But as Celsus wouldcompare the...
He Wishes, Indeed, toCompare the Articles of Our Faith to those...
... Chapter XVII. He wishes, indeed, tocompare the articles of our faith
to those of the Egyptians? He wishes, indeed, tocompare...
NowCompare the Words of Origen, which I have Translated Word for...
... Nowcompare the words of Origen, which I have translated word for word above, with
these which by him have been turned into Latin, or rather overturned; and...
For not Even Herein Ought Such as are Married toCompare...
... Section 10. For not even herein ought such as are married tocompare
themselves with the? 10. For not even herein ought such as...
And Yet, Lord, we Perceive Intervals of Times, andCompare Them...
... Book XI Chapter XVI And yet, Lord, we perceive intervals of times, andcompare
them? And yet, Lord, we perceive intervals of times...
With Israel's God who CanCompare?
... AFTER SERMON. Hymn 96 With Israel's God who cancompare? John Newton
8,8,8,8 Deuteronomy 33:26-29. With Israel's God who cancompare?...
Proceeding Immediately after to Mix up andCompare with one...
... Chapter LVI. Proceeding immediately after to mix up andcompare with one
another things that are dissimilar? Proceeding immediately...
Thesaurus
Compare (22 Occurrences)... 4. (vi) To be like or equal; to admit, or be worthy of, comparison; as, his later
work does not
compare with his earlier.
... Standard Bible Encyclopedia.
COMPARE.
...Caiaphas (9 Occurrences)
... ka'-a-fas, ki'-a-fas (Kaiaphas; Caiaphas = Kephas (compare Dods in Expositor's Greek
Test, I, 803), and has also been interpreted as meaning "depression...
Kiss (39 Occurrences)
... We have in the Old Testament naschaq, "to kiss," used (1) of relatives (which seems
the origin of the practice of kissing;compare Songs 8:1, "Oh that thou...
Silas (22 Occurrences)
... identification with Titus has also been suggested, based on 2 Corinthians 1:19;
2 Corinthians 8:23, but this is very improbable (compare Knowling, Expositor's...
Kinsman (29 Occurrences)
... to the custom of avenging the blood of a slain kinsman; hence, a blood relative
(Numbers 5:8 Ruth 2:20; Ruth 3:9, 12; 4:1, 3, 6, 8, 14;compare "performing the...
Kinswoman (4 Occurrences)
... to the custom of avenging the blood of a slain kinsman; hence, a blood relative
(Numbers 5:8 Ruth 2:20; Ruth 3:9, 12; 4:1, 3, 6, 8, 14;compare "performing the...
Benaiah (44 Occurrences)
... be-na'-ya, be-ni'-a (benayah, benayahu, "Yahweh has built."Compare HPN, 182, 265,
268): (1) Benaiah, the son of Jehoiada of Kabzeel (compare Joshua 15:21...
Amariah (14 Occurrences)
... (8.) Nehemiah 10:3. (9.) Ezra 10:42. Int. Standard Bible Encyclopedia. AMARIAH.
am-a-ri'-a ('amaryah and 'amaryahu, "the Lord has said";compare HPN, 180, 285)....
Anah (10 Occurrences)
... a'-na (`anah, meaning uncertain; a Horite clan-name (Genesis 36)): (1) Mother of
Aholibamah, one of the wives of Esau and daughter of Zibeon (compare Genesis 36...
Andrew (12 Occurrences)
... I. In New Testament. 1. Early History and First Call: Andrew belonged to
Bethsaida of Galilee (compare John 1:44). He was the brother...
Resources
How does Alcoholics Anonymous compare with the Bible? | GotQuestions.orgHow does the preservation of the Qur'an compare to the preservation of the Bible? | GotQuestions.orgWhat are the religious / spiritual beliefs of Native Americans? | GotQuestions.orgCompare: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.comBible Concordance •
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