Topical Encyclopedia
Construction in the Bible encompasses a wide range of activities, from the building of altars and tabernacles to the grand edifices of temples and city walls. It reflects not only the practical needs of ancient societies but also the spiritual and communal aspirations of the people of God.
Early Construction: Altars and TabernaclesThe earliest forms of construction in the Bible are altars, which were simple structures made of earth or uncut stones. These altars were central to worship and sacrifice, as seen in
Genesis 8:20, where Noah built an altar to the Lord after the flood. The construction of the Tabernacle, as described in
Exodus 25-31, was a more elaborate endeavor. God provided Moses with detailed instructions for its construction, emphasizing the use of specific materials and dimensions. The Tabernacle served as a portable sanctuary for the Israelites during their wilderness journey, symbolizing God's presence among His people.
The Temple of SolomonOne of the most significant construction projects in the Bible is the Temple built by King Solomon. This grand edifice in Jerusalem was constructed to house the Ark of the Covenant and serve as a central place of worship for the Israelites. The account in
1 Kings 6-7 details the materials used, including cedar from Lebanon and gold overlays, and the skilled labor involved. The Temple's construction was a fulfillment of God's promise to David, Solomon's father, and represented a high point in Israel's history.
Rebuilding Efforts: Ezra and NehemiahAfter the Babylonian exile, the reconstruction of the Temple and the walls of Jerusalem became a priority for the returning exiles. The books of Ezra and Nehemiah document these efforts.
Ezra 3:10-11 describes the laying of the Temple's foundation, accompanied by worship and praise.
Nehemiah 4:6 highlights the communal effort in rebuilding the city walls, stating, "So we rebuilt the wall until all of it was joined together up to half its height, for the people had a mind to work." These projects were not only physical restorations but also spiritual renewals for the Jewish community.
Symbolic and Spiritual AspectsConstruction in the Bible often carries symbolic and spiritual significance. Jesus Christ, in the New Testament, is referred to as the cornerstone, a foundational element in the spiritual edifice of the Church (
Ephesians 2:20). The Apostle Paul speaks of believers as God's building, urging them to build on the foundation of Christ with care and integrity (
1 Corinthians 3:9-15). This metaphorical use of construction imagery underscores the importance of spiritual growth and the establishment of a strong faith community.
Practical Wisdom and SkillsThe Bible also acknowledges the practical skills and wisdom required for construction. In
Exodus 31:1-6, God appoints Bezalel and Oholiab, filling them with His Spirit to craft the Tabernacle's furnishings.
Proverbs 24:3-4 extols the virtues of wisdom and understanding in building a house, suggesting that successful construction, whether physical or spiritual, requires divine guidance and human diligence.
In summary, construction in the Bible is multifaceted, encompassing physical structures, spiritual truths, and communal efforts. It reflects the intersection of divine instruction and human endeavor, serving as a testament to God's presence and purpose among His people.
Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary
1. (
n.) The process or art of constructing; the act of building; erection; the act of devising and forming; fabrication; composition.
2. (n.) The form or manner of building or putting together the parts of anything; structure; arrangement.
3. (n.) The arrangement and connection of words in a sentence; syntactical arrangement.
4. (n.) The method of construing, interpreting, or explaining a declaration or fact; an attributed sense or meaning; understanding; explanation; interpretation; sense.
Greek
4102. pistis -- faith, faithfulness... This genitive
construction with the article refers to "() " – not "your
faith" in the sense that faith is . [The meaning of the
...2680. kataskeuazo -- to prepare
... Word Origin from kata and skeuazo (to prepare, make ready) Definition to prepare
NASB Word Usage builder (2), built (1),construction (1), prepare (3...
5499. cheiropoietos -- made by hand
... make by hand. From cheir and a derivative of poieo; manufactured, ie Of human
construction -- made by (make with) hands. see GREEK cheir. see GREEK poieo....
4566. Satan -- Satan.
... [The absence of the definite article is probably significant, given the genitive
construction.]. Word Origin variant reading for Satanas, qv. Satan....
2550. kakoetheia -- malevolence
... 2550 ("malignity") inevitably shows itself in acts of deceit (treachery) -- ie what
is of " 'evil-' that puts the worstconstruction on everything" (Souter)....
Strong's Hebrew
8403. tabnith --construction, pattern, figure... 8402, 8403. tabnith. 8404 .
construction, pattern, figure. Transliteration:
tabnith Phonetic Spelling: (tab-neeth') Short Definition: likeness.
...5656. abodah -- labor, service
... Word Origin from abad Definition labor, service NASB Word Usage bondage (4),
construction (2),construction work (1), job (2), kind of service (2), labor (9...
835. esher -- happiness, blessedness
... blessed, happy. From 'ashar; happiness; only in masculine pluralconstruction as
interjection, how happy! -- blessed, happy. see HEBREW 'ashar. 834, 835....
1094. belo -- worn-out things, rags
... old. Or (fully) blowy {bel-o'ee}; from balah; (only in pluralconstruction) rags --
old. see HEBREW balah. 1093, 1094. belo. 1095 . Strong's Numbers.
6435. pen -- lest
... lest peradventure, that. From panah; properly, removal; used only (in theconstruction)
adverb as conjunction, lest -- (lest) (peradventure), that...not....
4310. mi -- who?
... (occasionally, by a peculiar idiom, of things); also (indefinitely) whoever; often
used in obliqueconstruction with prefix or suffix -- any (man), X he, X him...
1124. bena -- to build
... to banah Definition to build NASB Word Usage building (2), built (4), rebuild (6),
rebuilding (3), rebuilt (5), reconstructing (1), underconstruction (1)....
6249. ashte -- one
... Apparently masculine pluralconstruction of esheth in the sense of an afterthought
(used only in connection with asar in lieu of 'echad) eleven or (ordinal...
1139. Bene-beraq -- "sons of lightning," a city in Dan
... Bene-barak. From the pluralconstruction of ben and baraq; sons of lightning,
Bene-berak, a place in Palestine -- Bene-barak. see HEBREW ben. see HEBREW baraq....
Library
A Brief Examination of theConstruction of Our Bodies from a...
... III."Philosophical Works. XXX. A brief examination of theconstruction
of our bodies from a medical point of view. 1. Now the...
TheConstruction of a Theodicy, not an Attempt to Solve Mysteries...
... Section V. Theconstruction of a Theodicy, not an attempt to solve mysteries,
but to dissipate absurdities. As we have merely undertaken...
That theConstruction of Man Throughout Signifies his Ruling Power...
... III."Philosophical Works. IV. That theconstruction of man throughout signifies
his ruling power . 1. For as in our own life artificers...
Construction of the Sentence, 38-43
... SYNTAXCONSTRUCTION OF THE SENTENCE, 38-43. 38. TheConstruction of the LXX
not Greek. In treating of Accidence we have been concerned...
Case, 50-61
... ourane, kai hoi hagioi. 51. Nominative Absolute. Occasionally we get aconstruction
in the LXX, which can be described only by this name....
The Conquest of Babylon.
... Babylon."The River Euphrates."Canals."Curious boats."Their mode ofconstruction."
Primitive navigation."Return of the boatmen."Extent of Babylon...
The Kingdom Forming
... 12. Name the various articles that the people were to offer for theconstruction
of the Tabernacle. 13.... 14. Why are the details ofconstruction recorded twice?...
The Conservative Reaction, and the Liberal victory --
... The Jerusalem compromise, like every other compromise, was liable to a double
construction, and had in it the seed of future troubles....
What are Evidences of Backsliding in Heart.
... By this, I mean a lack of that disposition that puts the bestconstruction upon
every one's conduct that can be reasonable a lack of confidence in the good...
Hiram, the Inspired Artificer
... There were temples on a larger scale, and of more massiveconstruction, but the
enormous masses of masonry of the oldest nations were not comparable with the...
Thesaurus
Construction (14 Occurrences)... Multi-Version Concordance
Construction (14 Occurrences). 1
... (See NAS). Revelation
21:18 The
construction of its wall was jasper. The
...Architecture
... architecture. 2. (n.)Construction, in a more general sense; frame or structure;
workmanship. Int. Standard Bible Encyclopedia. ARCHITECTURE....
Birthday (4 Occurrences)
... The correct text here (Tischendorf, Westcott-Hort) has a very peculiar
construction, but without material difference of meaning....
Constructive (1 Occurrence)
... Noah Webster's Dictionary 1. (a.) Having ability to construct or form; employed
inconstruction; as, to exhibit constructive power....
Invention (4 Occurrences)
... 1. (n.) The act of finding out or inventing; contrivance orconstruction of that
which has not before existed; as, the invention of logarithms; the invention...
Earthwork (7 Occurrences)
... 1. (n.) Anyconstruction, whether a temporary breastwork or permanent fortification,
for attack or defense, the material of which is chiefly earth....
Build (242 Occurrences)
... 6. (n.) Form or mode ofconstruction; general figure; make; as, the build of
a ship. Int. Standard Bible Encyclopedia. BUILD; BUILDING....
Cart (12 Occurrences)
... On this occasion they set it in a new cart, probably a rudeconstruction, with solid
wooden wheels like that still used in Western Asia, which was drawn by two...
Abi (2 Occurrences)
... For example, Abidan is "father of a judge." It explained different instances as
being different varieties of the genitiveconstruction; for instance, Abihail...
Arch (24 Occurrences)
... The meaning of the Hebrew word is uncertain." The principle of archconstruction
was known to the Jews and examples of early Jewish rude arches have been found...
Resources
What is the significance of acacia wood in the Bible? | GotQuestions.orgWas it God's desire for Israel to worship Him in a temple in Jerusalem? | GotQuestions.orgWhat is the significance of a red heifer in the Bible? Is a red heifer a sign of the end times? | GotQuestions.orgConstruction: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.comBible Concordance •
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