Topical Encyclopedia
The concept of "containing" in the Bible can be understood in various contexts, including physical containment, spiritual containment, and metaphorical uses. The term itself may not frequently appear in English translations, but the idea is present throughout Scripture in various forms.
Physical ContainmentIn the physical sense, containment often refers to objects or structures that hold or store something. For example, the Ark of the Covenant is a significant biblical artifact that contained the tablets of the Law, Aaron's rod, and a pot of manna (
Hebrews 9:4). This Ark was a physical container that held items of great spiritual significance for the Israelites, symbolizing God's covenant and presence with His people.
Another example is the Temple in Jerusalem, which contained the Holy of Holies, the innermost and most sacred area where the Ark was kept. The Temple itself was a physical structure containing spaces designated for worship, sacrifice, and the presence of God.
Spiritual ContainmentSpiritually, the concept of containing can be seen in the way believers are called to contain or hold the truths of God within their hearts and minds. In
Psalm 119:11, the psalmist declares, "I have hidden Your word in my heart that I might not sin against You." This verse illustrates the idea of containing God's Word internally as a means of spiritual growth and protection against sin.
The New Testament also speaks to the containment of spiritual gifts and the Holy Spirit within believers. In
2 Timothy 1:14, Paul exhorts Timothy, "Guard the good deposit that was entrusted to you—guard it with the help of the Holy Spirit who dwells in us." Here, the "good deposit" refers to the teachings and spiritual gifts that Timothy is to contain and protect through the indwelling of the Holy Spirit.
Metaphorical UsesMetaphorically, containment can refer to the control or restraint of emotions, actions, or desires.
Proverbs 25:28 states, "Like a city whose walls are broken through is a person who lacks self-control." This imagery suggests that self-control acts as a form of containment, keeping one's life ordered and protected from chaos and sin.
In the New Testament,
James 1:26 warns, "If anyone considers himself religious and yet does not bridle his tongue, he deceives his heart and his religion is worthless." The metaphor of bridling the tongue implies containing one's speech, highlighting the importance of restraint and control in the life of a believer.
ConclusionThe concept of containing in the Bible encompasses a range of meanings, from the physical containment of sacred objects to the spiritual containment of God's Word and the metaphorical containment of one's actions and emotions. Each aspect underscores the importance of holding, protecting, and managing what is valuable and sacred in the life of faith.
Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary
(
p. pr. & vb. n.) of Contain.
Greek
5440. phulakterion -- an outpost, fortification, an amulet... Spelling: (foo-lak-tay'-ree-on) Short Definition: a phylactery, an amulet Definition:
a phylactery, an amulet, a parchment capsule
containing little parchment
...5562. choreo -- to make room, advance, hold
... Word Origin from choros (a definite space, place) Definition to make room, advance,
hold NASB Word Usage accept (3), come (1), contain (1),containing (1), has...
4023. periecho -- to surround
... Transliteration: periecho Phonetic Spelling: (per-ee-ekh'-o) Short Definition: I
contain, seize Definition: (a) I contain (of a bookcontaining subject matter...
1493. eidoleion -- an idol's temple
... Noun, Neuter Transliteration: eidoleion Phonetic Spelling: (i-do-li'-on) Short
Definition: a temple for an image Definition: a temple for (containing) an image...
943. batos -- a bath, an Israelite liquid measure
... bat'-os) Short Definition: a bath, a liquid measure between eight and nine gallons
Definition: a bath, a liquid measure among the Jews,containing 72 sextarii...
2367. thuinos -- thyine, citron
... Word Origin from thuon (citron wood,containing an aromatic resin) Definition thyine,
citron NASB Word Usage citron (1). from the citron tree, thyine....
3355. metretes -- a measurer, a measure
... 3355 (from 3354 , "to measure") -- a "liquid measurecontaining nearly nine gallons" (,
408); " 'a measure' about 39.39 litres or 8 gallons" (Souter)....
Strong's Hebrew
650. aphiq -- a channel... From 'acaph; properly,
containing, ie A tube; also a bed or valley of a stream;
also a strong thing or a hero -- brook, channel, mighty, river, + scale, stream
...5592. caph -- a basin, goblet
... From caphaph, in its original sense ofcontaining; a vestibule (as a limit); also
a dish (for holding blood or wine) -- bason, bowl, cup, door (post), gate...
2833. choshen -- breastpiece, sacred pouch
... From an unused root probably meaning to contain or sparkle; perhaps a pocket (as
holding the Urim and Thummim), or rich (ascontaining gems), used only of the...
Library
Containing Dubious and Spurious Pieces.
...Containing Dubious and Spurious Pieces. A discourse [1878] by the most
blessed Hippolytus, bishop and martyr, on the end of the...
IntroductionContaining the Reason for the Author's
... Book II. Chapter I."Introductioncontaining the Reason for the Author's.
Revision of his First and Second Books. Rufinus, who wrote...
Book i.Containing the Interval of one Hundred and Sixty-Seven...
... BOOK I.Containing The Interval Of One Hundred And Sixty-Seven Years. From The Taking
Of Jerusalem By Antiochus Epiphanes, To The Death Of Herod The Great....
Book iv.Containing the Interval of About one Year.
... BOOK IV.Containing The Interval Of About One Year. From The Siege
Of Gamala To The Coming Of Titus To Besiege Jerusalem....
Book vii.Containing the Interval of About Three Years.
... BOOK VII.Containing The Interval Of About Three Years. From The Taking
Of Jerusalem By Titus To The Sedition At Cyrene....
Book vi.Containing the Interval of About one Month.
... BOOK VI.Containing The Interval Of About One Month. From The Great Extremity To
Which The Jews Were Reduced To The Taking Of Jerusalem By Titus....
Book iii.Containing the Interval of About one Year.
... BOOK III.Containing The Interval Of About One Year. From Vespasian's
Coming To Subdue The Jews To The Taking Of Gamala....
That None of the BooksContaining the Heresy of the Traducers of...
... The Sixth Ecumenical Council. Canon IX. That none of the bookscontaining
the heresy of the traducers of the Christians are to be hid....
Book ii.Containing the Interval of Sixty-Nine Years.
... BOOK II.Containing The Interval Of Sixty-Nine Years. From The Death Of
Herod Till Vespasian Was Sent To Subdue The Jews By Nero....
Book v.Containing the Interval of Near Six Months.
... BOOK V.Containing The Interval Of Near Six Months. From The Coming Of Titus To
Besiege Jerusalem, To The Great Extremity To Which The Jews Were Reduced....
Thesaurus
Containing (12 Occurrences)... Noah Webster's Dictionary (p. pr. & vb. n.) of Contain. Multi-Version
Concordance
Containing (12 Occurrences). John 2:6 Now there
...Homer (6 Occurrences)
... Heap, the largest of dry measures,containing about 8 bushels or 1 quarter English =
10 ephahs (Leviticus 27:16; Numbers 11:32) = a COR. (see OMER.)....
Register (14 Occurrences)
... 2. (n.) A recordcontaining a list and description of the merchant vessels
belonging to a port or customs district. 3. (n.) A certificate...
Bible
... redemption. It is divided into the Old Testament,containing thirty-nine
books, and the New Testament,containing twenty-seven books....
Bushel (6 Occurrences)
... Noah Webster's Dictionary 1. (n.) A dry measure,containing four pecks,
eight gallons, or thirty-two quarts. 2. (n.) A vessel of...
Void (64 Occurrences)
... 1. (a.)Containing nothing; empty; vacant; not occupied; not filled.... 5. (a.)
Containing no immaterial quality; destitute of mind or soul....
Lachish (22 Occurrences)
... Lachish has been identified with Tell-el-Hesy, where a cuneiform tablet has been
found,containing a letter supposed to be from Amenophis at Amarna in reply to...
Gerizim (4 Occurrences)
... the Mediterranean. It was on the left of the valleycontaining the ancient
town of Shechem (qv), on the way to Jerusalem. It stood...
Inkhorn (4 Occurrences)
... The Hebrew word so rendered means simply a round vessel or cup forcontaining ink,
which was generally worn by writers in the girdle (Ezek. 9:2, 3, 11)....
Fat (150 Occurrences)
... 10. (superl.) of a character which enables the compositor to make large wages; --
said of mattercontaining blank, cuts, or many leads, etc.; as, a fat take; a...
Resources
Who was John Foxe? What is Foxe's Book of Martyrs? | GotQuestions.orgWhat does the Bible say about drinking alcohol / wine? Is it a sin for a Christian to drink alcohol / wine? | GotQuestions.orgWhat are phylacteries? | GotQuestions.orgContaining: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.comBible Concordance •
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