Topical Encyclopedia
Definition and General Overview:Dedication, in a biblical context, refers to the act of setting apart a person, place, or object for a sacred purpose. This concept is deeply rooted in the Old and New Testaments, where dedication signifies a commitment to God and His service. It involves consecration, sanctification, and often a public declaration of devotion.
Old Testament Context:1.
The Dedication of the Tabernacle and Temple: · The concept of dedication is prominently seen in the dedication of the Tabernacle and the Temple. In
Exodus 40, Moses dedicates the Tabernacle by anointing it with oil, signifying its sanctification for God's presence. Similarly, Solomon's dedication of the Temple in
1 Kings 8 is marked by prayer, sacrifices, and the glory of the Lord filling the house: "When the priests came out of the Holy Place, the cloud filled the house of the LORD" (
1 Kings 8:10).
2.
The Feast of Dedication: · Known as Hanukkah, the Feast of Dedication commemorates the rededication of the Second Temple in Jerusalem during the Maccabean Revolt. This event is not directly mentioned in the Old Testament but is referenced in the New Testament in
John 10:22: "At that time the Feast of Dedication took place in Jerusalem. It was winter."
3.
Personal Dedication: · Individuals could also be dedicated to God, as seen in the Nazarite vow (Numbers 6). This vow involved abstaining from wine, not cutting one's hair, and avoiding contact with the dead, symbolizing a life set apart for God.
New Testament Context:1.
Jesus and the Temple: · Jesus' presence at the Feast of Dedication (
John 10:22-23) underscores His role as the fulfillment of the Temple's purpose. His teachings during this time highlight His identity as the Good Shepherd and the Son of God, dedicated to the salvation of His people.
2.
Dedication of Believers: · The New Testament expands the concept of dedication to include the lives of believers.
Romans 12:1 urges Christians to present their bodies as "a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God," indicating a life dedicated to His service.
3.
The Early Church: · The early Christians demonstrated dedication through communal living, prayer, and the breaking of bread (
Acts 2:42). Their commitment to the apostles' teaching and fellowship exemplified a life set apart for the mission of the Gospel.
Theological Significance:Dedication in the Bible signifies a profound commitment to God, involving both external acts and internal devotion. It reflects a heart wholly given to the Lord, recognizing His sovereignty and holiness. The act of dedication is not merely ritualistic but is intended to transform the individual or community into a vessel for God's purposes. Through dedication, believers acknowledge their dependence on God and their role in His divine plan.
Topical Bible Verses
Ezra 6:16And the children of Israel, the priests, and the Levites, and the rest of the children of the captivity, kept the dedication of this house of God with joy.
Topicalbible.orgEzra 6:17
And offered at the dedication of this house of God an hundred bullocks, two hundred rams, four hundred lambs; and for a sin offering for all Israel, twelve he goats, according to the number of the tribes of Israel.
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2 Chronicles 7:5
And king Solomon offered a sacrifice of twenty and two thousand oxen, and an hundred and twenty thousand sheep: so the king and all the people dedicated the house of God.
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1 Chronicles 26:27
Out of the spoils won in battles did they dedicate to maintain the house of the LORD.
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Numbers 18:14
Every thing devoted in Israel shall be yours.
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1 Chronicles 26:26
Which Shelomith and his brothers were over all the treasures of the dedicated things, which David the king, and the chief fathers, the captains over thousands and hundreds, and the captains of the host, had dedicated.
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ATS Bible Dictionary
DedicationA religious ceremony by which any person, place, or thing was devoted to a holy purpose. Thus the tabernacle and the first and second temples were dedicated to God,Exodus 40:1-381 Kings 8:1-66Ezra 6:1 22. The Jews also practiced a certain dedication of walls, houses, etc., De 20:5Nehemiah 12:27. The "feast of the dedication" was a yearly commemoration of the cleansing and rededication of the temple, when polluted by Antiochus Epiphanes,John 10:22.
Easton's Bible Dictionary
Dedication, Feast of the
(John 10:22, 42), i.e., the feast of the renewing. It was instituted B.C. 164 to commemorate the purging of the temple after its pollution by Antiochus Epiphanes (B.C. 167), and the rebuilding of the altar after the Syrian invaders had been driven out by Judas Maccabaeus. It lasted for eight days, beginning on the 25th of the month Chisleu (December), which was often a period of heavy rains (Ezra 10:9, 13). It was an occasion of much rejoicing and festivity.
But there were other dedications of the temple. (1) That of Solomon's temple (1 Kings 8:2;2 Chronicles 5:3); (2) the dedication in the days of Hezekiah (2 Chronicles 29); and (3) the dedication of the temple after the Captivity (Ezra 6:16).
Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary
1. (
n.) The act of consecrating to a divine Being, or to a sacred use, often with religious solemnities; solemn appropriation; as, the dedication of Solomon's temple.
2. (n.) A devoting or setting aside for any particular purpose; as, a dedication of lands to public use.
3. (n.) An address to a patron or friend, prefixed to a book, testifying respect, and often recommending the work to his special protection and favor.
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia
DEDICATE; DEDICATIONded'-i-kat, ded-ika'-shun (chanukkah, "initiation," "consecration"; qadhesh, "to be clean," "sanctify"; cherem, "a thing devoted (to God)"): Often used in Hebrew of the consecration of persons, but usually in the English Versions of the Bible of the setting apart of things to a sacred use, as of the altar (Numbers 7:10, 84, 88; compareDaniel 3:2, 3, "the dedication of the image"), of silver and gold (2 Samuel 8:112 Kings 12:4), of the Temple (1 Kings 8:63Ezra 6:16; compareExodus 29:44), of the wall of Jerusalem (Nehemiah 12:27), of private dwellings (Deuteronomy 20:5). the Revised Version (British and American) substitutes "devoted" for "dedicated" inEzekiel 44:29. SeeCONSECRATION;SANCTIFICATION.
DEDICATION, FEAST OF
ded-i-ka'-shun (ta egkainia,John 10:22): A feast held by the Jews throughout the country for eight days, commencing on the 25th Kiclev (December), in commemoration of the cleansing of the temple and dedication of the altar by Judas Maccabeus after their desecration by Antiochus Epiphanes (1 Maccabees 4:56, 59). The feast was to be kept "with mirth and gladness." 2 Maccabees 10:6, 7 says it was kept like the Feast of the Tabernacles, with the carrying of palm and other branches, and the singing of psalms. Josephus calls it "Lights," from the joy which accompanied it (Ant., XII, vii, 7). At this winter feast Jesus delivered in the temple the discourse recorded inJohn 10:24, at Jerusalem.
James Orr
Greek
1456. egkainia --dedication, renewal (of religious services)...dedication, renewal (of religious services). Part of Speech: Noun, Neuter
Transliteration: egkainia Phonetic Spelling: (eng-kah'-ee-nee-ah) Short Definition:
...Strong's Hebrew
2597. chanukkah --dedication... 2596, 2597. chanukkah. 2598 .
dedication. Transliteration: chanukkah Phonetic
Spelling: (chan-ook-kaw') Short Definition:
dedication.
...2598. chanukkah --dedication, consecration
... 2597, 2598. chanukkah. 2599 .dedication, consecration. Transliteration: chanukkah
Phonetic Spelling: (khan-ook-kaw') Short Definition:dedication....
5145. nezer -- consecration, crown, Naziriteship
... Or nezer {nay'-zer}; from nazar; properly, something set apart, ie (abstractly)
dedication (of a priet or Nazirite); hence (concretely) unshorn locks; also (by...
Library
Dedication
...DEDICATION. When I was... book in 1895. Yours in Him,. Laura M. Conkle. (This
dedication was written in 1955 for the first reprint edition.)....
Dedication.
...Dedication. "Unto Him who loveth us and washed us from our sins in His
own blood, and hath made us kings and priests unto God His...
Dedication
...DEDICATION. THIS BOOK IS DEDICATED TO THE SERVANT OF GOD, SOEUR TH??R??SE,
IN THANKSGIVING FOR GRACES OBTAINED, AND TO HER "PETITE...
Dedication
...DEDICATION. To those most honourable and Prudent Gentlemen, the Burgomaster,
Aldermen, and Sheriffs, who are the very Worthy Magistrates...
Dedication
...Dedication. To Jane. In remembrance of the 9th March 1861 from MR and AMR
"MR & AM R" were Mary & Anna Maria Rawson, old school-friends...
Dedication.
...DEDICATION. TO THE MOST HONOUR ABLE AND NOBLE WILLIAM BARDESIUS, LIEUTENANT
OF WARMENHUYSEN, A NOBLEMAN WHO IS OUR PATRON, AND WHO...
TheDedication
... The DESIRE of AGES Chapter 5 TheDedication. [This chapter is based on Luke
2:21-38.]... Thededication of the first-born had its origin in the earliest times....
HomeDedication.
... CHAPTER X. HOMEDEDICATION. "The rose was rich... one, still!". Here is a
dedication worthy of a Christian mother. Natural affection...
At the Feast of theDedication of the Temple.
... HUMILIATION AND DEATH. CHAPTER XIV. AT THE FEAST OF THEDEDICATION OF
THE TEMPLE. (Luke 13:22; John 10:22-42.) ABOUT two months...
Dedication Hymn.
... DEDICATIONS; ORDINATIONS; INSTALLATIONS. 703. "Dedication Hymn. 703. CM
Bryant.Dedication Hymn. 1 O Thou, whose own vast temple...
Thesaurus
Dedication (16 Occurrences)... Easton's Bible Dictionary
Dedication, Feast of the. (John 10:22, 42), ie,
the feast of the renewing. It was instituted BC 164 to
...Dedication-offering (3 Occurrences)
Dedication-offering.Dedication-gift,Dedication-offering.Dedication-song .
Multi-Version ConcordanceDedication-offering (3 Occurrences)....
Dedication-gift (3 Occurrences)
Dedication-gift.Dedication,Dedication-gift.Dedication-offering .
Multi-Version ConcordanceDedication-gift (3 Occurrences). Numbers...
Dedication-song (1 Occurrence)
Dedication-song.Dedication-offering,Dedication-song. Deducted .
Multi-Version ConcordanceDedication-song (1 Occurrence)....
Eriaku
... Eri-Aku: In addition to a number of contract-tablets, the following inscriptions
mentioning Eri-Aku or Warad-Sin are known: (1) Adedication, by Kudur-mabuk...
Eri-aku
... Eri-Aku: In addition to a number of contract-tablets, the following inscriptions
mentioning Eri-Aku or Warad-Sin are known: (1) Adedication, by Kudur-mabuk...
Ezra (28 Occurrences)
... After the ruined wall of the city had been built by Nehemiah, there was a great
gathering of the people at Jerusalem preparatory to thededication of the wall....
Shemaiah (40 Occurrences)
... Nehemiah 6:10). (12.) A prince of Judah who assisted at thededication of
the wall of Jerusalem (Nehemiah 12:34-36). (13.) A false...
Fasts (3 Occurrences)
... POST-EXILIC 1. Feast ofDedication, 25th Kiclew 2. Fast of Esther, 13th 'Adhar 3.
Feast of Purim, 14th 'Adhar 4. Fast of the Fourth Month, 17th Tammuz 5. Fast...
Feasts (45 Occurrences)
... POST-EXILIC 1. Feast ofDedication, 25th Kiclew 2. Fast of Esther, 13th 'Adhar 3.
Feast of Purim, 14th 'Adhar 4. Fast of the Fourth Month, 17th Tammuz 5. Fast...
Resources
What is Hanukkah? Should a Christian celebrate Hanukkah (Christmaskah)? | GotQuestions.orgWhat is a solemn assembly in the Bible? | GotQuestions.orgWhat was Zerubbabel's temple/the second temple? | GotQuestions.orgDedication: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.comBible Concordance •
Bible Dictionary •
Bible Encyclopedia •
Topical Bible •
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