Topical Encyclopedia
The term "conspicuous" refers to something that is easily seen or noticed, attracting attention by being unusual or remarkable. In the context of the Bible, the concept of being conspicuous can be understood both in terms of physical visibility and moral or spiritual distinctiveness.
Old Testament ReferencesIn the Old Testament, the idea of being conspicuous is often associated with God's people being set apart from the nations around them. For example, in
Deuteronomy 28:10 , it is written, "Then all the peoples of the earth will see that you are called by the name of the LORD, and they will stand in awe of you." Here, the Israelites are to be conspicuous among the nations as a people blessed and protected by God, demonstrating His power and holiness.
The concept is also evident in the construction of the Tabernacle and the Temple, which were designed to be conspicuous symbols of God's presence among His people. The detailed instructions for their construction, as seen in Exodus and 1 Kings, highlight their significance and the attention they were meant to draw as places of worship and divine encounter.
New Testament ReferencesIn the New Testament, the conspicuous nature of believers is emphasized through their conduct and testimony. Jesus, in the Sermon on the Mount, calls His followers to be "the light of the world" (
Matthew 5:14), a city set on a hill that cannot be hidden. This metaphor underscores the idea that Christians are to live in such a way that their faith is visible and impactful, drawing others to God.
The Apostle Paul also speaks to the conspicuous nature of Christian living in
Philippians 2:15 , where he encourages believers to be "blameless and pure, children of God without fault in a crooked and perverse generation, in which you shine as lights in the world." Here, the conspicuousness of believers is linked to their moral integrity and the contrast they present to the surrounding culture.
Moral and Spiritual ImplicationsFrom a moral and spiritual perspective, being conspicuous as a believer involves living a life that reflects the character of Christ. This includes exhibiting the fruits of the Spirit (
Galatians 5:22-23) and maintaining a testimony that is consistent with the teachings of Scripture. The conspicuousness of a Christian life serves as a witness to the transformative power of the Gospel and the reality of God's kingdom.
The Bible also warns against negative forms of conspicuousness, such as hypocrisy and self-righteousness. Jesus criticizes the Pharisees for their ostentatious displays of piety, which were intended to draw attention to themselves rather than to God (
Matthew 23:5). This serves as a cautionary reminder that the purpose of being conspicuous as a believer is to glorify God, not oneself.
ConclusionIn summary, the concept of being conspicuous in the Bible encompasses both the visible and the moral aspects of a believer's life. It calls for a distinctiveness that reflects God's holiness and love, serving as a beacon to the world and drawing others to the truth of the Gospel.
Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary
1. (
a.) Open to the view; plainly visible; obvious to the eye; easy to be seen; manifest; attracting the eye.
2. (a.) Obvious to the mental eye; easily recognized; clearly defined; notable; prominent; eminent; distinguished; as, a conspicuous excellence, or fault.
Greek
4241. prepo -- to be fitting, proper, suitable... 4241 () refers to acting in a particular situation, ie as it is and therefore
"'
conspicuous amongst others; hence , . . fit'" (Vine, Unger, White, , 55
...1978. episemos -- bearing a mark, notable
... mark, notable. Part of Speech: Adjective Transliteration: episemos Phonetic Spelling:
(ep-is'-ay-mos) Short Definition: notable,conspicuous Definition: notable...
4735. stephanos -- that which surrounds, ie a crown
... stepho (to twine or wreathe); a chaplet (as a badge of royalty, a prize in the public
games or a symbol of honor generally; but moreconspicuous and elaborate...
5244. huperephanos -- showing oneself above others
... Ro 12:2,3). proud. From huper and phaino; appearing above others (conspicuous),
ie (figuratively) haughty -- proud. see GREEK huper. see GREEK phaino....
511. anoteros -- higher
... above, higher. Comparative degree of ano; upper, ie (neuter as adverb) to a more
conspicuous place, in a former part of the book -- above, higher....
2016. epiphanes -- notable
... notable, glorious, splendid. From epiphaino;conspicuous, ie (figuratively) memorable --
notable. see GREEK epiphaino. (epiphane) -- 1 Occurrence. 2015, 2016...
3167. megaleios -- magnificent, splendid
... From megas; magnificent, ie (neuter, plural as noun) aconspicuous favor, or
(subjectively) perfection -- great things, wonderful works. see GREEK megas....
Strong's Hebrew
5264. nasas -- perhaps to be high orconspicuous... nasas. 5265 . perhaps to be high or
conspicuous. Transliteration: nasas Phonetic
Spelling: (naw-sas') Short Definition: displayed. Word Origin a prim.
...5046. nagad -- to beconspicuous
... 5045, 5046. nagad. 5047 . to beconspicuous. Transliteration: nagad Phonetic
Spelling: (naw-gad') Short Definition: told. Word Origin a prim....
2380. chazuth -- vision, conspicuousness
... 2379, 2380. chazuth. 2381 . vision, conspicuousness. Transliteration: chazuth
Phonetic Spelling: (khaw-zooth') Short Definition:conspicuous....
4696. metsach -- brow, forehead
... brow, forehead, impudent. From an unused root meaning to be clear, ieConspicuous;
the forehead (as open and prominent) -- brow, forehead, + impudent....
77. Ebets -- a city in Issachar
... Abez. From an unused root probably meaning to gleam;conspicuous; Ebets, a place
in Palestine -- Abez. 76, 77. Ebets. 78 . Strong's Numbers.
4760. murah -- crop or alimentary canal
... crop. Apparently feminine passive causative participle of ra'ah; somethingconspicuous,
ie The craw of a bird (from its prominence) -- crop. see HEBREW ra'ah....
2123. ziyz -- moving things (ie beasts)
... abundance, wild beast From an unused root apparently meaning to beconspicuous;
fulness of the breast; also a moving creature -- abundance, wild beast....
168. ohel -- a tent
... From 'ahal; a tent (as clearlyconspicuous from a distance) -- covering,
(dwelling)(place), home, tabernacle, tent. see HEBREW 'ahal. 167, 168. ohel....
6643. tsbiy -- beauty, honor
... From tsabah in the sense of prominence; splendor (asconspicuous); also a gazelle
(as beautiful) -- beautiful(-ty), glorious, goodly, pleasant, roe(-buck)....
8034. shem -- a name
... A primitive word (perhaps rather from suwm through the idea of definite andconspicuous
position; compare shamayim); an appellation, as a mark or memorial of...
Library
The Knowledge of GodConspicuous in the Creation, and Continual...
... BOOK FIRST. OF THE KNOWLEDGE OF GOD THE CREATOR CHAPTER 5. THE KNOWLEDGE OF GOD
CONSPICUOUS IN THE CREATION, AND CONTINUAL GOVERNMENT OF THE WORLD....
Proceeding to the History of Israel, Tertullian Shows that...
... Chapter V."Proceeding to the History of Israel, Tertullian Shows that Appetite
Was asConspicuous Among Their Sins as in Adam's Case....
If the Female virgins are to be ThusConspicuous, Why not the Male...
... Chapter X."If the Female Virgins are to Be ThusConspicuous, Why Not the
Male as Well? Nor, similarly, (is it permitted) on the...
The Brazen Serpent.
... palace. He was to beconspicuous, but it was as the Brazen Serpent was
conspicuous, hanging on a pole for the healing of the people....
There are Three Things to be Noticed in the Actions of Our Life. ....
... He was foremost in faith,conspicuous in virtue, vigorous in battle, in victory
not greedy, at home hospitable, and to his wife attentive. 111....
Still Another Triplet
... to surrendering one's self to; and the two clauses present two sides of one disposition,
which seeks not for personal advancement orconspicuous work which may...
The Necessity for Praying Men
... God never has, and He never will, commit the weighty interests of His kingdom to
prayerless men, who do not make prayer aconspicuous and controlling factor in...
A vision of the Latter-Day Glories
... We may more fully explain this in two or three ways. The church will be like
a high mountain, for she will be pre-eminentlyconspicuous....
Prayerless Christians
... No matter howconspicuous they may be in other activities, they fail if they are
notconspicuous in prayer. They must give their brain and heart to prayer....
Clairvoyance
... things that are seen. 3. But again, thirdly, God has not merely made the
world, but He has made itconspicuous. So far from lying...
Thesaurus
Conspicuous (11 Occurrences)... 2. (a.) Obvious to the mental eye; easily recognized; clearly defined; notable;
prominent; eminent; distinguished; as, a
conspicuous excellence, or fault.
...Notable (7 Occurrences)
... no'-ta-b'-l (chazuth; gnostos): "Notable" is the translation of chazuth, "conspicuous"
(chazah, "to see"), eg Daniel 8:5, "a notable horn," ie "conspicuous...
Figure (19 Occurrences)
... a sorry figure. 6. (n.) Distinguished appearance; magnificence;conspicuous
representation; splendor; show. 7. (n.) A character...
Communicated (8 Occurrences)
... Galatians 2:6 But from those who wereconspicuous as being somewhat whatsoever they
were, it makes no difference to me: God does not accept man's person; for...
Halak (2 Occurrences)
... Joshua 11:17). It is referred to as if it were a landmark in that direction,
being prominent andconspicuous from a distance. It has...
Golgotha (4 Occurrences)
... The arguments for this site are mainly: (a) itsconspicuous and elevated
position-a position which must impress every reverent pilgrim as strikingly suitable...
Lebanon (66 Occurrences)
... Judea. This depression in fact is but a continuation of the great geological
fault soconspicuous in the Jordan valley (see ARABAH)....
Woman (4043 Occurrences)
... Manoah's wife (Judges 13:3-5, 9); were even permitted to "minister" at the door
of the sanctuary (Exodus 38:8 1 Samuel 2:22); renderedconspicuous service in...
Visible (12 Occurrences)
... on white paper. 2. (a.) Noticeable; apparent; open;conspicuous. Multi-Version
Concordance Visible (12 Occurrences). Matthew 24:27...
Ziph (9 Occurrences)
... occurring on the Hebrew stamped jar handles with the added la-melekh, "to the king."
The site is Tell Zif, 4 miles Southeast of Hebron,conspicuous hill 2,882...
Resources
Who is God? | GotQuestions.orgWhat was the tabernacle of David? | GotQuestions.orgWhy weren't Adam and Eve created at the same time (Genesis 2)? | GotQuestions.orgConspicuous: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.comBible Concordance •
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