Topical Encyclopedia
The term "stretched-forth" in the Bible often signifies an action of divine intervention, authority, or human response to God's commands. It is a phrase that appears in various contexts, illustrating both God's power and human obedience or need.
1.
Divine Authority and Power: The concept of "stretched-forth" is frequently associated with God's mighty acts. In
Exodus 6:6, God declares, "Therefore tell the Israelites: ‘I am the LORD, and I will bring you out from under the yoke of the Egyptians. I will free you from being slaves to them, and I will redeem you with an outstretched arm and with mighty acts of judgment." Here, the "outstretched arm" symbolizes God's power and readiness to deliver His people from bondage.
2.
Miraculous Acts: The phrase is also used in the context of miracles performed by God through His servants. In
Exodus 14:16, God instructs Moses, "And as for you, lift up your staff and stretch out your hand over the sea and divide it, so that the Israelites can go through the sea on dry ground." Moses' act of stretching forth his hand is a demonstration of faith and obedience, resulting in the miraculous parting of the Red Sea.
3.
Judgment and Warning: The stretched-forth hand can also signify impending judgment. In
Isaiah 5:25, it is written, "Therefore the anger of the LORD burns against His people; His hand is raised against them to strike them down. The mountains quake, and their corpses lie like refuse in the streets. Yet for all this, His anger is not turned away; His hand is still upraised." Here, the imagery of God's hand being stretched forth conveys a warning of continued judgment due to persistent disobedience.
4.
Healing and Restoration: In the New Testament, the act of stretching forth is often associated with healing. In
Mark 3:5, Jesus heals a man with a withered hand: "And after looking around at them with anger, grieved by their hardness of heart, He said to the man, 'Stretch out your hand.' So he stretched it out, and his hand was restored." This act of stretching forth is a response to Jesus' command, resulting in physical restoration and demonstrating Jesus' authority over infirmity.
5.
Prayer and Supplication: The act of stretching forth hands is also a posture of prayer and supplication. In
Psalm 143:6, the psalmist declares, "I stretch out my hands to You; my soul thirsts for You like a parched land." This imagery conveys a deep yearning for God's presence and intervention, reflecting a heart of dependence and devotion.
6.
Symbol of Readiness and Action: In the broader biblical narrative, stretching forth one's hand or arm can symbolize readiness to act according to God's will. It is an expression of willingness to participate in God's plan, whether in acts of faith, obedience, or service.
The motif of "stretched-forth" in Scripture underscores the dynamic interaction between divine initiative and human response. It highlights God's sovereign power and the call for His people to respond in faith, obedience, and prayer.
Library
Tau.
... and water. 170. "Let Thy hand bestretched forth (fiat, be made) to save
me, for I have chosen Thy commandments" (ver.173). That I...
Now this Word Also Has the Veil. ...
... [1992] There, Moses, when he was assailed,stretched forth his hands and fought
against Amalek; [1993] and here, the Lord Jesus, when we were assailed and were...
Scriptural Uses of the General Words for Prayer
... And shortly after: Moses went out from Pharaoh outside the city, andstretched forth
his hands unto the Lord and there was an end to the thunder....
The Value of Life
... And hestretched forth his hand, and touched him, saying, I will; be thou
made clean. And straightway his leprosy was cleansed....
The Cross of Christ Frequently Announced in the Old Testament.
... placed one weapon above another in the midst of the hill, [1609] and standing upon
it, so as to be higher than all the people, hestretched forth his hands...
Letter ccxxvii. (AD 428 or 429. )
... Nevertheless the hand of the Lord was stillstretched forth, for suddenly he is
smitten with blindness, and immediately the cause of this calamity was...
The Leper
... clean. And being moved with compassion, Hestretched forth His hand, and
touched him, and saith unto him, I will; be thou made clean....
That a Good Will Should not Always be Attributed to Grace, nor...
... the day and cried;" and: "Mine eyes have prevented the morning." [1820] For He calls
and invites us, when He says: "All the day long Istretched forth My hands...
The Rod that Troubled Egypt.
... While the people were digging wells for water, Aaronstretched forth his rod over
the river again, and frogs came up from it, and spread over all the land and...
Sovereign Grace and Man's Responsibility
... But to Israel he saith, all day long I havestretched forth my hands unto
a disobedient and gainsaying people.""Romans 10:20-21....
Thesaurus
Stretched-forth (1 Occurrence)Stretched-
forth. Stretched,
Stretched-
forth. Stretched-out .
Multi-Version Concordance
Stretched-
forth (1 Occurrence).
...Stretched (234 Occurrences)
... Luke 22:53 When I was daily with you in the temple, yestretchedforth no hands
against me: but this is your hour, and the power of darkness. (KJV ASV BBE WBS)....
Cherub (21 Occurrences)
... 1 Kings 6:27 He set the cherubim within the inner house; and the wings of the cherubim
werestretchedforth, so that the wing of the one touched the one wall...
Forth (1639 Occurrences)
... Matthew 12:49 And hestretchedforth his hand toward his disciples, and
said, Behold my mother and my brethren! (KJV ASV WBS YLT)....
Stretched-out (21 Occurrences)
Stretched-out.Stretched-forth, Stretched-out. Stretched-out-arm . Multi-Version
Concordance... (YLT).Stretched-forth, Stretched-out. Stretched-out-arm ....
Rod (138 Occurrences)
... Exodus 9:23 Mosesstretchedforth his rod toward the heavens, and Yahweh
sent thunder, hail, and lightning flashed down to the earth....
Straightway (96 Occurrences)
... (ASV). Matthew 8:3 And hestretchedforth his hand, and touched him, saying, I will;
be thou made clean. And straightway his leprosy was cleansed. (ASV)....
Straight (196 Occurrences)
... (Root in ASV BBE). Matthew 8:3 And hestretchedforth his hand, and touched him,
saying, I will; be thou made clean. And straightway his leprosy was cleansed....
Maker (55 Occurrences)
... Isaiah 51:13 and have forgotten Yahweh your Maker, whostretchedforth the heavens,
and laid the foundations of the earth; and fear continually all the day...
Vex (20 Occurrences)
... Multi-Version Concordance Vex (20 Occurrences). Acts 12:1 Now about that time Herod
the kingstretchedforth his hands to vex certain of the church. (KJV)....
Resources
What is the story of Elisha and the Shunammite woman? | GotQuestions.orgWhat is a kundalini spirit? | GotQuestions.orgWhat is the “Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God” sermon? | GotQuestions.orgBible Concordance •
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