Topical Encyclopedia
In the context of the Bible, the concept of being "paired" often refers to the divinely ordained partnerships and relationships that are foundational to human existence and spiritual life. The idea of pairing is evident in various aspects of biblical teaching, from the creation narrative to the establishment of the Church.
Creation and Marriage:The first and most significant instance of pairing in the Bible is found in the creation account. In
Genesis 2:18, God declares, "It is not good for the man to be alone. I will make for him a suitable helper." This leads to the creation of Eve from Adam's rib, establishing the first human pair.
Genesis 2:24 further emphasizes the sanctity of this union: "For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and they will become one flesh." This pairing is foundational to the institution of marriage, highlighting the complementary nature of man and woman.
Noah's Ark:Another significant example of pairing is seen in the account of Noah's Ark. In
Genesis 7:9, God commands Noah to bring animals into the ark "two by two," ensuring the preservation of each species. This pairing underscores the importance of companionship and continuity in God's creation.
Discipleship and Ministry:In the New Testament, Jesus often sent His disciples out in pairs. In
Mark 6:7, it is recorded, "And He called the twelve to Him and began to send them out two by two, giving them authority over unclean spirits." This practice of pairing in ministry serves several purposes: mutual support, accountability, and the establishment of a credible witness, as "every matter may be established by the testimony of two or three witnesses" (
Matthew 18:16).
Marriage as a Reflection of Christ and the Church:The Apostle Paul, in his letter to the Ephesians, draws a parallel between the marriage relationship and the relationship between Christ and the Church.
Ephesians 5:31-32 states, "For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and the two will become one flesh. This mystery is profound, but I am speaking about Christ and the church." Here, the pairing of husband and wife is elevated to a spiritual metaphor, illustrating the unity and love between Christ and His followers.
Spiritual Pairing:The concept of being spiritually paired is also evident in the relationship between believers and the Holy Spirit. In
John 14:16-17, Jesus promises the coming of the Holy Spirit, saying, "And I will ask the Father, and He will give you another Advocate to be with you forever—the Spirit of truth." This pairing with the Holy Spirit empowers and guides believers in their walk with God.
Conclusion:Throughout Scripture, the theme of pairing is a testament to God's design for relationships, both human and divine. Whether in marriage, ministry, or spiritual life, being paired reflects God's intention for unity, support, and the fulfillment of His purposes.
Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary
(
imp. & p. p.) of Pair.
Greek
4801. suzeugnumi -- to yoke together... 4801 (from 4862 , "identified " and 2201 , "yoke") -- properly, jointly-yoked; yoked
(
paired) together, when God joins people together for purpose (Mt 19:6; Mk
...5620. hoste -- so as to, so then, therefore
... accomplishment). The involved then is the of elements in the correlation,
underscoring the inevitable effect of thepaired elements....
Library
The Fifth Beatitude
... For example, the 'mourners' and the 'meek' arepaired. Those who 'hunger and
thirst after righteousness' and the 'merciful' arepaired....
The Reason of the Order of the Sons of Rachel.
... Observe that among the posterity of Rachel, two of thempaired together, Naphtali
and Manasseh, head the family: Joseph and Benjamin bring up the rear....
The Two Sabbath-Controversies - the Plucking of the Ears of Corn...
... Sabbath among the measures of time. Every other day had beenpaired with
its fellow: not so the Sabbath. And so any festival, even...
The Right to Live with the People of My Choice
... Of course the relationship is not established for life; and the missionary who finds
herselfpaired off with an uncongenial fellow worker may console herself...
Putting on the Armour
... Have you considered the forces that are arrayed against you? 'What act is
all its thought had been?' Hand and brain are neverpaired....
The Retreat from Scythia.
... formed, and, in a word, a short time only elapsed before the two camps were united
and intermingled, the Scythians and the Amazons being allpaired together in...
Mr. HG Wells and the Giants
... He once held, I believe, the opinion which some singular sociologists still hold,
that human creatures could successfully bepaired and bred after the manner...
Against Jovinianus.
... Again, after the deluge, when the human race started as it were anew, men and women
werepaired together and a fresh blessing was pronounced on procreation...
On the Opposing Powers.
... suppose that he who is tempted ought by all means to prove victorious in the struggle;
in like manner as he who contends in the lists, althoughpaired with his...
Early Mentions of Christianity in Britain. --King Lucius. --Origin...
... In the archdiocese of Rheims, the two first bishops of Rheims,paired together,
are assigned to 290; the two first bishops of Soissons were the same pair as...
Thesaurus
Paired (2 Occurrences)... Noah Webster's Dictionary (imp. & pp) of Pair. Multi-Version Concordance
Paired (2 Occurrences). Song of Songs 4:2 Thy teeth are
...Pair (18 Occurrences)
... "Pairs" seems to result from confusing the figure with the thing figured-the
teeth, where each upper ispaired with the corresponding lower....
Odd (1 Occurrence)
... 1. (superl.) Notpaired with another, or remaining over after a pairing; without
a mate; unmatched; single; as, an odd shoe; an odd glove....
Pairs (13 Occurrences)
Vulture (16 Occurrences)
... residents of cities. Theypaired with affectionate courting and nested in
crevices, in walls, hollow trees and on cliffs. They raised...
Enlargement (7 Occurrences)
... to enlarge," "to respite," is rendered "relief" by the Revised Version (British
and American) in better harmony with "deliverance" with which the word ispaired...
Enlarge (18 Occurrences)
... to enlarge," "to respite," is rendered "relief" by the Revised Version (British
and American) in better harmony with "deliverance" with which the word ispaired...
Proverb (24 Occurrences)
... a proverb, and a figure, the words of the wise, and their dark sayings." Here it
seems the word "proverb" (mashal) and "words of the wise,"paired off with...
Resources
What can we learn from the tribe of Levi / the Levites? | GotQuestions.orgWhat can we learn from the tribe of Simeon? | GotQuestions.orgWhat is the meaning of pestilence in the Bible? | GotQuestions.orgPaired: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.comBible Concordance •
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