Topical Encyclopedia
In biblical contexts, the act of pointing can be understood both literally and metaphorically, often signifying direction, instruction, or emphasis. While the Bible does not frequently mention the physical act of pointing, the concept is woven throughout Scripture in various forms, such as divine guidance, prophetic direction, and moral instruction.
Divine Guidance and DirectionThe Bible frequently speaks of God directing His people, akin to pointing them in the right path. In
Psalm 32:8 , the Lord promises, "I will instruct you and teach you the way you should go; I will give you counsel and watch over you." This verse illustrates the divine act of pointing, where God provides guidance and direction to His followers, ensuring they walk in His ways.
Prophetic DirectionProphets in the Bible often served as God's mouthpieces, pointing the people of Israel toward repentance and righteousness. Isaiah, for instance, was tasked with directing the people back to God. In
Isaiah 30:21 , it is written, "And whether you turn to the right or to the left, your ears will hear this command behind you: 'This is the way. Walk in it.'" Here, the prophetic voice acts as a guide, pointing the way to follow.
Moral InstructionPointing can also be seen in the context of moral and ethical instruction. The teachings of Jesus often pointed His followers toward a higher standard of living. In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus provides clear guidance on how to live a life pleasing to God, effectively pointing His listeners toward the Kingdom of Heaven.
Matthew 5:14-16 states, "You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a basket. Instead, they set it on a stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven."
Symbolic PointingSymbolically, pointing can represent the act of leading others to Christ. Believers are called to be witnesses, pointing others to the truth of the Gospel. In
Acts 1:8 , Jesus commissions His disciples, saying, "But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you, and you will be My witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth." This directive serves as a spiritual pointing, guiding others to the salvation found in Jesus Christ.
Warnings and RebukesPointing is also evident in the form of warnings and rebukes, where God or His messengers direct attention to sin and the need for repentance. In
2 Samuel 12:7 , the prophet Nathan points out King David's sin, saying, "You are the man!" This act of pointing serves as a catalyst for David's repentance and return to righteousness.
In summary, while the physical act of pointing is not a prominent theme in the Bible, the concept of directing, guiding, and instructing is deeply embedded in the biblical narrative. Through divine guidance, prophetic messages, moral teachings, symbolic acts, and warnings, the Bible consistently points believers toward a life of faithfulness and obedience to God.
Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary
1. (
p. pr. & vb. n.) of Point.
2. (n.) The act of sharpening.
3. (n.) The act of designating, as a position or direction, by means of something pointed, as a finger or a rod.
4. (n.) The act or art of punctuating; punctuation.
5. (n.) The act of filling and finishing the joints in masonry with mortar, cement, etc.; also, the material so used.
6. (n.) The rubbing off of the point of the wheat grain in the first process of high milling.
7. (n.) The act or process of measuring, at the various distances from the surface of a block of marble, the surface of a future piece of statuary; also, a process used in cutting the statue from the artist's model.
Greek
1732. endeixis -- apointing out or indication, a proof... a
pointing out or indication, a proof. Part of Speech: Noun, Feminine Transliteration:
endeixis Phonetic Spelling: (en'-dike-sis) Short Definition: a showing
...1439. eao -- to let alone, leave
... 1439 -- to , which implies that goes with the allowing -- such aspointing to a
lurking danger (see Ac 23:32) or "putting up with something" with ....
5294. hupotithemi -- to place under, lay down, mid. to suggest
... Word Origin from hupo and tithemi Definition to place under, lay down, mid. to suggest
NASB Word Usagepointing (1), risked (1). lay down, make known....
5215. humnos -- a hymn
... It occurs twice in the NT (Eph 5:19; Col 3:16),pointing to well-known songs of
praise to God that became established hymns for the early Christians....
5427. phronema -- the thought (that which is in the mind)
... results (ie of exercising personal sight). Note the suffix, ,pointing to the
of the verbal idea. See 5429 (). 5427 ("the results of gut...
Strong's Hebrew
7971. shalach -- to send... 2), let...down (1), let...go (3), lets his loose (1), lets you go (1), letting the
go (1), letting them go (1), letting us go (1), loot (1),
pointing (1), put
...3389. Yerushalaim -- probably "foundation of peace," capital city...
... Rarely Yruwshalayim {yer-oo- shaw-lah'-yim}; a dual (in allusion to its two main
hills (the truepointing, at least of the former reading, seems to be that of...
Library
The Patriarchs and Prophets byPointing Out the Advent of Christ...
... Against Heresies: Book IV Chapter XXIII."The patriarchs and prophets bypointing
out the advent of Christ, fortified thereby, as it were, the way of...
Now Look at Some Examples. The HereticalPointing...
... Book 3 Chapter 3. Now look at some examples. The hereticalpointing? 3.
Now look at some examples. The hereticalpointing, "In...
St. Ambrose Writes in Praise of Gentleness,Pointing Out How...
... Two Books Concerning Repentance. Book I. Chapter I. St. Ambrose writes in praise
of gentleness,pointing out how needful that grace is for? St....
Accusers Challenged
... But thepointing [punctuation] of the New Testament, though it has a
considerable influence upon the sense, is of inferior authority....
An Ideal Biography.
... And he asked others to look. His whole ministry was summed up inpointing Jesus
out to others. He was ever insisting that men look at Jesus....
The Law of Change, or Mutation, Universal.
... (Oehler). [15] As being "the ears of an ass.". [16] Mundus. Oehler'spointing is
disregarded. [17] Mundus. Oehler'spointing is disregarded. [18] Mundus....
Making and Breaking Connections.
... into one's life means. The first word, "baptism," is the historical word,
pointing us back to the day of Pentecost. The other four...
Proofs of the Resurrection from Isaiah and Ezekiel; the Same God...
... a weakly condition because of sin; to whom also He said, "Behold, thou art made
whole, sin no more, lest a worse thing come upon thee:" [4580]pointing out by...
Examples of a Similar Kind from the New.
... the pre-eminent distinction of long-continued and single-husbanded widowhood, is
additionally graced with the testimony of "fastings" also;pointing out, as...
The Dramatic Element in Speaking
... The power of action alone is vividly illustrated in the touch of the finger to the
lips to invoke silence, or thepointing to the door to command one to leave...
Thesaurus
Pointing (13 Occurrences)... Multi-Version Concordance
Pointing (13 Occurrences). Matthew 12:49 And
pointing to His disciples He added, "See here are my mother and my brothers. (WEY NIV).
...Sort (143 Occurrences)
... in stature. (WEY). John 12:33 (This he said,pointing to the sort of death
he would have.) (BBE). John 18:32 (That the word of Jesus...
Direction (128 Occurrences)
... 4. (n.) The line or course upon which anything is moving or aimed to move, or in
which anything is lying orpointing; aim; line or point of tendency; direct...
Multitude (352 Occurrences)
... In the last case both revised versions have followed thepointing of the Massoretic
Text, and thispointing alone distinguishes "mingled people" (`erebh) from...
Mingled (62 Occurrences)
... In the last case both revised versions have followed thepointing of the Massoretic
Text, and thispointing alone distinguishes "mingled people" (`erebh) from...
Mixed (96 Occurrences)
... In the last case both revised versions have followed thepointing of the Massoretic
Text, and thispointing alone distinguishes "mingled people" (`erebh) from...
People (13047 Occurrences)
... In the last case both revised versions have followed thepointing of the Massoretic
Text, and thispointing alone distinguishes "mingled people" (`erebh) from...
Point (106 Occurrences)
... 35. (n.) To give particular prominence to; to designate in a special manner; to
indicate, as if bypointing; as, the error was pointed out. 36....
Points (18 Occurrences)
Zeruiah (25 Occurrences)
... This latter fact is explained by some aspointing to a type of marriage by which
the children belonged to their mother's clan (compare Abimelech, Judges 8:31...
Resources
What are the cosmological arguments for the existence of God? | GotQuestions.orgWhat are the Christian themes in “The Lord of the Rings”? | GotQuestions.orgWhat is the Star of David and is it biblical? | GotQuestions.orgPointing: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.comBible Concordance •
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