Topical Encyclopedia
In biblical terminology, the term "forefather" refers to an ancestor or patriarch, often highlighting the foundational figures in the lineage of the Israelites and the broader narrative of God's covenantal relationship with His people. The concept of forefathers is deeply rooted in the genealogical and covenantal traditions of the Bible, emphasizing the continuity of faith and divine promise through generations.
Patriarchs as ForefathersThe most prominent forefathers in the Bible are the Patriarchs: Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. These figures are central to the narrative of the Old Testament and are often referred to collectively as the "fathers" of the Israelite nation. God’s covenant with Abraham marks a pivotal moment in biblical history, as seen in
Genesis 17:4-5 : "As for Me, this is My covenant with you: You will be the father of many nations. No longer will you be called Abram; your name will be Abraham, for I have made you a father of many nations."
Isaac, the son of Abraham, and Jacob, the son of Isaac, continue this lineage of promise. Jacob, later named Israel, becomes the father of the twelve tribes, further establishing the foundational role of the forefathers in the history of Israel.
Forefathers in the Law and ProphetsThe forefathers are frequently invoked in the Law and the Prophets as a reminder of God's enduring promises and faithfulness. In
Exodus 3:15 , God instructs Moses to speak to the Israelites: "Say to the Israelites, ‘The LORD, the God of your fathers—the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob—has sent me to you.’ This is My name forever, and this is how I am to be remembered in every generation."
The prophets often call the people back to the faith and obedience exemplified by their forefathers. In
Isaiah 51:2 , the prophet urges the people to "look to Abraham your father and to Sarah who gave you birth. When I called him, he was but one, and I blessed him and made him many."
Forefathers in the New TestamentThe New Testament continues to reference the forefathers, particularly in the context of fulfilling the promises made to them. In
Acts 3:25 , Peter speaks to the people of Israel, saying, "And you are sons of the prophets and of the covenant God made with your fathers when He said to Abraham, ‘Through your offspring all the families of the earth will be blessed.’"
The Apostle Paul also emphasizes the significance of the forefathers in
Romans 9:4-5 , where he writes, "Theirs is the adoption as sons; theirs the divine glory, the covenants, the giving of the Law, the temple worship, and the promises. Theirs are the patriarchs, and from them proceeds the human descent of Christ, who is God over all, forever worthy of praise! Amen."
Spiritual Legacy of the ForefathersThe forefathers are not only biological ancestors but also spiritual exemplars.
Hebrews 11, often referred to as the "Faith Hall of Fame," highlights the faith of the forefathers, underscoring their trust in God's promises despite not seeing their complete fulfillment in their lifetimes.
Hebrews 11:8-10 states, "By faith Abraham, when called to go to a place he would later receive as his inheritance, obeyed and went, without knowing where he was going. By faith he dwelt in the promised land as a stranger, as in a foreign country. He lived in tents, as did Isaac and Jacob, who were heirs with him of the same promise."
The legacy of the forefathers is thus a testament to the enduring faith and covenantal relationship between God and His people, serving as a model for subsequent generations to emulate in their walk with God.
Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary
(
n.) An ancestor; one who precedes another in the line of genealogy in any degree, but usually in a remote degree.
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia
FOREFATHERfor'-fa-ther:
(1) 'abh ri'shon, "first father," "chief father," hence, "early ancestor": "turned back to the iniquities of their forefathers" (Jeremiah 11:10).
(2) progonos, "born before," "ancestor": "whom I serve from my forefathers" (2 Timothy 1:3). It is translated "parents" (including grandparents) in1 Timothy 5:4: "and to requite their parents."
Greek
4310b. propator -- aforefather... a
forefather. Transliteration: propator Short Definition:
forefather. Word Origin
from pro and pater Definition a
forefather NASB Word Usage
forefather (1).
...4269. progonos -- born before
...forefather, parent. From proginomai; an ancestor, (grand-)parent --forefather,
parent. see GREEK proginomai. (progonois) -- 1 Occurrence....
Strong's Hebrew
7223. rishon -- former, first, chief... previously (1). ancestor, that were beforetime, beginning, eldest, first,
forefather most, former thing, of old time,. Or riishon
...1. ab -- father
... Usage ancestors (1), family* (1), father (571), Father (8), father's (137), fathers
(333), fathers' (120), fathers' households (1),forefather (1), forefathers...
Library
How Abram OurForefather Went Out of the Land of the Chaldeans...
... CHAPTER 7. How Abram OurForefather Went Out Of The Land Of The Chaldeans,
And Lived In The Land Then Called Canaan But Now Judea....
And Setting Out to Paradise, He Took Hold of OurForefather Adam...
... Part II."The Descent of Christ into Hell. Greek Form. Chapter 9 (25). And setting
out to paradise, He took hold of ourforefather Adam by the hand?...
Rom. Iv. 1, 2
... Wherefore also he sets him up very high by calling him "forefather," and putting
a constraint upon them to comply with him in all points....
Hebrews vii. 3-Jan
... But if he who bears a type of Christ is so much better not merely than the priests,
but even than theforefather himself of the priests, what should one say of...
Christ Predicted by Moses.
... of prophecy through Moses, "that a ruler would not fail the Jews until He should
come for whom the kingdom was reserved" (for Judah was theforefather of the...
While Hades was Thus Discoursing to Satan, the King of Glory...
... While Hades was thus discoursing to Satan, the King of glory stretched out His right
hand, and took hold of ourforefather Adam, and raised him....
Sermons on the Card.
... For he that committeth deadly sin willingly, bindeth himself to be inheritor of
everlasting pain: and so did ourforefather Adam willingly eat of the apple...
St John the Baptist
... The old spirit of hisforefather Aaron, of hisforefather Phineas, the spirit of
Levi, which (rightly understood), is the Spirit of God, flashes up in the...
The Gospel of Nicodemus.
... right? Chapter 9 (25). And setting out to paradise, He took hold of
ourforefather Adam by the hand? Chapter 10 (26). While...
Arrival
... of the Scriptures are not exempted to this rule, inspired as it were, they mentioned
almost every known and unknown animal which ourforefather Noah saved in...
Thesaurus
Forefather (33 Occurrences)... degree. Int. Standard Bible Encyclopedia.
FOREFATHER. for'-fa
... parents.".
Multi-Version Concordance
Forefather (33 Occurrences). Matthew 3
...Forefather's (1 Occurrence)
... Multi-Version ConcordanceForefather's (1 Occurrence). Jeremiah 35:14 Performed
have been the words of Jonadab son of Rechab, when...
Merely (30 Occurrences)
... Romans 4:12 and theforefather of the circumcised, namely of those who not merely
are circumcised, but also walk in the steps of the faith which ourforefather...
Descendants (326 Occurrences)
... Matthew 3:9 and do not imagine that you can say to yourselves, 'We have Abraham
as ourforefather,' for I tell you that God can raise up descendants for...
Cain (18 Occurrences)
... Cain takes up his abode in the land of Nod ("wandering"), and there builds a city
and becomes the ancestor of a line which includes Jabal,forefather of tent...
Namely (81 Occurrences)
... Romans 4:12 and theforefather of the circumcised, namely of those who not merely
are circumcised, but also walk in the steps of the faith which ourforefather...
Reference (23 Occurrences)
... of God in whom he believed, who gives life to the dead and makes reference to things
that do not exist, as though they did, Abraham is theforefather of all of...
Exist (24 Occurrences)
... of God in whom he believed, who gives life to the dead and makes reference to things
that do not exist, as though they did, Abraham is theforefather of all of...
Existence (35 Occurrences)
... of God in whom he believed, who gives life to the dead and makes reference to things
that do not exist, as though they did, Abraham is theforefather of all of...
Abraham's (34 Occurrences)
... of God in whom he believed, who gives life to the dead and makes reference to things
that do not exist, as though they did, Abraham is theforefather of all of...
Resources
Who were the Rechabites in the Bible? | GotQuestions.orgWho was Reuben in the Bible? | GotQuestions.orgWho was Gad in the Bible? | GotQuestions.orgForefather: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.comBible Concordance •
Bible Dictionary •
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