Topical Encyclopedia
Definition and ContextThe concept of "forming" in the Bible often refers to the act of creation, shaping, or molding by God. It is a divine action that signifies God's sovereignty and intentionality in creation and in the lives of individuals. The Hebrew word often translated as "form" is יָצַר (yatsar), which conveys the idea of shaping or fashioning, much like a potter with clay.
Biblical References1.
Creation of Man The most prominent instance of forming is found in the creation narrative.
Genesis 2:7 states, "Then the LORD God formed the man from the dust of the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and the man became a living being." This verse highlights God's intimate involvement in the creation of humanity, emphasizing both the physical and spiritual aspects of human life.
2.
The Potter and the Clay The imagery of God as a potter is a recurring theme in Scripture, illustrating His authority and care in shaping His people.
Isaiah 64:8 declares, "But now, O LORD, You are our Father; we are the clay, and You are our potter; we all are the work of Your hand." This metaphor underscores the relationship between God and His people, where He molds them according to His purpose.
3.
God's Sovereignty and Purpose In
Jeremiah 18:6, God speaks to the prophet, saying, "O house of Israel, can I not do with you as this potter does? declares the LORD. Like clay in the hand of the potter, so are you in My hand, O house of Israel." This passage reflects God's sovereign right to shape nations and individuals according to His divine will and purpose.
4.
Formation in the Womb The Bible also speaks of God's forming of individuals even before birth.
Psalm 139:13-14 states, "For You formed my inmost being; You knit me together in my mother’s womb. I praise You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made; Your works are wonderful, I know that full well." This passage affirms the belief in God's intimate involvement in the creation of each person, highlighting the sanctity and value of human life from conception.
5.
Spiritual Formation Beyond physical creation, the Bible speaks of spiritual formation, where believers are shaped into the image of Christ.
Romans 8:29 says, "For those God foreknew, He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son, so that He would be the firstborn among many brothers." This process of spiritual formation is a work of the Holy Spirit, transforming believers to reflect Christ's character.
Theological ImplicationsThe act of forming, as depicted in the Bible, reveals God's creative power, intentionality, and personal involvement in the world. It underscores the belief in a purposeful creation, where everything is crafted according to God's divine plan. The imagery of the potter and the clay serves as a powerful reminder of God's authority and the responsive relationship He desires with His creation. The concept of forming also emphasizes the inherent value and dignity of human life, as each person is uniquely crafted by God.
Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary
1. (
p. pr. & vb. n.) of Form.
2. (n.) The act or process of giving form or shape to anything; as, in shipbuilding, the exact shaping of partially shaped timbers.
Greek
3446. morphosis -- aforming, a form... a
forming, a form. Part of Speech: Noun, Feminine Transliteration: morphosis Phonetic
Spelling: (mor'-fo-sis) Short Definition: form, outline Definition: form
...1380. dokeo -- to have an opinion, to seem
... think, seem, appear, it seems. 1380 -- properly, (what " to be"),forming
(a judgment, estimate). 1380 ("suppose") directly reflects...
2957. Kurene -- Cyrene, a city in N. Africa
... Kurene Phonetic Spelling: (koo-ray'-nay) Short Definition: Cyrene Definition: Cyrene,
a district west of Egypt on the Mediterranean coast,forming with Crete a...
1484. ethnos -- a race, a nation, pl. the nations (as distinct...
... 1484 (from , "forming a custom, culture") -- properly, people joined by practicing
similar customs or common culture; (), usually referring to unbelieving (non...
1218. demos -- a district or country, the common people, esp. the...
... 1218 (from 1210 , "to bind, tie") -- people bound (tied) together by similar laws
or customs (like citizens in an ancient Greek cityforming an , cf. 1577 )....
Strong's Hebrew
6982. qorah -- a rafter, beam... beam, roof. Or qorah {ko-raw'}; from quwr; a rafter (
forming trenches as it were);
by implication, a roof -- beam, roof. see HEBREW quwr. 6981, 6982.
...6245. ashath -- to be smooth or shiny
... A primitive root; probably to be sleek, ie Glossy; hence (through the idea of polishing)
to excogitate (as ifforming in the mind) -- shine, think....
7298. rahat -- a trough
... From an unused root apparently meaning to hollow out; a channel or watering-box;
by resemblance a ringlet of hair (asforming parallel lines) -- gallery, gutter...
3335. yatsar -- to form, fashion
... fashion NASB Word Usage Creator (1), devises (1), earthenware* (1), fashion (1),
fashioned (1), fashioning (2), fashions (1), formed (20),forming (2), forms (2...
Library
TheForming Form. October 2.
... TheForming Form. October 2. As the acorn, because God has given it "aforming
form," and life after its kind, bears within it not...
Again, Another,Forming an Opinion of Faith from the Letter of...
... Address 134: Again, another,forming an opinion of faith from the letter
of scripture? Again, another,forming an opinion of faith...
An Illustration to Help inForming an Opinion on those who are...
... Prolegomena. Chapter XIX. An illustration to help informing an opinion on those
who are only patient when they are not tried by any one....
The Holy SpiritForming Christ Within Us.
... CHAPTER XII. THE HOLY SPIRITFORMING CHRIST WITHIN US. It is a wonderful
and deeply significant prayer that Paul offers in Ephesians...
The KingdomForming
... II THE KINGDOMFORMING. Exodus Page Leviticus Page. Deuteronomy Page. EXODUS.
I. Pictorial Device. Originate one, or omit. II. III. IV....
The Goodness of God Prevents Corruption from Bringing Anything to...
... Chapter 7. "The Goodness of God Prevents Corruption from Bringing Anything to
Non-Existence. The Difference Between Creating andForming....
Canons Appointed by the Council; Paphnutius, a Certain Confessor...
... Book I. Chapter XXIII."Canons appointed by the Council; Paphnutius, a certain Confessor,
restrains the Council fromforming a Canon enjoining Celibacy to all...
Whether the Soul is Propagated; on Obscure Points, Concerning...
... the Soul is Propagated; On Obscure Points, Concerning Which the Scriptures Give
Us No Assistance, We Must Be on Our Guard AgainstForming Hasty Judgments and...
Seventh Tractate. The Immortality of the Soul.
... a self-springing life " since matter is without quality " but that life is introduced
by the fact that the Matter is brought to order underForming-Idea....
The Works of Philo that have Come Down to Us.
... treated at length under special titles, and under those titles, in Sch?�rer's opinion,
were published by Philo as separate works, though reallyforming a part...
Thesaurus
Forming (27 Occurrences)...Forming (27 Occurrences).
... (WEY). Exodus 9:31 And the flax and the barley have been
smitten, for the barley 'is' budding, and the flax
forming flowers, (YLT).
...Ouches (8 Occurrences)
... In Exodus, where it occurs 8 times, it is clear that the gold settings of the engraved
stonesforming the breast-plate of the high priest are intended; the...
Book (211 Occurrences)
... "columns"). Among the Hebrews books were generally rolled up like our maps, or if
very long they were rolled from both ends,forming two rolls (Luke 4:17-20)....
Angles (20 Occurrences)
... back. (BBE). Exodus 26:24 The two are to be joined together at the base
and at the top to one ring,forming the two angles. (BBE)....
Minor (2 Occurrences)
... The term first appears in Orosius, a writer of the 5th century AD, and it is now
applied in most European languages to the peninsulaforming the western part...
Asia (22 Occurrences)
... The term first appears in Orosius, a writer of the 5th century AD, and it is now
applied in most European languages to the peninsulaforming the western part...
List (17 Occurrences)
... 1. (n.) A line inclosing orforming the extremity of a piece of ground, or field
of combat; hence, in the plural (lists), the ground or field enclosed for a...
Weaving (4 Occurrences)
... & vb. n.) of Weave. 2. (n.) The act of one who, or that which, weaves; the act or
art offorming cloth in a loom by the union or intertexture of threads....
Flax (11 Occurrences)
... times. The flax of Egypt was destroyed by the plague of hail when it
"was bolled", ie, wasforming pods for seed (Exodus 9:31)....
Three (5005 Occurrences)
... in any manuscript or version because in the Septuagint, Theod, Syriac and Latin
(Old Latin and Vulgate) it follows Daniel 3:23 immediately,forming an integral...
Resources
What are the 95 Theses of Martin Luther? | GotQuestions.orgWhat is theodicy? | GotQuestions.orgWhat is soul care? What is care of the soul? | GotQuestions.orgForming: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.comBible Concordance •
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