Topical Encyclopedia
Definition and Context:Inspection, in a biblical context, refers to the act of examining, evaluating, or scrutinizing something or someone. This concept is often associated with God's examination of human hearts, the evaluation of spiritual and moral integrity, and the assessment of faithfulness to His commandments. Inspection can also relate to the oversight of religious practices, the maintenance of purity within the community, and the evaluation of offerings and sacrifices.
Biblical Instances and Themes:1.
Divine Inspection: God's inspection is a recurring theme throughout the Bible, emphasizing His omniscience and righteousness. In
1 Samuel 16:7, the Lord tells Samuel, "Do not consider his appearance or his height, for I have rejected him. The LORD does not see as man does. For man sees the outward appearance, but the LORD sees the heart." This verse highlights God's ability to inspect the inner motives and intentions of individuals, beyond mere external appearances.
2.
Self-Examination: Believers are encouraged to inspect their own lives and conduct. In
2 Corinthians 13:5, Paul exhorts the Corinthians, "Examine yourselves to see whether you are in the faith; test yourselves. Can’t you see for yourselves that Jesus Christ is in you—unless you actually fail the test?" This call to self-inspection is a vital aspect of maintaining a sincere and authentic faith.
3.
Community and Leadership Oversight: Inspection is also relevant in the context of church leadership and community life. Elders and leaders are tasked with the responsibility of overseeing the spiritual well-being of the congregation. In
Acts 20:28, Paul instructs the Ephesian elders, "Keep watch over yourselves and the entire flock of which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers. Be shepherds of the church of God, which He purchased with His own blood." This verse underscores the importance of vigilant inspection to protect and nurture the faith community.
4.
Inspection of Offerings and Sacrifices: The Old Testament law required the inspection of offerings to ensure they were without blemish, symbolizing purity and devotion. In
Leviticus 22:21, it is stated, "When anyone presents a fellowship offering to the LORD to fulfill a vow or as a freewill offering from the herd or flock, it must be without blemish to be acceptable; there must be no defect in it." This meticulous inspection reflects the holiness and perfection required in worship and sacrifice.
5.
Judgment and Accountability: The concept of inspection is closely tied to divine judgment and accountability. In
Revelation 2:23, Jesus declares to the church in Thyatira, "Then all the churches will know that I am He who searches minds and hearts, and I will repay each of you according to your deeds." This passage illustrates the ultimate inspection that will occur at the end of times, where each person's actions and intentions will be evaluated by Christ.
Theological Implications:Inspection in the biblical sense serves as a reminder of God's omnipresence and His intimate knowledge of human hearts. It calls believers to live lives of integrity, continually examining their own hearts and actions in light of God's standards. The practice of inspection, whether divine or self-imposed, is integral to spiritual growth, accountability, and the pursuit of holiness.
Greek
1984. episkope -- a visiting, an overseeing... From episkeptomai;
inspection (for relief); by implication, superintendence; specially,
the Christian "episcopate" -- the office of a "bishop", bishoprick
...3700. optanomai -- to appear
... passive or casual vision; while theaomai, and still more emphatically its intensive
theoreo, signifies an earnest but more continuedinspection; and skopeo a...
3907. parateresis -- observation
... observation. From paratereo;inspection, ie Ocular evidence -- obervation. see GREEK
paratereo. (paratereseos) -- 1 Occurrence. 3906, 3907. parateresis. 3908...
Strong's Hebrew
4663. Miphqad -- "appointed place," a gate in Jer.... "appointed place," a gate in Jer. Transliteration: Miphqad Phonetic Spelling:
(mif-kawd') Short Definition:
inspection.
... NASB Word Usage
inspection (1). Miphkad.
...7200. raah -- to see
... gloat (2), heed (1), indeed look (1), keep on looking (1), look (71), looked (59),
looked and saw (1), looking (5), looks (11), make aninspection (2), make me...
7789. shur -- to behold, regard
... A primitive root (identical with shuwr through the idea of going round forinspection);
to spy out, ie (generally) survey, (for evil) lurk for, (for good) care...
4936. Misham -- a Benjamite
... Misham. Apparently from sha'ah;inspection; Misham, an Israelite -- Misham. see
HEBREW sha'ah. 4935, 4936. Misham. 4937 . Strong's Numbers.
4935. mishi -- a cleansing
... cleansing (1). to supple. Probably from sha'ah;inspection -- to supple. see
HEBREW sha'ah. 4934, 4935. mishi. 4936 . Strong's Numbers.
Library
Self-Inspection.
... XLVIII. SELF-INSPECTION. 11th Sunday after Trinity. S. Luke 18. 13. "The
Publican, standing afar off, would not lift up so much...
God's Exhaustive Knowledge of Man. [*Continued]
... Although the Creator designed that every man should thoroughly understand his own
heart, and gave him the power of self-inspection that he might use it...
God's Exhaustive Knowledge of Man.
... One of the most remarkable characteristics of a rational being is the power of
self-inspection.... It is destitute of the power of self-inspection....
The Lost Sheep, the Lost Coin, and the Prodigal Son.
... A glance towards the group from a point sufficiently distant to command the whole
in one view may aid us afterwards in making a minuterinspection of details...
Of the Sedition Excited at Alexandria, and How George was Slain.
... there were found there the skulls of many persons of all ages, who were said to
have been immolated for the purpose of divination by theinspection of entrails...
A Royal Progress
... in those eyes? His visitation of the Temple was itsinspection by its Lord.
And it was aninspection in order to cleanse. To-day...
Appendix (G).
... the epithet "Ammonian" is popularly applied,"(applied however without authority,
and in fact by the merest license,)"proves on carefulinspection to have...
Appendix (G). On the So-Called "Ammonian Sections" and "Eusebian...
... the epithet "AMMONIAN" is popularly applied,"(applied however without authority,
and in fact by the merest license,)"proves on carefulinspection to have...
Secret Faults
... Further, let me press upon you two practical points. This whole set of contemplations
should make us practise a very rigid and close self-inspection....
The Institution of Deacons, and the History of Stephen.
... to have done, the widows of the Grecians would not have been neglected; or to a
suggestion, that if they would now take them under theirinspection, the evil...
Thesaurus
Inspection (23 Occurrences)... Multi-Version Concordance
Inspection (23 Occurrences). Luke 19:44 and lay
thee low, and thy children within thee, and they shall
...Muster (9 Occurrences)
... Noah Webster's Dictionary 1. (vt) To call together; as to muster troops for
inspection. 2. (n.) A show; a display. 3. (n.) An assembling...
Visitation (17 Occurrences)
... Noah Webster's Dictionary 1. (n.) The act of visiting, or the state of
being visited; access forinspection or examination. 2. (n...
Visit (97 Occurrences)
... 2. (vt) To go or come to see forinspection, examination, correction of abuses,
etc.; to examine, to inspect; as, a bishop visits his diocese; a superintendent...
Expose (12 Occurrences)
... 1. (vt) To set forth; to set out to public view; to exhibit; to show; to display;
as, to expose goods for sale; to expose pictures to publicinspection....
Parade (1 Occurrence)
... 2. (n.) An assembly and orderly arrangement or display of troops, in full equipments,
forinspection or evolutions before some superior officer; a review of...
Inspecting (5 Occurrences)
View (86 Occurrences)
... Noah Webster's Dictionary 1. (n.) The act of seeing or beholding; sight;
look; survey; examination by the eye;inspection. 2. (n...
Visitor (2 Occurrences)
... 2. (n.) A superior, or a person lawfully appointed for the purpose, who makes
formal visits ofinspection to a corporation or an institution....
Walker (1 Occurrence)
... 2. (n.) That with which one walks; a foot. 3. (n.) A forest officer appointed
to walk over a certain space forinspection; a forester....
Resources
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