Topical Encyclopedia
In biblical terms, the concept of "level" can be understood both literally and metaphorically, often relating to fairness, justice, and righteousness. The Bible uses imagery of level paths and balanced measures to convey spiritual truths and ethical standards.
Literal Use:The literal use of "level" in the Bible often pertains to construction and measurement. In the ancient world, ensuring that structures were level was crucial for stability and longevity. This concept is reflected in the building of the Temple and other significant structures. For instance, in the construction of Solomon's Temple, precision and care were paramount, though the term "level" itself is not explicitly used in the text.
Metaphorical Use:1.
Justice and Fairness: The metaphorical use of "level" frequently appears in the context of justice and fairness.
Proverbs 16:11 states, "Honest scales and balances belong to the LORD; all the weights in the bag are His concern" . This verse underscores the importance of fairness and integrity, suggesting that God values just and level dealings among people.
2.
Righteousness and Uprightness: The concept of level paths is often used to describe the way of righteousness.
Proverbs 4:26-27 advises, "Make a level path for your feet, and all your ways will be sure. Do not swerve to the right or to the left; turn your feet away from evil" . Here, a level path symbolizes a life lived in accordance with God's commandments, avoiding the pitfalls of sin and moral deviation.
3.
Preparation and Readiness: In
Isaiah 40:3-4, the imagery of leveling is used in the prophetic call to prepare the way for the Lord: "A voice of one calling: 'Prepare the way for the LORD in the wilderness; make a straight highway for our God in the desert. Every valley shall be lifted up, and every mountain and hill made low; the uneven ground will become smooth, and the rugged land a plain'" . This passage, later echoed in the New Testament by John the Baptist, emphasizes spiritual readiness and the removal of obstacles to receive the Lord.
4.
Divine Intervention: The leveling of obstacles is also a theme in divine intervention. In
Zechariah 4:7, the prophet declares, "What are you, O great mountain? Before Zerubbabel you will become a plain. Then he will bring forth the capstone accompanied by shouts of ‘Grace, grace to it!’" . This verse illustrates God's power to remove barriers and make a way for His purposes to be fulfilled.
Theological Implications:Theologically, the concept of level in the Bible points to God's desire for equity, justice, and moral rectitude among His people. It serves as a reminder of the divine standard against which human actions are measured. The imagery of leveling paths and balanced scales calls believers to live lives marked by integrity, fairness, and a steadfast commitment to God's ways.
In summary, the biblical concept of "level" encompasses both the practical aspects of fairness and the spiritual dimensions of righteousness and divine preparation. It challenges believers to align their lives with God's standards, ensuring that their paths are straight and their dealings just.
Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary
1. (
n.) A line or surface to which, at every point, a vertical or plumb line is perpendicular; a line or surface which is everywhere parallel to the surface of still water; -- this is the true level, and is a curve or surface in which all points are equally distant from the center of the earth, or rather would be so if the earth were an exact sphere.
2. (n.) A horizontal line or plane; that is, a straight line or a plane which is tangent to a true level at a given point and hence parallel to the horizon at that point; -- this is the apparent level at the given point.
3. (n.) An approximately horizontal line or surface at a certain degree of altitude, or distance from the center of the earth; as, to climb from the level of the coast to the level of the plateau and then descend to the level of the valley or of the sea.
4. (n.) Hence, figuratively, a certain position, rank, standard, degree, quality, character, etc., conceived of as in one of several planes of different elevation.
5. (n.) A uniform or average height; a normal plane or altitude; a condition conformable to natural law or which will secure a level surface; as, moving fluids seek a level.
6. (n.) An instrument by which to find a horizontal line, or adjust something with reference to a horizontal line.
7. (n.) A measurement of the difference of altitude of two points, by means of a level; as, to take a level.
8. (n.) A horizontal passage, drift, or adit, in a mine.
9. (a.) Even; flat; having no part higher than another; having, or conforming to, the curvature which belongs to the undisturbed liquid parts of the earth's surface; as, a level field; level ground; the level surface of a pond or lake.
10. (a.) Coinciding or parallel with the plane of the horizon; horizontal; as, the telescope is now level.
11. (a.) Even with anything else; of the same height; on the same line or plane; on the same footing; of equal importance; -- followed by with, sometimes by to.
12. (a.) Straightforward; direct; clear; open.
13. (a.) Well balanced; even; just; steady; impartial; as, a level head; a level understanding. [Colloq.]
14. (a.) of even tone; without rising or falling inflection.
15. (v. t.) To make level; to make horizontal; to bring to the condition of a level line or surface; hence, to make flat or even; as, to level a road, a walk, or a garden.
16. (v. t.) To bring to a lower level; to overthrow; to topple down; to reduce to a flat surface; to lower.
17. (v. t.) To bring to a horizontal position, as a gun; hence, to point in taking aim; to aim; to direct.
18. (v. t.) Figuratively, to bring to a common level or plane, in respect of rank, condition, character, privilege, etc.; as, to level all the ranks and conditions of men.
19. (v. t.) To adjust or adapt to a certain level; as, to level remarks to the capacity of children.
20. (v. i.) To be level; to be on a level with, or on an equality with, something; hence, to accord; to agree; to suit.
21. (v. i.) To aim a gun, spear, etc., horizontally; hence, to aim or point a weapon in direct line with the mark; fig., to direct the eye, mind, or effort, directly to an object.
Greek
3977. pedinos --level, plain...level, plain. Part of Speech: Adjective Transliteration: pedinos Phonetic Spelling:
(ped-ee-nos') Short Definition:
level Definition:
level, low-lying, flat.
...3006. leios -- smooth
... smooth. Part of Speech: Adjective Transliteration: leios Phonetic Spelling:
(li'-os) Short Definition: smooth,level Definition: smooth,level, plain....
1921. epiginosko -- to know exactly, to recognize
... "Been known" is the passive form of 1921 (aorist indicative, ), indicating that
thelevel we will experientially know (enjoy) God in eternity will "match" the...
1474. edaphizo -- to raze
... Verb Transliteration: edaphizo Phonetic Spelling: (ed-af-id'-zo) Short Definition:
I dash to the ground Definition: I dash to the ground,level with the ground...
5355. phthonos -- envy
... 5355 ("ill-will") conveys "displeasure at another's good; . .without longing to
raise oneself to thelevel of him whom he envies, but only to the...
2470. isos -- equal
... equal, equivalent, identical. 2470 -- ; having the same (similar)level or
value; , in substance or quality (J. Thayer). [2470 () is...
2116. euthuno -- to make straight
... make straight. From euthus; to straighten (level); technically, to steer -- governor,
make straight. see GREEK euthus. (euthunate) -- 1 Occurrence....
2727. katecheo -- to teach by word of mouth
... [The prefix lends the idea "exactly," indicating how oral instruction skillfully
brought a subject from onelevel to another to reach and .]....
3403. mimnesko -- to remind, remember
... The highlevel of (self) involvement and interest motivating this remembering
accounts for why it is always in the Greek middle voice.]....
1731. endeiknumi -- to indicate (by word or act), to prove
... 1731 ("undeniably display") always occurs in the Greek voice which underlines the
highlevel of personal interest shown by the one making something ....
Strong's Hebrew
4334. mishor -- alevel place, uprightness... 4333, 4334. mishor or mishor. 4335 . a
level place, uprightness. Transliteration:
mishor or mishor Phonetic Spelling: (mee-shore') Short Definition: plain.
...6424. palas -- to weigh, makelevel
... 6423, 6424. palas. 6425 . to weigh, makelevel. Transliteration: palas
Phonetic Spelling: (paw-las') Short Definition:level. Word...
4949. mishqeleth -- a leveling instrument, alevel
... a leveling instrument, alevel. Transliteration: mishqeleth or mishqoleth Phonetic
Spelling: (mish-keh'-leth) Short Definition:level. Word Origin fem....
1237. biqah -- a valley, plain
... plain, valley. From baqa'; properly, a split, ie A widelevel valley between mountains
-- plain, valley. see HEBREW baqa'. 1236, 1237. biqah. 1238 ....
3440. Yishvi -- two Israelites
... NASB Word Usage Ishvi (4). Ishuai, Ishvi, Isui, Jesui. From shavah;level; Jishvi,
the name of two Israelites -- Ishuai, Ishvi, Isui, Jesui. see HEBREW shavah....
7737. shavah -- to agree with, be like, resemble
... A primitive root; properly, tolevel, ie Equalize; figuratively, to resemble; by
implication, to adjust (ie Counterbalance, be suitable, compose, place, yield...
833. ashar -- to go straight, go on, advance
... Or rasher {aw-share'}; a primitive root; to be straight (used in the widest sense,
especially to belevel, right, happy); figuratively, to go forward, be honest...
6169. arah -- bare place
... paper reed. Feminine from arah; a naked (ieLevel) plot -- paper reed. see
HEBREW arah. 6168, 6169. arah. 6170 . Strong's Numbers.
3438. Yishvah -- an Asherite
... Jishvah, an Israelite. From shavah; he willlevel; Jishvah, an Israelite: see HEBREW
shavah. 3437, 3438. Yishvah. 3439 . Strong's Numbers.
7737a. shavah -- to agree with, be like, resemble
... to agree with, be like, resemble NASB Word Usage alike (1), commensurate (1), compare
(1), compares (1), composed (2), equal (1), interest (1),level (1), like...
Library
Now this Masculine Love of an Open andLevel Camaraderie is the...
... Chapter 14 Now this masculine love of an open andlevel camaraderie is
the life within all? Now this masculine love of an open...
The Court Itself.
... A Chorographical Century Chapters 31-40 Chapter 33 The Court itself. "The floor
of the whole sacred earth was notlevel, but rising: when any went on, from the...
Getting Even
... he has lowered himself by that act; and for us to decide to "get even" by a similar
act toward him is for us to decide that we will lower ourselves to hislevel...
His Leading Ideas: the Nature of the Godhead in Itself
... He does not distinguish Himself from us; for were we caught up on to that
level we should be wholly transformed into Him. And yet...
True Greatness
... So spake the angel who foretold the birth of John the Baptist. 'In the sight
of the Lord'"then men are not on a deadlevel in His eyes....
A Double Wrestling Match.
... boyhood. In thislevel Babylon, he is homesick for the dear old Palestinian
hills, and he is heartsick over the plight of his people....
Naaman's Wrath
... the surface of the story before us. I. First, then, God's cure puts us
all on onelevel. Naaman wished to be treated like a great...
Morgan -- the Perfect Ideal of Life
... secret by which He has been able to realize the ideal, to make the abstract concrete,
to bring down the fair vision of divine purpose to thelevel of actual...
Why Saul Became Paul
... So we may, from the change of the Apostle's name, gather this lesson, never out
of date, that the only way to help people is to go down to theirlevel....
Like Teacher, Like Scholar
... As long as he is a scholar, the best that can happen to him, and that will
not often happen, is to be on thelevel of his teacher....
Thesaurus
Level (31 Occurrences)... a vertical or plumb line is perpendicular; a line or surface which is everywhere
parallel to the surface of still water; -- this is the true
level, and is a
...Flat (33 Occurrences)
... 1. (superl.) Having an even and horizontal surface, or nearly so, without
prominences or depressions;level without inclination; plane....
Features (3 Occurrences)
... higher than thelevel of the Mediterranean, but nearly 2,000 ft. above thelevel
of the Dead Sea.... below ocean-level at the Sea of Galilee to about 1,300 ft....
Even (10971 Occurrences)
... 2. (a.)Level, smooth, or equal in surface; not rough; free from irregularities;
hence uniform in rate of motion of action; as, even ground; an even speed; an...
Arabah (32 Occurrences)
... Sea. At Ain Abu Werideh, 29 miles north of the watershed, the valley is
at the sea-level-1,292 feet above that of the Dead Sea....
Nile (37 Occurrences)
... of the current, the river also has been lifted up, and thus the inundation has extended
farther and farther to the East, and the West, as thelevel of the...
Esdraelon
... Biq`ah is the term usually employed (2 Chronicles 35:22, etc.), which accurately
describes it, "an opening," alevel space surrounded by hills....
Ebal (8 Occurrences)
... (1.) A mountain 3,076 feet above thelevel of the sea, and 1,200 feet above the
level of the valley, on the north side of which stood the city of Shechem (qv)....
Strike (168 Occurrences)
... 15. (vt) Tolevel, as a measure of grain, salt, or the like, by scraping off with
a straight instrument what is above thelevel of the top. 16....
Rough (24 Occurrences)
... 2. (n.) Notlevel; having a broken surface; uneven; -- said of a piece of land,
or of a road.... The uneven shall be madelevel, and the rough places a plain....
Resources
What does the Bible say about multi-level marketing (MLM)? | GotQuestions.orgWhat is an appropriate level of intimacy before marriage? | GotQuestions.orgIs belief in God compatible with quantum physics? | GotQuestions.orgLevel: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.comBible Concordance •
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