Topical Encyclopedia
Definition and Context:The term "parting" in the biblical context often refers to the act of dividing, separating, or distributing. It can be applied to physical objects, people, or even spiritual matters. Parting is a significant theme in the Bible, symbolizing both physical separation and spiritual division.
Old Testament References:In the Old Testament, parting is frequently associated with the division of land, inheritance, and blessings. One notable instance is the parting of the Red Sea, where God miraculously divided the waters to allow the Israelites to escape from Egypt (
Exodus 14:21-22): "Then Moses stretched out his hand over the sea, and all that night the LORD drove the sea back with a strong east wind and turned it into dry land. So the waters were divided, and the Israelites went through the sea on dry ground, with walls of water on their right and on their left."
Another example is the division of the Promised Land among the tribes of Israel, as described in the book of Joshua. This parting of land was a fulfillment of God's promise to Abraham and his descendants (Joshua 13-21).
New Testament References:In the New Testament, parting can refer to the separation of individuals or groups. One poignant example is the parting of Jesus and His disciples at the Ascension. After His resurrection, Jesus appeared to His disciples and then ascended into heaven, leaving them with the Great Commission (
Acts 1:9-11): "After He had said this, they watched as He was taken up, and a cloud hid Him from their sight. They were looking intently into the sky as He was going, when suddenly two men dressed in white stood beside them."
The New Testament also speaks of the parting of ways between Paul and Barnabas due to a disagreement over John Mark (
Acts 15:39): "Their disagreement was so sharp that they parted company. Barnabas took Mark and sailed for Cyprus."
Symbolic and Spiritual Significance:Parting in the Bible often carries a deeper spiritual significance. It can symbolize the separation between the righteous and the wicked, as seen in the parable of the sheep and the goats (
Matthew 25:31-46). This parting is a metaphor for the final judgment, where individuals are separated based on their faith and actions.
Additionally, parting can represent the division between the old and new covenants. The tearing of the temple veil at the moment of Jesus' death signifies the end of the old covenant and the establishment of a new, direct relationship between God and humanity (
Matthew 27:51): "At that moment the veil of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom. The earth quaked and the rocks were split."
Cultural and Historical Context:In biblical times, parting was often a formal and significant event. Inheritance and land division were crucial aspects of family and tribal life, governed by laws and customs. The act of parting could also involve rituals or ceremonies, reflecting the importance of the event in the community.
Conclusion:The concept of parting in the Bible encompasses a range of meanings, from physical separation to profound spiritual truths. It serves as a reminder of God's sovereignty in dividing and uniting according to His divine plan.
Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary
1. (
p. pr. & vb. n.) of Part.
2. (v.) Serving to part; dividing; separating.
3. (v.) Given when departing; as, a parting shot; a parting salute.
4. (v.) Departing.
5. (v.) Admitting of being parted; partible.
6. (n.) The act of parting or dividing; the state of being parted; division; separation.
7. (n.) A separation; a leave-taking.
8. (n.) A surface or line of separation where a division occurs.
9. (n.) The surface of the sand of one section of a mold where it meets that of another section.
10. (n.) The separation and determination of alloys; esp., the separation, as by acids, of gold from silver in the assay button.
11. (n.) A joint or fissure, as in a coal seam.
12. (n.) The breaking, as of a cable, by violence.
13. (n.) Lamellar separation in a crystallized mineral, due to some other cause than cleavage, as to the presence of twinning lamellae.
Greek
4517. rhonnumi -- to strengthen, be strong... farewell. Prolongation from rhoomai (to dart; probably akin to rhoumai); to strengthen,
ie (impersonal passive) have health (as a
parting exclamation, good-bye
...3311. merismos -- a dividing, distribution
... Phonetic Spelling: (mer-is-mos') Short Definition: a distribution, separation
Definition: (a) a distributing, a distribution, (b) aparting, dividing, severance...
5463. chairo -- to rejoice, be glad
... A primary verb; to be "cheer"ful, ie Calmly happy or well-off; impersonally, especially
as salutation (on meeting orparting), be well -- farewell, be glad...
Strong's Hebrew
7964. shilluchim -- a sending away,parting gift... 7963, 7964. shilluchim. 7965 . a sending away,
parting gift. Transliteration:
shilluchim Phonetic Spelling: (shil-loo'-akh) Short Definition: dowry.
...6563. pereq --parting of ways, plunder
... 6562, 6563. pereq. 6564 .parting of ways, plunder. Transliteration:
pereq Phonetic Spelling: (peh'-rek) Short Definition: road....
517. em -- a mother
... Word Origin from an unused word Definition a mother NASB Word Usage infancy* (1),
mother (145), mother's (67), mothers (5), mothers' (1),parting (1)....
Library
Parting.
...PARTING.PARTING. 7,6,7,6,7,6,7,6. "What mean ye to weep, and to break mine
heart!""Acts 21:13.... Is lasting as His grace. Ye clasp these hands atparting,....
Parting Counsels
... THE ACTS CHAP. XIII TO ENDPARTING COUNSELS.... Thisparting address to the Ephesian
elders is perfect in simplicity, pathos, and dignity....
For Travellers theParting.
... For Travellers TheParting. V. TheParting. 8,8,8,8. Einst fahren wir vom Vaterland.
[233]Albert Knapp. Now we must leave our father-land,....
TheParting Message.
... The Triple Life: The Perspective of Service. (Luke ix:1-6; x:1-3, 17; John
xx:19-23; Matthew xxviii:18-20.) TheParting Message....
AParting Warning
... APARTING WARNING. 'Jesus therefore said unto them, Yet a little while
is the light among you. Walk while ye have the light, that...
AtParting.
... FAST-DAY HYMNS. Hymn 71 Atparting. John Newton 7,7,7,7. Atparting. As the sun's
enliv'ning eye. Shines on every place the same; So the LORD is always nigh....
Parting Promises and Warnings
... LUKE Chaps. XIII to XXIVPARTING PROMISES AND WARNINGS. 'And there was also a strife
among them, which of them should be accounted the greatest.25....
Parting Hymn.
... SOCIAL AND DOMESTIC WORSHIP. 921. "Parting Hymn. 921. 7s. M. Newton.
Parting Hymn. 1 For a season called to part, Let us then...
A Pastor'sParting Words.
... A PASTOR'SPARTING WORDS. A PASTOR'SPARTING WORDS. 9,9,10,10. "To me to live is
Christ, and to die is gain.""Phil.1:21. "Merkt ihr's, Freunde!...
Of theParting of Brethren.
... Chapter XXVI."Of theParting of Brethren. You will not dismiss a brother
who has entered your house without prayer.""Have you...
Thesaurus
Parting (27 Occurrences)... 3. (v.) Given when departing; as, a
parting shot; a
parting salute.
... 6. (n.) The act
of
parting or dividing; the state of being parted; division; separation.
...Parting-gifts (1 Occurrence)
Parting-gifts.Parting,Parting-gifts. Partings . Multi-Version
ConcordanceParting-gifts (1 Occurrence). Micah 1:14...
Farewell (13 Occurrences)
... I bid you farewell. 2. (n.) A wish of happiness or welfare atparting;
theparting compliment; a good-by; adieu. 3. (n.) Act of...
Violently (92 Occurrences)
... (KJV WBS). Matthew 26:65 Then the high priest, violentlyparting his robes, said,
He has said evil against God: what more need have we of witnesses?...
Robes (124 Occurrences)
... NAS RSV NIV). Mark 14:63 And the high priest, violentlyparting his robes,
said, What more need have we of witnesses? (BBE). Luke 20...
Cloven (12 Occurrences)
... In the New Testament, for diamerizomenai, in Acts 2:3 the King James Version, the
Revised Version (British and American) "tonguesparting asunder," ie...
Adieu (2 Occurrences)
... 1. (interj. & adv.) Good-by; farewell; an expression of kind wishes atparting.
2. (n.) A farewell; commendation to the care of God atparting....
Gift (148 Occurrences)
... 1 Peter 4:10); charis, "grace," "favor" (2 Corinthians 8:4, the Revised Version
(British and American) "grace"); merismos, "distribution," "parting" (Hebrews 2...
Conscience (36 Occurrences)
... When the will stands at theparting of the ways, seeing clearly before it the right
course and the wrong, conscience commands to strike into the one and...
Robe (142 Occurrences)
... the open country. (BBE). 1 Kings 11:30 And Ahijah took his new robe in his
hands,parting it violently into twelve. (BBE). 1 Kings...
Resources
What is the importance of the parting of the Red Sea? | GotQuestions.orgWhat are the greatest miracles in the Bible? | GotQuestions.orgWhat is the significance of Egypt in the Bible? | GotQuestions.orgParting: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.comBible Concordance •
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