Topical Encyclopedia
In the biblical context, the term "pattern" often refers to a model, example, or blueprint that God provides for His people to follow. This concept is woven throughout Scripture, illustrating how God desires His people to live according to His divine design.
Old TestamentThe idea of a pattern is prominently featured in the construction of the Tabernacle. In
Exodus 25:9, God instructs Moses, "According to all that I show you—the pattern of the tabernacle and the pattern of all its furnishings—you shall make it just so." This directive underscores the importance of adhering to God's specific instructions, as the Tabernacle was to be a holy place where God would dwell among His people. The detailed pattern given to Moses served as a physical representation of heavenly realities, emphasizing the need for precision and obedience in worship.
Similarly, in
1 Chronicles 28:11-12, King David gives Solomon the plans for the Temple, which he received by divine revelation. "Then David gave his son Solomon the plans for the portico of the temple, its buildings, storerooms, upper rooms, inner rooms, and the room for the mercy seat, as well as the plans for all that he had by the Spirit, for the courts of the house of the LORD, for all the surrounding chambers, for the treasuries of the house of God, and for the treasuries of the dedicated things." This passage highlights the continuity of God's pattern from the Tabernacle to the Temple, reinforcing the concept of divine order and purpose.
New TestamentIn the New Testament, the concept of a pattern extends to the life and teachings of Jesus Christ. Believers are called to imitate Christ, who is the ultimate pattern for Christian living. In
1 Peter 2:21, it is written, "For to this you were called, because Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example, that you should follow in His footsteps." Jesus' life serves as a model of humility, obedience, and sacrificial love, which believers are encouraged to emulate.
The Apostle Paul also speaks of patterns in his epistles. In
Philippians 3:17, he urges, "Join one another in following my example, brothers, and carefully observe those who walk according to the pattern we set for you." Paul presents himself and other faithful leaders as examples to follow, emphasizing the importance of living according to the teachings and lifestyle demonstrated by Christ and His apostles.
Theological SignificanceThe concept of a pattern in Scripture underscores the importance of divine order and intentionality. God's patterns are not arbitrary; they reflect His character and purposes. By following these patterns, believers align themselves with God's will and participate in His redemptive plan. The adherence to divine patterns is an act of worship and obedience, reflecting a heart that seeks to honor God in all aspects of life.
Patterns in Scripture also serve as a means of instruction and guidance. They provide a framework for understanding God's expectations and the principles by which His people are to live. Whether in the construction of sacred spaces or in the conduct of daily life, patterns reveal the consistency and faithfulness of God, who desires His people to reflect His holiness and righteousness.
Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary
1. (
n.) Anything proposed for imitation; an archetype; an exemplar; that which is to be, or is worthy to be, copied or imitated; as, a pattern of a machine.
2. (n.) A part showing the figure or quality of the whole; a specimen; a sample; an example; an instance.
3. (n.) Stuff sufficient for a garment; as, a dress pattern.
4. (n.) Figure or style of decoration; design; as, wall paper of a beautiful pattern.
5. (n.) Something made after a model; a copy.
6. (n.) Anything cut or formed to serve as a guide to cutting or forming objects; as, a dressmaker's pattern.
7. (n.) A full-sized model around which a mold of sand is made, to receive the melted metal. It is usually made of wood and in several parts, so as to be removed from the mold without injuring it.
8. (v. t.) To make or design (anything) by, from, or after, something that serves as a pattern; to copy; to model; to imitate.
9. (v. t.) To serve as an example for; also, to parallel.
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia
PATTERNpat'-ern (tabhnith, "model," mar'eh, "a vision" or "view"): The Old Testament words translated "pattern" do not necessarily indicate a drawing such as a modern constructor begins with, or the patterns made from these drawings for the guidance of workmen. InExodus 25:9, 40 the word "idea" or "suggestion" would possibly indicate more distinctly than "pattern" what Moses received in regard to the building of the tabernacle, etc. It is doubtful if any architect's drawing was ever made of the temple. It is not the custom in Palestine and Syria today to work from any pattern more concrete than an idea. A man who wants a house calls the builder and says he wants to build so many rooms of such and such dimensions with, for example, a court 10 drahs (arm's lengths) wide and 15 drahs long, made of sandstone and plastered inside and out. With these meager instructions the builder starts. The details are worked out as the building proceeds. When a piece of iron or brass work is to be made, the customer by gestures with his hands outlines the form the piece should take. "I want it haik wa haik" ("thus and thus"), he says, and leaves the metal worker to conceive the exact form. It is probable that directions similar to these were given by David to Solomon. "Then David gave Solomon his son the pattern (his conception) of the porch of the temple," etc. (1 Chronicles 28:11). The above does not apply to Greek and Roman work in Syria. Their workmen, probably mostly native, were trained to work from models. Williams in the Architect, January, 1913, says of the works at Baalbek and Palmyra, "There is a machine-like resemblance betokening slavish copying." At the present time native workmen coming under the influence of foreigners are beginning to work from models and plans, but they show little tendency to create models of their own.
Three Greek words have been translated in the New Testament: tupos, "type," occurs inTitus 2:7 andHebrews 8:5. In the first instance the Revised Version (British and American) reads "ensample." hupotuposis, "outline," has been similarly translated in1 Timothy 1:16, but "pattern" in2 Timothy 1:13. InHebrews 9:24 the American Standard Revised Version. antitupos, is rendered "like in pattern." hupodeigma, the King James Version "pattern," is translated in the American Standard Revised Version "copy" (Hebrews 8:5), "copies" (Hebrews 9:23). At the time of the translation of the King James Version the word "pattern" meant either the thing to be copied or the copy.
James A. Patch
Greek
5296. hupotuposis -- an outline, sketch, fig. an example... an example. Part of Speech: Noun, Feminine Transliteration: hupotuposis Phonetic
Spelling: (hoop-ot-oop'-o-sis) Short Definition: a
pattern, example Definition
...5262. hupodeigma -- a figure, copy, example
... copy,pattern. From hupodeiknumi; an exhibit for imitation or warning (figuratively,
specimen, adumbration) -- en-(ex-)ample,pattern. see GREEK hupodeiknumi....
5179. tupos -- typically
... a figure, model, type Definition: (originally: the mark of a blow, then a stamp
struck by a die), (a) a figure; a copy, image, (b) apattern, model, (c) a type...
499. antitupos -- struck back, corresponding to
... Adjective Transliteration: antitupos Phonetic Spelling: (an-teet'-oo-pon) Short
Definition: typical of, representing by type orpattern Definition: typical of...
3402. mimetes -- an imitator
... 3402 (the root of the English term, , "one who imitates, emulates") -- properly,
the positive imitation that arises by admiring thepattern set by someone...
5179b. tupos -- the mark (of a blow), an impression, stamp (made...
... of a blow), an impression, stamp (made by a die) NASB Word Usage example (3), examples
(2), form (2), images (1), imprint (1), model (1),pattern (3), type (1...
5261. hupogrammos -- a writing to be copied, an example
... Transliteration: hupogrammos Phonetic Spelling: (hoop-og-ram-mos') Short Definition:
a writing-copy, an example Definition: a writing-copy, an example,pattern...
5294. hupotithemi -- to place under, lay down, mid. to suggest
... 5294 (from 5259 , "under" and 5087 , "place, set") -- properly, place under, like
sketching over an underlyingpattern to make an outline ("paradigm...
4964. suschematizo -- to conform to
... From sun and a derivative of schema; to fashion alike, ie Conform to the samepattern
(figuratively) -- conform to, fashion self according to. see GREEK sun....
Strong's Hebrew
8403. tabnith -- construction,pattern, figure... 8402, 8403. tabnith. 8404 . construction,
pattern, figure. Transliteration:
tabnith Phonetic Spelling: (tab-neeth') Short Definition: likeness.
...4758. mareh -- sight, appearance, vision
... 48), appears (7), desires (1), face (2), form (2), good-looking* (1), impressive
(1), like (2), looked (2), looking (1), openly (1),pattern (1), saw* (1), see...
8508. toknith -- measurement, proportion
...pattern, sum. From token; admeasurement, ie Consummation --pattern, sum. see
HEBREW token. 8507, 8508. toknith. 8509 . Strong's Numbers.
1823. demuth -- likeness, similitude
... Definition likeness, similitude NASB Word Usage figure (1), figures like (1), figures
resembling (1), form (4), like (4), likeness (8),pattern (1), resembling...
8404. Taberah -- "burning," a place in the desert
... Word Origin from baar Definition "burning," a place in the desert NASB Word Usage
Taberah (2). figure, form, likeness,pattern, similitude....
Library
ThePattern of Service
... THEPATTERN OF SERVICE.... Thepattern for our work, dear brethren, is before
us in the Lord's look, His sigh, His touch, His word....
Paul aPattern of Prayer
... PAUL APATTERN OF PRAYER. TEXT: "If ye shall ask anything in my name I will
do it.""John 14:14.... Jesus was himself apattern of prayer....
Daniel: aPattern for Pleaders
... Daniel: APattern For Pleaders. A Sermon (No.3484). Published on Thursday,
November 4th, 1915. Delivered by. CH SPURGEON,. At the [13...
Jonathan, thePattern of Friendship
... THE FIRST BOOK OF SAMUEL JONATHAN, THEPATTERN OF FRIENDSHIP. 'And David fled from
Naioth in Ramah, and came and said before Jonathan, What have I done?...
Hezekiah, aPattern of Devout Life
... THE SECOND BOOK OF KINGS HEZEKIAH, APATTERN OF DEVOUT LIFE.... If these things be in
us and abound, they mark us as devout men after God'spattern....
Paul aPattern of Prayer
... CHAPTER XIII Paul aPattern of Prayer. "Go and inquire for... 1:16. God took His
own Son, and made Him our Example and ourPattern. It sometimes...
Josiah, aPattern for the Ignorant.
... SERMON VII. Josiah, aPattern for the Ignorant. "Because thine heart was
tender, and thou hast humbled thyself before the Lord, when...
Christ Jesus OurPattern in Doing and Suffering.
... ORIGINAL HYMNS HYMN CXXVI. Christ Jesus ourPattern in doing and suffering.
8.8.8.8 James Montgomery. Christ Jesus ourPattern in doing and suffering....
Psalm 2 Translated According to the DivinePattern, Acts 4:24, Etc...
... THE PSALMS OF DAVID PSALM 2 Translated according to the Divinepattern, Acts 4:24,
etc.... SM Translated according to the Divinepattern, Acts 4:24, etc....
A HeavenlyPattern for Our Earthly Life
... A HeavenlyPattern for Our Earthly Life. A HeavenlyPattern for Our Earthly Life
A Sermon. (No.1778). Preached on Wednesday Morning, April 30th, 1884, By....
Thesaurus
Pattern (28 Occurrences)... 1. (n.) Anything proposed for imitation; an archetype; an exemplar; that which is
to be, or is worthy to be, copied or imitated; as, a
pattern of a machine.
...Model (9 Occurrences)
... 2. (n.) Something intended to serve, or that may serve, as apattern of something
to be made; a material representation or embodiment of an ideal; sometimes, a...
Fashion (24 Occurrences)
... 1. (n.) The make or form of anything; the style, shape, appearance, or mode of
structure;pattern, model; as, the fashion of the ark, of a coat, of a house, of...
Damask (1 Occurrence)
... Noah Webster's Dictionary 1. (n.) Damask silk; silk woven with an elaborate
pattern of flowers and the like. 2. (n.) Linen so woven...
Furniture (24 Occurrences)
... Moses is instructed (25:9) to make a sanctuary or tabernacle and the furniture
thereof according to thepattern showed him in the Mount....
Construct (6 Occurrences)
... as Moses hath been divinely warned, being about to construct the tabernacle, for
'See (saith He) thou mayest make all things according to thepattern that was...
Shewing (23 Occurrences)
... (KJV DBY YLT). Titus 2:7 In all things shewing thyself apattern of good works:
in doctrine shewing uncorruptness, gravity, sincerity, (KJV)....
Shape (17 Occurrences)
... elegant shape. 7. (n.) That which has form or figure; a figure; an appearance;
a being. 8. (n.) A model; apattern; a mold. 9. (n...
Exactly (26 Occurrences)
... Exodus 25:9 According to all that I show you, thepattern of the tabernacle, and
thepattern of all of its furniture, even so you shall make it. (See NIV)....
Plan (58 Occurrences)
... 1 Chronicles 28:11 Then David gave to Solomon his son thepattern of the porch of
the temple, and of the houses thereof, and of the treasuries thereof, and of...
Resources
What is the biblical pattern of church leadership? | GotQuestions.orgWhat does it mean to not conform to the pattern of this world (Romans 12:2)? | GotQuestions.orgWhat does it mean that believers do not continue to sin (1 John 3:6; 5:18)? | GotQuestions.orgPattern: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.comBible Concordance •
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