Topical Encyclopedia
The term "peculiar" in the context of the Bible often refers to something that is special, unique, or set apart. In the King James Version, the word is used to describe God's people as His treasured possession. The Berean Standard Bible translates this concept with terms like "special possession" or "treasured possession," emphasizing the distinct and cherished status of God's people.
Old Testament UsageIn the Old Testament, the concept of being a "peculiar" people is closely tied to the covenant relationship between God and Israel. In
Exodus 19:5 , God tells the Israelites, "Now if you will indeed obey My voice and keep My covenant, you will be My treasured possession out of all the nations—for the whole earth is Mine." Here, the term underscores the unique relationship and responsibility of Israel as God's chosen people, set apart from other nations to fulfill His purposes.
Deuteronomy 14:2 reiterates this idea: "For you are a people holy to the LORD your God, and the LORD has chosen you to be His treasured possession out of all the peoples on the face of the earth." This verse highlights the holiness and distinctiveness expected of Israel as God's peculiar people.
New Testament UsageIn the New Testament, the concept of being a "peculiar" people is extended to all believers in Christ, encompassing both Jews and Gentiles.
1 Peter 2:9 states, "But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for God’s own possession, to proclaim the virtues of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light." This passage emphasizes the identity and mission of believers as God's special possession, called to live in a way that reflects His character and proclaims His glory.
Titus 2:14 also speaks to this idea: "He gave Himself for us to redeem us from all lawlessness and to purify for Himself a people for His own possession, zealous for good deeds." Here, the focus is on the redemptive work of Christ, which purifies believers and sets them apart as His own, with a zeal for doing good.
Theological ImplicationsThe notion of being a "peculiar" people carries significant theological implications. It speaks to the identity of God's people as distinct and set apart for His purposes. This distinctiveness is not based on human merit but on God's sovereign choice and grace. As a peculiar people, believers are called to live lives that reflect their unique status, characterized by holiness, obedience, and a commitment to proclaiming God's virtues.
The concept also underscores the communal aspect of faith. Being a peculiar people is not just an individual calling but a collective identity. The church, as the body of Christ, is called to embody this distinctiveness in its worship, witness, and service to the world.
In summary, the biblical concept of being "peculiar" highlights the special relationship between God and His people, marked by holiness, purpose, and a distinct identity that sets them apart for His glory.
Easton's Bible Dictionary
As used in the phrase "peculiar people" in
1 Peter 2:9, is derived from the Lat. peculium, and denotes, as rendered in the Revised Version ("a people for God's own possession"), a special possession or property. The church is the "property" of God, his "purchased possession" (
Ephesians 1:14; R.V., "God's own possession").
Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary
1. (
a.) One's own; belonging solely or especially to an individual; not possessed by others; of private, personal, or characteristic possession and use; not owned in common or in participation.
2. (a.) Particular; individual; special; appropriate.
3. (a.) Unusual; singular; rare; strange; as, the sky had a peculiar appearance.
4. (n.) That which is peculiar; a sole or exclusive property; a prerogative; a characteristic.
5. (n.) A particular parish or church which is exempt from the jurisdiction of the ordinary.
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia
PECULIARpe-kul'-yar: The Latin peculium means "private property," so that "peculiar" properly equals "pertaining to the individual." In modern English the word has usually degenerated into a half-colloquial form for "extraordinary," but in Biblical English it is a thoroughly dignified term for "esp. one's own"; compare the "peculiar treasure" of the king inEcclesiastes 2:8 (the King James Version). Hence, "peculiar people" (the King James VersionDeuteronomy 14:2, etc.) means a people especially possessed by God and particularly prized by Him. The word in the Old Testament (the King James VersionExodus 19:5Deuteronomy 14:2;Deuteronomy 26:18Psalm 135:4Ecclesiastes 2:8) invariably represents ceghullah, "property," an obscure word which Septuagint usually rendered by the equally obscure periousios (apparently meaning "superabundant"), which in turn is quoted inTitus 2:14. InMalachi 3:17, however, Septuagint has peripoiesis, quoted in1 Peter 2:9. the English Revised Version in the New Testament substituted "own possession" in the two occurrences, but in the Old Testament kept "peculiar" and even extended its use (Deuteronomy 7:6Malachi 3:17) to cover every occurrence of ceghullah except in1 Chronicles 29:3 ("treasure"). the American Standard Revised Version, on the contrary, has dropped "peculiar" altogether, using "treasure" in1 Chronicles 29:3Ecclesiastes 2:8, and "own possession" elsewhere. the King James Version also has "peculiar commandments" (idios, "particular," the Revised Version (British and American) "several") in The Wisdom of Solomon 19:6, and the Revised Version (British and American) has "peculiar" where the King James Version has "special" in The Wisdom of Solomon 3:14 for eklekte, "chosen out."
Burton Scott Easton
Greek
931. basanos -- a touchstone (a dark stone used in testing metals)...... 931 () was "originally (from oriental origin) a touchstone; a 'Lydian stone' used
for testing gold because pure gold rubbed on it left a
peculiar mark.
...4047. peripoiesis -- preservation, acquisition
... From peripoieomai; acquisition (the act or the thing); by extension, preservation --
obtain(-ing),peculiar, purchased, possession, saving....
4041. periousios -- of one's own possession
... chosen. From the present participle feminine of a compound of peri and eimi; being
beyond usual, ie Special (one's own) --peculiar. see GREEK eimi....
Strong's Hebrew
5459. segullah -- possession, property... jewel,
peculiar treasure, proper good, special. Feminine passive participle
of an unused root meaning to shut up; wealth (as closely
...5596. saphach -- to join, attach to
... Or saphach (Isaiah 3:17) {saw-fakh'}; a primitive root; properly, to scrape out,
but in certainpeculiar senses (of removal or association) -- abiding, gather...
4310. mi -- who?
... any man, he, him, O that! What, which, whom would to God. An interrogative pronoun
of persons, as mah is of things, who? (occasionally, by apeculiar idiom, of...
1655. geshem -- the body
... body. (Aramaic) apparently the same as geshem; used in apeculiar sense, the body
(probably for the (figuratively) idea of a hard rain) -- body....
Library
ThePeculiar Sleep of the Beloved
... ThePeculiar Sleep of the Beloved. A Sermon (No.12). Delivered on Sabbath Morning,
March 4, 1855, by the. REV. CH SPURGEON. At Exeter Hall, Strand....
Peculiar Effects of Money.
... Money: The Golden Channel of Service. (Luke xvi:1-18.)Peculiar Effects of Money.
Money is queer stuff. The opposites meet in it so strikingly....
It is thePeculiar Property of Man to Know and Worship God.
... the divine institutes Book III. Of the False Wisdom of Philosophers. Chap.
X."It is thePeculiar Property of Man to Know and Worship God....
Of the GodsPeculiar to the Romans.
... Addressed to His Brother Pentadius. Chap. XX."Of the GodsPeculiar to the Romans....
I will now speak of the gods which the Romans havepeculiar to themselves....
Of the GodsPeculiar to the Romans, and their Sacred Rites.
... the divine institutes book i. of the false worship of the gods. Chap.
xx."of the godspeculiar to the Romans, and their sacred rites....
HisPeculiar Caricature of the Bishops, Eustathius of Armenia and...
... Book I. Section 5. Hispeculiar caricature of the bishops, Eustathius of
Armenia and Basil of Galatia, is not well drawn. But, not...
Thirdly, thePeculiar Manner and Circumstances with which the...
... REVELATION. XII. Proposition XII. Thirdly, thepeculiar manner and circumstances
with which the Christian religion enjoins the duties,. and...
Of Certain DeitiesPeculiar to Barbarians, and their Sacred Rites...
... gods. Chap. xxi."of certain deitiespeculiar to barbarians, and their sacred
rites; and in like manner concerning the romans. We...
Peculiar Schism among the Novatians.
... Book V. Chapter XXI."Peculiar Schism among the Novatians. Of the Novatian
church at Constantinople Agelius was the bishop for...
God'sPeculiar Attribute.
... Homily X. Chapter XIX."God'sPeculiar Attribute.... But this ispeculiar to God,
that He alone is, as the Maker of all, so also the best of all....
Thesaurus
Peculiar (11 Occurrences)... Easton's Bible Dictionary As used in the phrase "
peculiar people" in 1 Peter 2:9,
is derived from the Lat.
... Int. Standard Bible Encyclopedia.
PECULIAR.
...Specific (2 Occurrences)
... 1. (a.) Of or pertaining to a species; characterizing or constituting a species;
possessing thepeculiar property or properties Of a thing which constitute its...
Damask (1 Occurrence)
... hangings. 4. (n.) Damask or Damascus steel; also, thepeculiar markings
or water of such steel. 5. (n.) A deep pink or rose color....
Character (27 Occurrences)
... 2. (n.) Style of writing or printing; handwriting; thepeculiar form of letters
used by a particular person or people; as, an inscription in the Runic character...
Innocents (2 Occurrences)
... 2:23). It will be noticed at once aspeculiar and significant that no quotation
is attached to the visit of the Magi. This omission...
Massacre (1 Occurrence)
... 2:23). It will be noticed at once aspeculiar and significant that no quotation
is attached to the visit of the Magi. This omission...
Gifts (144 Occurrences)
... are exhaustive. Some of the gifts enumerated cannot be said to belong in
anypeculiar sense to the distinctive category. "Faith" (1...
Spiritual (42 Occurrences)
... are exhaustive. Some of the gifts enumerated cannot be said to belong in
anypeculiar sense to the distinctive category. "Faith" (1...
Own (5782 Occurrences)
... 2. (a.) Belonging to; belonging exclusively or especially to;peculiar; -- most
frequently following a possessive pronoun, as my, our, thy, your, his, her, its...
Olive (61 Occurrences)
... form. See Oliva. 4. (n.) The oyster catcher. 5. (n.) The color of the olive,
apeculiar dark brownish, yellowish, or tawny green. 6...
Resources
What does 1 Peter 2:9 mean when it refers to believers as peculiar people? | GotQuestions.orgDoes the Bible say anything about a pre-Adamic race? | GotQuestions.orgIs the Word of Faith movement biblical? | GotQuestions.orgPeculiar: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.comBible Concordance •
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