Topical Encyclopedia
In the context of the Bible, the term "point" can refer to various concepts, both literal and metaphorical. It is used to describe physical locations, moments in time, or specific purposes and intentions. The Berean Standard Bible provides several instances where the term is used, each offering insight into its biblical significance.
1.
Physical Locations and Directions: The term "point" is often used to describe a specific location or direction. In the Old Testament, the Israelites were frequently given precise instructions regarding their journey and the land they were to inhabit. For example, in the context of the tabernacle and temple, specific points were designated for various rituals and offerings, emphasizing the importance of order and divine instruction.
2.
Moments in Time: The Bible frequently uses "point" to denote a specific moment or period.
Ecclesiastes 3:1 states, "To everything there is a season, and a time for every purpose under heaven." This verse underscores the idea that God has appointed specific times for every event in life, highlighting His sovereignty and the importance of recognizing divine timing.
3.
Purpose and Intention: The concept of a "point" can also refer to purpose or intention. In
Philippians 3:13-14, the Apostle Paul writes, "Brothers, I do not consider myself to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize of God’s heavenly calling in Christ Jesus." Here, Paul speaks of a focused intention, a singular point of purpose in his spiritual journey, which is to pursue the calling of Christ.
4.
Moral and Ethical Decisions: The Bible often presents moments of decision as points of moral and ethical significance. In the account of Esther, for instance, Esther reaches a critical point where she must decide whether to risk her life to save her people.
Esther 4:14 captures this moment: "For if you remain silent at this time, relief and deliverance for the Jews will arise from another place, but you and your father’s family will perish. And who knows but that you have come to your royal position for such a time as this?" This highlights the importance of recognizing and acting upon pivotal moments in accordance with God's will.
5.
Spiritual Insight and Revelation: Points of revelation are significant in the biblical narrative. In the New Testament, Jesus often brings His disciples to a point of deeper understanding through parables and teachings. In
Matthew 16:15-17, Jesus asks His disciples, "But what about you?" He asked. "Who do you say I am?" Simon Peter answered, "You are the Christ, the Son of the living God." Jesus replied, "Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah, for this was not revealed to you by flesh and blood, but by my Father in heaven." This moment marks a point of spiritual insight and revelation for Peter.
In summary, the concept of "point" in the Bible encompasses physical locations, moments in time, purposes, moral decisions, and spiritual insights. Each usage underscores the importance of recognizing and responding to God's direction and timing in the life of believers.
Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary
1. (
v. t. & i.) To appoint.
2. (n.) That which pricks or pierces; the sharp end of anything, esp. the sharp end of a piercing instrument, as a needle or a pin.
3. (n.) An instrument which pricks or pierces, as a sort of needle used by engravers, etchers, lace workers, and others; also, a pointed cutting tool, as a stone cutter's point; -- called also pointer.
4. (n.) Anything which tapers to a sharp, well-defined termination. Specifically: A small promontory or cape; a tract of land extending into the water beyond the common shore line.
5. (n.) The mark made by the end of a sharp, piercing instrument, as a needle; a prick.
6. (n.) An indefinitely small space; a mere spot indicated or supposed. Specifically: (Geom.) That which has neither parts nor magnitude; that which has position, but has neither length, breadth, nor thickness, -- sometimes conceived of as the limit of a line; that by the motion of which a line is conceived to be produced.
7. (n.) An indivisible portion of time; a moment; an instant; hence, the verge.
8. (n.) A mark of punctuation; a character used to mark the divisions of a composition, or the pauses to be observed in reading, or to point off groups of figures, etc.; a stop, as a comma, a semicolon, and esp. a period; hence, figuratively, an end, or conclusion.
9. (n.) Whatever serves to mark progress, rank, or relative position, or to indicate a transition from one state or position to another, degree; step; stage; hence, position or condition attained; as, a point of elevation, or of depression; the stock fell off five points; he won by ten points.
10. (n.) That which arrests attention, or indicates qualities or character; a salient feature; a characteristic; a peculiarity; hence, a particular; an item; a detail; as, the good or bad points of a man, a horse, a book, a story, etc.
11. (n.) Hence, the most prominent or important feature, as of an argument, discourse, etc.; the essential matter; esp., the proposition to be established; as, the point of an anecdote.
12. (n.) A small matter; a trifle; a least consideration; a punctilio.
13. (n.) A dot or mark used to designate certain tones or time
14. (n.) A dot or mark distinguishing or characterizing certain tones or styles; as, points of perfection, of augmentation, etc.; hence, a note; a tune.
15. (n.) A dot placed at the right hand of a note, to raise its value, or prolong its time, by one half, as to make a whole note equal to three half notes, a half note equal to three quarter notes.
16. (n.) A fixed conventional place for reference, or zero of reckoning, in the heavens, usually the intersection of two or more great circles of the sphere, and named specifically in each case according to the position intended; as, the equinoctial points; the solstitial points; the nodal points; vertical points, etc. See Equinoctial Nodal.
17. (n.) One of the several different parts of the escutcheon. See Escutcheon.
18. (n.) One of the points of the compass (see Points of the compass, below); also, the difference between two points of the compass; as, to fall off a point.
19. (n.) A short piece of cordage used in reefing sails. See Reef point, under Reef.
20. (n.) A string or lace used to tie together certain parts of the dress.
21. (n.) Lace wrought the needle; as, point de Venise; Brussels point. See Point lace, below.
22. (n.) A switch.
23. (n.) An item of private information; a hint; a tip; a pointer.
24. (n.) A fielder who is stationed on the off side, about twelve or fifteen yards from, and a little in advance of, the batsman.
25. (n.) The attitude assumed by a pointer dog when he finds game; as, the dog came to a point. See Pointer.
26. (n.) A standard unit of measure for the size of type bodies, being one twelfth of the thickness of pica type. See Point system of type, under Type.
27. (n.) A tyne or snag of an antler.
28. (n.) One of the spaces on a backgammon board.
29. (n.) A movement executed with the saber or foil; as, tierce point.
30. (n.) To give a point to; to sharpen; to cut, forge, grind, or file to an acute end; as, to point a dart, or a pencil. Used also figuratively; as, to point a moral.
31. (n.) To direct toward an abject; to aim; as, to point a gun at a wolf, or a cannon at a fort.
32. (n.) Hence, to direct the attention or notice of.
33. (n.) To supply with punctuation marks; to punctuate; as, to point a composition.
34. (n.) To mark (as Hebrew) with vowel points.
35. (n.) To give particular prominence to; to designate in a special manner; to indicate, as if by pointing; as, the error was pointed out.
36. (n.) To indicate or discover by a fixed look, as game.
37. (n.) To fill up and finish the joints of (a wall), by introducing additional cement or mortar, and bringing it to a smooth surface.
38. (n.) To cut, as a surface, with a pointed tool.
39. (v. i.) To direct the point of something, as of a finger, for the purpose of designating an object, and attracting attention to it; -- with at.
40. (v. i.) To indicate the presence of game by fixed and steady look, as certain hunting dogs do.
41. (v. i.) To approximate to the surface; to head; -- said of an abscess.
Greek
2774. kephalaion -- of the head, the mainpoint... of the head, the main
point. Part of Speech: Noun, Neuter Transliteration: kephalaion
Phonetic Spelling: (kef-al'-ah-yon) Short Definition: the chief matter, a
...4743. stigme -- apoint, ie a moment
... apoint, ie a moment. Part of Speech: Noun, Feminine Transliteration: stigme Phonetic
Spelling: (stig-may') Short Definition: apoint of time, an instant...
874. aphorme -- a startingpoint, ie fig. an occasion
... 873, 874. aphorme. 875 . a startingpoint, ie fig. an... Word Origin from
apo and hormao Definition a startingpoint, ie fig. an...
188. akmen -- at the presentpoint of time
... at the presentpoint of time. Part of Speech: Noun, Feminine Transliteration: akmen
Phonetic Spelling: (ak-mane') Short Definition: even now Definition: even now...
1519. eis -- to or into (indicating thepoint reached or entered...
... 1518, 1519. eis. 1520 . to or into (indicating thepoint reached or entered,
of place, time, fig. purpose, result). Part of Speech...
2759. kentron -- a sharppoint
... a sharppoint. Part of Speech: Noun, Neuter Transliteration: kentron Phonetic Spelling:
(ken'-tron) Short Definition: a sting, goad Definition: a sting, goad...
2079. eschatos -- extremely
... last grasp. Word Origin adverb from eschatos Definition extremely NASB
Word Usagepoint of death (1).point of death. Adverb from...
4931. sunteleo -- to complete, accomplish
... 4931 (from 4862 , "closely " and 5055 , "to complete, finish") -- properly, (),
reaching the desired -point (result, ). 4931 ("culminate...
1166. deiknumi -- to show
... to show. Part of Speech: Verb Transliteration: deiknumi Phonetic Spelling:
(dike-noo'-o) Short Definition: Ipoint out, show Definition: Ipoint out, show...
3195. mello -- to be about to
... 1), am about (2), certainly (1), come (12), delay (1), future (1), going (19), intend
(1), intending (8), later (1), must (1), next* (1),point (1), propose (1...
Strong's Hebrew
6856. tsipporen -- fingernail, styluspoint... 6855, 6856. tsipporen. 6857 . fingernail, stylus
point. Transliteration: tsipporen
Phonetic Spelling: (tsip-po'-ren) Short Definition: nails.
... nail,
point.
...5351. nequddah -- apoint or drop
... 5350, 5351. nequddah. 5352 . apoint or drop. Transliteration: nequddah
Phonetic Spelling: (ned-ood-daw') Short Definition: beads....
7053. qilleshon -- perhaps finepoint
... 7052, 7053. qilleshon. 7054 . perhaps finepoint. Transliteration: qilleshon
Phonetic Spelling: (kil-lesh-one') Short Definition: forks....
7665. shabar -- to break, break in pieces
... in pieces NASB Word Usage abolish (1), break (25), break down (1), breaking in pieces
(1), breaks (5), breaks in pieces (1), bring to thepoint (1), broke (9...
19. ibchah -- slaughter
...point. From an unused root (apparently meaning to turn); brandishing of a
sword --point. 18, 19. ibchah. 20 . Strong's Numbers.
3542. kah -- here
... 3541, 3542. kah. 3543 . here. Transliteration: kah Phonetic Spelling: (kaw)
Short Definition:point. Word Origin (Aramaic) corresponding...
8376. taah -- probably to mark out
... 1).point out. A primitive root; to mark off, ie (intensively) designate --
point out. 8375, 8376. taah. 8377 . Strong's Numbers.
3384. yarah -- to throw, shoot
... shot (1), archers* (2), cast (3), cast them down (1), directed (1), instruct (4),
instructed (1), instruction (1), instructs (1), laid (1),point (1), points (1...
184. avah -- to sign, mark, describe with a mark
... root Definition to sign, mark, describe with a mark NASB Word Usage draw (1).point
out. A primitive root; to extend or mark out --point out. 183, 184....
853. eth -- untranslatable mark of the accusative case.
... Apparent contracted from 'owth in the demonstrative sense of entity; properly, self
(but generally used topoint out more definitely the object of a verb or...
Library
The StartingPoint.
... CHAPTER I. THE STARTINGPOINT. Reader, are you a BA? This little book is only
for those who possess that degree from the King's College....
Stand-Point of James as an Inspired Teacher, and his Relation to...
... THE EPISTLE OF JAMES. INTRODUCTION. 3. Stand-point of James as an inspired
teacher, and his relation to Paul. The manner, however...
The CardinalPoint of the Synchronisms; Or, the Synchronism
... PART II. I. THE CARDINALPOINT OF THE SYNCHRONISMS; OR, THE SYNCHRONISM.
Of the Seventh Seal, which relates to the first Six Trumpets...
Nor is it to thePoint to Say that the Very Smallest and Briefest....
... Book 2 Chapter 34. Nor is it to thepoint to say that the very smallest
and briefest? 34. Nor is it to thepoint to say that the...
ThePoint at which the Discussion Has Arrived, and what Remains to...
... Book IX. Chapter 1."ThePoint at Which the Discussion Has Arrived, and
What Remains to Be Handled. Some have advanced the opinion...
But the ImportantPoint Here is Only that You Cannot Anyhow Get...
... Chapter 33 But the importantpoint here is only that you cannot anyhow get
rid of authority?... Thepoint is that Man does what he likes....
Whether a Penitent, at thePoint of Death, Can be Absolved by any...
... Whether a penitent, at thepoint of death, can be absolved by any priest?
Objection 1: It would seem that a penitent, at thepoint...
Ep. I. There is one GoodPoint in My Character, and I Will Boast...
... Division III. Miscellaneous Letters. Ep. I. There is one goodpoint in
my character, and I will boast myself of one? There is...
At thisPoint Let us Speak of his Healings. ...
... THE DEMONSTRATION OF THE APOSTOLIC PREACHING Chapter 67 At thispoint let us speak
of His healings.? At thispoint let us speak of His healings....
The FirstPoint which Celsus Brings Forward, in his Desire to...
... Chapter I. The firstpoint which Celsus brings forward, in his desire to
throw discredit upon Christianity? The firstpoint which...
Thesaurus
Point (106 Occurrences)... or pierces, as a sort of needle used by engravers, etchers, lace workers, and others;
also, a pointed cutting tool, as a stone cutter's
point; -- called also
...Revolution (6 Occurrences)
... 1. (n.) The act of revolving, or turning round on an axis or a center; the motion
of a body round a fixedpoint or line; rotation; as, the revolution of a wheel...
Prick (2 Occurrences)
... 1. (v.) That which pricks, penetrates, or punctures; a sharp and slender thing;
a pointed instrument; a goad; a spur, etc.; apoint; a skewer....
Level (31 Occurrences)
... 1. (n.) A line or surface to which, at everypoint, a vertical or plumb line is
perpendicular; a line or surface which is everywhere parallel to the surface of...
Direct (58 Occurrences)
... 1. (a.) Straight; not crooked, oblique, or circuitous; leading by the short or
shortest way to apoint or end; as, a direct line; direct means....
Moment (71 Occurrences)
... Noah Webster's Dictionary 1. (n.) A minute portion of time; apoint of time; an
instant; as, at that very moment.... motion about a fixedpoint or axis. Int....
West (110 Occurrences)
... 1. (n.) Thepoint in the heavens where the sun is seen to set at the equinox; or,
the correspondingpoint on the earth; that one of the four cardinal points of...
East (228 Occurrences)
... 1. (n.) Thepoint in the heavens where the sun is seen to rise at the equinox, or
the correspondingpoint on the earth; that one of the four cardinal points of...
Pihahiroth (4 Occurrences)
... It may be anywhere within 10 miles of thatpoint.... Pi-Hahiroth is between thispoint
and the Sea and Baal-zephon near the opposite eastern shore....
Pitch (25 Occurrences)
... 15. (n.) Thatpoint of the ground on which the ball pitches or lights when
bowled. 16. (n.) Apoint or peak; the extremepoint or...
Resources
What is the Omega Point? | GotQuestions.orgWhat is Amyraldism / Four-Point Calvinism? | GotQuestions.orgDo we ever reach a point that we cannot be forgiven (Nahum 3:19)? | GotQuestions.orgPoint: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.comBible Concordance •
Bible Dictionary •
Bible Encyclopedia •
Topical Bible •
Bible Thesuarus
