Topical Encyclopedia
In biblical times, the concept of a "post" can refer to several different ideas, ranging from physical structures to positions of responsibility. The term is used in various contexts throughout the Scriptures, each carrying its own significance and application.
1.
Physical Structures: In the Old Testament, a "post" often refers to a physical structure, such as a doorpost or gatepost. These were integral parts of buildings and city gates. For example, in
Exodus 12:7, the Israelites were instructed to apply the blood of the Passover lamb to the doorposts of their homes: "They are to take some of the blood and put it on the two doorposts and on the lintel of the houses where they eat the lambs" . This act was a sign for the Lord to pass over their homes during the final plague in Egypt.
2.
Positions of Responsibility: The term "post" can also denote a position of responsibility or duty. In the context of ancient Israel, posts were often associated with roles of watchfulness and communication. For instance, in
2 Samuel 18:19-27, the term is used to describe the runners or messengers who carried news from the battlefield to King David. These individuals held important posts, as they were responsible for delivering critical information.
3.
Symbolic and Prophetic Uses: Posts can also have symbolic meanings in prophetic literature. In
Ezekiel 40-48, the prophet describes a vision of a new temple, including detailed measurements of its posts and gates. These descriptions symbolize the order and holiness of God's dwelling place among His people. The posts in this vision represent stability and the enduring presence of God.
4.
Cultural and Religious Significance: In the cultural and religious life of Israel, posts had significant roles. The mezuzah, a small case containing Scripture, is traditionally affixed to the doorposts of Jewish homes, a practice rooted in
Deuteronomy 6:9: "Write them on the doorposts of your houses and on your gates" . This serves as a constant reminder of God's commandments and presence.
5.
Military and Administrative Contexts: Posts were also used in military and administrative contexts. In the book of Esther, the Persian Empire's communication system is described, where posts or couriers were used to deliver royal decrees swiftly across the vast empire (
Esther 8:10-14). This system highlights the importance of posts in maintaining order and governance.
In summary, the concept of a "post" in the Bible encompasses a range of meanings, from physical structures to roles of responsibility and symbolic representations. Each usage reflects the cultural, religious, and historical contexts of the biblical narrative, illustrating the multifaceted nature of this term in Scripture.
Easton's Bible Dictionary
(1.) A runner, or courier, for the rapid transmission of letters, etc. (2 Chronicles 30:6;Esther 3:13, 15;8:10, 14;Job 9:25;Jeremiah 51:31). Such messengers were used from very early times. Those employed by the Hebrew kings had a military character (1 Samuel 22:17;2 Kings 10:25, "guard, " marg. "runners"). The modern system of postal communication was first established by Louis XI. of France in A.D. 1464.
(2.) This word sometimes also is used for lintel or threshold (Isaiah 6:4).
Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary
1. (
a.) Hired to do what is wrong; suborned.
2. (n.) A piece of timber, metal, or other solid substance, fixed, or to be fixed, firmly in an upright position, especially when intended as a stay or support to something else; a pillar; as, a hitching post; a fence post; the posts of a house.
3. (n.) The doorpost of a victualer's shop or inn, on which were chalked the scores of customers; hence, a score; a debt.
4. (n.) The place at which anything is stopped, placed, or fixed; a station.
5. (n.) A station, or one of a series of stations, established for the refreshment and accommodation of travelers on some recognized route; as, a stage or railway post.
6. (n.) A military station; the place at which a soldier or a body of troops is stationed; also, the troops at such a station.
7. (n.) The piece of ground to which a sentinel's walk is limited.
8. (n.) A messenger who goes from station; an express; especially, one who is employed by the government to carry letters and parcels regularly from one place to another; a letter carrier; a postman.
9. (n.) An established conveyance for letters from one place or station to another; especially, the governmental system in any country for carrying and distributing letters and parcels; the post office; the mail; hence, the carriage by which the mail is transported.
10. (n.) Haste or speed, like that of a messenger or mail carrier.
11. (n.) One who has charge of a station, especially of a postal station.
12. (n.) A station, office, or position of service, trust, or emolument; as, the post of duty; the post of danger.
13. (n.) A size of printing and writing paper.
14. (v. t.) To attach to a post, a wall, or other usual place of affixing public notices; to placard; as, to post a notice; to post playbills.
15. (v. t.) To hold up to public blame or reproach; to advertise opprobriously; to denounce by public proclamation; as, to post one for cowardice.
16. (v. t.) To enter (a name) on a list, as for service, promotion, or the like.
17. (v. t.) To assign to a station; to set; to place; as, to post a sentinel.
18. (v. t.) To carry, as an account, from the journal to the ledger; as, to post an account; to transfer, as accounts, to the ledger.
19. (v. t.) To place in the care of the post; to mail; as, to post a letter.
20. (v. t.) To inform; to give the news to; to make (one) acquainted with the details of a subject; -- often with up.
21. (v. i.) To travel with post horses; figuratively, to travel in haste.
22. (v. i.) To rise and sink in the saddle, in accordance with the motion of the horse, esp. in trotting.
23. (adv.) With post horses; hence, in haste; as, to travel post.
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia
POSTpost (ruts, "to run," ratsim, "runners"): The "runners" formed the royal guard (1 Samuel 22:171 Kings 14:272 Kings 11:4, 13; see GUARD). From them were chosen the couriers who carried royal letters and dispatches throughout the kingdom (2 Chronicles 30:6, 10Esther 3:13, 15Jeremiah 51:31). In the Persian service they were mounted on the swiftest horses (Esther 8:10, 14; compare Xenophon, Cyrop. viii.6, 17; Herodotus viii.98). They had the right to command the service of either men or animals in order to expedite their progress (compareMatthew 5:41Mark 15:21, "compel," "impress").
Used inJob 9:25 and the King James Version The Wisdom of Solomon 5:9 (aggelia, the Revised Version (British and American) "message") of the swift passage of time.
See alsoHOUSE, II, 1, (4), (7).
M. O. Evans
Greek
5432. phroureo -- to guard... From a compound of pro and horao; to be a watcher in advance, ie To mount guard
as a sentinel (
post spies at gates); figuratively, to hem in, protect -- keep
...4716. stauros -- an upright stake, hence a cross (the Rom....
... From the base of histemi; a stake orpost (as set upright), ie (specially), a pole
or cross (as an instrument of capital punishment); figuratively, exposure to...
742. Arphaxad -- Arphaxad, a son of Shem and an ancestor of Christ
... Arphaxad. Of Hebrew origin ('Arpakshad); Arphaxad, apost-diluvian patriarch --
Arphaxad. see HEBREW 'Arpakshad. (arphaxad) -- 1 Occurrence. 741, 742....
4102. pistis -- faith, faithfulness
... J. Calvin). 1 Hab 2:1: " I will stand on my guardpost And station myself
on the rampart; And I will keep watch to see (Heb ) " ()....
5039. tekmerion -- a sure sign
... proof. 5039 -- properly, a marker (sign-post) supplying information, "marking
something off" as unmistakable (irrefutable). "The...
4769. stulos -- a pillar
... pillar. From stuo (to stiffen; properly akin to the base of histemi); apost
("style"), ie (figuratively) support -- pillar. see GREEK histemi....
2583. kanon -- a rule, standard
... This represented the core theological convictions prevailing in the local churches
in the "post-apostolic era" (particularly from ad 100 on)....
5021. tasso -- to draw up in order, arrange
... 5021 ("place in position,post") was commonly used in ancient military language
for "" (", commissioning") , ie arranging (placing) in a deliberate, fixed order...
Strong's Hebrew
5333. netsib -- a pillar, prefect, garrison,post... netsib or netsib. 5334 . a pillar, prefect, garrison,
post. Transliteration: netsib
or netsib Phonetic Spelling: (nets-eeb') Short Definition: garrisons.
...6836. tsippiyyah -- lookoutpost
... 6835, 6836. tsippiyyah. 6837 . lookoutpost. Transliteration: tsippiyyah
Phonetic Spelling: (tsef-ee-yaw') Short Definition: watching....
8560. tomer -- palm tree,post
... 8559, 8560. tomer. 8561 . palm tree,post. Transliteration: tomer Phonetic
Spelling: (to'-mer) Short Definition: tree. Word Origin...
4201. mezuzah -- a doorpost, gatepost
... Word Origin from the same as ziz Definition a doorpost, gatepost NASB Word Usage
doorpost (2), door posts (1), doorpost (4), doorposts (10),post (1), posts (2...
5592. caph -- a basin, goblet
... caph. 5592a . a basin, goblet. Transliteration: caph Phonetic Spelling: (saf)
Short Definition: bason. bason, bowl, cup, doorpost, gate,post, threshold...
4929. mishmar -- place of confinement, jail, prison, guard, watch...
... prison, guard, watch, observance NASB Word Usage confinement (4), custody (2),
diligence (1), division (2), guard (8), keeping watch (1),post (1), prison (1...
352. ayil -- a ram
... 351c, 352. ayil. 352a . a ram. Transliteration: ayil Phonetic Spelling:
(ah'-yil) Short Definition: ram. mighty man, lintel, oak,post, ram, tree...
4931. mishmereth -- a guard, watch, charge, function
... of mishmar Definition a guard, watch, charge, function NASB Word Usage allegiance
(1), charge (27), duties (15), duty (2), guardpost (2), guard* (1), guards (2...
2388. chazaq -- to be or grow firm or strong, strengthen
... 1), made repairs (12), made stronger (1), maintain (1), make (1), make an effort
(1), making himself strong (1), overcome (1), persuaded (1),post a strong (1...
4674. mutstsab -- palisade or entrenchment
... siegeworks (1). mount. From natsab; a station, ie Militarypost -- mount. see HEBREW
natsab. 4673, 4674. mutstsab. 4675 . Strong's Numbers.
Library
The Position ofPost-Millennialism.
... I.Post and Pre-millennialism Defined. 1. The position ofPost-millennialism.
Post-millennialists teach that the great purpose of...
An Examination ofPost-Millennialism.
... II.Post and Pre-millennialism Examined. 1. An examination ofPost-
millennialism.Post-millennialists teach that the only Kingdom...
Post-Nicene Mothers
... PART FIRST. WOMEN OF THE WESTERN EMPIRE VPOST-NICENE MOTHERS. It requires
a considerable amount of imagination, coupled with a facility...
Post-Millennialism Refuted.
... III.Post-millennialism Refuted. Thepost-millennial position rests largely
upon a mis-translation. In Matt.13:39 we read "The harvest...
HymnusPost Cibum
... IV. HYMNUSPOST CIBUM. Pastis visceribus ciboque sumpto, quem lex corporis
inbecilla poscit, laudem lingua Deo patri rependat; Patri...
HymnusPost Ieiunium
... VIII. HYMNUSPOST IEIUNIUM. Christe servorum regimen tuorum, mollibus qui nos
moderans habenis leniter frenas facilique septos lege coerces:...
Period ii. ThePost-Apostolic Age: AD 100-AD 140
... ThePost-Apostolic Age: AD 100-AD 140.... This belief, in somewhat varying form, was
one of the great ethical motives in apostolic andpost-apostolic times....
The Condition of the World when Our Lord Returns Proves that his...
... III.Post-millennialism Refuted. 1. The condition of the world when our Lord returns
proves that His Second Advent cannot bepost-millennial....
That one of the Cross-Bearers, who Fled from hisPost, was Slain...
... Book II. Chapter IX."That One of the Cross-Bearers, who fled from hisPost, was
slain: while Another, who faithfully stood his Ground, was preserved....
Works by the Same Author.
... ARE WE TO MODIFY FUNDAMENTAL DOCTRINE? Smallpost 8vo, cloth boards, 1s.... Small
post 8vo, cloth boards, 2s. FOUNDATIONS OF SACRED STUDY....
Thesaurus
Post (26 Occurrences)... fixed, or to be fixed, firmly in an upright position, especially when intended as
a stay or support to something else; a pillar; as, a hitching
post; a fence
...Door-post (5 Occurrences)
Door-post. Doorpost, Door-post. Doorposts . Multi-Version Concordance
Door-post (5 Occurrences). Exodus 12:7 And they...
Side-post (2 Occurrences)
Side-post. Side-growth, Side-post. Side-posts . Multi-Version
Concordance Side-post (2 Occurrences). Exodus 21:6 then...
Post-runner (1 Occurrence)
Post-runner. Postmillennial,Post-runner. Posts . Multi-Version
ConcordancePost-runner (1 Occurrence). Job 9:25 My...
Doorposts (15 Occurrences)
... on a slip of parchment these verses (Deuteronomy 6:4-9, and 11:13-21), which they
enclosed in a reed or cylinder and fixed on the right-hand door-post of every...
Gatepost (1 Occurrence)
... 1. (n.) Apost to which a gate is hung; -- called also swinging / hingingpost.
2. (n.) Apost against which a gate closes; -- called also shuttingpost....
Mail (11 Occurrences)
... 11. (n.) The bag or bags with the letters, papers, papers, or other matter contained
therein, conveyed under public authority from onepost office to another...
Fasts (3 Occurrences)
...POST-EXILIC 1. Feast of Dedication, 25th Kiclew 2. Fast of Esther, 13th 'Adhar 3.
Feast of Purim, 14th 'Adhar 4. Fast of the Fourth Month, 17th Tammuz 5. Fast...
Feasts (45 Occurrences)
...POST-EXILIC 1. Feast of Dedication, 25th Kiclew 2. Fast of Esther, 13th 'Adhar 3.
Feast of Purim, 14th 'Adhar 4. Fast of the Fourth Month, 17th Tammuz 5. Fast...
Crafts (2 Occurrences)
... Written Records and Discoveries of Craftsmanship (1) Jewish (2) Canaanitish and
Phoenician (3) Assyrian and Babylonian (4) Egyptian 2.Post-Biblical Writings 3...
Resources
What is post-theism? | GotQuestions.orgWhat does it mean for a society to be post-Christian? | GotQuestions.orgWhat is post-modern Christianity? | GotQuestions.orgPost: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.comBible Concordance •
Bible Dictionary •
Bible Encyclopedia •
Topical Bible •
Bible Thesuarus
