Topical Encyclopedia
In the Bible, rams hold significant symbolic and practical importance, appearing in various contexts throughout the Old and New Testaments. They are often associated with sacrifice, leadership, and divine provision.
Sacrificial Use:Rams are frequently mentioned in the context of sacrifices. In the Old Testament, they were considered valuable offerings to God. The ram was one of the animals specified for burnt offerings, as outlined in the Levitical laws.
Leviticus 1:10 states, "If, however, one’s offering is a burnt offering from the flock—from the sheep or goats—he is to present an unblemished male." The ram, being a male sheep, was thus a fitting and acceptable sacrifice.
The most notable instance of a ram in a sacrificial context is found in
Genesis 22, where God tests Abraham's faith by asking him to sacrifice his son Isaac. At the last moment, God provides a ram caught in a thicket as a substitute for Isaac.
Genesis 22:13 records, "Then Abraham looked up and saw behind him a ram in a thicket, caught by its horns. So he went and took the ram and offered it as a burnt offering in place of his son." This event is often seen as a foreshadowing of Christ's substitutionary atonement.
Symbol of Leadership and Strength:Rams are also symbolic of leadership and strength. In the ancient Near East, rams were often associated with power and authority, qualities that are reflected in biblical texts. The ram's horn, or shofar, was used as a trumpet in various ceremonial and military contexts.
Joshua 6:4 describes the use of rams' horns in the battle of Jericho: "Have seven priests carry seven rams’ horns in front of the ark. On the seventh day, march around the city seven times, with the priests blowing the horns."
Divine Provision and Protection:The imagery of the ram is also linked to divine provision and protection. In the aforementioned account of Abraham and Isaac, the ram provided by God serves as a powerful reminder of God's provision. This theme is echoed in other parts of Scripture, where God is depicted as a shepherd who cares for His flock, providing for their needs and protecting them from harm.
Priestly Garments:Rams' skins were used in the construction of the Tabernacle, particularly in the making of priestly garments and coverings.
Exodus 25:5 mentions "ram skins dyed red" as one of the materials used for the Tabernacle. This use underscores the ram's role in the sacred and ceremonial life of Israel.
Prophetic Imagery:In prophetic literature, rams are sometimes used metaphorically to represent nations or leaders. In
Daniel 8, a ram with two horns is used to symbolize the Medo-Persian Empire.
Daniel 8:3-4 states, "Then I lifted up my eyes and saw a ram with two horns standing beside the canal. The horns were long, but one was longer than the other, and the longer one grew up later. I saw the ram charging westward, northward, and southward. No beast could stand before him, and none could deliver from his power. He did as he pleased and became great."
In summary, rams in the Bible are multifaceted symbols representing sacrifice, leadership, divine provision, and prophetic imagery. Their presence in Scripture underscores their importance in the religious and cultural life of ancient Israel.
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia
RAMS' SKINSThe skin of the sheep, roughly tanned with all the wool on, is the common winter jacket of the shepherd or peasant, the ram's being considered especially desirable (compareHebrews 11:37). Hence, the appropriateness of these skins in the covering of the tabernacle (Exodus 25:5, etc.).
SeeTABERNACLE;DYE, DYEING.
HORNS, RAMS'
SeeMUSIC.
Strong's Hebrew
352a. ayil -- a ram... a ram. Transliteration: ayil Short Definition: ram. Word Origin from the same as
ulam Definition a ram NASB Word Usage ram (87), ram's (1),
rams (60),
rams' (6)
...1798. dekar -- a ram
... 1797, 1798. dekar. 1799 . a ram. Transliteration: dekar Phonetic Spelling:
(dek-ar') Short Definition:rams. Word Origin (Aramaic...
6904. qebol -- something in front, a military siege engine
... 6903, 6904. qebol. 6905 . something in front, a military siege engine.
Transliteration: qebol Phonetic Spelling: (ko'-bel) Short Definition:rams....
3733c. kar -- a he-lamb, a battering ram
... Word Origin from karar Definition a he-lamb, a battering ram NASB Word Usage battering
rams (3), lamb (1), lambs (8). 3733b, 3733c. kar. 3734 ....
3104. yobel -- a ram, ram's horn (a wind instrument)
... Word Origin from yabal Definition a ram, ram's horn (a wind instrument) NASB Word
Usage jubilee (21), ram's (1), ram's horn (1),rams' horns (4)....
Library
When the Banks were Completed and the BatteringRams Brought, and...
... CHAPTER 4. When The Banks Were Completed And The BatteringRams Brought, And Could
Do Nothing, Titus Gave Orders To Set Fire To The Gates Of The Temple; In No...
Thereafter He Expounds the Appellation of "Son," and of "Product...
... 6. Thereafter he expounds the appellation of "Son," and of "product of generation,"
and very many varieties of "sons," of God, of men, oframs, of perdition...
Concerning the Festivals; and How Each Day of Such Festival is to...
... 3. On the tenth day of the same lunar month, they fast till the evening; and this
day they sacrifice a bull, and tworams, and seven lambs, and a kid of the...
Sacrifice Renewed
... And they brought seven bullocks, and sevenrams, and seven lambs, and seven he goats,
for a sin-offering for the kingdom, and for the sanctuary, and for Judah....
Psalm LXXIII.
... That Synagogue was indeed the murderer of the Lord, no man doubteth it: but remember,
that from the Synagogue were therams whereof we are the sons....
"Lo, I Come": Exposition
... saith the Lord: I am full of the burns offerings oframs, and the fat of fed beasts;
and I delight not in the blood of bullocks, or of lambs, or of he-goats....
The Social Test of Religion
... saith Jehovah: I have had enough of the burnt-offerings oframs, and the fat of
fed beasts; and I delight not in the blood of bullocks, or of lambs, or of he...
Of the Spiritual victim, which Prayer Is.
... your sacrifices? I am full of holocausts oframs, and I desire not the
fat oframs, and the blood of bulls and of goats. For who...
Ezekiel's Discourse
... In his right hand was the divination for Jerusalem, to set batteringrams, to open
the mouth in the slaughter, to lift up the voice with shouting, to set...
The Temple Cleansed Again
... Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to hearken than the fat oframs."
And Isaiah, seeing in prophetic vision the apostasy of the Jews, addressed them...
Thesaurus
Rams'... Int. Standard Bible Encyclopedia
RAMS' SKINS. The skin of the
... Exodus 25:5,
etc.). See TABERNACLE; DYE, DYEING. HORNS,
RAMS'. See MUSIC.
...Rams (81 Occurrences)
... Multi-Version ConcordanceRams (81 Occurrences).... Your ewes and your female goats
have not cast their young, and I haven't eaten therams of your flocks....
Battering-rams (2 Occurrences)
Battering-rams. Battering-ram, Battering-rams. Battle . Multi-Version
Concordance Battering-rams (2 Occurrences). Ezekiel...
Yearling (48 Occurrences)
... offering; (DBY). Numbers 7:17 and for a sacrifice of peace-offering, two oxen,
fiverams, five he-goats, five yearling lambs. This was...
Libations (29 Occurrences)
... 23:18 And ye have brought near, besides the bread, seven lambs, perfect ones, sons
of a year, and one bullock, a son of the herd, and tworams; they are a burnt...
Drink-offerings (31 Occurrences)
... Leviticus 23:18 And ye shall present with the bread seven lambs without blemish
a year old, and one young bullock, and tworams: they shall be a burnt-offering...
Fourteen (26 Occurrences)
... Numbers 29:13 and you shall offer a burnt offering, an offering made by fire, of
a pleasant aroma to Yahweh; thirteen young bulls, tworams, fourteen male...
Skins (27 Occurrences)
... Int. Standard Bible EncyclopediaRAMS' SKINS.... Exodus 25:5rams' skins dyed red, sea
cow hides, acacia wood, (WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)....
Bullocks (50 Occurrences)
... Numbers 7:87 All the oxen for the burnt offering were twelve bullocks, therams
twelve, the lambs of the first year twelve, with their meat offering: and the...
Goatskins (8 Occurrences)
... (See NIV). Exodus 25:5rams' skins dyed red, sea cow hides, acacia wood, (See RSV)....
Exodus 35:7rams' skins dyed red, sea cow hides, acacia wood, (See RSV)....
Resources
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