Topical Encyclopedia
The term "remote" in a biblical context often refers to distance, whether physical, spiritual, or metaphorical. The concept of remoteness can be found throughout the Scriptures, illustrating the separation between God and humanity due to sin, the physical distances traveled by biblical figures, and the spiritual journey of drawing near to God.
Physical RemotenessIn the Bible, physical remoteness is often depicted in the journeys and wanderings of God's people. For instance, the Israelites' journey through the wilderness after their exodus from Egypt is a significant example of physical remoteness. They wandered for forty years in a remote desert, a journey that was both a physical trial and a spiritual test of faith and obedience (
Exodus 16:1,
Numbers 14:33).
The remoteness of certain locations also plays a role in biblical narratives. For example, John the Baptist preached in the remote wilderness of Judea, calling people to repentance and preparing the way for the Lord (
Matthew 3:1-3). This setting underscores the idea of separation from the world and a return to God.
Spiritual RemotenessSpiritual remoteness is a theme that runs deeply through the Bible, often highlighting the separation between God and humanity due to sin.
Isaiah 59:2 states, "But your iniquities have separated you from your God; your sins have hidden His face from you, so that He will not hear." This verse emphasizes the spiritual distance created by sin, a chasm that only God can bridge through redemption.
The parable of the Prodigal Son (
Luke 15:11-32) illustrates spiritual remoteness and the journey back to God. The younger son, having squandered his inheritance in a distant land, finds himself in a state of spiritual and physical destitution. His return to the father symbolizes repentance and the restoration of a broken relationship, highlighting God's readiness to welcome back those who seek Him.
Metaphorical RemotenessMetaphorically, remoteness can describe the condition of the heart. In
Psalm 73:27, the psalmist declares, "Those far from You will perish; You destroy all who are unfaithful to You." Here, remoteness is equated with unfaithfulness and the consequences of turning away from God.
Conversely, the Bible encourages believers to draw near to God, overcoming spiritual remoteness.
James 4:8 exhorts, "Draw near to God, and He will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded." This call to intimacy with God underscores the possibility of overcoming spiritual distance through repentance and faith.
God's Transcendence and ImmanenceWhile God is transcendent and exists beyond the confines of time and space, He is also immanent, actively involved in His creation.
Psalm 139:7-10 beautifully captures this duality: "Where can I go to escape Your Spirit? Where can I flee from Your presence? If I ascend to the heavens, You are there; if I make my bed in Sheol, You are there. If I rise on the wings of the dawn, if I settle by the farthest sea, even there Your hand will guide me; Your right hand will hold me fast."
This passage reassures believers that no matter how remote they may feel, God's presence is inescapable, offering guidance and comfort. The omnipresence of God ensures that physical or spiritual remoteness can never truly separate believers from His love and care.
ConclusionThe concept of remoteness in the Bible serves as a powerful reminder of the separation caused by sin and the journey of faith required to draw near to God. Through the redemptive work of Jesus Christ, believers are invited to overcome spiritual remoteness and enter into a close, personal relationship with their Creator.
Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary
1. (
superl.) Removed to a distance; not near; far away; distant; -- said in respect to time or to place; as, remote ages; remote lands.
2. (superl.) Hence, removed; not agreeing, according, or being related; -- in various figurative uses.
3. (superl.) Not agreeing; alien; foreign.
4. (superl.) Not nearly related; not close; as, a remote connection or consanguinity.
5. (superl.) Separate; abstracted.
6. (superl.) Not proximate or acting directly; primary; distant.
7. (superl.) Not obvious or striking; as, a remote resemblance.
8. (superl.) Separated by intervals greater than usual.
Greek
1136. Gog -- Gog, associated with Magog... Transliteration: Gog Phonetic Spelling: (gogue) Short Definition: Gog Definition:
Gog, in Ezekiel a king of Magog, a land of the
remote north; hence, in
...3794. ochuroma -- a stronghold, fortress
... stronghold. From aremote derivative of echo (meaning to fortify, through the idea
of holding safely); a castle (figuratively, argument) -- stronghold....
1537. ek -- from, from out of
... denoting origin (the point whence action or motion proceeds), from, out (of place,
time, or cause; literal or figurative; direct orremote) -- after, among, X...
3962. pater -- a father
... father, parent. Apparently a primary word; a "father" (literally or figuratively,
near or moreremote) -- father, parent. (pater) -- 24 Occurrences....
3112. makran -- a long way, far
... far. Part of Speech: Adverb Transliteration: makran Phonetic Spelling: (mak-ran')
Short Definition: far away Definition: at a distance, far away,remote, alien....
510. anoterikos -- upper
... Word Origin from anoteros Definition upper NASB Word Usage upper (1). upper. From
anoteros; superior, ie (locally) moreremote -- upper. see GREEK anoteros....
5207. huios -- a son
... son, child, foal. Apparently a primary word; a "son" (sometimes of animals), used
very widely of immediate,remote or figuratively, kinship -- child, foal, son....
80. adelphos -- a brother
... brother. From a (as a connective particle) and delphus (the womb); a brother (literally
or figuratively) near orremote (much like a) -- brother. see GREEK a....
3384. meter -- mother
... mother. Apparently a primary word; a "mother" (literally or figuratively, immediate
orremote) -- mother. (metera) -- 26 Occurrences. (meteras) -- 2 Occurrences...
2192. echo -- to have, hold
... scheo skheh'-o; (used in certain tenses only); a primary verb; to hold (used in
very various applications, literally or figuratively, direct orremote; such as...
Strong's Hebrew
7350. rachoq -- distant, far, a distance... 1), far (31), far away (1), far off (2), farthest (1), great while (1), great while
to come (1), long ago (4), long* (1), off* (1), reach (1),
remote (1), who
...4801. merchaq -- distant place, distance
... place, distance NASB Word Usage afar (5), afar off (1), distant (3), far (3), far
away (1), far countries (1), far-distant (1), last (1),remote place (1...
3411. yerekah -- flank, side, extreme parts, recesses
... NASB Word Usage extreme rear (1), far (1), flank (1), hold (1), inner recesses
(1), innermost part (1), rear (6), rear part (1), recesses (2),remote part (2...
7369. racheq -- removing, departing
... Word Origin from rachaq Definition removing, departing NASB Word Usage far (1).
remote. From rachaq;remote -- that are far. see HEBREW rachaq. 7368, 7369....
5957. alam -- perpetuity, antiquity
... forever lasting, old. (Aramaic) corresponding to owlam;remote time, ie The future
or past indefinitely; often adverb, forever -- for ((n-))ever (lasting), old....
7097a. qatseh -- end, extremity
... Word Usage among (2), border (2), edge (12), end (46), ends (5), extreme (1), extreme
end (2), extremity (2), frontiers (1), last one (1), mostremote part (1...
3027. yad -- hand
... kaph, the closed one); used (as noun, adverb, etc.) In a great variety of applications,
both literally and figuratively, both proximate andremote (as follows...
1. ab -- father
... A primitive word; father, in a literal and immediate, or figurative andremote
application) -- chief, (fore-)father(-less), X patrimony, principal....
1972. hala -- to be removed far off
... cast far off. Probably denominatively from halah; to remove or beremote -- cast
far off. see HEBREW halah. 1971, 1972. hala. 1973 . Strong's Numbers.
Library
Come, Then, Let Some Magian Zoroaster Arrive from aRemote Part of...
... Book I. 52 Come, then, let some Magian Zoroaster arrive from aremote
part of the globe? Come, then, let some Magian Zoroaster...
Whether There is a Degree of Prophecy in the Blessed?
... Therefore they cannot be called prophets. I answer that, Prophecy denotes vision
of some supernatural truth as being farremote from us....
Whether Prophecy is Only About Future Contingencies?
... Since, however, prophecy is about thingsremote from our knowledge, it must be observed
that the moreremote things are from our knowledge the more pertinent...
Whether this is True: "God is Man"?
... Objection 1: It would seem that this is false: "God is man." For every
affirmative proposition ofremote matter is false. Now this...
Whether an Angle Knows God by his Own Natural Principles?
... that God "by His incomprehensible might is placed above all heavenly minds." Afterwards
he adds that, "since He is above all substances, He isremote from all...
Whether Sin Has an Internal Cause?
... Now we may distinguish a twofold internal cause of human acts, oneremote,
the other proximate. The proximate internal cause of...
Whether Sins are the Proper Matter of this Sacrament?
... I answer that, Matter is twofold, viz. proximate andremote: thus the proximate
matter of a statue is a metal, while theremote matter is water....
Whether the Degrees of Consanguinity that are an Impediment to...
... Hence in olden times marriage was forbidden even within the moreremote degrees
of consanguinity, in order that consanguinity and affinity might be the sources...
Whether the Acts of the Orders are Rightly Assigned in the Text?
... One isremote and is effected by the ministers: another is proximate, whereby
they are rendered apt at once for receiving the sacraments....
Synopsis. --The Present Net Results of the Discussion of the...
... But whatever their evidential value to the eye-witnesses at thatremote day, it
was of the inevitably volatile kind that exhales away like a perfume with lapse...
Thesaurus
Remote (17 Occurrences)... 1. (superl.) Removed to a distance; not near; far away; distant; -- said in
respect to time or to place; as,
remote ages;
remote lands.
...Far (2526 Occurrences)
... 1. (n.) A young pig, or a litter of pigs. 2. (a.) Distant in any direction; not
near;remote; mutually separated by a wide space or extent....
Nigh (243 Occurrences)
... 1. (superl.) Not distant orremote in place or time; near. 2. (superl.) Notremote
in degree, kindred, circumstances, etc.; closely allied; intimate....
Father (11359 Occurrences)
... 2. (n.) A male ancestor moreremote than a parent; a progenitor; especially, a first
ancestor; a founder of a race or family; -- in the plural, fathers...
Vicinity (18 Occurrences)
... 1. (n.) The quality or state of being near, or notremote; nearness; propinquity;
proximity; as, the value of the estate was increased by the vicinity of two...
Near (3455 Occurrences)
... Noah Webster's Dictionary 1. (adv.) At a little distance, in place, time, manner,
or degree; notremote; nigh. 2. (adv.) Nearly; almost; well-nigh....
Obscure (7 Occurrences)
... 2. (superl.) of or pertaining to darkness or night; inconspicuous to the sight;
indistinctly seen; hidden; retired;remote from observation; unnoticed....
Great (10383 Occurrences)
... 10. (superl.) Older, younger, or moreremote, by single generation; -- often used
before grand to indicate one degree moreremote in the direct line of descent...
Farther (33 Occurrences)
... Noah Webster's Dictionary 1. (superl.) Moreremote; more distant than
something else. 2. (superl.) Tending to a greater distance...
Distance (75 Occurrences)
... 2. (n.) Remoteness of place; aremote place.... (vt) To place at a distance or remotely.
14. (vt) To cause to appear as if at a distance; to make seemremote. 15....
Resources
What is remote viewing? | GotQuestions.orgWhat does the Bible say about Voodoo? How should a Christian view Voodoo? | GotQuestions.orgWhat caused the extinction of the dinosaurs? | GotQuestions.orgRemote: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.comBible Concordance •
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