Topical Encyclopedia
The concept of repetition in the Bible is significant, as it often underscores the importance of certain teachings, events, or principles. Repetition serves as a tool for emphasis, memorization, and reinforcement of divine truths. Throughout Scripture, God uses repetition to ensure that His messages are clearly understood and remembered by His people.
Repetition in Teaching and LawIn the Old Testament, repetition is a key element in the teaching of the Law. For instance, the Shema, found in
Deuteronomy 6:4-9, is a central declaration of faith in Judaism and is repeated daily by devout Jews. The passage emphasizes the importance of loving God wholeheartedly and teaching His commandments diligently to one's children. The repetition of the Law is also evident in the book of Deuteronomy itself, which means "second law," as it reiterates the laws given in Exodus, Leviticus, and Numbers.
Repetition in Prophecy and WarningsProphetic books often contain repeated warnings and calls to repentance. The prophets, such as Isaiah, Jeremiah, and Ezekiel, frequently repeat messages of judgment and hope to the Israelites. This repetition serves to remind the people of God's expectations and the consequences of disobedience. For example, in
Jeremiah 7:13 , God says, "And now, because you have done all these things, declares the LORD, and because I spoke to you again and again but you did not listen, and I called you but you did not answer."
Repetition in the Psalms and Wisdom LiteratureThe Psalms and other wisdom literature, such as Proverbs, often use repetition for poetic and didactic purposes.
Psalm 136 is a prime example, where the phrase "His loving devotion endures forever" is repeated in every verse, highlighting God's eternal mercy and faithfulness. Similarly, Proverbs frequently repeats themes of wisdom, folly, righteousness, and wickedness to instill moral and ethical teachings.
Repetition in the Gospels and Teachings of JesusIn the New Testament, Jesus employs repetition in His teachings to emphasize key spiritual truths. The synoptic Gospels—Matthew, Mark, and Luke—contain parallel accounts of Jesus' parables and teachings, reinforcing His messages. For instance, the Parable of the Sower is found in all three synoptic Gospels (
Matthew 13:1-23,
Mark 4:1-20,
Luke 8:4-15), underscoring the importance of understanding and responding to the Word of God.
Jesus also uses repetition in His discourses. In
John 14-16, during the Last Supper, He repeatedly assures His disciples of the coming of the Holy Spirit, emphasizing the Spirit's role as a Comforter and Guide. In
John 14:16-17 , Jesus says, "And I will ask the Father, and He will give you another Advocate to be with you forever—the Spirit of truth."
Repetition in Apostolic WritingsThe epistles of the New Testament also utilize repetition to reinforce doctrinal truths and ethical instructions. The Apostle Paul, in his letters, often repeats themes of faith, grace, and love. For example, in
Philippians 4:4 , Paul writes, "Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice!" This repetition underscores the importance of maintaining joy in the Christian life.
Repetition in Apocalyptic LiteratureThe book of Revelation, with its symbolic and apocalyptic imagery, uses repetition to convey the certainty of God's ultimate victory and the establishment of His kingdom. The repeated use of the number seven, representing completeness and perfection, is evident in the seven churches, seven seals, seven trumpets, and seven bowls.
In summary, repetition in the Bible serves as a divine tool to emphasize, teach, and remind God's people of His truths, commands, and promises. Through repeated messages, God ensures that His Word is deeply ingrained in the hearts and minds of believers.
Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary
(
imp. & p. p.) of Repeat.
Greek
1074. genea -- race, family, generation... of Speech: Noun, Feminine Transliteration: genea Phonetic Spelling: (ghen-eh-ah')
Short Definition: a generation Definition: a generation; if
repeated twice or
...357. analogizomai -- to consider
... to a by moving through the needed thought-process (analysis); to "add things ,"
from "premise to conclusion" -- especially byrepeated (nuanced) reflection...
2845. koite -- a bed
... koite Phonetic Spelling: (koy'-tay) Short Definition: a bed, marriage bed Definition:
(a) a bed, (b) a marriage bed; plur:repeated (immoral) sexual intercourse...
1100. glossa -- the tongue, a language
... This sign wasrepeated in Ac 10:46, 19:6 -- furnishing proof ( attestations) that
the Lord had incorporated all believers into Christ's (mystical) body (1 Cor...
5114. tomos -- sharp
... of a derivative of the primary temno (to cut; more comprehensive or decisive than
kopto, as if by a single stroke; whereas that impliesrepeated blows, like...
4237. prasia -- a garden bed
... Perhaps from prason (a leek, and so an onion-patch); a garden plot, ie (by implication,
of regular beds) a row (repeated in plural by Hebraism, to indicate an...
1527. heis kath heis -- one by one.
... Word Origin see heis and kata. one by one. From heisrepeated with kata inserted;
severally -- one by one. see GREEK heis. see GREEK kata. 1526, 1527....
1782. enteuthen -- from here, on each side, thereupon
... from hence, on either side. From the same as enthade; hence (literally or figuratively);
(repeated) on both sides -- (from) hence, on either side....
5180. tupto -- to strike, smite, beat
... A primary verb (in a strengthened form); to "thump", ie Cudgel or pummel (properly,
with a stick or bastinado), but in any case byrepeated blows; thus...
3778. houtos, haute, touto -- this
... and nominative feminine plural hautai (how'-tahee) from the article ho and autos;
the he (she or it), ie This or that (often with articlerepeated) -- he (it...
Strong's Hebrew
447. Eliel -- "my God is God," the name of several Israelites... Definition: Eliel. Word Origin from el
repeated Definition "my God is God," the
name of several Isr. NASB Word Usage Eliel (10). Eliel. From
...996. bayin -- an interval, space between
... or feminine); properly, the constructive form of an otherwise unused noun from biyn;
a distinction; but used only as a prep, between (repeated before each noun...
1571. gam -- also, moreover, yea
... By contraction from an unused root meaning to gather; properly, assemblage; used
only adverbially also, even, yea, though; oftenrepeated as correl....
559. amar -- to utter, say
... 1), mentioned (1), name (1), namely (2), news (1), ordered (6), plainly says (1),
promised (6), proposing (2), really thought (1),repeated* (1), replied* (1...
3254. yasaph -- to add
... 9), longer* (7), more (18), more shall be done (1), more also (1), more* (5), once
more* (3), once* (1), prolong (1), prolongs (1),repeated* (1), surpass (1...
1696. dabar -- to speak
... 1), named (1), passed sentence (3), preached (1), proclaimed (2), promised (34),
promising (1), pronounce (3), pronounced (6), proposal (1),repeated (2), said...
3966. meod -- muchness, force, abundance
... (often with other words as an intensive or superlative; especially whenrepeated) --
diligently, especially, exceeding(-ly), far, fast, good, great(-ly), X...
Library
Whether this Sacrament Ought to beRepeated?
... OF THE REPETITION OF THIS SACRAMENT (TWO ARTICLES) Whether this sacrament
ought to berepeated? Objection 1: It would seem that...
The Same Request is PrivatelyRepeated to Me, and My Answer to It.
... 6. The same request is privatelyrepeated to me, and my answer to it. In
addition to these different applications, I was privately...
Whether the Sacrament of Penance May beRepeated?
... OF THE SACRAMENT OF PENANCE (TEN ARTICLES) Whether the sacrament of Penance
may berepeated?... Neither, therefore, is Penance to berepeated....
Whether a Solemn Penance Can beRepeated?
... OF THE SOLEMN RITE OF PENANCE (THREE ARTICLES) Whether a solemn penance can berepeated?
Objection 1: It would seem that a solemn penance can berepeated....
Whether this Sacrament Ought to beRepeated During the Same...
... OF THE REPETITION OF THIS SACRAMENT (TWO ARTICLES) Whether this sacrament
ought to berepeated during the same sickness? Objection...
Of theRepeated Address of God to Abraham, in which He Promised...
... Book XVI. Chapter 18."Of theRepeated Address of God to Abraham, in Which
He Promised the Land of Canaan to Him and to His Seed....
They Indeed who Say that Baptism is not to beRepeated...
... Book III. Chapter 19. " 25. They indeed who say that baptism is not
to berepeated? "25. They indeed who say that baptism...
Of the Question Whether Mark's Reports of theRepeated Occasions...
... Chapter III."Of the Question Whether Mark's Reports of theRepeated Occasions on
Which the Name of Peter Was Brought into Prominence are Not at Variance with...
Psalm XLIX.
... hath proclaimed it through the Apostles, hath proclaimed it in so many tongues that
He sent; and we see this Psalm, which before was onlyrepeated in one nation...
Of the Lengthened Sermon Which, According to Matthew, He Delivered...
... any way resembling it, with the exception of certain sentences which are not given
connectedly, but occur here and there, and which the Lordrepeated in other...
Thesaurus
Repeated (16 Occurrences)... Noah Webster's Dictionary (imp. & pp) of Repeat. Multi-Version Concordance
Repeated (16 Occurrences). Matthew 14:9 The king was deeply
...Repeat (10 Occurrences)
... 5. (n.) That which isrepeated; as, the repeat of a pattern; that is, the repetition
of the engraved figure on a roller by which an impression is produced (as...
Toll (8 Occurrences)
... allure. See Tole. 3. (vt) To cause to sound, as a bell, with strokes slowly
and uniformlyrepeated; as, to toll the funeral bell. 4...
Ply (3 Occurrences)
... 2. (vt) To lay on closely, or in folds; to work upon steadily, or withrepeated
acts; to press upon; to urge importunately; as, to ply one with questions, with...
Burden (111 Occurrences)
... 11. (n.) The verserepeated in a song, or the return of the theme at the
end of each stanza; the chorus; refrain. Hence: That which...
Beat (85 Occurrences)
... 3. (vt) To strike repeatedly; to layrepeated blows upon; as, to beat one's breast;
to beat iron so as to shape it; to beat grain, in order to force out the...
Continual (55 Occurrences)
... 2. (a.) Occurring in steady and rapid succession; very frequent; oftenrepeated.
Int. Standard Bible Encyclopedia. CONTINUAL; CONTINUALLY....
Continually (180 Occurrences)
... 1. (adv.) Without cessation; unceasingly; continuously; as, the current flows
continually. 2. (adv.) In regular orrepeated succession; very often. Int....
Fever (13 Occurrences)
... In Palestine as in other malarious countries the condition of jaundice or yellowing
of the skin frequently accompaniesrepeated and protracted attacks of fever...
Magician (5 Occurrences)
... Words 3. Influence of Charms V. MAGICAL TERMS USED IN THE BIBLE 1. Divination 2.
Sorcery 3. Enchantment 4. Amulets 5. Incantation 6.Repeated Utterances 7...
Resources
Are the Ten Commandments repeated in the New Testament? | GotQuestions.orgWhat is a chiasm / chiastic structure in the Bible? | GotQuestions.orgAre apparitions of Mary, such as Lady Fatima, true messages from God? | GotQuestions.orgRepeated: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.comBible Concordance •
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Bible Encyclopedia •
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