Topical Encyclopedia
Definition and Concept:Separation, in a biblical context, refers to the act of setting apart or dividing for a specific purpose, often with spiritual or moral implications. It can involve physical, spiritual, or moral distinctions between individuals, groups, or nations, as well as between the sacred and the profane.
Old Testament Context:In the Old Testament, separation is a recurring theme, particularly in the context of holiness and purity. God commanded the Israelites to be separate from other nations to maintain their distinct identity as His chosen people.
Leviticus 20:26 states, "You are to be holy to Me because I, the LORD, am holy, and I have set you apart from the nations to be My own."
The concept of separation is also evident in the laws concerning clean and unclean foods, as well as in the regulations for the priesthood. The priests were set apart for service in the tabernacle, emphasizing the need for purity and dedication to God’s service.
New Testament Context:In the New Testament, separation takes on a more spiritual dimension. Believers are called to be in the world but not of the world, maintaining a distinct identity as followers of Christ.
2 Corinthians 6:17 exhorts, "Therefore come out from among them and be separate, says the Lord. Touch no unclean thing, and I will receive you."
The New Testament also emphasizes separation from sin and unrighteousness.
Romans 12:2 instructs, "Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind." This call to transformation underscores the believer's need to live a life distinct from worldly values and practices.
Spiritual Separation:Spiritual separation involves a commitment to holiness and a life dedicated to God. It requires believers to distance themselves from sinful behaviors and influences that can hinder their relationship with God.
James 4:4 warns, "You adulteresses! Do you not know that friendship with the world is hostility toward God? Therefore, whoever chooses to be a friend of the world renders himself an enemy of God."
Moral and Ethical Separation:Moral and ethical separation involves adhering to biblical standards of conduct and righteousness. Believers are called to live lives that reflect the character of Christ, demonstrating integrity, love, and justice.
Ephesians 5:11 advises, "Have no fellowship with the fruitless deeds of darkness, but rather expose them."
Separation in Church Discipline:The concept of separation is also applied in the context of church discipline. The New Testament provides guidelines for separating from those who persist in unrepentant sin within the church community.
1 Corinthians 5:11 instructs, "But now I am writing you not to associate with anyone who claims to be a brother but is sexually immoral or greedy, an idolater or verbal abuser, a drunkard or swindler. With such a man do not even eat."
Conclusion:Separation, as presented in the Bible, is a multifaceted concept that encompasses physical, spiritual, and moral dimensions. It serves as a means of preserving holiness, maintaining a distinct identity as God’s people, and fostering a deeper relationship with Him. Through separation, believers are called to live lives that honor God and reflect His character in a world that often stands in opposition to His ways.
Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary
1. (
n.) The act of separating, or the state of being separated, or separate.
2. (n.) Chemical analysis.
3. (n.) Divorce.
4. (n.) The operation of removing water from steam.
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia
SEPARATIONsep-a-ra'-shun: In the Pentateuch the word niddah specially points to a state of ceremonial uncleanness (Leviticus 12:2, 5;Leviticus 15:20Numbers 6:4; 12:13; 19:21). For a description of the "water of purification," used for cleansing what was ceremonially unclean (Numbers 19), see HEIFER, RED; UNCLEANNESS. For "separation" in the sense of nezer, see NAZIRITE.
WATER OF SEPARATION (OR OF UNCLEANNESS)
SeeDEFILEMENT;SEPARATION; UNCLEANNESS.
Greek
1293. diastole -- aseparation, a difference... a
separation, a difference. Part of Speech: Noun, Feminine Transliteration: diastole
Phonetic Spelling: (dee-as-tol-ay') Short Definition: distinction
...1369. dichazo -- to cause aseparation, separate, fig. alienate
... 1368, 1369. dichazo. 1370 . to cause aseparation, separate, fig.... Word Origin
from dicha (apart) Definition to cause aseparation, separate, fig....
3311. merismos -- a dividing, distribution
... Part of Speech: Noun, Masculine Transliteration: merismos Phonetic Spelling:
(mer-is-mos') Short Definition: a distribution,separation Definition: (a) a...
2762. keraia -- a little horn
... apostrophe Definition: a little hook, an apostrophe on letters of the alphabet,
distinguishing them from other little letters, or aseparation stroke between...
4486. rhegnumi -- to break apart, by ext. to throw down
... forms, and is itself probably a strengthened form of agnumi (see in katagnumi))
to "break," "wreck" or "crack", ie (especially) to sunder (byseparation of the...
2288. thanatos -- death
... 2288 (derived from 2348 , "to die") -- physical or spiritual ; (figuratively)
separation from the life (salvation) of God forever by dying without first...
575. apo -- from, away from
... In composition (as a prefix) it usually denotesseparation, departure, cessation,
completion, reversal, etc. (ap) -- 125 Occurrences. (apo) -- 479 Occurrences....
1692. emeo -- to vomit
... 1692 -- properly, vomit (); (figuratively) repulsed, showing utter rejection (desiring
totalseparation); "to reject with extreme disgust" (, 6, 321)....
1252. diakrino -- to distinguish, to judge
... [1252 () "literally means, 'to separate throughout or wholly' (, 'asunder,' , 'to
judge,' from a root , meaning 'separation'), then, to distinguish, decide...
3080. lusis -- a loosing (by divorce)
... a release,separation. From luo; a loosening, ie (specially), divorce -- to be loosed.
see GREEK luo. (lusin) -- 1 Occurrence. 3079, 3080. lusis. 3081 ....
Strong's Hebrew
905. bad --separation, a part... 904, 905. bad. 906 .
separation, a part. Transliteration: bad Phonetic
Spelling: (bad) Short Definition: alone. Word Origin from
...1509. gezerah --separation
... 1508, 1509. gezerah. 1510 .separation. Transliteration: gezerah Phonetic
Spelling: (ghez-ay-raw') Short Definition: solitary. Word...
910. badad -- isolation,separation
... 909, 910. badad. 911 . isolation,separation. Transliteration: badad
Phonetic Spelling: (baw-dawd') Short Definition: alone. Word...
1508. gizrah -- a cutting,separation
... 1507, 1508. gizrah. 1509 . a cutting,separation. Transliteration: gizrah Phonetic
Spelling: (ghiz-raw') Short Definition: area. Word Origin fem....
5145. nezer -- consecration, crown, Naziriteship
... from nazar Definition consecration, crown, Naziriteship NASB Word Usage consecration
(1), crown (10), dedicated (4), hair (1), Nazirite (1),separation (8)....
911. Bedad -- an Edomite
... Word Origin from the same as bad Definition an Edomite NASB Word Usage Bedad (2).
Bedad. From badad;separation; Bedad, an Edomite -- Bedad. see HEBREW badad....
3610. kilayim -- two kinds
... divers seeds e kinds, mingled seed. Dual of kele' in the original sense ofseparation;
two heterogeneities -- divers seeds (-e kinds), mingled (seed)....
5079. niddah -- impurity
... personal (menstruation) or moral (idolatry, incest) -- X far, filthiness, X flowers,
menstruous (woman), put apart, X removed (woman),separation, set apart...
914. badal -- to be divided, separate
... root Definition to be divided, separate NASB Word Usage came over (1), dismissed
(1), divide (1), excluded (2), made aseparation (1), made...distinction (1...
5144b. nazar -- to be a Nazirite
... Word Origin denominative verb from nezer Definition to be a Nazirite NASB Word Usage
abstain (1), dedicate (2), separated (1),separation (1). 5144a, 5144b....
Library
Separation and Service
Separation and Service. <.Separation and Service James Hudson Taylor.
Produced by Free Elf, Verity White and the Online...
Tenth Day. Holiness andSeparation.
... Tenth Day. Holiness andSeparation. 'I am... holy.... All the days of hisseparation
he is holy unto the Lord.'"Numbers 6:5, 8. 'Wherefore...
On the LamentableSeparation of the Grave.
... PART THE FIRST. CHAPTER XX. On The LamentableSeparation of the Grave.
The Servant."Now, tender Lady, put an end to thy sorrow...
Luther'sSeparation from Rome.
... 7. LUTHER'SSEPARATION FROM ROME.... Yet it was not without a terrible struggle with
himself that Luther decided upon a finalseparation from the church....
TheSeparation of the Provinces, 1857-1899.
... BOOK THREE. The Rule of the Germans. CHAPTER VII. THESEPARATION OF THE
PROVINCES, 1857-1899. As soon as the American demands became...
March the Tenth Exaltation bySeparation
... MARCH The Tenth EXALTATION BYSEPARATION. 2 1 Corinthians 6:11-18. When we
turn... of Christ.". And thereforeseparation is exaltation. We...
Separation from the Unclean.
... Book II. Chapter LXXI."Separation from the Unclean. But Peter, most
benignantly regarding me, lest haply thatseparation might...
Separation on Earth --Reunion in Heaven.
... ORIGINAL HYMNS HYMN CCCXXXVIII.Separation on earth"Reunion in heaven.
6.6.8.6.8.8 James Montgomery.Separation on earth"Reunion in heaven....
Luther'sSeparation from Rome
... Chapter 7 Luther'sSeparation From Rome.... Yet it was not without a terrible struggle
with himself that Luther decided upon a finalseparation from the church....
Of theSeparation of the Good and the Bad, which Proclaim the...
... Book XX. Chapter 27."Of theSeparation of the Good and the Bad, Which Proclaim
the Discriminating Influence of the Last Judgment....
Thesaurus
Separation (50 Occurrences)... Int. Standard Bible Encyclopedia.
SEPARATION.
... For "
separation" in the sense of
nezer, see NAZIRITE. WATER OF
SEPARATION (OR OF UNCLEANNESS).
...Naziriteship (5 Occurrences)
... Naziriteship (5 Occurrences). Numbers 6:4 All the days of hisseparation shall he
eat nothing that is made of the grape-vine, from the kernels even to the husk....
Parting (27 Occurrences)
... 6. (n.) The act of parting or dividing; the state of being parted; division;
separation. 7. (n.) Aseparation; a leave-taking. 8...
Nazarite (8 Occurrences)
... Numbers 6:13 And this is the law of the Nazarite, when the days of hisseparation
are fulfilled: he shall be brought unto the door of the tabernacle of the...
Flux (26 Occurrences)
... Leviticus 15:19 And if a woman have a flux, and her flux in her flesh be blood,
she shall be seven days in herseparation, and whoever toucheth her shall be...
Dedicated (37 Occurrences)
... Numbers 6:9 "'If any man dies very suddenly beside him, and he defiles the head
of hisseparation; then he shall shave his head in the day of his cleansing....
Schism (1 Occurrence)
... Easton's Bible Dictionary Aseparation, an alienation causing divisions among
Christians, who ought to be united (1 Corinthians 12:25)....
Shaved (23 Occurrences)
... Numbers 6:9 And when the dead dieth beside him in an instant, suddenly, and he hath
defiled the head of hisseparation, then he hath shaved his head in the day...
Nazirite (10 Occurrences)
... of an ordinary vow, men consecrated some material possession, but the Nazirite
consecrated himself or herself, and took a vow ofseparation and self-imposed...
Agape
... so completely. 4.Separation from the Eucharist: In the Didache (circa 100
AD) there is no sign as yet of anyseparation. The direction...
Resources
What does the Bible say about a trial separation in a marriage? | GotQuestions.orgWhen did the separation of humanity into Jews and Gentiles occur? | GotQuestions.orgWhat does it mean that hell is eternal separation from God? | GotQuestions.orgSeparation: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.comBible Concordance •
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