Topical Encyclopedia
In biblical terms, the concept of "signed" can be understood in various contexts, primarily relating to covenants, miracles, and divine authority. The act of signing or marking often signifies a deeper spiritual or covenantal truth within the Scriptures.
Covenantal SignsThroughout the Bible, God establishes covenants with His people, often accompanied by a sign. One of the earliest examples is the covenant with Noah, where God sets a rainbow in the sky as a sign of His promise never to flood the earth again.
Genesis 9:13 states, "I have set My rainbow in the clouds, and it will be a sign of the covenant between Me and the earth."
Similarly, the covenant with Abraham is marked by the sign of circumcision.
Genesis 17:11 records, "You are to circumcise the flesh of your foreskin, and this will be a sign of the covenant between Me and you." This physical sign was a perpetual reminder of the special relationship between God and Abraham's descendants.
Miraculous SignsIn the New Testament, signs often refer to miracles performed by Jesus and the apostles, serving as evidence of divine authority and the truth of the Gospel. The Gospel of John frequently uses the term "signs" to describe Jesus' miracles. For instance, after Jesus turns water into wine at the wedding in Cana,
John 2:11 notes, "Jesus performed this first sign at Cana in Galilee. He thus revealed His glory, and His disciples believed in Him."
These signs were not merely wonders but were intended to point to Jesus' identity as the Messiah and to inspire faith in those who witnessed them.
John 20:30-31 emphasizes this purpose: "Jesus performed many other signs in the presence of His disciples, which are not written in this book. But these are written so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in His name."
Prophetic SignsThe Old Testament prophets often performed symbolic acts as signs to convey God's messages to His people. For example, the prophet Isaiah walked barefoot and naked for three years as a sign against Egypt and Cush (
Isaiah 20:3). These prophetic signs were vivid illustrations meant to capture the attention of the people and communicate God's impending actions or judgments.
Eschatological SignsIn eschatological contexts, signs are associated with the end times and the return of Christ. Jesus speaks of various signs that will precede His second coming, such as wars, famines, and earthquakes.
Matthew 24:30 describes a significant eschatological sign: "At that time the sign of the Son of Man will appear in heaven, and all the tribes of the earth will mourn. They will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven, with power and great glory."
Spiritual and Moral SignsBeyond physical and miraculous signs, the Bible also speaks of spiritual and moral signs. Believers are called to be signs of God's kingdom through their conduct and character. In this sense, the fruit of the Spirit (
Galatians 5:22-23) serves as a sign of the Holy Spirit's work within a believer's life, demonstrating love, joy, peace, and other virtues as evidence of transformation.
In summary, the concept of "signed" in the Bible encompasses a range of meanings, from covenantal marks and miraculous wonders to prophetic acts and eschatological events. Each instance serves to communicate God's presence, promises, and purposes to His people.
Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary
(
imp. & p. p.) of Sign.
Strong's Hebrew
7733. Shobeq -- one whosigned Nehemiah's covenant... 7732, 7733. Shobeq. 7734 . one who
signed Nehemiah's covenant. Transliteration:
Shobeq Phonetic Spelling: (sho-bake') Short Definition: Shobek.
...7560. resham -- to inscribe, sign
... 7559, 7560. resham. 7561 . to inscribe, sign. Transliteration: resham
Phonetic Spelling: (resh-am') Short Definition:signed. Word...
3789. kathab -- to write
... decreed (1), describe (3), described (1), inscribed (1), prescribed (2), record
(3), recorded (7), registered (3), registers (1), sign (1),signed (2), write...
Library
Daniel in the Lions' Den
... Now, O king, give the command and sign the law that, like the law of the Medes and
Persians, it may not be changed." So King Dariussigned the law and the...
Whether this Sacrament Should be Given to Man on the Forehead?
... Instit. Cleric. i): "The baptized issigned by the priest with chrism on
the top of the head, but by the bishop on the forehead.". I...
Lii. Trust in God.
... one promise on one scrap of paper is enough, but here we have at least five, and
I could produce you plenty of others, yet, because it is a bondsigned by God...
Free Surrender.
... presented. And then he quietly said, "The article will besigned as it
reads." And the Spaniards protested, with much courtesy....
In the Lions' Den
... Ignorant of the subtle purpose of the princes, the king did not discern their animosity
as revealed in the decree, and, yielding to their flattery, hesigned it...
Whether Only a Bishop Can Confer this Sacrament?
... the highest of all is he to whom pertains the use, which is the end of things made
by art; thus also the letter which is written by the clerk, issigned by his...
The Articles of Smalcald. AD 1537.
... [477] They weresigned by the theologians (but not by the Princes) without
being publicly discussed. [478]. Melanchthonsigned the...
Extracts from the Acts. Session xvi.
... Only a week before 350hadsigned the Definition of faith. When the last name was
read a debate arose as follows.... The rest cried out: Wesigned willingly....
Conference Between Liberius, Pope of Rome, and the Emperor...
... Liberius.""Those whosigned the condemnation were not eye-witnesses of anything
that occurred; but were actuated by the desire of glory, and by the fear of...
Serapion on the Heresy of the Phrygians.
... p. 775. [1656] See Bk. IV. chap. 27, note 5. [1657] Valesius justly remarks that
Eusebius does not say that these bishopssigned Serapion's epistle, but only...
Thesaurus
Signed (8 Occurrences)... (imp. & pp) of Sign. Multi-Version Concordance
Signed (8 Occurrences).
... (See RSV NIV).
Daniel 6:9 Therefore king Darius
signed the writing and the decree.
...Injunction (8 Occurrences)
... doesn't alter. (See NAS). Daniel 6:9 Therefore king Dariussigned the writing
and the decree. (See NAS). Daniel 6:12 Then they came...
Interdict (6 Occurrences)
... altereth not. (ASV JPS YLT RSV). Daniel 6:9 Wherefore king Dariussigned
the writing and the interdict. (ASV JPS YLT RSV). Daniel...
Document (9 Occurrences)
... doesn't alter. (See NAS RSV). Daniel 6:9 Therefore king Dariussigned the
writing and the decree. (See NAS RSV). Daniel 6:10 When...
Prays (14 Occurrences)
... Daniel 6:12 Then they came near, and spoke before the king concerning the king's
decree: Haven't yousigned an decree, that every man who shall make petition...
Bilhan (3 Occurrences)
... This "writing," in the usage of the times, was an acknowledgment of the taking over
or receiving of goods or money that had to be written andsigned by the...
Stamped (27 Occurrences)
... every people: for every division of the kingdom in the writing commonly used there,
and to every people in the language which was theirs; it wassigned in the...
Decree (82 Occurrences)
... t alter. (WEB KJV DBY WBS NIV). Daniel 6:9 Therefore king Dariussigned
the writing and the decree. (WEB KJV DBY WBS NIV). Daniel...
Signature (1 Occurrence)
Petition (33 Occurrences)
... Daniel 6:12 Then they came near, and spoke before the king concerning the king's
decree: Haven't yousigned an decree, that every man who shall make petition...
Resources
What is the National Day of Prayer? | GotQuestions.orgWhat happened in the Six-Day War? | GotQuestions.orgWhat does the Bible say about women's rights? | GotQuestions.orgSigned: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.comBible Concordance •
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