Topical Encyclopedia
The term "specific" is not directly found in the text of the Bible; however, the concept of specificity is evident throughout Scripture in various contexts, such as God's instructions, His promises, and His laws. The Bible often provides detailed guidance and precise commands that reflect God's nature and His expectations for His people.
Specific Instructions and CommandsThroughout the Old Testament, God provides specific instructions to His people. For example, in the construction of the Tabernacle, God gives Moses detailed plans.
Exodus 25:9 states, "You must make it according to all that I show you—the design of the tabernacle as well as the design of all its furnishings." This specificity underscores the importance of obedience and the sacredness of worship.
Similarly, the laws given to Israel are marked by specificity. The Ten Commandments (
Exodus 20:1-17) provide clear and specific moral guidelines. Levitical laws also contain detailed instructions on various aspects of life, including dietary laws, sacrifices, and festivals, emphasizing holiness and separation from pagan practices.
Specific PromisesGod's promises are often specific, providing assurance and hope to His people. In
Genesis 12:1-3, God makes a specific promise to Abram: "I will make you into a great nation, and I will bless you; I will make your name great, so that you will be a blessing." This promise includes specific elements such as land, descendants, and blessing, which are foundational to the Abrahamic Covenant.
The specificity of God's promises is also evident in the prophecy of the coming Messiah.
Isaiah 7:14 prophesies, "Therefore the Lord Himself will give you a sign: Behold, the virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and will call Him Immanuel." This prophecy is fulfilled in the New Testament with the birth of Jesus Christ, as recorded in
Matthew 1:22-23.
Specific PrayersThe Bible records specific prayers that reflect the needs and desires of God's people. In
1 Kings 8, Solomon's prayer at the dedication of the Temple is a detailed petition for God's presence and blessing upon Israel. Solomon prays for specific situations, such as forgiveness of sin, deliverance from enemies, and provision of rain.
In the New Testament, the Lord's Prayer (
Matthew 6:9-13) is a model of specific prayer, addressing God's holiness, provision, forgiveness, and guidance. This prayer teaches believers to approach God with specific requests and a heart aligned with His will.
Specific PropheciesBiblical prophecies often contain specific details that validate their divine origin. The prophecy of the suffering servant in
Isaiah 53 provides a detailed description of the Messiah's suffering and sacrifice, which Christians believe is fulfilled in Jesus Christ's crucifixion and resurrection.
The Book of Daniel contains specific prophecies about future kingdoms and events, such as the vision of the statue in
Daniel 2, which outlines the succession of empires. These prophecies demonstrate God's sovereignty over history and His ability to reveal specific future events.
Specific Teachings of JesusJesus' teachings often include specific instructions for His followers. In the Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5-7), Jesus provides specific ethical teachings, such as turning the other cheek (
Matthew 5:39) and loving one's enemies (
Matthew 5:44). These teachings challenge believers to live according to the values of the Kingdom of God.
In the Great Commission, Jesus gives specific instructions to His disciples: "Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you" (
Matthew 28:19-20). This command underscores the mission of the Church to spread the Gospel with clarity and purpose.
The concept of specificity in the Bible highlights the precision and intentionality of God's communication with humanity. Whether through laws, promises, prayers, prophecies, or teachings, the specificity found in Scripture serves to guide, instruct, and assure believers of God's active involvement in their lives.
Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary
1. (
a.) Of or pertaining to a species; characterizing or constituting a species; possessing the peculiar property or properties Of a thing which constitute its species, and distinguish it from other things; as, the specific form Of an animal or a plant; the specific qualities Of a drug; the specific distinction between virtue and vice.
2. (a.) Specifying; definite, or making definite; limited; precise; discriminating; as, a specific statement.
3. (a.) Exerting a peculiar influence over any part of the body; preventing or curing disease by a peculiar adaptation, and not on general principles; as, quinine is a specific medicine in cases of malaria.
4. (n.) A specific remedy. See Specific, a., 3.
5. (a.) Anything having peculiar adaptation to the purpose to which it is applied.
Greek
498. antitasso -- to range in battle against, to set oneself...... [498 (), a very old military term, was used for placing a soldier in a
specific platoon (with a
specific function) -- ie in a definite order to attack or resist
...5610. hora -- a time or period, an hour
... a "season"; time or opportunity to reach a goal (fulfill a purpose); a time-period;
a limited period to accomplish the Lord'sspecific purpose, ie "the hour...
2816. kleronomeo -- to inherit
... Cognate: 2816 (from 2818 , "aspecific allotment of inheritance, apportioned by
casting lots") -- properly, to assign inheritance (inherit) by ....
2602. katabole -- a laying down
... 2602 (from 2596 , "exactly according to," down from the most general to the most
specific detail, "following all the way along," and 906 , "to cast...
2613. katadikazo -- to pass sentence upon
... 2613 (from 2596 , "according to, down," which intensifies , "to act as judge") --
properly, judge , ie condemn in an (personal) manner that is highlyspecific....
444. anthropos -- a man, human, mankind
... Accordingly, the Bible uses 444 () of aspecific man, woman, or class (type, group)
of people -- ie (inclusive of every man, woman and child; see also 1 Cor 11...
2607. kataginosko -- to blame
... properly, to find as and on the basis of direct, ; condemn by having a first-hand
awareness of the facts; to charge as guilty withspecific (pointed) facts....
1189. deomai -- to want, entreat
... in want," see also 1162 , "felt-need") -- properly, to because of lack -- hence,
to ; to have deep personal need causing one to (make earnest,specific request...
1997. episunagoge -- a gathering together, an assembly
... Cognate: 1997 -- a (apt) "grouping together" that fulfills (builds ) thespecific
of the gathering together (note the , ""). See 1996 ()....
1785. entole -- an injunction, order, command
... the () of a . [1785 (a feminine noun) highlights the of aspecific order
(charge), ie its "in-context objective."]. Word Origin from...
Strong's Hebrew
545. omnah -- bringing up, nourishment... brought up. Feminine of 'omen (in the
specific sense of training); tutelage -- brought
up. see HEBREW 'omen. 544, 545. omnah. 546 . Strong's Numbers.
7673. shabath -- to cease, desist, rest
... A primitive root; to repose, ie Desist from exertion; used in many implied relations
(causative, figurative orspecific) -- (cause to, let, make to) cease...
4725. maqom -- a standing place, place
... mek-o-mah'}; or mqomah {mek-o-mah'}; from quwm; properly, a standing, ie A spot;
but used widely of a locality (general orspecific); also (figuratively) of a...
Library
Whether Concupiscence is aSpecific Passion?
... OF CONCUPISCENCE (FOUR ARTICLES) Whether concupiscence is aspecific passion?... Therefore
concupiscence is not aspecific passion of the concupiscible faculty....
Whether Charity is aSpecific virtue
... Article Four Whether Charity is aSpecific Virtue. Whether Charity is aSpecific
Virtue... 1. It seems that charity is not aspecific virtue....
Of theSpecific Powers of the Soul (Four Articles)
... OF THESPECIFIC POWERS OF THE SOUL (FOUR ARTICLES). We next treat of the
powers of the soul specifically. The theologian, however...
Specific Points. The Novelty of Marcion's God Fatal to his...
... Book I. Wherein is described the god of Marcion. Chapter VIII."Specific Points.
The Novelty of Marcion's God Fatal to His Pretensions...
The Account of the Creation in Genesis a General One, Corroborated...
... Account of the Creation in Genesis a General One, Corroborated, However, by Many
Other Passages of the Old Testament, Which Give Account ofSpecific Creations....
But, if it Does not Weary You, Let the Point Out as Briefly as...
... But, if it does not weary you, let the point out as briefly as possible,specific
references to prophecy in the Gospels, that those who are being instructed in...
Whether Unformed Faith is a Gift of God
... I:answer: lack of form is a kind of privation. A privation sometimes belongs
to thespecific nature of a thing. At other times it...
Whether any Habit is from Nature?
... First in respect of thespecific nature, as the faculty of laughing is natural
to man, and it is natural to fire to have an upward tendency....
Whether the Species Derived from the End is Contained under the...
... taken from the object. Objection 2: Further, the last difference always
constitutes the mostspecific species. But the difference...
How it was Brought About that the Greeks Speak of Three Hypostases...
... But when it is asked what three, we reply three men, calling them in the plural
by aspecific name; but if we were to say three animals, then by a generic name...
Thesaurus
Specific (2 Occurrences)... species; possessing the peculiar property or properties Of a thing which constitute
its species, and distinguish it from other things; as, the
specific form Of
...Demonology
... The vaguely conceived spirits of the earlier conception are advanced to the position
of deities with names, fixed characters andspecific functions, organized...
Demoniac (7 Occurrences)
... The vaguely conceived spirits of the earlier conception are advanced to the position
of deities with names, fixed characters andspecific functions, organized...
Demon (26 Occurrences)
... The vaguely conceived spirits of the earlier conception are advanced to the position
of deities with names, fixed characters andspecific functions, organized...
Paraclete
... Of course the objection to this translation is that it is too indefinite. Thespecific
Christian conception is lost in the comprehensiveness of the term....
Offices (14 Occurrences)
... CHRIST, OFFICES OF. of'-is-is. General Titles of our Lord I. CHRIST'S MEDIATION
EXPRESSED IN THESPECIFIC OFFICES Historical Review of the Theory II....
Leopard (6 Occurrences)
... Like other animals of wide range, it has local varieties, but these shade into each
other imperceptibly, and the onespecific name, Felis pardus, includes all....
Games (2 Occurrences)
... THE GAMES OF GREECE AND ROME 1. Historical Introduction 2. General References 3.
Specific References to Greek Athletics 4. References to the Theater and the...
In (142459 Occurrences)
... Noah Webster's Dictionary 1. (prep.) Thespecific signification of in is situation
or place with respect to surrounding, environment, encompassment, etc....
Excommunication
... But this latter, like Matthew 16:19, seems to refer to the general enunciations
of principles and policies rather than tospecific ecclesiastical enactments....
Resources
Are mono-ethnic churches, churches that focus on a specific race or ethnic group, following a biblical model? | GotQuestions.orgHow do I know which of God's promises are for me? | GotQuestions.orgSpecific Sins ' Article Index | GotQuestions.orgSpecific: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.comBible Concordance •
Bible Dictionary •
Bible Encyclopedia •
Topical Bible •
Bible Thesuarus
