Topical Encyclopedia
In biblical literature, "spots" often symbolize moral or spiritual blemishes, imperfections, or impurities. The term is used metaphorically to describe sin, false teachings, or anything that mars the purity of an individual or community. The concept of spots is woven throughout Scripture, serving as a vivid illustration of the need for holiness and the dangers of corruption.
Old Testament ReferencesIn the Old Testament, the idea of spots is frequently associated with physical blemishes that render an animal unfit for sacrifice.
Leviticus 22:21 states, "When a man presents a peace offering to the LORD to fulfill a vow or as a freewill offering from the herd or flock, it must be without blemish to be acceptable; there must be no defect in it." Here, the absence of spots or blemishes signifies the requirement for offerings to be pure and perfect, reflecting God's holiness.
The imagery of spots also appears in the context of moral and spiritual corruption. In
Deuteronomy 32:5 , Moses laments the unfaithfulness of Israel, saying, "His people have acted corruptly toward Him; the spot is not His children’s— a perverse and crooked generation." This verse uses "spot" to denote the moral failings and rebellious nature of the people, contrasting their impurity with God's righteousness.
New Testament ReferencesIn the New Testament, the metaphor of spots is used to warn against false teachers and immoral behavior within the church. In
2 Peter 2:13 , the apostle Peter describes false teachers as "blots and blemishes, reveling in their deceptions as they feast with you." Here, spots represent the corrupting influence of those who distort the truth and lead others astray.
Similarly,
Jude 1:12 warns of individuals who are "blemishes at your love feasts, eating with you without the slightest qualm—shepherds who feed only themselves." The presence of these spots within the community highlights the danger of allowing sin and falsehood to infiltrate the body of Christ.
Symbolism and ApplicationThe symbolism of spots in the Bible underscores the importance of maintaining spiritual purity and integrity. Just as physical spots disqualify an animal from being an acceptable offering, spiritual spots can hinder one's relationship with God and the effectiveness of one's witness. Believers are called to be "blameless and pure, children of God without fault in a crooked and perverse generation" (
Philippians 2:15).
The call to be spotless is ultimately fulfilled in Christ, who is described as "a lamb without blemish or defect" (
1 Peter 1:19). Through His sacrifice, believers are cleansed from their sins and made righteous before God. This transformation empowers Christians to live lives that reflect God's holiness, free from the spots of sin and corruption.
In summary, the biblical concept of spots serves as a powerful reminder of the need for purity and vigilance against sin. It challenges believers to examine their lives, reject false teachings, and strive for holiness in their walk with God.
Greek
4696. spilos -- a spot, stain... Moral and spiritual stains (
spots) come from living outside God's preferred-will
(desire, 2307 , compare Eph 5:15-17,27) and are removed with heartfelt
...Strong's Hebrew
2272. chabarburah -- stripe, mark... 2271, 2272. chabarburah. 2273 . stripe, mark. Transliteration: chabarburah
Phonetic Spelling: (khab-ar-boo-raw') Short Definition:
spots.
...5350. niqqud -- perhaps what is crumbled or easily crumbles...
... Crumb, Biscuit. From the same as naqod; a crumb (as broken tospots); also a biscuit
(as pricked) -- cracknel, mouldy. see HEBREW naqod. 5349, 5350....
131. Adummim -- a place between Jer. and Jericho
... and Jericho NASB Word Usage Adummim (2). Adummim. Plural of 'Adam; redspots; Adummim,
a pass in Palestine -- Adummim. see HEBREW 'Adam. 130, 131....
934. bahereth -- brightness, bright spot
... Word Origin from an unused word Definition brightness, bright spot NASB
Word Usage bright spot (9), brightspots (3). bright spot....
Library
How to Make Use of Christ for Cleansing of us from Our DailySpots...
... CHAPTER IX. HOW TO MAKE USE OF CHRIST FOR CLEANSING OF US FROM OUR DAILY
SPOTS. Having spoken of the way of making use of Christ...
Herein is a Mirror to be Blamed, --If Its Clearness is Darkened...
... Hymn XVI. Herein is a mirror to be blamed,"if its clearness is
darkened"because there arespots on its substance. 1. Herein is...
On Pilgrimages.
... there are some amongst those who have entered upon the monastic and hermit life,
who have made it a part of their devotion to behold thosespots at Jerusalem...
An Impossibility Made Possible
... The black hue of the man, the darkspots that starred the skin of the fierce beast,
are fitting emblems of the evil that dyes and speckles the soul....
"They have Corrupted Themselves; their Spot is not the Spot of his...
... Well then, it shall be a sea to cast your offences into, that shall drown them.
Had not his people manyspots?... Yet behold, he sees nospots in his people....
The Disciple, -- Master, it is Clear to Almost Everyone that to...
... 3. Men are keen on discovering faults in the sun and moon, such asspots and eclipses,
but to thespots and eclipses of sin they give no heed....
The Author to the Reader.
... perfidiously sinned away, by this apostate generation. Are ourspots this day
thespots of his children? Are their fruits answerable to the...
To those who are Altogether Reprobate, and Unrepentant, who...
... To those who are altogether reprobate, and unrepentant, who possess the Ethiopian's
unchanging skin, [2287] and the leopard'sspots, it shall be said, as it...
Final Perseverance
... THERE are somespots in Europe which have been the scenes of frequent warfare, as
for instance, the kingdom of Belgium, which might be called the battle field...
St. Basil and Eustathius.
... ascetic. Basil likens him to the Ethiopian of immutable blackness, and the
leopard who cannot change hisspots. [209] But in truth...
Thesaurus
Spots (6 Occurrences)... Multi-Version Concordance
Spots (6 Occurrences). 2 Peter 2:13 receiving
the wages of unrighteousness; people who count it pleasure
...Leopard (6 Occurrences)
... Its fierceness (Isaiah 11:6), its watching for its prey (Jeremiah 5:6), its swiftness
(Habakkuk 1:8), and thespots of its skin (Jeremiah 13:23), are noticed....
Spot (42 Occurrences)
... 3. (n.) A small part of a different color from the main part, or from the ground
upon which it is; as, thespots of a leopard; thespots on a playing card....
Spotted (9 Occurrences)
... Noah Webster's Dictionary 1. (imp. & pp) of Spot. 2. (a.) Marked withspots; as,
a spotted garment or character. Int. Standard Bible Encyclopedia. SPOT; SPOTTED...
Leprosy (51 Occurrences)
... cause (Leviticus 13:2-8); (2) its reappearance (9-17); (3) from an inflammation
(18-28); (4) on the head or chin (29-37); (5) in white polishedspots (38, 39...
Serpent (40 Occurrences)
... Its ground color is pale yellow and it has a dorsal series of distinct
diamond-shaped darkspots. Alternating withspots of the...
Leper (34 Occurrences)
... eth; Septuagint oule; the King James Version "rising"), scabs or cuticular crusts
(Hebrew cappachath; Septuagint semasia) and white shiningspots appearing to...
Bright (85 Occurrences)
... Leviticus 13:38 "When a man or a woman has brightspots in the skin of the body,
even white brightspots; (WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS)....
Skin (115 Occurrences)
... kids of the goats upon his hands, and upon the smooth of his neck" (Genesis 27:16);
"Can the Ethiopian change his skin, or the leopard hisspots?" (Jeremiah 13...
Agriculture
... In highly irrigatedspots the seed was trampled in by cattle (Isaiah 32:20); but
doubtless there was some kind of harrow also for covering in the seed...
Resources
Does Mark 16:16 teach that baptism is necessary for salvation? | GotQuestions.orgWhat does the Bible say about ghost hunting? | GotQuestions.orgWhat is feng shui? Should a Christian practice feng shui? | GotQuestions.orgSpots: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.comBible Concordance •
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