Topical Encyclopedia
The term "spotted" in the Bible often refers to physical blemishes or imperfections, and it is used both literally and metaphorically. In the context of the ancient Near East, where the Bible was written, physical purity and perfection were highly valued, especially in religious and sacrificial contexts.
Old Testament UsageIn the Old Testament, the concept of being "spotted" is frequently associated with animals that were to be offered as sacrifices. According to the Mosaic Law, sacrificial animals were required to be without blemish.
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." The emphasis on unblemished offerings underscores the importance of purity and perfection in worship.
The term is also used in the context of Jacob's dealings with Laban in
Genesis 30. Jacob uses selective breeding to increase his flocks by ensuring that the stronger animals were "spotted" or "speckled," which were to be his wages.
Genesis 30:39 records, "And the flocks bred in front of the branches, and they bore young that were streaked or spotted or speckled." This narrative highlights themes of divine providence and human ingenuity.
New Testament UsageIn the New Testament, the concept of being "spotted" takes on a more metaphorical meaning, often relating to moral and spiritual purity.
James 1:27 exhorts believers to "keep oneself unstained by the world," using the imagery of being unspotted to describe a life of holiness and separation from worldly corruption.
Jude 1:23 also uses the term metaphorically, urging believers to "save others by snatching them from the fire; and to others show mercy, tempered with fear, hating even the clothing stained by the flesh." Here, the idea of being "spotted" or "stained" is associated with sin and moral defilement, emphasizing the need for believers to maintain purity in their conduct and associations.
Theological ImplicationsThe use of "spotted" in Scripture underscores the biblical theme of purity, both in the physical and spiritual realms. In the Old Testament, the requirement for unblemished sacrifices points to the holiness of God and the need for purity in approaching Him. In the New Testament, the metaphorical use of "spotted" highlights the call for believers to live lives that reflect the holiness of Christ, avoiding the moral and spiritual blemishes of the world.
The imagery of being "spotted" serves as a reminder of the fallen nature of humanity and the need for redemption through Jesus Christ, the perfect and unblemished Lamb of God. As believers strive to live unspotted lives, they reflect the transformative power of the Gospel and the sanctifying work of the Holy Spirit.
Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary
1. (
imp. & p. p.) of Spot.
2. (a.) Marked with spots; as, a spotted garment or character.
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia
SPOT; SPOTTEDspot, spot'-ed (mum; spilos): The Hebrew word is used to denote a blemish which mars the perfection of the face, as inSongs 4:7Job 11:15. It is translated "blemish" inLeviticus 24:19, where it means an injury the result of violence, and is rendered "blot" inProverbs 9:7, where it signifies "shame" or "disgrace." The "spotted" cattle ofGenesis 30:32-39 are animals of variegated color (Tala'; compareEzekiel 16:16, "decked with divers colors";Joshua 9:5, "patched"). For chabharburah inJeremiah 13:23, see LEOPARD. Spilos is used in the figurative sense of a stain of sin in2 Peter 3:14, and similarly along with rhutis ("a wrinkle") inEphesians 5:27. The "garment spotted (verb, spiloomai) by the flesh" ofJude 1:23 is, as Calvin has para-phrased it, anything that in any way savors of sin or temptation. The "spots" ofJude 1:12 the King James Version are spilades, "hidden (sunken) rocks" which are betrayed by the surf beating over them (as in Homer Od. iii.298), and are so rendered in the Revised Version (British and American). "Spot" inLeviticus 13 is referred to under FRECKLED SPOT; LEPROSY; TETTER.
"Without spot" inNumbers 19:2, etc., is tamim, a usual word for "perfect" (so the Revised Version margin); aspilos (the negative form of spilos) occurs in1 Timothy 6:141 Peter 1:19;2 Peter 3:14, withJames 1:27 ("unspotted"). For the King James VersionHebrews 9:14 see BLEMISH.
Alex. Macalister
Strong's Hebrew
1261. barod --spotted, marked... barod. 1262 .
spotted, marked. Transliteration: barod Phonetic Spelling:
(baw-rode') Short Definition: mottled.
... From barad;
spotted (as if with hail) -- grisled
...2921. tala -- to patch, spot
... to patch, spot. Transliteration: tala Phonetic Spelling: (taw-law') Short Definition:
spotted. Word Origin a prim.... clouted, with divers colors,spotted....
5348. naqod -- speckled
... speckled. From an unused root meaning to mark (by puncturing or branding);spotted --
speckled. 5347, 5348. naqod. 5349 . Strong's Numbers.
Library
The Consequences of Sin.
... Every sin is a stain upon it, and if you could see now, as angels see, your baptismal
garment, you would find itspotted and smeared all over....
Chapter xxxi
... was hot in breeding that I lifted up my eyes and saw things in a dream, and, lo,
rams that were leaping upon the goats were striped and speckled andspotted....
The Same is Proved from the visions which Appeared to Jacob.
... conceived, that I saw them with my eyes in the dream: And, behold, the he-goats
and the rams which leaped upon the sheep and she-goats werespotted with white...
"Altogether Absurd, and Out of Season," He Continues, "Is the...
... while living with Laban, not understanding to what these words refer: "And those
which had no spots were Laban's, and those which werespotted were Jacob's...
Of Apis King of Argos, whom the Egyptians Called Serapis, and...
... by it attract the breeding passion of the mother, so that it might appear in a bodily
shape in her young, just as Jacob so managed with thespotted rods that...
God's Need of Men who Pray
... How far remote is all this from the character of the sin-loving, worldly-minded,
fleshly disposed men, soiled by fleshly lusts,spotted by worldly indulgence...
Chapter xxx
... guard them, if thou wilt do for me this thing: I shall pass through thy entire flock
today removing from it every sheep that is speckled andspotted and every...
From the Latin Translation of Cassiodorus.
... "Hating," he says, [3776] "thatspotted garment, which is carnal:" that of the soul,
namely; thespotted garment is a spirit polluternal lusts. [3777]....
The Northern Mountains
... Now we scrambled down into the brook, and waded our horses through, amid shoals
of the littlespotted sardine, {218a} who are too fearless, or too unaccustomed...
To the Honourable Mr Yorke.
... flaws; Flaws in the best; the many, flaw all o'er; As leopards,spotted, or,
as Ethiops, dark; Vivacious ill; good dying immature; 30....
Thesaurus
Spotted (9 Occurrences)... 1. (imp. & pp) of Spot. 2. (a.) Marked with spots; as, a
spotted garment or
character. Int. Standard Bible Encyclopedia. SPOT;
SPOTTED.
...Speckled (9 Occurrences)
... Genesis 30:32 I will pass through all your flock today, removing from there every
speckled andspotted one, and every black one among the sheep, and the...
Goats (134 Occurrences)
... Genesis 30:32 I will pass through all your flock today, removing from there every
speckled andspotted one, and every black one among the sheep, and the...
Dark-colored (4 Occurrences)
... Genesis 30:32 I will pass through all thy flock to-day, removing from thence every
speckled andspotted one, and every dark one among the sheep, and the...
Black (52 Occurrences)
... Genesis 30:32 I will pass through all your flock today, removing from there every
speckled andspotted one, and every black one among the sheep, and the...
Lambs (107 Occurrences)
... 30:33 And my righteousness shall answer for me hereafter, when thou comest about
my hire, before thy face: all that is not speckled andspotted among the goats...
Leopard (6 Occurrences)
... Easton's Bible Dictionary (Hebrews namer, so called becausespotted, Cant.
4:8), was that greatspotted feline which anciently infested...
Ringstraked (5 Occurrences)
... Ringstraked (5 Occurrences). Genesis 30:39 And the flock was ardent before the rods;
and the flock brought forth ringstraked, speckled, andspotted. (DBY)....
Streaked (6 Occurrences)
... Genesis 30:35 That day, he removed the male goats that were streaked andspotted,
and all the female goats that were speckled andspotted, every one that had...
Spot (42 Occurrences)
... SPOT;SPOTTED. spot, spot'-ed (mum; spilos): The Hebrew word is used to denote a
blemish which mars the perfection of the face, as in Songs 4:7 Job 11:15....
Resources
Did Jacob placing branches in front of his flock really result in the offspring being speckled and spotted? | GotQuestions.orgWho was Jacob in the Bible? | GotQuestions.orgWhat should parents tell their children about Santa Claus? | GotQuestions.orgSpotted: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.comBible Concordance •
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