the Week of Proper 27 / Ordinary 32
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Bible Dictionaries
Forehead
Holman Bible Dictionary
or The Emblem of Holiness was placed on Aaron's forehead (Exodus 28:38 ). This symbolized acceptance before the Lord. A mark was put upon the foreheads of those in Jerusalem who mourned for the wickedness of Jerusalem. They were spared in a time of terrible judgment (Ezekiel 9:4 ).
The Bible indicates that a person's character can be determined by observing the forehead. A set forehead indicates opposition, defiance, and rebellion (Jeremiah 3:3 ). Hardness of the forehead indicates determination to persevere (Isaiah 48:4; Ezekiel 3:8-9 ). It has been used as a representation of Satan (Revelation 13:16-17 ). The forehead is used as a very dishonorable word when read of the harlot's forehead (Jeremiah 3:3 ), indicating utter shamelessness. At the same time, it stands for courage as when God told Ezekiel that He had made the prophet's forehead harder than flint against the foreheads of the people (Ezekiel 3:9 ).
In the apocalyptic literature of the New Testament the foreheads of the righteous were marked (Revelation 7:3; Revelation 9:4; Revelation 14:1; Revelation 22:4 ). The apocalyptic woman dressed in purple and scarlet had her name written on her forehead (Revelation 17:5 ).
The biblical writers used the language of metaphors to describe the shameless apostasy and faithlessness of Israel (Jeremiah 3:3; Ezekiel 3:8-9 ). See Face .
Gary Bonner
These dictionary topics are from the Holman Bible Dictionary, published by Broadman & Holman, 1991. All rights reserved. Used by permission of Broadman & Holman.
Butler, Trent C. Editor. Entry for 'Forehead'. Holman Bible Dictionary. https://www.studylight.org/dictionaries/eng/hbd/f/forehead.html. 1991.
