Bible Dictionaries
Like, Liken

Vine's Expository Dictionary of NT Words

"like, resembling, such as, the same as," is used (a) of appearance or form, John 9:9; Revelation 1:13,15; 2:18; 4:3 (twice),6,7; 9:7 (twice),10,19; 11:1; 13:2,11; 14:14; (b) of ability, condition, nature, Matthew 22:39; Acts 17:29; Galatians 5:21 , "such like," lit., "and the (things) similar to these;" 1 John 3:2; Revelation 13:4; 18:18; 21:11,18; (c) of comparision in parables, Matthew 13:31,33,44,45,47; 20:1; Luke 13:18,19,21; (d) of action, thought, etc., Matthew 11:16; 13:52; Luke 6:47,48,49; 7:31,32; 12:36; John 8:55; Jude 1:7 .

"equal" (the same in size, quality, etc.), is translated "like," of the gift of the Spirit, Acts 11:17 . See EQUAL , MUCH (AS).

"much like" (para, "beside," and No. 1), is used in Mark 7:13 , in the neuter plural, "(many such) like things."

"to make like" (akin to A, No. 1), is used (a) especially in the parables, with the significance of comparing, "likening," or, in the Passive Voice, "being likened," Matthew 7:24,26; 11:16; 13:24; 18:23; 22:2 (RV, "likened"); 25:1; Mark 4:30; Luke 7:31; 13:18 , RV, "liken" (AV, "resemble"); Luke 13:20; in several of these instances the point of resemblance is not a specific detail, but the whole circumstances of the parable; (b) of making "like," or, in the Passive Voice, of being made or becoming "like," Matthew 6:8; Acts 14:11 , "in the likeness of (men)," lit., "being made like" (aorist participle, Passive); Romans 9:29; Hebrews 2:17 , of Christ in being "made like" unto His brethren, i.e., in partaking of human nature, apart from sin (cp. Hebrews 2:14 ).

a perfect tense with a present meaning (from an obsolete present, eiko), denotes "to be like, to resemble," James 1:6,23 . In the Sept., Job 6:3,25 .

"to be like" (from para, "by," and a verbal form from homoios, A, No. 1), is used in Matthew 23:27 (perhaps with intensive force), in the Lord's comparison of the scribes and Pharisees to whitened sepulchres.

"to make like" (apo, "from," and No. 1), is used in Hebrews 7:3 , of Melchizedek as "made like" the Son of God, i.e., in the facts related and withheld in the Genesis record.

Note: For the AV of Romans 1:23 , "made like," see LIKENESS , No. 1.

used as a relative adverb of manner, means "as, like as," etc. and is translated "like," e.g., in Matthew 6:29; Mark 4:31; Luke 12:27; in Acts 3:22; 7:37 (see RV , marg.); in Acts 8:32 (2nd part), RV, "as" (AV, "like"); Revelation 2:18 , RV (the rendering should have been "as" here); Revelation 18:21 , RV, "as it were" (AV, "like"); Revelation 21:11,2 nd part (ditto).

"just as," is rendered "like as" in Romans 6:4 .

Notes: (1) In Hebrews 4:15 , the phrase kath'homoioteta (kata, "according to," homoiotes, "a likeness," i.e., "after the similitude"), is rendered "like as," in the statement that Christ has been tempted in all points "like as we are, yet without sin;" this may mean either "according to the likeness of our temptations," or "in accordance with His likeness to us." (2) In the following the most authentic mss. have hos, "as," for hosei, "like," in the AV; Mark 1:10; Luke 3:22; John 1:32; Revelation 1:14 . (3) In John 7:46 , AV, the combination of the adverb houtos, thus, with hos, "as," is translated "like," RV "(never man) so (spake)." (4) For "in like manner" see MANNER. (5) In 1 Thessalonians 2:14 , AV, ta auta, "the same (things)," is translated "like (things)," RV, "the same (things)."