the Week of Proper 28 / Ordinary 33
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Bible Encyclopedias
Arm
Cyclopedia of Biblical, Theological and Ecclesiastical Literature
or (usually זְרוֹעִ, zero-'d, βραχίων ) is frequently used in Scripture in a metaphorical sense to denote power. Hence, to " break the arm" is to diminish or to destroy the power (Psalms 10:15; Ezekiel 30:21; Jeremiah 48:25). It is also employed to denote the infinite power of God (Psalms 89:13; Psalms 48:2; Isaiah 53:1; John 12:38). In a few places the metaphor is, with great force, extended to the action of the arm, as, "I will redeem you with a stretched-out arm" (Exodus 6:5), that is, with a power fully exerted. The figure is here taken from the attitude of ancient warriors baring and outstretching the arm for fight. Thus, in Isaiah 52:10, "Jehovah hath made bare his holy arm in the sight of all the nations." Lowth has shown, from the Sept. and other versions, that in Isaiah 9:20, ' they shall eat every one the flesh of his own arm" should be " the flesh of his neighbor," similar to Jeremiah 19:9, meaning that they should harass and destroy one another. (See Wemyss's Clavis Symbolica, p. 23, 24.)
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McClintock, John. Strong, James. Entry for 'Arm'. Cyclopedia of Biblical, Theological and Ecclesiastical Literature. https://www.studylight.org/encyclopedias/eng/tce/a/arm.html. Harper & Brothers. New York. 1870.
