the Third Week of Advent
free while helping to build churches and support pastors in Uganda.
Click here to learn more!
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.)
These files are public domain.
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.
