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Who/what is Peter's angel?
In Acts 12, Peter is miraculously released from prison when an angel visits him at night. Peter escapes and returns to the house where a group is gathered praying. A servant girl, Rhoda goes to answer the door, hears Peter's voice and is so excited…
Soldarnal
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Was there some connection between barley bread and Gideon in the mind of the Midianites?
Before attacking the Midianite camp, Gideon does a little spying:
When Gideon came, behold, a man was telling a dream to his comrade. And he said, “Behold, I dreamed a dream, and behold, a cake of barley bread tumbled into the camp of Midian and…
Jon Ericson
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17
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5 answers
What is the meaning of the reference to 'stones' in Ecclesiastes 3?
Ecclesiastes starts with a series of contrasts, most of which are easy to understand. However one reference is less obvious (at least to me) - the 'stones' in verse 5a:
1 For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven: …
Jack Douglas
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17
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6 answers
What is the sign of the Son of Man?
What is the sign of the Son of Man spoken of in Matthew 24:30?—
At that time the sign of the Son of Man will appear in
the sky, and all the nations of the earth will mourn. They will see
the Son of Man coming on the clouds of the sky, with…
Monika Michael
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Who is Wisdom in Proverbs
Proverbs chapter 8 uses a personification of Wisdom. Some people take this personification as a description of God, or of the Messiah. Is there any textual justification for this?
DJClayworth
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In Psalm 2:12 why is the Aramaic word for "son" בַר ("bar") used?
Psalm 2:12a is traditionally translated:
נַשְּׁקוּ־בַר
kiss [the] son
This reflects an understanding of בַר (bar) as the Aramaic word for son.
A few other options:
NRSV: kiss his feet
NET: Give sincere homage!1
LXX: δράξασθε παιδείας (NETS:…
Susan
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6 answers
Why didn't Naomi know Ruth? (Ruth 3:16)
In the well-known story of Ruth, the eponymous character (Ruth!) is daughter-in-law to Naomi. As the story progresses, Naomi comes to believe that Ruth has a chance of finding "security" with Boaz, a kinsman. A night-time rendezvous is planned, and…
Dɑvïd
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In Isaiah 14:12 did the King James translator make a mistake using the term Lucifer to describe morning star?
KJV Isaiah 14:12
How art thou fallen from heaven, O Lucifer, son of the morning! how art thou cut down to the ground, which didst weaken the nations!
NRSV Isaiah 14:12
How you are fallen from heaven, O Day Star, son of Dawn! How you are cut down…
Kevin Simpson
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Why did the tabernacle use the colors blue, purple and scarlet?
I see a lot of blue in the tabernacle, and when moving it. For example:
Then they are to cover the curtain with a durable leather, spread a cloth of solid blue over that and put the poles in place.—Numbers 4:6 (NIV)
There is also scarlet used in…
Mike
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Humankind divided up among the gods?
[ question originally posted here ]
Deuteronomy 32:8-9 (NRSV), part of Moses' song:
When the Most High apportioned the nations, when he divided humankind, he fixed the boundaries of the peoples according to the number of the gods; the LORD's own…
Matt White
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What does it mean that the Son did not know the hour of his return in Matthew 24:36 // Mark 13:32?
I'm little lost here. Can somebody please help me with this? We have these two verses concerning the day when (as introduced in Mark 13:26 // Mark 24:30) the Son of Man returns in glory:
But of that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of…
Edgear
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Why did Stephen give such a long speech?
Before he was stoned, Stephen gives a huge speech (Acts 7) going over Israeli history, from Abraham through Moses to David.
I really don't understand the purpose of it. What is the overall message? And why does he need to go into so much detail? The…
Reinstate Monica - Goodbye SE
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Why does Jesus tell the disciples to buy swords?
Luke 9:3 and Luke 22:36 seem to form an inclusio. In chapter nine, Jesus instructs the Twelve, "Take nothing for the journey—no staff, no bag, no bread, no money, no extra tunic." But in chapter 22, he tells them, "But now if you have a purse, take…
Soldarnal
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How did the shadow move back ten steps in 2 Kings 20:8-11?
There are several things I'd like to know about this passage:
And Hezekiah said to Isaiah, “What shall be the sign that the LORD will heal me, and that I shall go up to the house of the LORD on the third day?” And Isaiah said, “This shall be the…
Jon Ericson
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17
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4 answers
Why was all of Jerusalem troubled at Jesus birth?
Matthew 2:3 states
When Herod the king had heard these things, he was troubled, and all
Jerusalem with him.
It is understandable why Herod was troubled, considering that if the baby was the Jewish Messiah he might over throw him. I believe,…
Freedom_Ben
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