Topical Encyclopedia
The term "dedicated" in the biblical context refers to the act of setting apart or consecrating something or someone for a sacred purpose. This concept is deeply rooted in the practices and teachings of the Old and New Testaments, where dedication signifies a commitment to God and His service.
Old Testament ContextIn the Old Testament, dedication often involves the consecration of objects, places, or individuals for divine purposes. One of the earliest examples is the dedication of the tabernacle and its furnishings. In
Exodus 40:9-10 , God commands Moses, "Take the anointing oil and anoint the tabernacle and everything in it; consecrate it and all its furnishings, and it will be holy. Anoint the altar of burnt offering and all its utensils; consecrate the altar, and it will be most holy."
The dedication of the temple by King Solomon is another significant event. In
1 Kings 8:63 , it is recorded, "And Solomon offered a sacrifice of fellowship offerings to the LORD: twenty-two thousand cattle and a hundred and twenty thousand sheep. So the king and all the Israelites dedicated the house of the LORD." This dedication was marked by prayer, sacrifice, and the manifestation of God's presence.
Individuals could also be dedicated to God, as seen in the Nazarite vow, where a person voluntarily consecrated themselves to the Lord for a specific period (
Numbers 6:1-21). Samuel, the prophet, was dedicated to the Lord by his mother, Hannah, as a fulfillment of her vow (
1 Samuel 1:11, 28).
New Testament ContextIn the New Testament, dedication takes on a more personal and spiritual dimension. Believers are called to dedicate themselves to God as living sacrifices.
Romans 12:1 exhorts, "Therefore I urge you, brothers, on account of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God, which is your spiritual service of worship."
The concept of dedication is also evident in the early church's practices. The believers in
Acts 2:42 "devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer." This dedication to communal worship and learning was foundational to the growth and unity of the early Christian community.
Theological SignificanceDedication in the Bible underscores the importance of holiness and separation unto God. It reflects a heart posture of obedience, reverence, and commitment to God's will. The act of dedicating something or someone to God is a recognition of His sovereignty and a declaration of trust in His purposes.
In both Testaments, dedication is not merely a ritualistic act but a profound expression of faith and devotion. It calls believers to live lives that are set apart for God's glory, embodying the principles of His kingdom in every aspect of life.
Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary
(
imp. & p. p.) of Dedicate.
Greek
334. anathema -- a gift set up (in a temple) ... set up (in a temple). Part of Speech: Noun, Neuter Transliteration: anathema Phonetic
Spelling: (an-ath'-ay-mah) Short Definition: an offering
dedicated by a
... 2321. Theophilos -- "friend of God," Theophilus, the addressee of ...
... Spelling: (theh-of'-il-os) Short Definition: Theophilus Definition: Theophilus,
a friend of Luke of equestrian rank, to whom the Gospel and Acts are dedicated. ...
2878. korban -- an offering
... 2878 (see OT 7133) -- ; properly, a gift (offering) dedicated to God, and by the
Jews as a way to their rightful duty to God to care for aged parents (etc.). ...
Strong's Hebrew
6944. qodesh -- apartness, sacredness... from an unused word Definition apartness, sacredness NASB Word Usage consecrated
(2), consecrated thing (1), consecrated things (2),
dedicated (1),
dedicated ... 7592. shaal -- to ask, inquire
... asking (5), asks (5), beg (1), begged (1), begs (1), borrow (1), borrowed (1), borrows
(1), consult (2), consulting (1), consults (1), dedicated (2), dedicated ...
2764. cherem -- devoted thing, devotion, ban
... khay'-rem) Short Definition: cursed. accursed dedicated thing, appointed to
utter destruction, Extermination Or (Zecheriah 14:11) cherem ...
2596. chanak -- to train up, dedicate
... 2595, 2596. chanak. 2597 . to train up, dedicate. Transliteration: chanak
Phonetic Spelling: (khaw-nak') Short Definition: dedicated. ...
7596. sheelah -- request, thing asked for
... Word Origin from shaal Definition request, thing asked for NASB Word Usage dedicated*
(1), one (1), petition (8), request (4), request* (1). ...
5145. nezer -- consecration, crown, Naziriteship
... Word Origin from nazar Definition consecration, crown, Naziriteship NASB Word Usage
consecration (1), crown (10), dedicated (4), hair (1), Nazirite (1 ...
5414. nathan -- to give, put, set
... given (1), certainly give (1), comes (1), commit (1), committed (1), conferred
(1), consider (1), consign (1), contribute (1), cried (1), dedicated (1), defeat ...
6942. qadash -- to be set apart or consecrated
... defiled (1), become holy (1), consecrate (43), consecrated (35), consecrates (7),
consecration (2), declare holy (1), dedicate (2), dedicated (8), dedicating (1 ...
Library
Life Dedicated to God.
... INTRODUCTION AND CLOSE OF WORSHIP. 78. " Life dedicated to God. 78. CM Doddridge.
Life dedicated to God. 1 Shine on our souls, eternal God! ...
Constantine Destroyed the Places Dedicated to the Idols, and ...
... Book II. Chapter V."Constantine destroyed the Places dedicated to the
Idols, and persuaded the People to prefer Christianity. ...
It is not Right that those who are Dedicated to Religion...
... The Sixth Ecumenical Council. Canon LXXVII. It is not right that those
who are dedicated to religion? It is not right that those ...
It is not Lawful for a virgin who Has Dedicated Herself to the ...
... The Canons of the Blessed and Holy Fathers Assembled at Antioch in Syria. Canon
XVI. It is not lawful for a virgin who has dedicated herself to the Lord God? ...
How Ptolemy Philadelphus Procured the Laws of the Jews to be ...
... CHAPTER 2. How Ptolemy Philadelphus Procured The Laws Of The Jews To Be Translated
Into The Greek Tongue And Set Many Captives Free, And Dedicated Many Gifts ...
That Having Conferred the Dignity of C??sars on his Three Sons at ...
... Chapter XL."That having conferred the Dignity of C??sars on his Three Sons at the
Three Decennial Periods of his Reign, he dedicated the Church at Jerusalem. ...
Concerning the Books which He Wrote "On the Fair and Fit ...
... Book IV. Chapter XIV."Concerning the Books Which He Wrote "On the Fair
and Fit," Dedicated to Hierius. 21. But what was it that ...
He Entreats God, that Whatever Useful Things He Learned as a Boy ...
... Book I. Chapter XV."He Entreats God, that Whatever Useful Things He Learned
as a Boy May Be Dedicated to Him. 24. Hear my prayer ...
Twenty-Eighth Day. The Way into the Holiest.
... The Way into the Holiest. 'Having therefore, brethren, boldness to enter into the
Holiest by the blood of Jesus, by the way which He dedicated, a new and ...
Our Lord's Prayer for his People's Sanctification
... I smote every firstborn in the land of Egypt I sanctified them for myself." (Numbers
8:17.) Out of the tribe of Levi one family was taken and dedicated to the ...
Thesaurus
Dedicated (37 Occurrences)... Multi-Version Concordance
Dedicated (37 Occurrences).
... Hebrews 9:18 Therefore even
the first covenant has not been
dedicated without blood. (WEB KJV ASV WBS).
...Treasuries (36 Occurrences)
... Solomon brought in the things which David his father had dedicated, even the silver,
and the gold, and the vessels, and put them in the treasuries of the house ...
Dedicate (17 Occurrences)
... Noah Webster's Dictionary 1. (pa) Dedicated; set apart; devoted; consecrated.
2. (vt) To set apart and consecrate, as to a divinity ...
Votive (13 Occurrences)
... 1 Kings 15:15 He brought into the house of Yahweh the things that his father had
dedicated, and the things that himself had dedicated, silver, and gold, and ...
Shelomith (9 Occurrences)
... 1 Chronicles 26:26 Which Shelomith and his brethren were over all the treasures
of the dedicated things, which David the king, and the chief fathers, the ...
Shelo'moth (5 Occurrences)
... 1 Chronicles 26:26 This Shelomith and his brethren were over all the treasuries
of the dedicated things, which David the king, and the heads of the fathers ...
Shelomoth (5 Occurrences)
... 1 Chronicles 26:26 This Shelomoth and his brothers were over all the treasures of
the dedicated things, which David the king, and the heads of the fathers ...
Treasures (77 Occurrences)
... And Solomon brought in the things which David his father had dedicated; even the
silver, and the gold, and the vessels, did he put among the treasures of the ...
Corban (2 Occurrences)
... It means a gift or offering consecrated to God. Anything over which this word
was once pronounced was irrevocably dedicated to the temple. ...
Utensils (72 Occurrences)
... Solomon brought in the things which David his father had dedicated, even the silver,
and the gold, and the vessels, and put them in the treasuries of the house ...
Resources
Why is there an entire book of the Bible dedicated to romantic love? | GotQuestions.orgWhat is the YMCA / YWCA? | GotQuestions.orgWhat does the Bible say about coarse jesting and crude joking? | GotQuestions.orgDedicated: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.comBible Concordance •
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