Topical Encyclopedia
The term "erect" in the context of the Bible often refers to the act of building, constructing, or setting up something with a sense of purpose and permanence. This can include altars, monuments, or structures that hold religious or cultural significance. The concept of erecting is deeply intertwined with worship, remembrance, and covenantal relationships between God and His people.
Altars and MonumentsThroughout the Old Testament, the patriarchs and leaders of Israel frequently erected altars as acts of worship and dedication to God. These altars served as tangible reminders of divine encounters and covenants. For instance, Noah, after the flood, "built an altar to the LORD" (
Genesis 8:20) as an expression of gratitude and worship. Similarly, Abraham erected altars at various locations, such as in Shechem and Bethel, to commemorate God's promises and His presence (
Genesis 12:7-8).
Jacob, after his vision of the ladder reaching to heaven, set up a stone pillar and poured oil on it, calling the place Bethel, meaning "House of God" (
Genesis 28:18-19). This act of erecting a pillar was both a memorial and a declaration of the sacredness of the site.
Tabernacle and TempleThe construction of the Tabernacle and later the Temple in Jerusalem are significant examples of erecting structures for divine worship. The Tabernacle, described in detail in the book of Exodus, was erected according to God's specific instructions given to Moses. It served as the dwelling place of God's presence among the Israelites during their wilderness journey (
Exodus 40:2).
King Solomon later erected the Temple in Jerusalem, a permanent structure that replaced the Tabernacle as the central place of worship for the nation of Israel. The Temple's construction is detailed in
1 Kings 6-8, where Solomon's dedication of the Temple is marked by prayer and the manifestation of God's glory.
Pillars and StonesErecting pillars or setting up stones was a common practice for marking significant events or covenants. In
Joshua 4:9 , Joshua set up twelve stones in the midst of the Jordan River as a memorial for the miraculous crossing by the Israelites. These stones served as a lasting testimony to future generations of God's faithfulness and power.
Idolatry and False WorshipWhile erecting altars and monuments was often associated with true worship, the Bible also warns against erecting structures for idolatrous purposes. The Israelites were repeatedly cautioned against setting up Asherah poles or high places dedicated to false gods (
Deuteronomy 16:21). Such acts were seen as direct violations of the covenant with Yahweh and led to divine judgment.
Spiritual SignificanceThe act of erecting in the biblical narrative often carries a deeper spiritual significance. It represents the human response to divine revelation, a physical manifestation of faith, and a commitment to uphold God's commandments. Whether through altars, temples, or memorial stones, these structures serve as enduring symbols of the relationship between God and His people, reminding believers of His promises, presence, and the call to worship Him alone.
Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary
1. (
a.) Upright, or having a vertical position; not inverted; not leaning or bent; not prone; as, to stand erect.
2. (a.) Directed upward; raised; uplifted.
3. (a.) Bold; confident; free from depression; undismayed.
4. (a.) Watchful; alert.
5. (a.) Standing upright, with reference to the earth's surface, or to the surface to which it is attached.
6. (a.) Elevated, as the tips of wings, heads of serpents, etc.
7. (v. t.) To raise and place in an upright or perpendicular position; to set upright; to raise; as, to erect a pole, a flagstaff, a monument, etc.
8. (v. t.) To raise, as a building; to build; to construct; as, to erect a house or a fort; to set up; to put together the component parts of, as of a machine.
9. (v. t.) To lift up; to elevate; to exalt; to magnify.
10. (v. t.) To animate; to encourage; to cheer.
11. (v. t.) To set up as an assertion or consequence from premises, or the like.
12. (v. t.) To set up or establish; to found; to form; to institute.
13. (v. i.) To rise upright.
Greek
3717. orthos -- straight, upright ... Probably from the base of oros; right (as rising), ie (perpendicularly)
erect (figuratively, honest), or (horizontally) level or direct -- straight, upright.
... 2311. themelioo -- to lay the foundation of
... From themelios; to lay a basis for, ie (literally) erect, or (figuratively) consolidate
-- (lay the) found(- ation), ground, settle. see GREEK themelios. ...
3618. oikodomeo -- to build a house
... Part of Speech: Verb Transliteration: oikodomeo Phonetic Spelling: (oy-kod-om-eh'-
o) Short Definition: I build, build up, edify Definition: I erect a building ...
2005. epiteleo -- to complete, accomplish
... Word Origin from epi and teleo Definition to complete, accomplish NASB Word Usage
accomplished (1), complete (1), completion (1), erect (1), finish (1 ...
461. anorthoo -- to set upright, set straight again
... Word Origin from ana and orthoo (to set straight, set up) Definition to set upright,
set straight again NASB Word Usage made erect again (1), restore (1 ...
Strong's Hebrew
5324. natsab -- to take one's stand, stand... 1), set (15), settled (1), stand (5), standing (14), stands (1), station myself
(1), station yourself (1), stationed (1), stood (9), stood
erect (1), takes
... 6968. qomemiyyuth -- uprightness
... 6967, 6968. qomemiyyuth. 6969 . uprightness. Transliteration: qomemiyyuth
Phonetic Spelling: (ko-mem-ee-yooth') Short Definition: erect. ...
7069. qanah -- to get, acquire
... A primitive root; to erect, ie Create; by extension, to procure, especially by purchase
(causatively, sell); by implication to own -- attain, buy(-er), teach ...
7077. qanan -- to make a nest
... make. A primitive root; to erect; but used only as denominative from qen; to nestle,
ie Build or occupy as a nest -- make...nest. see HEBREW qen. 7076, 7077. ...
6965. qum -- to arise, stand up, stand
... him to raise (1), come (2), confirm (13), confirmed (3), confirming (1), confirms
(1), deeded over (2), dim (1), endure (4), enemies (1), erect (2), erected (10 ...
8558. tamar -- palm tree, date palm
... 1). palm tree. From an unused root meaning to be erect; a palm tree -- palm
(tree). 8557, 8558. tamar. 8559 . Strong's Numbers.
3559. kun -- to be firm
... A primitive root; properly, to be erect (ie Stand perpendicular); hence (causatively)
to set up, in a great variety of applications, whether literal (establish ...
5446. sebal -- to bear, carry (a load)
... strongly laid. (Aramaic) corresponding to cabal; to erect -- strongly laid. see
HEBREW cabal. 5445, 5446. sebal. 5447 . Strong's Numbers.
5568. samar -- to bristle up
... stand up, tremble. A primitive root; to be erect, ie Bristle as hair -- stand
up, tremble. 5567, 5568. samar. 5569 . Strong's Numbers.
7076. qinnamon -- cinnamon
... cinnamon. From an unused root (meaning to erect); cinnamon bark (as in upright rolls) --
cinnamon. 7075, 7076. qinnamon. 7077 . Strong's Numbers.
Library
Constantine's Letter to Eusebius and Other Bishops, Respecting the ...
... XLVI."Constantine's Letter to Eusebius and Other Bishops, respecting the Building
of Churches, with Instructions to repair the Old, and erect New Ones on a ...
Whether the Body of Man was Given an Apt Disposition?
... the brutes. But plants are erect in stature, while brutes are prone in
stature. Therefore man should not be of erect stature. On ...
Concerning the Embassage of the Jews to Caius; and How Caius Sent ...
... Caius, and in other regards universally received him as they received the gods,
these Jews alone thought it a dishonorable thing for them to erect statues in ...
Conversion of the Iberians .
... She then, as far as in her lay, explained the Divine doctrines, and exhorted her
to erect a church in honour of Christ who had made her whole. ...
"She Hath done what She Could. "
... Little did Mary think that she was going to erect a monument which would
outlive empires and kingdoms. She never thought of herself. ...
The Struggle for Life
... To use a club effectively, or to keep a good look-out for enemies or for food, a
man must stand erect. ... In time the erect position becomes confirmed. ...
A Description of the Roman Armies and Roman Camps and of Other ...
... uneven, it is first leveled: their camp is also four-square by measure, and carpenters
are ready, in great numbers, with their tools, to erect their buildings ...
Of the Devil, the World, God, Providence, Man, and his Wisdom.
... As therefore the builder, when he is about to erect any building, does not himself
make the materials, but uses those which are already prepared, and the ...
The Acquirement of Spiritual Power
... Break away from the tyranny of custom, tradition, conventionality, and the opinions
of others, until you succeed in walking lonely and erect among men. ...
Touching the First Subject of all the Forementioned Power of the ...
... 2. From his soveraign power it proceedeth, that he onely can erect and ordain a
true constitution of a Church-estate, Heb.3.3 to 6. He buildeth his own house ...
Thesaurus
Erect (17 Occurrences)... 1. (a.) Upright, or having a vertical position; not inverted; not leaning or
bent; not prone; as, to stand
erect.
...Erect (17 Occurrences).
...Stand (542 Occurrences)
... Noah Webster's Dictionary 1. (n.) To be at rest in an erect position; to be fixed
in an upright or firm position. ... 16. (n.) To measure when erect on the feet. ...
Rear (46 Occurrences)
... 5. (vt) To place in the rear; to secure the rear of. 6. (vt) To raise; to lift up;
to cause to rise, become erect, etc.; to elevate; as, to rear a monolith. ...
Standing (334 Occurrences)
... 2. (a.) Remaining erect; not cut down; as, standing corn. ... 7. (n.) The act of stopping,
or coming to a stand; the state of being erect upon the feet; stand. ...
Upright (392 Occurrences)
... Noah Webster's Dictionary 1. (a.) In an erect position or posture; perpendicular;
vertical, or nearly vertical; pointing upward; as, an upright tree. ...
Raise (175 Occurrences)
... 5. (vt) To cause to rise up, or assume an erect position or posture; to
set up; to make upright; as, to raise a mast or flagstaff. ...
Erected (26 Occurrences)
... Noah Webster's Dictionary (imp. & pp) of Erect. Multi-Version Concordance
Erected (26 Occurrences). Acts 7:48 Yet the Most High does ...
Fall (522 Occurrences)
... 2. (vt) To cease to be erect; to take suddenly a recumbent posture; to become prostrate;
to drop; as, a child totters and falls; a tree falls; a worshiper ...
Erech (2 Occurrences)
Noah (55 Occurrences)
... On leaving the ark Noah's first act was to erect an altar, the first of which there
is any mention, and offer the sacrifices of adoring thanks and praise to God ...
Resources
What is the god of self? | GotQuestions.orgWhat are the four beasts in Daniel chapter 7? | GotQuestions.orgWhat does it mean that Jesus is the answer? | GotQuestions.orgErect: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.comBible Concordance •
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