Topical Encyclopedia
In the biblical context, the concept of "structure" can be understood in both physical and metaphorical terms. It encompasses the architectural designs of sacred spaces, the organizational systems within the community of believers, and the divine order established by God in creation and society.
Architectural StructuresThe Bible provides detailed descriptions of various physical structures, most notably the Tabernacle and the Temple. The Tabernacle, as described in
Exodus 25-27, was a portable sanctuary used by the Israelites during their wilderness journey. It was meticulously designed according to God's instructions, symbolizing His presence among His people. "Then have them make a sanctuary for Me, so that I may dwell among them" (
Exodus 25:8).
Solomon's Temple, a more permanent structure, is another significant architectural achievement detailed in
1 Kings 6-7. This Temple served as the central place of worship and sacrifice in Jerusalem. Its construction was marked by grandeur and precision, reflecting the glory and holiness of God. "The house that King Solomon built for the LORD was sixty cubits long, twenty cubits wide, and thirty cubits high" (
1 Kings 6:2).
Organizational StructuresThe Bible also outlines various organizational structures within the community of believers. In the Old Testament, the Israelites were organized into tribes, each with specific roles and responsibilities. The Levites, for example, were set apart for priestly duties (
Numbers 3:5-10).
In the New Testament, the early church developed its own structure to maintain order and facilitate ministry. The appointment of deacons in
Acts 6:1-6 illustrates the need for organized leadership to address practical needs within the community. "So the Twelve summoned all the disciples and said, 'It is unacceptable for us to neglect the word of God in order to wait on tables'" (
Acts 6:2).
Divine Order and CreationThe concept of structure is also evident in the divine order established by God in creation.
Genesis 1 describes the systematic process by which God created the heavens and the earth, bringing order out of chaos. Each day of creation builds upon the previous one, culminating in the creation of humanity. "God saw all that He had made, and it was very good" (
Genesis 1:31).
Furthermore, the moral and ethical structures provided in the Law, such as the Ten Commandments (
Exodus 20:1-17), serve as a foundation for righteous living. These commandments establish a framework for relationships with God and others, promoting harmony and justice.
Metaphorical StructuresIn a metaphorical sense, the Bible uses the imagery of building and structure to describe spiritual growth and the community of believers. The Apostle Paul frequently employs this metaphor, referring to believers as "God's building" (
1 Corinthians 3:9) and emphasizing the importance of a solid foundation in Christ. "For no one can lay a foundation other than the one already laid, which is Jesus Christ" (
1 Corinthians 3:11).
The church is also described as a "spiritual house" in
1 Peter 2:5, where believers are likened to "living stones" being built into a holy priesthood. This imagery underscores the interconnectedness and unity of the body of Christ, with each member playing a vital role in the overall structure.
In summary, the concept of structure in the Bible encompasses the physical, organizational, and metaphorical aspects of God's design and order. Whether through the detailed plans of sacred architecture, the organized systems within the community, or the spiritual edifice of the church, structure reflects the divine intention for harmony, purpose, and worship.
Topical Bible Verses
Genesis 1:1In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth.
Topicalbible.orgIsaiah 40:22
It is he that sits on the circle of the earth, and the inhabitants thereof are as grasshoppers; that stretches out the heavens as a curtain, and spreads them out as a tent to dwell in:
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2 Timothy 3:16
All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:
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Genesis 2:24
Therefore shall a man leave his father and his mother, and shall join to his wife: and they shall be one flesh.
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Ephesians 5:22-33
Wives, submit yourselves to your own husbands, as to the Lord.
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Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary
1. (
n.) The act of building; the practice of erecting buildings; construction.
2. (n.) Manner of building; form; make; construction.
3. (n.) Arrangement of parts, of organs, or of constituent particles, in a substance or body; as, the structure of a rock or a mineral; the structure of a sentence.
4. (n.) Manner of organization; the arrangement of the different tissues or parts of animal and vegetable organisms; as, organic structure, or the structure of animals and plants; cellular structure.
5. (n.) That which is built; a building; esp., a building of some size or magnificence; an edifice.
Greek
1739. endomesis -- building, structure ... building,
structure. Part of Speech: Noun, Feminine Transliteration: endomesis Phonetic
Spelling: (en-dom'-ay-sis) Short Definition: the material of a building
... 1746b. endomesis -- a building in or into, an interior structure
... 1746a, 1746b. endomesis. 1747 . a building in or into, an interior structure.
Transliteration: endomesis Short Definition: material. ...
4444. purgos -- a tower
... a tower. Part of Speech: Noun, Masculine Transliteration: purgos Phonetic Spelling:
(poor'-gos) Short Definition: a tower, fortified structure Definition: a ...
2602. katabole -- a laying down
... design); the which determines the entire direction (destination) of all that follows;
the foundation-plan, upon which the entire super-structure is built ...
3619. oikodome -- (the act of) building, a building
... Feminine (abstract) of a compound of oikos and the base of doma; architecture, ie
(concretely) a structure; figuratively, confirmation -- building, edify ...
4747. stoicheion -- one of a row, hence a letter (of the alphabet) ...
... 4747 -- properly, , like with the of a philosophy, structure, etc.;
(figuratively) "," like the basic fundamentals of Christianity. ...
Strong's Hebrew
4011. mibneh -- structure... 4010, 4011. mibneh. 4012 .
structure. Transliteration: mibneh Phonetic
Spelling: (mib-neh') Short Definition:
structure. Word Origin
... 1140. binyah -- a structure, building
... a structure, building. Transliteration: binyah Phonetic Spelling: (bin-yaw') Short
Definition: building. ... building. Feminine from banah; a structure -- building. ...
1146. binyan -- a structure
... 1145, 1146. binyan. 1147 . a structure. Transliteration: binyan Phonetic
Spelling: (bin-yawn') Short Definition: building. Word ...
6503. parbar -- probably a structure on the W. side of Solomon's ...
... probably a structure on the W. side of Solomon's temple. Transliteration: parbar
or parvar Phonetic Spelling: (par-bawr') Short Definition: Parbar. ...
846. ushsharna -- perhaps a wall
... 845, 846. ushsharna. 847 . perhaps a wall. Transliteration: ushsharna Phonetic
Spelling: (oosh-ar-naw') Short Definition: structure. ...
8498. tekunah -- fashion, store
... fashion, store Feminine passive participle of takan; adjustment, ie Structure; by
implication, equipage -- fashion, store. see HEBREW takan. 8497, 8498. ...
3338. yatsur -- form, member
... member. Passive participle of yatsar; structure, ie Limb or part -- member.ql. see
HEBREW yatsar. 3337, 3338. yatsur. 3339 . Strong's Numbers.
8499. tekunah -- arrangement, preparation, fixed place
... Word Origin from kun Definition arrangement, preparation, fixed place NASB Word
Usage seat (1), structure (1), treasure (1). seat. From kuwn; or probably ident. ...
8403. tabnith -- construction, pattern, figure
... Tibni. From banah; structure; by implication, a model, resemblance -- figure, form,
likeness, pattern, similitude. see HEBREW banah. 8402, 8403. ...
Library
Description of the Structure of the Holy Sepulchre.
... Book III. Chapter XXXIV."Description of the Structure of the Holy Sepulchre.
This monument, therefore, first of all, as the chief ...
The Structure of the Lord's Prayer
... ST. MATTHEW Chaps. I to VIII THE STRUCTURE OF THE LORD'S PRAYER. 'After
this manner therefore pray ye.'"Matthew 6:9. 'After this ...
Synagogues: their Origin, Structure and Outward Arrangements
... Chapter 16 Synagogues: Their Origin, Structure and Outward Arrangements.
It was a beautiful saying of Rabbi Jochanan (Jer. Ber. v ...
The Scope of the Apocalypse Shewn by Its Structure
... THE SCOPE OF THE APOCALYPSE SHEWN BY ITS STRUCTURE. Having seen the scope
of the Apocalypse as suggested by the place of the book ...
The Three Several Natures -- the Material, the Animal, and the ...
... The Strange Valentinian Opinion About the Structure of Soter's Nature.
In like manner they assign to each of them a separate end. ...
Nor Let this Promise Seem to You Contrary to the Natural Structure ...
... Nor let this promise seem to you contrary to the natural structure of the body. ... Nor
let this promise seem to you contrary to the natural structure of the body. ...
The "Demonstrations" of Aphrahat.
... our faith. And on Him, on [this] Stone faith is based. And resting on faith
all the structure rises until it is completed. For it ...
Criticisms on "The Origin of Species. "
... He says quite distinctly (First Edition, pp.199, 200) that every particular in the
structure of an animal has been created for its benefit, and he regards the ...
Psalm CXXII.
... now in building; stones are cut down from the hills by the hands of those who preach
truth, they are squared that they may enter into an everlasting structure. ...
Psalm LXXXVII.
... Speaking to the Gentiles, and telling them how they were returning, and being, as
it were, framed together into the holy structure, "built," he says, "upon the ...
Thesaurus
Structure (19 Occurrences)... 3. (n.) Arrangement of parts, of organs, or of constituent particles, in a substance
or body; as, the
structure of a rock or a mineral; the
structure of a
...Side-structure (3 Occurrences)
Side-structure. Sides, Side-structure. Sidewalls . Multi-Version
Concordance Side-structure (3 Occurrences). 1 Kings ...
Frame (33 Occurrences)
... 1. (vt) To construct by fitting and uniting the several parts of the skeleton of
any structure; specifically, in woodwork, to put together by cutting parts of ...
Literature (2 Occurrences)
... The Book of Noah; (6) External Chronology; (7) Slavonic Enoch; (8) Secrets of Enoch
2. Apocalypse of Baruch: (1) Summary; (2) Structure; (3) Language; (4) Date ...
Apocalyptic
... The Book of Noah; (6) External Chronology; (7) Slavonic Enoch; (8) Secrets of Enoch
2. Apocalypse of Baruch: (1) Summary; (2) Structure; (3) Language; (4) Date ...
Geology
... 1. (n.) The study of the origin, history, and structure of the earth; science which
treats: (a) Of the structure and mineral constitution of the globe ...
Fabric (8 Occurrences)
... 1. (n.) The structure of anything; the manner in which the parts of a thing are
united; workmanship; texture; make; as cloth of a beautiful fabric. ...
Form (153 Occurrences)
... 2. (n.) The shape and structure of anything, as distinguished from the material
of which it is composed; particular disposition or arrangement of matter ...
Crib (3 Occurrences)
... 4. (n.) A box or bin, or similar wooden structure, for storing grain, salt, etc.;
as, a crib for corn or oats. 5. (n.) A hovel; a hut; a cottage. ...
Stack (1 Occurrence)
... 3. (n.) A pile of wood containing 108 cubic feet. 4. (n.) A number of flues
embodied in one structure, rising above the roof. Hence: ...
Resources
What is a chiasm / chiastic structure in the Bible? | GotQuestions.orgWhat does the Bible teach about church structure? | GotQuestions.orgWhat is structuralism? | GotQuestions.orgStructure: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.comBible Concordance •
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