In biblical times, the term "clasp" refers to a fastening device used to join two pieces of material together. The concept of a clasp is most prominently featured in the construction of the Tabernacle, as described in the Book of Exodus. The Tabernacle, a portable earthly dwelling place of God among the Israelites, required precise and detailed craftsmanship, including the use of clasps to hold its curtains together.

Biblical References:

1. Exodus 26:6 : "Make fifty gold clasps and join the curtains together with the clasps, so that the tabernacle will be a unit." This verse highlights the use of gold clasps to join the curtains of the Tabernacle, emphasizing the importance of unity and cohesion in the structure that symbolized God's presence among His people.

2. Exodus 26:11 : "Then make fifty bronze clasps and put them in the loops to join the tent together as a unit." Here, bronze clasps are used to join the tent, indicating a different material for a different part of the Tabernacle, yet still serving the purpose of unity and structural integrity.

3. Exodus 36:13 : "They made fifty gold clasps and used them to fasten the two sets of curtains together, so that the tabernacle was a unit." This verse reiterates the function of the gold clasps in ensuring that the Tabernacle was a unified structure, reflecting the meticulous obedience to God's instructions.

4. Exodus 36:18 : "They made fifty bronze clasps to join the tent together as a unit." Similar to Exodus 26:11, this verse underscores the use of bronze clasps in the assembly of the tent, maintaining the theme of unity.

Symbolic Significance:

The use of clasps in the Tabernacle construction carries symbolic significance. The clasps, whether gold or bronze, represent the unity and completeness of God's dwelling place. They serve as a reminder of the importance of following divine instructions with precision and care. The materials used—gold and bronze—also reflect the value and sanctity of the Tabernacle, with gold often symbolizing purity and divinity, and bronze representing strength and endurance.

Theological Implications:

From a theological perspective, the clasps in the Tabernacle can be seen as a metaphor for the unity of the body of believers. Just as the clasps held the Tabernacle together, the teachings and love of Christ hold the Church together. The meticulous attention to detail in the construction of the Tabernacle, including the use of clasps, underscores the importance of order, obedience, and reverence in worship and community life.

In summary, the biblical concept of a clasp, while seemingly a minor detail, plays a crucial role in the construction and symbolism of the Tabernacle. It reflects themes of unity, obedience, and the sacredness of God's dwelling among His people.1. (v. t.) To shut or fasten together with, or as with, a clasp; to shut or fasten (a clasp, or that which fastens with a clasp).

2. (v. t.) To enclose and hold in the hand or with the arms; to grasp; to embrace.

3. (v. t.) To surround and cling to; to entwine about.

4. (n.) An adjustable catch, bent plate, or hook, for holding together two objects or the parts of anything, as the ends of a belt, the covers of a book, etc.

5. (n.) A close embrace; a throwing of the arms around; a grasping, as with the hand.

4023. periecho -- to surround
... contain. From peri and echo; to hold all around, ie Include, clasp (figuratively) -- +
astonished, contain, after (this manner). see GREEK peri. see GREEK echo. ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/4023.htm - 7k

4815. sullambano -- to collect, ie to take, by impl. to take part ...
... From sun and lambano; to clasp, ie Seize (arrest, capture); specially, to conceive
(literally or figuratively); by implication, to aid -- catch, conceive, help ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/4815.htm - 7k

2263. chabaq -- to clasp, embrace
... 2262, 2263. chabaq. 2264 . to clasp, embrace. Transliteration: chabaq Phonetic
Spelling: (khaw-bak') Short Definition: embrace. Word Origin a prim. ...
/hebrew/2263.htm - 6k

3943. laphath -- to twist, turn, grasp with a twisting motion
... A primitive root; properly, to bend, ie (by implication) to clasp; also (reflexively)
to turn around or aside -- take hold, turn aside (self). 3942, 3943. ...
/hebrew/3943.htm - 6k

3920. lakad -- to capture, seize, take
... Definition to capture, seize, take NASB Word Usage capture (9), captured (57), captures
(4), captures at all (1), catch (2), caught (12), clasp (1), imprisoned ...
/hebrew/3920.htm - 6k

6781. tsamiyd -- bracelet
... bracelet, covering Or tsamid {tsaw-meed'}; from tsamad; a bracelet or arm-clasp;
generally, a lid -- bracelet, covering. see HEBREW tsamad. 6780, 6781. ...
/hebrew/6781.htm - 5k

How Love Effects the Union of the Soul with God in Prayer.
... But to squeeze and press together, a strong application must be made, which increases
and augments the union; so that to clasp together is to join strongly and ...
/.../francis/treatise on the love of god/chapter i how love effects.htm

Holding Fast and Held Fast
... in slippery places, is simple reliance, or, to use the New Testament word, 'faith,'
'Believe and ye shall be established.' Put out your hand and clasp Him, and ...
/.../maclaren/expositions of holy scripture g/holding fast and held fast.htm

Death to Lawful Things is the Way Out into a Life of Surrender.
... The little hands of the calyx clasp tightly in the bud, round the beautiful petals;
in the young flower their grasp grows more elastic"loosening somewhat in ...
/.../trotter/parables of the cross/death to lawful things is.htm

Devotion to God.
... move. Oh, how we long to clasp our arms more tightly about him! how we
long to have him clasp his arms more tightly about us! how ...
//christianbookshelf.org/orr/how to live a holy life/devotion to god.htm

Repentance and victory
... The hands that would clasp Him, and be upheld by the clasp, must be emptied of trifles.
To yield ourselves wholly to God is the secret of strength. ...
/.../maclaren/expositions of holy scripture f/repentance and victory.htm

The Secret of victory
... If each fresh difficulty or danger makes us tighten our clasp of Him, and lean the
harder on Him, it has done its highest service to us, and we have conquered ...
/.../maclaren/expositions of holy scripture g/the secret of victory.htm

The Prince of Life
... There by the empty tomb, the strong heavenly and the weak earthly lovers of the
risen King meet together, and clasp hands of help, the pledge and first-fruits ...
/.../maclaren/expositions of holy scripture b/the prince of life.htm

A Gluttonous Man and a Winebibber
... Awe and mystery and reverence and hope and trust clasp that fact, in which
prejudice and dislike could only find occasion for a calumny. ...
/.../maclaren/expositions of holy scripture e/a gluttonous man and a.htm

The Debt of Israel
... soft neck. Almost in tears she undid the clasp and flung the collar away.
It ... from him. "Nay," he went on, retaining his clasp. "Let ...
//christianbookshelf.org/miller/the yoke/chapter x the debt of.htm

Christ's Touch
... of our flesh and hearts' desires, the leprosy of our many corruptions, and the death
of our sins,"and to hold us ever in the strong, gentle clasp of His ...
/.../maclaren/expositions of holy scripture d/christs touch.htm

Clasp (2 Occurrences)
... 1. (vt) To shut or fasten together with, or as with, a clasp; to shut or fasten
(a clasp, or that which fastens with a clasp). ...Clasp (2 Occurrences). ...
/c/clasp.htm - 7k

Embrace (11 Occurrences)
... 2. (n.) To clasp in the arms with affection; to take in the arms; to hug. ... (n.) Intimate
or close encircling with the arms; pressure to the bosom; clasp; hug. ...
/e/embrace.htm - 11k

Fold (23 Occurrences)
... 3. (vt) To enclose within folds or plaitings; to envelop; to enfold; to
clasp; to embrace. 4. (vt) To cover or wrap up; to conceal. ...
/f/fold.htm - 17k

Lock (6 Occurrences)
... 13. (vt) To link together; to clasp closely; as, to lock arms. 14. (vt) To furnish
with locks; also, to raise or lower (a boat) in a lock. 15. ...
/l/lock.htm - 11k

Folding (14 Occurrences)
... helisso): The verb occurs only 3 times in the King James Version, and in each instance
represents a different word; we have chabhaq "to clasp" (Ecclesiastes 4:5 ...
/f/folding.htm - 11k

Bracelet (5 Occurrences)
... bracelets. (4.) In Exodus 35:22 it designates properly a clasp for fastening
the dress of females. Some interpret it as a nose-ring. ...
/b/bracelet.htm - 13k

Clashing (1 Occurrence)

/c/clashing.htm - 6k

Cope (1 Occurrence)
... or cloak, semicircular in form, reaching from the shoulders nearly to the feet,
and open in front except at the top, where it is united by a band or clasp. ...
/c/cope.htm - 7k

Clip (2 Occurrences)
... 6. (n.) A cutting; a shearing. 7. (n.) The product of a single shearing of sheep;
a season's crop of wool. 8. (n.) A clasp or holder for letters, papers, etc. ...
/c/clip.htm - 7k

Clasps (7 Occurrences)
... As to the nature of the clasp itself, it seems to have belonged to a double set
of loops, opposite to each other, to one of which in each set, required to be ...
/c/clasps.htm - 10k

Clasp: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.com

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