The term "dedicate" in the biblical context refers to the act of setting apart a person, place, or object for a sacred purpose or service to God. This concept is deeply rooted in the Old and New Testaments, where dedication signifies a commitment to holiness and divine service.

Old Testament Context

In the Old Testament, dedication is often associated with the consecration of the temple, altars, and other sacred objects. One of the most notable instances is the dedication of Solomon's Temple. In 1 Kings 8:63 , it is recorded, "And Solomon offered a sacrifice of fellowship offerings to the LORD: twenty-two thousand oxen and a hundred and twenty thousand sheep. So the king and all the Israelites dedicated the house of the LORD." This event marked the temple as a holy place for worship and the presence of God among His people.

The concept of dedication also extends to individuals, such as the Nazarites, who took vows to dedicate themselves to the Lord. Numbers 6:2 states, "Speak to the Israelites and tell them that if a man or woman makes a special vow, the vow of a Nazirite, to separate himself to the LORD..." This vow included abstaining from wine, not cutting one's hair, and avoiding contact with the dead, symbolizing a life set apart for God.

New Testament Context

In 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." This passage emphasizes the believer's call to live a life wholly devoted to God, reflecting His holiness in every aspect of life.

The dedication of Jesus at the temple is another significant event. In Luke 2:22 , it is written, "And when the days of their purification were complete, according to the law of Moses, Joseph and Mary brought Him to Jerusalem to present Him to the Lord." This act fulfilled the Jewish law and symbolized Jesus' consecration to God's service from infancy.

Theological Significance

Dedication in the Bible underscores the importance of holiness and separation unto God. It is an acknowledgment of God's sovereignty and a commitment to His purposes. Whether it is the dedication of a temple, an individual, or one's life, the act signifies a profound devotion and allegiance to the Creator.

Throughout Scripture, dedication is a recurring theme that calls believers to a deeper relationship with God, urging them to live lives that reflect His glory and righteousness.1. (p. a.) Dedicated; set apart; devoted; consecrated.

2. (v. t.) To set apart and consecrate, as to a divinity, or for sacred uses; to devote formally and solemnly; as, to dedicate vessels, treasures, a temple, or a church, to a religious use.

3. (v. t.) To devote, set apart, or give up, as one's self, to a duty or service.

4. (v. t.) To inscribe or address, as to a patron.

DEDICATE; DEDICATION

ded'-i-kat, ded-ika'-shun (chanukkah, "initiation," "consecration"; qadhesh, "to be clean," "sanctify"; cherem, "a thing devoted (to God)"): Often used in Hebrew of the consecration of persons, but usually in the English Versions of the Bible of the setting apart of things to a sacred use, as of the altar (Numbers 7:10, 84, 88; compare Daniel 3:2, 3, "the dedication of the image"), of silver and gold (2 Samuel 8:11 2 Kings 12:4), of the Temple (1 Kings 8:63 Ezra 6:16; compare Exodus 29:44), of the wall of Jerusalem (Nehemiah 12:27), of private dwellings (Deuteronomy 20:5). the Revised Version (British and American) substitutes "devoted" for "dedicated" in Ezekiel 44:29. See CONSECRATION; SANCTIFICATION.

1457. egkainizo -- to renew, inaugurate
... renew, inaugurate. Part of Speech: Verb Transliteration: egkainizo Phonetic Spelling:
(eng-kahee-nid'-zo) Short Definition: I consecrate, dedicate Definition: I ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/1457.htm - 6k

37. hagiazo -- to make holy, consecrate, sanctify
... Cognate: 37 (from 40 , "holy") -- to regard as (), ie ("set apart"), . See 40 ().
[37 () means "to make holy, consecrate, sanctify; to dedicate, separate" ().]. ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/37.htm - 8k

2596. chanak -- to train up, dedicate
... 2595, 2596. chanak. 2597 . to train up, dedicate. Transliteration: chanak Phonetic
Spelling: (khaw-nak') Short Definition: dedicated. ... dedicate, train up. ...
/hebrew/2596.htm - 6k

5144a. nazar -- to dedicate, consecrate
... 5144, 5144a. nazar. 5144b . to dedicate, consecrate. Transliteration:
nazar Short Definition: abstain. Word Origin a prim. root ...
/hebrew/5144a.htm - 5k

5144. nazar -- to dedicate, consecrate
... nazar. 5144a . to dedicate, consecrate. Transliteration: nazar Phonetic Spelling:
(naw-zar') Short Definition: consecrate. consecrate, separating, self ...
/hebrew/5144.htm - 5k

6942. qadash -- to be set apart or consecrated
... 2), become defiled (1), become holy (1), consecrate (43), consecrated (35), consecrates
(7), consecration (2), declare holy (1), dedicate (2), dedicated (8 ...
/hebrew/6942.htm - 6k

5144b. nazar -- to be a Nazirite
... 5144a, 5144b. nazar. 5145 . to be a Nazirite. Transliteration: nazar Short
Definition: dedicate. Word Origin denominative verb from ...
/hebrew/5144b.htm - 5k

4390. male -- to be full, to fill
... been completed (1), come (1), complete (3), completed (9), completion (1), confirm
(1), consecrate* (3), consecrated* (4), covered (1), dedicate (1), drenched ...
/hebrew/4390.htm - 7k

But what Moved Me, O Lord My God, to Dedicate These Books unto ...
... Book IV Chapter XIV But what moved me, O Lord my God, to dedicate these
books unto Hierius? But what moved me, O Lord my God, to ...
/.../augustine/the confessions of saint augustine/chapter xiv but what moved.htm

December 23. "Out of the Spoils Won in Battles, did they Dedicate ...
... DECEMBER 23. "Out of the spoils won in battles, did they dedicate to maintain
the house of the Lord" (I. Chron. xxvi. 27). "Out ...
/.../simpson/days of heaven upon earth /december 23 out of the.htm

Old and New Year 448. Father, Let Me Dedicate
... IV. SPECIAL OCCASIONS Old and New Year 448. Father, let me dedicate. 7.5.7.5.D. ... Laurence
Tuttiett, 1864. Father, let me dedicate. All this year to thee,. ...
/.../old and new year 448.htm

Home Dedication.
... Natural affection and human pride might lead the fond mother to dedicate her child
at the altar of Mammon, to gold, to fame, to magnificence, to the world. ...
/.../christianbookshelf.org/philips/the christian home/chapter x home dedication.htm

To Sir Roundell Palmer, QC , MP ,
... occasion. It is for no such reason that I dedicate to you this vindication
of the last Twelve Verses of the Gospel according to S. Mark. ...
/.../to sir roundell palmer q c.htm

Dedication: to Sir Roundell Palmer, QC , MP
... occasion. It is for no such reason that I dedicate to you this vindication
of the last Twelve Verses of the Gospel according to S. Mark. ...
/.../dedication to sir roundell palmer.htm

Dedicatory Prayer
... O Saviour Jesus, to whom could I better dedicate words on thy love, than
to the most amiable heart of the well-beloved of thy soul? ...
/.../francis/treatise on the love of god/dedicatory prayer.htm

Letter cxxvii. To Principia.
... 1. You have besought me often and earnestly, Principia, [3522] virgin of Christ,
to dedicate a letter to the memory of that holy woman Marcella, [3523] and to ...
/.../jerome/the principal works of st jerome/letter cxxvii to principia.htm

It is Worth While to Bring Forward the Words Themselves Also...
... [4914] This is admirably illustrated in an inscription quoted by Heraldus: "Jupiter
most excellent, supreme, when this day I give and dedicate to thee this ...
/.../the seven books of arnobius against the heathen/31 it is worth while.htm

Christian Baptism.
... God commands us not only to dedicate our children to Him, but to do so in the
way He has appointed, viz., in and through Christian baptism. ...
/.../philips/the christian home/chapter xi christian baptism.htm

Dedicate (17 Occurrences)
... 2. (vt) To set apart and consecrate, as to a divinity, or for sacred uses; to devote
formally and solemnly; as, to dedicate vessels, treasures, a temple, or a ...
/d/dedicate.htm - 13k

Dedicated (37 Occurrences)
... (imp. & pp) of Dedicate. ... Let him go and return to his house, lest he die in the battle,
and another man dedicate it. (WEB KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV). ...
/d/dedicated.htm - 19k

Sacrificeth (22 Occurrences)
... hath sacrificed to Jehovah, oxen, twenty and two thousand, and sheep, a hundred
and twenty thousand; and the king and all the sons of Israel dedicate the house ...
/s/sacrificeth.htm - 13k

Consecrate (65 Occurrences)
... Noah Webster's Dictionary 1. (v.) To dedicate or set apart as sacred.
2. (vt) To make, or declare to be, sacred; to appropriate ...
/c/consecrate.htm - 31k

Articles (78 Occurrences)
... 2 Samuel 8:11 These also did king David dedicate to Yahweh, with the silver and
gold that he dedicated of all the nations which he subdued; (See NIV). ...
/a/articles.htm - 30k

Dedicating (4 Occurrences)
... Noah Webster's Dictionary (p. pr. & vb. n.) of Dedicate. Multi-Version
Concordance Dedicating (4 Occurrences). Exodus 35:22 They ...
/d/dedicating.htm - 7k

Hallowed (86 Occurrences)
... rendered in the King James Version, the Revised Version (British and American),
the American Standard Revised Version "consecrate," "dedicate," "holy," and ...
/h/hallowed.htm - 41k

Hallow (69 Occurrences)
... rendered in the King James Version, the Revised Version (British and American),
the American Standard Revised Version "consecrate," "dedicate," "holy," and ...
/h/hallow.htm - 34k

Vow (49 Occurrences)
... vow. 3. (n.) To give, consecrate, or dedicate to God, or to some deity,
by a solemn promise; to devote; to promise solemnly. 4. (n ...
/v/vow.htm - 27k

Won (24 Occurrences)
... (See RSV). 1 Chronicles 26:27 Out of the spoil won in battles did they dedicate
to repair the house of Yahweh. (WEB KJV JPS ASV WBS NAS RSV). ...
/w/won.htm - 13k

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