The term "designate" refers to the act of appointing, assigning, or setting apart someone or something for a specific purpose or role. In the biblical context, this concept is often associated with God's sovereign choice and calling of individuals or groups for particular tasks or offices within His divine plan.

Old Testament Context

In the Old Testament, the idea of designation is frequently seen in the appointment of leaders, prophets, and priests. For example, God designated Aaron and his descendants to serve as priests for Israel. In Exodus 28:1 , God instructs Moses, "Have your brother Aaron, along with his sons, come to you from among the Israelites to serve Me as priests—Aaron and his sons Nadab, Abihu, Eleazar, and Ithamar."

The designation of kings is another significant theme. Saul was designated as the first king of Israel, as seen in 1 Samuel 9:16 : "At this time tomorrow I will send you a man from the land of Benjamin, and you are to anoint him ruler over My people Israel." Later, David was chosen by God to succeed Saul, as recorded in 1 Samuel 16:12 : "Then the LORD said, 'Rise and anoint him, for he is the one.'"

New Testament Context

In the New Testament, the concept of designation is evident in the calling of the apostles and the early church leaders. Jesus designated the twelve apostles to be His closest followers and to carry on His mission. Mark 3:14 states, "He appointed twelve, whom He designated as apostles, to accompany Him, to be sent out to preach."

The apostle Paul frequently speaks of his own designation by God. In Galatians 1:15-16 , Paul writes, "But when God, who set me apart from my mother’s womb and called me by His grace, was pleased to reveal His Son in me so that I might preach Him among the Gentiles, I did not rush to consult with flesh and blood."

Theological Implications

The act of designation underscores the sovereignty of God in His divine purposes. It highlights that God, in His wisdom and foreknowledge, chooses individuals for specific roles within His redemptive plan. This is not based on human merit but on God's grace and purpose. Romans 8:30 reflects this: "And those He predestined, He also called; those He called, He also justified; those He justified, He also glorified."

Designation also implies responsibility and accountability. Those who are designated by God are entrusted with a mission or task that requires faithfulness and obedience. The parable of the talents in Matthew 25:14-30 illustrates the expectation that those entrusted with responsibilities must steward them wisely and diligently.

Practical Application

For believers today, the concept of designation serves as a reminder of God's calling in their lives. Each Christian is designated for a purpose within the body of Christ, as articulated in 1 Corinthians 12:18 : "But in fact, God has arranged the members of the body, every one of them, according to His design." This encourages believers to seek and fulfill their God-given roles with dedication and humility, trusting in God's guidance and provision.1. (v. t.) To appoint or choose.

2. (v. t.) To mark out and make known; to point out; to name; to indicate; to show; to distinguish by marks or description; to specify; as, to designate the boundaries of a country; to designate the rioters who are to be arrested.

3. (v. t.) To call by a distinctive title; to name.

4. (v. t.) To indicate or set apart for a purpose or duty; -- with to or for; to designate an officer for or to the command of a post or station.

4316. prosagoreuo -- to address, hence to call by name
... by name. Part of Speech: Verb Transliteration: prosagoreuo Phonetic Spelling:
(pros-ag-or-yoo'-o) Short Definition: I address by name, designate Definition: I ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/4316.htm - 6k

3724. horizo -- to mark off by boundaries, to determine
... Spelling: (hor-id'-zo) Short Definition: I define, determine, appoint, decree
Definition: I separate, mark off by boundaries; I determine, appoint, designate. ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/3724.htm - 8k

4270. prographo -- to write before
... I write previously Definition: (a) I write previously (aforetime); I write above
(already), (b) I depict or portray openly, (c) I designate beforehand. ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/4270.htm - 6k

4401. procheirotoneo -- to appoint beforehand
... beforehand. Part of Speech: Verb Transliteration: procheirotoneo Phonetic Spelling:
(prokh-i-rot-on-eh'-o) Short Definition: I designate beforehand Definition ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/4401.htm - 7k

2525. kathistemi -- to set in order, appoint
... From kata and histemi; to place down (permanently), ie (figuratively) to designate,
constitute, convoy -- appoint, be, conduct, make, ordain, set. ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/2525.htm - 8k

3700. optanomai -- to appear
... Cognate: 3700 (or , likely a later cognate of 3708 ) -- () See 3708 (). [Some forms
of Strong's numbering systems designate as 3708.]. Word Origin from a prim. ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/3700.htm - 8k

5344. naqab -- to pierce
... A primitive root; to puncture, literally (to perforate, with more or less violence)
or figuratively (to specify, designate, libel) -- appoint, blaspheme, bore ...
/hebrew/5344.htm - 5k

559. amar -- to utter, say
... 1), commands (3), consider (1), continued (2), decided (2), declare* (1), declared
(2), declared* (1), declares (1), demonstrates (1), designate (1), desired (1 ...
/hebrew/559.htm - 7k

5567. saman -- appoint
... Word Origin a prim. root Definition appoint NASB Word Usage place (1). appointed.
A primitive root; to designate -- appointed. 5566, 5567. saman. 5568 . ...
/hebrew/5567.htm - 5k

5414. nathan -- to give, put, set
... 1), consider (1), consign (1), contribute (1), cried (1), dedicated (1), defeat
(1), deliver (26), delivered (26), delivers (3), designate (1), designated (1 ...
/hebrew/5414.htm - 9k

8376. taah -- probably to mark out
... 1). point out. A primitive root; to mark off, ie (intensively) designate --
point out. 8375, 8376. taah. 8377 . Strong's Numbers.
/hebrew/8376.htm - 5k

5344a. naqab -- to pierce
... root Definition to pierce NASB Word Usage bored (1), designate (1), designated
(6), distinguished (1), holes (1), name (1), pierce (4), pierced (1). ...
/hebrew/5344a.htm - 5k

Blessed Martyrs Designate, -- Along with the Provision which Our ...
... Chapter I. Blessed Martyrs Designate, " Along with the provision which our
lady mother the Church? [8961] Blessed Martyrs Designate ...
/.../tertullian/ad martyras/chapter i blessed martyrs designate.htm

Whether it must be Said that the Three Persons are of one Essence?
... of Peter." On the other hand, the thing having form is not wont to be designated
as belonging to the form except when we wish to qualify or designate the form. ...
//christianbookshelf.org/aquinas/summa theologica/whether it must be said.htm

Who are These Men who are Wont to Dispute at Such Great Length in ...
... You ought to mention them by name, and designate the men themselves. ... You ought
to mention them by name, and designate the men themselves. ...
/.../22 who are these men.htm

The Evolution of Early Congregationalism the Stone which the ...
... The term "Independent" was preferred to designate the somewhat similar polity among
the nonconformist churches in old England.[b] Brownism and Barrowism are ...
/.../chapter i the evolution of.htm

The Kingdom Foreshadowed
... Though the words symbol and type are not technically distinct, we have agreed to
use the word symbol to designate an object or animal that prefigures Christ ...
/.../palmer/a birds-eye view of the bible/i the kingdom foreshadowed.htm

Whether the Notional Acts are to be Attributed to the Persons?
... as the creature proceeds from Him, and this is common to the three persons; and
so those actions which are attributed to God to designate the proceeding of ...
/.../aquinas/summa theologica/whether the notional acts are.htm

Whether Daring is a Sin?
... ii, 7; iv, 4,5,6). Hence the names of certain passions have to be applied to certain
vices and virtues: and in order to designate vices we employ especially ...
//christianbookshelf.org/aquinas/summa theologica/whether daring is a sin.htm

Whether an Illegitimate Son Can be Legitimized?
... natural son to the emperor's court, for by this very fact the son is legitimate
on account of the reputation of the court; (2) if the father designate him in ...
/.../aquinas/summa theologica/whether an illegitimate son can.htm

Whether Temperance is a Special virtue?
... I answer that, It is customary in human speech to employ a common term in a restricted
sense in order to designate the principal things to which that common ...
/.../aquinas/summa theologica/whether temperance is a special.htm

Whether the Father and the Son are one Principle of the Holy Ghost ...
... Objection 2: Further, in this proposition "the Father and the Son are one principle
of the Holy Ghost," we do not designate personal unity, because in that ...
/...//christianbookshelf.org/aquinas/summa theologica/whether the father and the.htm

Designate (7 Occurrences)
... To mark out and make known; to point out; to name; to indicate; to show; to distinguish
by marks or description; to specify; as, to designate the boundaries of ...
/d/designate.htm - 8k

Appoint (114 Occurrences)
... prescribe; to fix the time and place of. 3. (vt) To assign, designate, or
set apart by authority. 4. (vt) To furnish in all points; to ...
/a/appoint.htm - 41k

Godhead (5 Occurrences)
... consciousness were more active in it than in "Godhead." Thus, it seems formerly
to have suggested itself almost as inevitably to designate the Divine nature of ...
/g/godhead.htm - 22k

Name (10157 Occurrences)
... 8. (n.) To designate by name or specifically for any purpose; to nominate;
to specify; to appoint; as, to name a day for the wedding. ...
/n/name.htm - 23k

Jude (4 Occurrences)
... The appellation "servant of Jesus Christ" "is never thus barely used in
an address of an epistle to designate an apostle" (Alford). ...
/j/jude.htm - 40k

Galatia (6 Occurrences)
... 1. Two Senses of Name: "Galatia" was a name used in two different senses during
the 1st century after Christ: (1) Geographical To designate a country in the ...
/g/galatia.htm - 23k

Italy (4 Occurrences)
... As the power of Rome advanced, nations were successively conquered and added to
it till it came to designate the whole country to the south of the Alps. ...
/i/italy.htm - 10k

Brand (4 Occurrences)
... 3. (n.) A mark made by burning with a hot iron, as upon a cask, to designate the
quality, manufacturer, etc., of the contents, or upon an animal, to designate...
/b/brand.htm - 9k

Call
... 2. (vt) To summon to the discharge of a particular duty; to designate for an office,
or employment, especially of a religious character; -- often used of a ...
/c/call.htm - 11k

Sacraments
... sum of money deposited by two parties to a suit which was forfeited by the loser
and appropriated to sacred uses; (2) as a military term to designate the oath ...
/s/sacraments.htm - 19k

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