Dictating
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In the context of the Bible, dictating refers to the act of speaking or commanding with authority, often with the expectation that the words will be recorded or followed. This concept is seen in various forms throughout the Scriptures, where God, prophets, and leaders communicate divine instructions, laws, and teachings to the people.

Divine Dictation

One of the most significant examples of dictating in the Bible is the giving of the Law to Moses. God dictated the Ten Commandments and other laws to Moses on Mount Sinai, which were then recorded and communicated to the Israelites. Exodus 24:12 states, "The LORD said to Moses, 'Come up to Me on the mountain and stay here, so that I may give you the tablets of stone, with the law and commandments I have written for their instruction.'"

Prophetic Dictation

Prophets in the Bible often acted as God's mouthpieces, delivering messages that were dictated to them by the Holy Spirit. These messages were sometimes written down, forming part of the biblical canon. For instance, Jeremiah was instructed by God to dictate His words to a scribe. Jeremiah 36:2 records, "Take a scroll and write on it all the words I have spoken to you concerning Israel, Judah, and all the other nations from the time I first spoke to you, during the reign of Josiah, until today."

Apostolic Dictation

In the New Testament, the apostles also engaged in dictation, often through letters to early Christian communities. The Apostle Paul, for example, frequently dictated his epistles to scribes. Romans 16:22 notes, "I, Tertius, who wrote down this letter, greet you in the Lord." This indicates that Paul dictated the letter to Tertius, who served as his scribe.

Authority and Obedience

Dictating in the biblical sense often carries the weight of authority and the expectation of obedience. When God or His appointed leaders dictate, it is not merely a suggestion but a command that requires adherence. This is evident in Deuteronomy 5:31 , where God instructs Moses, "But you stand here with Me, and I will speak to you all the commandments and statutes and ordinances you are to teach them to follow in the land that I am giving them to possess."

Human Dictation

While divine dictation is a central theme, human leaders also exercised dictation in governance and instruction. Kings, judges, and leaders like Joshua and David issued commands to their people, often reflecting divine will or wisdom. Joshua 1:10-11 illustrates this: "Then Joshua commanded the officers of the people: 'Go through the camp and tell the people, "Prepare your provisions, for within three days you will cross the Jordan to go in and take possession of the land the LORD your God is giving you to possess."'"

Conclusion

Dictating in the Bible is a multifaceted concept that underscores the transmission of divine and authoritative messages. Whether through the direct voice of God, the prophetic utterances, or the apostolic writings, dictation serves as a means of conveying God's will and instructions to His people, emphasizing the importance of obedience and faithfulness to His word.
Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary
(p. pr. & vb. n.) of Dictate.
Library

The Papacy
... the privileges and exemptions admitted by their predecessors in favour of clerics
or of ecclesiastical property; they claimed the right of dictating to the ...
/.../chapter ix the papacy.htm

Limiting God
... These three classes all in their degree limit the Holy One of Israel. I. In the
first place, I say we limit the Holy One of Israel by DICTATING TO HIM. ...
/.../spurgeon/spurgeons sermons volume 5 1859/limiting god.htm

Note
... as an old Latin hymn generally may be, there was usually a foundation to begin upon,
and I never failed to find the music conditioning, dictating, or inspiring ...
/.../bridges/a practical discourse on some principles of hymn-singing/note.htm

Written Contracts in the Name of Idols. Tacit Consent.
... not the written letter, which kills." Here I call Nature and Conscience as my witnesses:
Nature, because even if the tongue in dictating remains motionless and ...
/.../tertullian/on idolatry/chapter xxiii written contracts in the.htm

Lord Jesus, Cause Me to Know in My Daily Experience the Glory and ...
... Were this the case, it would mean that we would be dictating to God, and
prayer would degenerate into a mere system of begging. ...
/.../bounds/purpose in prayer/chapter xiii lord jesus cause.htm

The Friend at Midnight.
... Having taught his followers first by praying in their presence, and then by dictating
an example of prayer, he next gives them a specific lesson on importunity ...
/.../arnot/the parables of our lord/xviii the friend at midnight.htm

Not the Lowliness of the Material, but the Dignity and Skill of ...
... and absorbed in it"in His hand, His eye, His labour, His purpose, His wisdom, His
providence, and above all, in His love, which was dictating the lineaments ...
/.../tertullian/on the resurrection of the flesh/chapter vi not the lowliness of.htm

St. Catherine of Siena as Seen in Her Letters
... She learned to write only three years before her death, and even after this time
was in the habit of dictating her correspondence, sometimes two or three ...
/.../benincasa/letters of catherine benincasa/st catherine of siena as.htm

Paul's Prison Psalm.
... As he sits dictating his letter, if he gets tired and would swing one limb over
the other for a change, a heavy chain at his ankle reminds him of his bonds. ...
//christianbookshelf.org/gordon/quiet talks on service/pauls prison psalm.htm

Letter xxvii (Circa AD 1127) to the Same
... Let our minds, I say, rest from dictating, our lips from conversing, our fingers
from writing, our messengers from running to and fro. ...
/.../letter xxvii circa a d 1127.htm

Thesaurus
Dictating (1 Occurrence)
... Noah Webster's Dictionary (p. pr. & vb. n.) of Dictate. Multi-Version
Concordance Dictating (1 Occurrence). Jeremiah 45:1 The message ...
/d/dictating.htm - 6k

Dictation (5 Occurrences)
... Noah Webster's Dictionary 1. (n.) The act of dictating; the act or practice
of prescribing; also that which is dictated. 2. (n.) The ...
/d/dictation.htm - 8k

Dictates (1 Occurrence)

/d/dictates.htm - 6k

Nero
... These ministers treated Nero to counsels of moderation and justice, dictating
a policy which left considerable activity to the senate. ...
/n/nero.htm - 41k

Resources
What is neo-orthodoxy? | GotQuestions.org

What is the Salvation Army, and what do they believe? | GotQuestions.org

What should I do when God says no? | GotQuestions.org

Dictating: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.com

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Concordance
Dictating (1 Occurrence)

Jeremiah 45:1
The message that Jeremiah the prophet spoke to Baruch the son of Neriah, when he wrote these words in a book at the mouth of Jeremiah, in the fourth year of Jehoiakim the son of Josiah, king of Judah, saying,
(See NIV)

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Dictating

Related Terms

Tertius (1 Occurrence)

Ethanus

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Dictionaries

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Dictates
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