In biblical literature, the concept of "halves" often appears in contexts that emphasize division, sharing, or the completion of a whole. The term can be both literal and symbolic, reflecting various aspects of biblical teachings and narratives.

Division and Sharing

One of the most notable instances of "halves" in the Bible is found in the account of King Solomon's wisdom. In 1 Kings 3:16-28, two women come to Solomon, each claiming to be the mother of a living child. Solomon proposes to divide the living child in half, giving each woman a part. The true mother immediately offers to give up her claim to save the child's life, revealing her identity. This account highlights the wisdom of Solomon and the importance of discernment and justice. The Berean Standard Bible recounts Solomon's words: "Cut the living child in two and give half to one and half to the other" (1 Kings 3:25).

Symbolic Significance

The concept of halves can also symbolize the idea of covenant and partnership. In Genesis 15, God makes a covenant with Abram, instructing him to bring specific animals, cut them in half, and lay the pieces opposite each other. This ancient practice of cutting animals in half and walking between the pieces signified a binding agreement, with each party pledging to uphold their part of the covenant. Genesis 15:10 states, "So Abram brought all these to Him, split each of them down the middle, and laid the halves opposite each other."

Offerings and Sacrifices

In the context of offerings and sacrifices, the division into halves can represent the dedication of a portion to God. Leviticus 1:17 describes the procedure for offering a bird as a burnt offering: "He shall tear it open by its wings without dividing it completely, and the priest shall burn it on the altar, on the wood that is on the fire. It is a burnt offering, an offering made by fire, a pleasing aroma to the LORD" . Here, the act of not fully dividing the bird signifies the completeness of the offering to God.

Justice and Fairness

The principle of fairness and justice is also reflected in the division of spoils or resources. In Numbers 31:27, God instructs Moses to divide the spoils of war between the soldiers who fought and the rest of the community: "Divide the captives between the troops who went out to battle and the rest of the congregation" . This division ensures that all parties receive their due share, promoting equity and communal responsibility.

Conclusion

The concept of halves in the Bible serves as a multifaceted symbol, representing division, justice, covenant, and dedication. Through various narratives and laws, the Bible uses the idea of halves to teach important lessons about wisdom, fairness, and the nature of divine-human relationships.1. (n.) Plural of Half.

2. (n.) pl. of Half.

The Structure of the Lord's Prayer
... The perfect sevenfold petitions of the prayer fall into two halves, corresponding
roughly to the first and second tables of the decalogue. ...
/.../maclaren/expositions of holy scripture a/the structure of the lords.htm

The High Woods
... These strangely specialised eyes"so folks believe here"the fish uses by
halves. With the lower halves he sees through the water ...
//christianbookshelf.org/kingsley/at last/chapter vii the high woods.htm

The Captain of the Lord's Host
... 'By him were all things, and in him all things consists.' So, surely, these two
halves make a whole; and the Angel of the Lord, separate and yet so strangely ...
/.../maclaren/expositions of holy scripture f/the captain of the lords.htm

Period ii. The Church from the Permanent Division of the Empire ...
... The theological controversies distracting the Church, although different in the
two halves of the Graeco-Roman world, were felt to some extent in both ...
/.../ayer/a source book for ancient church history/period ii the church from.htm

The Decalogue: ii. --Man and Man
... I. The broad distinction between the two halves of the Decalogue is that the former
deals with man's relations to God, and the latter with His relations to men ...
/.../maclaren/expositions of holy scripture k/the decalogue ii man and man.htm

Two Innumerable Series
... But there is a wonderful change in tone, in the two halves of the psalm. The
deliverance that seems so complete in the earlier part is but partial. ...
/.../maclaren/expositions of holy scripture j/two innumerable series.htm

That the Self-Existent Being must be Intelligent.
... ever they were; as, when two triangles put together make a square, that square is
still nothing but two triangles; or when a square cut in halves makes two ...
/.../viii proposition viii that the.htm

The Rest Giver
... And I beseech you to remember that if you go and part these two halves from one
another, as many people do, some of them bearing away the one half and some the ...
/.../maclaren/expositions of holy scripture b/the rest giver.htm

God's Fellow-Workers
... remember that most striking picture which is drawn in the verses appended to Mark's
Gospel, which tells how the universe seemed parted into two halves, and up ...
/.../maclaren/romans corinthians to ii corinthians chap v/gods fellow-workers.htm

'To Him that Hath Shall be Given'
... Choose which of the two halves of yourselves you will foster, and on which you will
frown. So much, then, for the first general application of these words. ...
/.../maclaren/expositions of holy scripture b/to him that hath shall.htm

Halves (5 Occurrences)
...Halves (5 Occurrences). ... Numbers 31:27 and divide the prey into halves, between them
that conducted the war, who went out to the battle, and the whole assembly. ...
/h/halves.htm - 7k

Nettles (5 Occurrences)
... Noah Webster's Dictionary 1. (n. pl.) The halves of yarns in the unlaid
end of a rope twisted for pointing or grafting. 2. (n. pl ...
/n/nettles.htm - 9k

Leaf (20 Occurrences)
... The door of the Holy Place consisted of two halves, but each half had two leaves
(compare Ezekiel 41:24). MO Evans. Multi-Version Concordance ...
/l/leaf.htm - 16k

Leaves (55 Occurrences)
... The door of the Holy Place consisted of two halves, but each half had two leaves
(compare Ezekiel 41:24). MO Evans. Multi-Version Concordance ...
/l/leaves.htm - 24k

Egypt (596 Occurrences)
... Egypt consists geographically of two halves, the northern being the Delta, and
the southern Upper Egypt, between Cairo and the First Cataract. ...
/e/egypt.htm - 101k

Median (3 Occurrences)
... 2. (a.) Situated in the middle; lying in a plane dividing a bilateral animal into
right and left halves; -- said of unpaired organs and parts; as, median ...
/m/median.htm - 7k

Mediterranean
... It falls naturally into the western and eastern (Levant) halves, dividing at the
line running from Tunis to Sicily, where it is comparatively shallow; the ...
/m/mediterranean.htm - 11k

Conducted (14 Occurrences)
... (WBS). Numbers 31:27 and divide the prey into halves, between them that conducted
the war, who went out to the battle, and the whole assembly. (DBY). ...
/c/conducted.htm - 11k

Side (4225 Occurrences)
... 3. (n.) One of the halves of the body, of an animals or man, on either side of the
medial plane; or that which pertains to such a half; as, a side of beef; a ...
/s/side.htm - 10k

Almond (7 Occurrences)
... whole blossom. The fruit is a drupe with a dry fibrous or woody husk which
splits into two halves as the fruit ripens. The common ...
/a/almond.htm - 14k

What is the Abrahamic Covenant? | GotQuestions.org

What was a blood covenant (Genesis 15:9-21)? | GotQuestions.org

What is a soul link? Can a soul be linked to another soul? | GotQuestions.org

Halves: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.com

Bible Concordance • Bible Dictionary • Bible Encyclopedia • Topical Bible • Bible Thesuarus