In the biblical context, the term "limbs" refers to the various parts of the human body, particularly the arms and legs, which are often mentioned in Scripture to convey physical action, strength, and the execution of God's will. The Bible frequently uses limbs metaphorically to illustrate spiritual truths and moral teachings.

Creation and Purpose

The creation of human limbs is first implied in Genesis 1:27, where God creates man in His own image. This divine design includes the physical body, with its limbs, enabling humans to fulfill God's command to "fill the earth and subdue it" (Genesis 1:28). The limbs are thus integral to humanity's role as stewards of creation, allowing for work, movement, and interaction with the world.

Symbolism and Metaphor

In Scripture, limbs often symbolize strength and capability. For example, in Psalm 18:34, David praises God for training his hands for battle, indicating the use of limbs in achieving victory: "He trains my hands for battle; my arms can bend a bow of bronze" . This imagery underscores the idea that physical strength and skill are gifts from God, to be used in accordance with His purposes.

The New Testament also uses limbs metaphorically to describe the body of Christ, the Church. In 1 Corinthians 12:12-27, Paul explains that believers are like different parts of a body, each with a unique function, working together in unity. This passage highlights the importance of each member's contribution, much like the limbs of a body, to the overall health and mission of the Church.

Moral and Ethical Teachings

The Bible contains teachings that use limbs to convey moral lessons. In Matthew 5:29-30, Jesus speaks about the seriousness of sin and the lengths to which one should go to avoid it: "If your right eye causes you to sin, gouge it out and throw it away... And if your right hand causes you to sin, cut it off and throw it away" . While not advocating literal self-mutilation, this hyperbolic language emphasizes the importance of removing anything from one's life that leads to sin, even if it seems as essential as a limb.

Judgment and Restoration

In prophetic literature, the imagery of limbs is sometimes used to depict judgment and restoration. Ezekiel 37:1-14 describes the vision of the valley of dry bones, where God commands the prophet to prophesy to the bones, causing them to come together, grow flesh, and be covered with skin. This vision symbolizes the restoration of Israel, with the reformation of limbs representing the nation's revival and return to life through God's power.

Healing and Miracles

The Gospels recount numerous instances where Jesus heals individuals with physical ailments affecting their limbs. In Matthew 12:10-13, Jesus heals a man with a withered hand, demonstrating His authority over physical infirmities and His compassion for human suffering. Such miracles not only reveal Jesus' divine power but also serve as signs of the coming Kingdom of God, where wholeness and restoration are promised.

Conclusion

Throughout the Bible, limbs are depicted as essential components of the human body, serving both practical and symbolic purposes. They are instruments of action, symbols of strength, and metaphors for spiritual truths, reflecting the intricate design and profound teachings found in Scripture.4761. strebloo -- to twist
... Hence 4761 ("twist, wrest") implies "to torture; put to the rack," ie to
twist or dislocate (like limbs on a torture rack).]. Word ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/4761.htm - 7k

2659. katanuxis -- stupefaction
... From katanusso; a prickling (sensation, as of the limbs asleep), ie (by implication,
(perhaps by some confusion with neuo or even with nux)) stupor (lethargy ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/2659.htm - 7k

6339. pazaz -- to be supple or agile
... A primitive root (identical with pazaz); to solidify (as if by refining); also to
spring (as if separating the limbs) -- leap, be made strong. see HEBREW pazaz. ...
/hebrew/6339.htm - 6k

6288. porah -- a bough
... Or pora'h {po-raw'}; or pu'rah {poo-raw'}; from pa'ar; properly, ornamentation,
ie (plural) foliage (including the limbs) as bright green -- bough, branch ...
/hebrew/6288.htm - 6k

1634. gerem -- a bone, strength
... Word Origin from garam Definition a bone, strength NASB Word Usage bare (1),
bone (1), bones (1), limbs (1), strong (1). bone, strong. ...
/hebrew/1634.htm - 6k

6057. anaph -- a branch, bough
... bough, branch. From an unused root meaning to cover; a twig (as covering the limbs) --
bough, branch. 6056, 6057. anaph. 6058 . Strong's Numbers.
/hebrew/6057.htm - 6k

7092. qaphats -- draw together, shut
... A primitive root; to draw together, ie Close; by implication, to leap (by contracting
the limbs); specifically, to die (from gathering up the feet) -- shut (up ...
/hebrew/7092.htm - 6k

7105b. qatsir -- boughs, branches
... Word Origin perhaps from qatsar Definition boughs, branches NASB Word Usage branch
(2), branches (1), limbs (1), sprigs (1). 7105a, 7105b. qatsir. 7106 . ...
/hebrew/7105b.htm - 5k

905. bad -- separation, a part
... 58), alone* (4), apart (2), aside (2), bars (1), besides* (40), disease (1), except
(1), except* (1), himself (6), including (1), itself (7), limbs (2), Myself ...
/hebrew/905.htm - 6k

Of the Figures and Limbs of Animals.
... Chap. V."Of the Figures and Limbs of Animals. In the beginning, when God
was forming the animals, He did not wish to conglobate ...
/.../lactantius/on the workmanship of god/chap v of the figures and.htm

August the Fifteenth Withered Limbs
... AUGUST The Fifteenth WITHERED LIMBS. MARK iii.1-8. There are withered limbs
of the spirit as well as of the body. There are faculties ...
/.../august the fifteenth withered limbs.htm

Of the Outer Limbs of Man, and their Use.
... Chap. X."Of the Outer Limbs of Man, and Their Use. But let us return to
the works of God. That the eyes, therefore, might be better ...
/.../lactantius/on the workmanship of god/chap x of the outer limbs.htm

All the Characteristics of Our Bodies --Sex, Various Limbs, Etc. ...
... Chapter LX."All the Characteristics of Our Bodies"Sex, Various Limbs, Etc."Will
Be Retained, Whatever Change of Functions These May Have, of Which Point ...
/.../on the resurrection of the flesh/chapter lx all the characteristics of.htm

Of the Error of Epicurus, and of the Limbs and their Use.
... VI."Of the Error of Epicurus, and of the Limbs and Their Use. ... Likewise, in the case
of the other limbs, use itself shows for what purpose they were produced. ...
/.../lactantius/on the workmanship of god/chap vi of the error of.htm

Whether in the State of Innocence Children Would have had Perfect ...
... But if children had not full strength in the use of their limbs, they would often
have been unable to procure something pleasurable offered to them; and so ...
//christianbookshelf.org/aquinas/summa theologica/whether in the state of 8.htm

Of the Law and Precept of God; of Mercy, and the Error of the ...
... [1142] For all his justice will resemble a human body which has no head, in which,
although all the limbs are in their proper position, and figure, and ...
/.../lactantius/the divine institutes/chap ix of the law and.htm

Of all the Parts of the Body.
... veins as streams divided through the whole body, through which the moisture and
the blood, running in different directions, might bedew all the limbs with the ...
/.../lactantius/on the workmanship of god/chap vii of all the parts.htm

Epistle Lviii. To Fidus, on the Baptism of Infants.
... so laid himself upon the infant son of the widow, who was lying dead, that his head
was applied to his head, and his face to his face, and the limbs of Elisha ...
/.../cyprian/the epistles of cyprian/epistle lviii to fidus on.htm

The Conversation with Alypius Being Ended, He Retires to the ...
... very fever of my irresolution, I made many of those motions with my body which men
sometimes desire to do, but cannot, if either they have not the limbs, or if ...
/.../chapter viii the conversation with alypius.htm

Limbs (6 Occurrences)
... Multi-Version Concordance Limbs (6 Occurrences). ... Job 40:18 His bones are like tubes
of brass. His limbs are like bars of iron. (WEB ASV NAS RSV NIV). ...
/l/limbs.htm - 7k

Sprawl (1 Occurrence)
... 1. (vi) To spread and stretch the body or limbs carelessly in a horizontal
position; to lie with the limbs stretched out ungracefully. ...
/s/sprawl.htm - 7k

Limb (5 Occurrences)
... 4. (n.) An elementary piece of the mechanism of a lock. 5. (vt) To supply
with limbs. 6. (vt) To dismember; to tear off the limbs of. ...
/l/limb.htm - 8k

Gesture
... 1. (n.) A motion of the body or limbs expressive of sentiment or passion; any action
or posture intended to express an idea or a passion, or to enforce or ...
/g/gesture.htm - 20k

Withered (46 Occurrences)
... meaning, expressing both in the Old Testament and in the New Testament the idea
of bodily impotence, especially, though not exclusively, of the limbs. ...
/w/withered.htm - 22k

Trunk (3 Occurrences)
... Noah Webster's Dictionary 1. (n.) The stem, or body, of a tree, apart from its limbs
and roots; the main stem, without the branches; stock; stalk. ...
/t/trunk.htm - 9k

Body (562 Occurrences)
... 2. (n.) The trunk, or main part, of a person or animal, as distinguished from the
limbs and head; the main, central, or principal part, as of a tree, army ...
/b/body.htm - 59k

Stretch (73 Occurrences)
... fifty square miles. 8. (vi) To extend or spread one's self, or one's limbs;
as, the lazy man yawns and stretches. 9. (vi) To be ...
/s/stretch.htm - 31k

Lime (4 Occurrences)

/l/lime.htm - 11k

Left (3923 Occurrences)
... 3. (a.) of or pertaining to that side of the body in man on which the muscular action
of the limbs is usually weaker than on the other side; -- opposed to right ...
/l/left.htm - 9k

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Limbs: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.com

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