Topical Bible: Seats

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Topical Encyclopedia

In the biblical context, "seats" often refer to places of authority, judgment, or honor. The term is used both literally and metaphorically throughout the Scriptures, illustrating various aspects of social and spiritual order.

Old Testament Usage

In the Old Testament, seats are frequently associated with positions of authority and judgment. For instance, in the book of Exodus, Moses is described as sitting to judge the people: "Moses took his seat to judge the people, and they stood around him from morning until evening" (Exodus 18:13). This passage highlights the seat as a symbol of judicial authority and leadership.

The Psalms also reference seats in the context of wickedness and scorn. Psalm 1:1 warns against sitting "in the company of mockers" , indicating that one's choice of association and the seats they occupy can reflect their moral and spiritual state.

New Testament Usage

In the New Testament, seats continue to symbolize authority and honor. Jesus addresses the Pharisees and scribes, saying, "The scribes and Pharisees sit in Moses’ seat" (Matthew 23:2). Here, the "seat of Moses" represents a position of teaching authority within the Jewish community, which the Pharisees and scribes were entrusted to uphold.

The concept of seats is also evident in the teachings of Jesus regarding humility and honor. In Luke 14:7-11, Jesus tells a parable about choosing seats at a wedding feast, advising guests to take the lowest seat to avoid being humiliated if asked to move. This teaching underscores the value of humility and the dangers of self-exaltation.

Heavenly Seats

The imagery of seats extends into the heavenly realm, where they are associated with divine authority and judgment. In the book of Revelation, John describes a vision of thrones in heaven: "Around the throne were twenty-four thrones, and on these thrones sat twenty-four elders" (Revelation 4:4). These thrones, or seats, signify the authority and honor bestowed upon the elders in the heavenly court.

Additionally, the concept of Christ seated at the right hand of God is a powerful image of authority and intercession. Hebrews 1:3 states, "After He had provided purification for sins, He sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high" . This seating signifies the completion of Christ's redemptive work and His exalted position in heaven.

Cultural and Symbolic Significance

In biblical times, seats were not merely functional but carried significant cultural and symbolic weight. They were often reserved for those in positions of power, such as kings, judges, and teachers. The act of sitting in a particular seat could denote one's status, role, or relationship within a community or before God.

The Bible's references to seats serve as a reminder of the importance of humility, the responsibility of leadership, and the ultimate authority of God. Whether in earthly or heavenly contexts, seats are depicted as places where justice, wisdom, and honor are dispensed and recognized.

International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

CHIEF SEATS

chef sets (protokathedria): It was one of the reproaches urged by our Lord against the scribes and Pharisees that they loved the chief seats in the synagogues (Matthew 23:6 Mark 12:39 Luke 11:43; Luke 20:46). These were special seats set in front of the ark containing the Scriptures and of the reader's platform, and facing the congregation. They were specially reserved for those who were held in the highest honor in the congregation. There were seventy-one such seats in the great synagogue of Alexandria, which were occupied by the members of the great Council in that city (see SYNAGOGUE).

J. Macartney Wilson

SEATS, CHIEF

sets.

See CHIEF SEATS.

Greek

2515. kathedra -- a seat
... seat, chair. Word Origin from kata and the same as hedraios Definition a
seat NASB Word Usage chair (1), seats (2). seat. From kata ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/2515.htm - 6k

4410. protokathedria -- the chief seat
... honorable) seat. Word Origin from protos and kathedra Definition the chief
seat NASB Word Usage chief seats (4). chief seat. From ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/4410.htm - 6k

Library

Of the Seats of the Bishops.
... The Epistle of Pope Urban First. IV. Of the seats of the bishops. Furthermore,
as to the fact that in the churches of the bishops ...
//christianbookshelf.org/unknown/the decretals/iv of the seats of.htm

Presbyters May not Enter and Take their Seats in the Bema Before ...
... Canon LVI. Presbyters may not enter and take their seats in the bema before
the entrance of? Presbyters may not enter and take ...
/.../schaff/the seven ecumenical councils/canon lvi presbyters may not.htm

He Prohibited the Christians from the Markets and from the ...
... Book V. Chapter XVIII."He prohibited the Christians from the Markets and
from the Judicial Seats and from Sharing in Greek Education. ...
/.../chapter xviii he prohibited the christians.htm

Psalm CXXII.
... 9. "For there were seated seats for judgment" (ver.5). This is a wonderful
riddle, a wonderful question, if it be not understood. ...
/.../augustine/exposition on the book of psalms/psalm cxxii.htm

A Plymouth Usher
... It was the general custom in Plymouth, as in most churches, to keep the seats for
the regular pewholders until the commencement of the service. ...
/.../griswold/sixty years with plymouth church/a plymouth usher.htm

Description of Pilate's Palace and the Adjacent Buildings.
... the marble steps of Pilate's palace, a person could see across the court as far
as the forum, at the entrance of which a few columns and stone seats were placed ...
/.../chapter xvi description of pilates.htm

Methodism on the Stage
... It was believed there could not be less than fifteen hundred people, some
hundreds of whom sat on rows of seats built upon the stage. ...
/.../wesley/the journal of john wesley/methodism on the stage.htm

The Tribunal of Caiphas.
... That assigned to the High Priest was elevated above the others; the criminal to
be tried stood in the centre of the halfcircle formed by the seats. ...
/.../the dolorous passion of our lord jesus christ/chapter vii the tribunal of.htm

Caught Unawares
... the town of C. The meeting had been widely advertised, and a goodly number were
in attendance; and when John and his companions had taken their seats well to ...
/.../byrum/how john became a man/chapter ix caught unawares.htm

Whether the Orders of the Angels are Properly Named?
... Objection 6: Further, Thrones are seats. ... Hier. vii) explains the name "Thrones" by
its relation to material seats, in which we may consider four things. ...
//christianbookshelf.org/aquinas/summa theologica/whether the orders of the.htm

Thesaurus

Seats (40 Occurrences)
... CHIEF SEATS. ... These were special seats set in front of the ark containing the Scriptures
and of the reader's platform, and facing the congregation. ...
/s/seats.htm - 19k

Judgment-seats (1 Occurrence)
Judgment-seats. Judgment-seat, Judgment-seats. Judicial .
Multi-Version Concordance Judgment-seats (1 Occurrence). James ...
/j/judgment-seats.htm - 6k

Best (252 Occurrences)
... to eat." (WEY). Matthew 23:6 and love the place of honor at feasts, the
best seats in the synagogues, (WEB WEY RSV). Matthew 27:65 ...
/b/best.htm - 36k

Seating (10 Occurrences)
... Noah Webster's Dictionary 1. (p. pr. & vb. n.) of Seat. 2. (n.) The act of
providing with a seat or seats; as, the seating of an audience. ...
/s/seating.htm - 10k

Synagogues (27 Occurrences)
... Matthew 23:6 and love the place of honor at feasts, the best seats in the
synagogues, (WEB KJV WEY ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV). ...
/s/synagogues.htm - 14k

Honor (240 Occurrences)
... NAS RSV NIV). Matthew 23:6 and love the place of honor at feasts, the best
seats in the synagogues, (WEB NAS RSV NIV). Mark 6:4 Jesus ...
/h/honor.htm - 37k

Uppermost (11 Occurrences)
... Multi-Version Concordance Uppermost (11 Occurrences). Matthew 23:6 And love the
uppermost rooms at feasts, and the chief seats in the synagogues, (KJV WBS). ...
/u/uppermost.htm - 10k

Important (39 Occurrences)
... (See NIV). Matthew 23:6 and love the place of honor at feasts, the best seats
in the synagogues, (See NIV). Matthew 23:17 You blind fools! ...
/i/important.htm - 18k

Trading (24 Occurrences)
... Matthew 21:12 And Jesus went into the Temple and sent out all who were trading there,
overturning the tables of the money-changers and the seats of those ...
/t/trading.htm - 13k

Banquets (5 Occurrences)
... Multi-Version Concordance Banquets (5 Occurrences). Matthew 23:6 and love the place
of honor at feasts, the best seats in the synagogues, (See NAS NIV). ...
/b/banquets.htm - 7k

Resources

Who were the Sadducees? | GotQuestions.org

What is the significance of a footstool in the Bible? | GotQuestions.org

What was the Areopagus? | GotQuestions.org

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

Concordance

Seats (40 Occurrences)

Matthew 8:11
And I say to you that numbers will come from the east and the west, and will take their seats with Abraham and Isaac and Jacob, in the kingdom of heaven:
(BBE)

Matthew 19:28
And Jesus said to them, Truly I say to you that in the time when all things are made new, and the Son of man is seated in his glory, you who have come after me will be seated on twelve seats, judging the twelve tribes of Israel.
(BBE)

Matthew 21:12
Jesus entered into the temple of God, and drove out all of those who sold and bought in the temple, and overthrew the money changers' tables and the seats of those who sold the doves.
(WEB KJV WEY ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV)

Matthew 23:6
and love the place of honor at feasts, the best seats in the synagogues,
(WEB KJV WEY ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)

Mark 11:15
They came to Jerusalem, and Jesus entered into the temple, and began to throw out those who sold and those who bought in the temple, and overthrew the tables of the money changers, and the seats of those who sold the doves.
(WEB KJV ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV)

Mark 12:39
and the best seats in the synagogues, and the best places at feasts:
(WEB KJV WEY ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)

Mark 14:15
And he will take you up himself to a great room with a table and seats: there make ready for us.
(BBE)

Luke 1:52
He hath put down the mighty from their seats, and exalted them of low degree.
(KJV BBE WBS)

Luke 11:43
Woe to you Pharisees! For you love the best seats in the synagogues, and the greetings in the marketplaces.
(WEB KJV WEY ASV BBE WBS YLT NAS NIV)

Luke 14:7
He spoke a parable to those who were invited, when he noticed how they chose the best seats, and said to them,
(WEB WEY ASV BBE)

Luke 20:46
"Beware of the scribes, who like to walk in long robes, and love greetings in the marketplaces, the best seats in the synagogues, and the best places at feasts;
(WEB KJV WEY ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)

Luke 22:12
And he will take you up to a great room with a table and seats: there make ready.
(BBE)

John 2:14
And there in the Temple he saw men trading in oxen and sheep and doves, and he saw the changers of money in their seats:
(BBE)

Acts 25:23
and took their seats in the Judgement Hall, attended by the Tribunes and the men of high rank in the city; and, at the command of Festus, Paul was brought in.
(WEY)

James 2:6
But ye have despised the poor. Do not rich men oppress you, and draw you before the judgment seats?
(KJV ASV WBS YLT)

Revelation 11:16
And the four and twenty elders, which sat before God on their seats, fell upon their faces, and worshipped God,
(KJV BBE WBS)

Revelation 20:4
And I saw high seats, and they were seated on them, and the right of judging was given to them: and I saw the souls of those who were put to death for the witness of Jesus, and for the word of God, and those who did not give worship to the beast, or to his image, and had not his mark on their brows or on their hands; and they were living and ruling with Christ a thousand years.
(BBE)

Genesis 43:33
And they were all given their seats before him in order of birth, from the oldest to the youngest: so that they were looking at one another in wonder.
(BBE)

Exodus 32:6
So early on the day after they got up and made burned offerings and peace-offerings; and took their seats at the feast, and then gave themselves to pleasure.
(BBE)

Leviticus 19:32
Get up from your seats before the white-haired, and give honour to the old, and let the fear of your God be before you: I am the Lord.
(BBE)

Ruth 4:2
Then he got ten of the responsible men of the town, and said, Be seated here. And they took their seats.
(BBE)

1 Samuel 2:8
Lifting the poor out of the dust, and him who is in need out of the lowest place, to give them their place among rulers, and for their heritage the seat of glory: for the pillars of the earth are the Lord's and he has made them the base of the world.
(See NIV)

1 Samuel 16:11
Then Samuel said to Jesse, Are all your children here? And he said, There is still the youngest, and he is looking after the sheep. And Samuel said to Jesse, Send and make him come here: for we will not take our seats till he is here.
(BBE)

1 Kings 21:13
And the two good-for-nothing persons came in and took their seats before him and gave witness against Naboth, in front of the people, saying, Naboth has been cursing God and the king. Then they took him outside the town and had him stoned to death.
(BBE)

1 Kings 22:10
Now the king of Israel and Jehoshaphat, the king of Judah, were seated on their seats of authority, dressed in their robes, by the doorway into Samaria; and all the prophets were acting as prophets before them.
(BBE)

2 Kings 25:28
And said kind words to him, and put his seat higher than the seats of the other kings who were with him in Babylon.
(BBE RSV)

2 Chronicles 18:9
Now the king of Israel and Jehoshaphat, the king of Judah, were seated on their seats of authority, dressed in their robes, by the doorway into Samaria; and all the prophets were acting as prophets before them.
(BBE)

Esther 1:6
There were fair hangings of white and green and blue, fixed with cords of purple and the best linen to silver rings and pillars of polished stone: the seats were of gold and silver on a floor of red and white and yellow and black stone.
(BBE)

Job 2:13
And they took their seats on the earth by his side for seven days and seven nights: but no one said a word to him, for they saw that his pain was very great.
(BBE)

Job 29:8
The young men saw me, and went away, and the old men got up from their seats;
(BBE)

Psalms 73:8
Their thoughts are deep with evil designs; their talk from their seats of power is of cruel acts.
(BBE)

Psalms 122:5
For there seats for the judges were placed, even the rulers' seats of the line of David.
(BBE)

Isaiah 14:9
The underworld is moved at your coming: the shades of the dead are awake before you, even the strong ones of the earth; all the kings of the world have got up from their seats.
(BBE)

Jeremiah 26:10
And the rulers of Judah, hearing of these things, came up from the king's house to the house of the Lord, and took their seats by the new door of the Lord's house.
(BBE)

Jeremiah 52:32
And he said kind words to him and put his seat higher than the seats of the other kings who were with him in Babylon.
(BBE RSV)

Ezekiel 14:1
Then certain of the responsible men of Israel came to me and took their seats before me.
(BBE)

Ezekiel 26:16
Then all the rulers of the sea will come down from their high seats, and put away their robes and take off their clothing of needlework: they will put on the clothing of grief, they will take their seats on the earth, shaking with fear every minute and overcome with wonder at you.
(BBE)

Daniel 7:9
I went on looking till the seats of kings were placed, and one like a very old man took his seat: his clothing was white as snow, and the hair of his head was like clean wool; his seat was flames of fire and its wheels burning fire.
(BBE)

Amos 3:12
These are the words of the Lord: As the keeper of sheep takes out of the mouth of the lion two legs or part of an ear; so will the children of Israel be made safe, who are resting in Samaria on seats of honour or on the silk cushions of a bed.
(BBE)

Amos 6:4
Who are resting on beds of ivory, stretched out on soft seats, feasting on lambs from the flock and young oxen from the cattle-house;
(BBE)

Subtopics

Seats

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