In the context of the Bible, the term "separates" often refers to the act of dividing or setting apart, whether it be people, nations, or spiritual matters. This concept is woven throughout Scripture, illustrating both physical and spiritual separations ordained by God or resulting from human actions.

Old Testament Context

1. Creation and Order: The concept of separation is introduced in the creation narrative. Genesis 1:4 states, "God saw that the light was good, and He separated the light from the darkness." Here, separation is an act of divine order, distinguishing elements of creation to establish harmony and purpose.

2. Covenantal Separation: God’s covenant with Abraham marks a significant separation, setting apart Abraham and his descendants as a chosen people. Genesis 17:9-10 records, "Then God said to Abraham, 'As for you, you must keep My covenant, you and your descendants after you for the generations to come. This is My covenant with you and your descendants after you, the covenant you are to keep: Every male among you shall be circumcised.'" This physical act of circumcision symbolizes a spiritual and communal separation unto God.

3. Moral and Ritual Separation: The Law given to Moses includes numerous instructions for the Israelites to remain separate from the surrounding nations in terms of worship, diet, and moral conduct. Leviticus 20:26 declares, "You are to be holy to Me because I, the LORD, am holy, and I have set you apart from the nations to be My own."

New Testament Context

1. Spiritual Separation: In the New Testament, separation often takes on a spiritual dimension. Believers are called to be distinct from the world in their conduct and values. 2 Corinthians 6:17 exhorts, "Therefore come out from among them and be separate, says the Lord. Touch no unclean thing, and I will receive you."

2. Separation from Sin: The call to holiness involves a separation from sin. Romans 6:11-12 instructs, "So you too must count yourselves dead to sin, but alive to God in Christ Jesus. Therefore do not let sin reign in your mortal body so that you obey its desires."

3. Eternal Separation: The Bible also speaks of an ultimate separation at the final judgment. Matthew 25:32-33 describes, "All the nations will be gathered before Him, and He will separate the people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. He will place the sheep on His right and the goats on His left."

Theological Implications

The theme of separation in the Bible underscores the holiness of God and His desire for His people to reflect His character. It highlights the distinction between the sacred and the profane, the righteous and the unrighteous. This separation is not merely physical but deeply spiritual, calling believers to live lives that are set apart for God's purposes.

Practical Application

For Christians, the concept of separation is a call to live distinctively in a world that often opposes biblical values. It involves making choices that honor God, maintaining purity in thought and action, and being a witness to the transformative power of the Gospel. The call to be separate is not an invitation to isolation but to engage the world with a heart and mind aligned with God's will.873. aphorizo -- to mark off by boundaries from, ie set apart
... from apo and horizo Definition to mark off by boundaries from, ie set apart NASB
Word Usage hold...aloof (1), ostracize (1), separate (2), separates (1), set ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/873.htm - 8k6363a. peter -- that which separates or first opens
... 6363, 6363a. peter. 6363b . that which separates or first opens.
Transliteration: peter Short Definition: offspring. Word Origin ...
/hebrew/6363a.htm - 5k

6363b. pitrah -- that which separates or first opens
... 6363a, 6363b. pitrah. 6364 . that which separates or first opens.
Transliteration: pitrah Short Definition: issue. Word Origin from ...
/hebrew/6363b.htm - 5k

6363. peter -- that which separates or first opens
... 6362, 6363. peter. 6363a . that which separates or first opens. Transliteration:
peter Phonetic Spelling: (peh'-ter) Short Definition: firstling. ...
/hebrew/6363.htm - 5k

6504. parad -- to divide
... decides (1), dispersed (1), divided (1), go apart (1), joint (1), parted (1), parts
(1), scattered (2), separate (1), separated (12), separates (3), spread (1 ...
/hebrew/6504.htm - 6k

5144a. nazar -- to dedicate, consecrate
... Word Origin a prim. root Definition to dedicate, consecrate NASB Word Usage abstain
(1), careful (1), devoted (1), keep (1), separated (1), separates (1). ...
/hebrew/5144a.htm - 5k

Death Entirely Separates the Soul from the Body.
... Chapter LI."Death Entirely Separates the Soul from the Body. But the operation of
death is plain and obvious: it is the separation of body and soul. ...
/.../tertullian/a treatise on the soul/chapter li death entirely separates the.htm

Eunomius Separates from Eudoxius; a Disturbance is Raised at ...
... Chapter XIII."Eunomius separates from Eudoxius; a Disturbance is raised at Alexandria
by Eudoxius, and Athanasius flees into Voluntary Exile again, but in ...
/.../chapter xiii eunomius separates from eudoxius.htm

Petilianus Said: "In the First Psalm David Separates the Blessed ...
... Book II. Chapter 46. " 107. Petilianus said: "In the first Psalm David
separates the blessed from the impious? "107. Petilianus ...
/.../chapter 46 107 petilianus.htm

How the Desire to Exalt and Magnify God Separates us from Inferior ...
... CHAPTER VII. HOW THE DESIRE TO EXALT AND MAGNIFY GOD SEPARATES US FROM INFERIOR
PLEASURES, AND MAKES US ATTENTIVE TO THE DIVINE PERFECTIONS. ...
/.../francis/treatise on the love of god/chapter vii how the desire.htm

The Presbyter Sabbatius, Formerly a Jew, Separates from the ...
... Book VII. Chapter V."The Presbyter Sabbatius, formerly a Jew, separates
from the Novatians. Many, however, making no account of ...
/.../chapter v the presbyter sabbatius formerly.htm

The Consequences of Sin.
... And it entails three consequences. 1. It separates from God. 2. It entails
punishment. 3. It leaves a stain. ... II. It separates from God. ...
/.../xlvii the consequences of sin.htm

God is the one Object of Love; Therefore He is Man's Chief Good. ...
... any other good? 19. But let us consider the points separately. No one
separates us from this by threatening death. For that with ...
/.../chapter 11 name is the.htm

Tenth Day. Holiness and Separation.
... To tell me that God separates men for Himself to be His, even as He gives Himself
to be theirs, tells me of a relation that exists, but tells me nothing of the ...
/.../murray/holy in christ/tenth day holiness and separation.htm

Christ with Chrism, Lo!
... 4. From the peoples he separated the People, by the former seal of circumcision;
but by the seal of anointing, the peoples He separates from the People. ...
/.../hymns and homilies of ephraim the syrian/hymn iii christ with chrism.htm

Walking in the Light
... snap. Sin separates men quite as much as it separates each man from God.
It is the wedge driven into the tree that rends it apart. ...
/.../maclaren/expositions of holy scripture ephesians peter/walking in the light.htm

Separates (8 Occurrences)
... Multi-Version Concordance Separates (8 Occurrences). ... (WEB RSV). Numbers 6:6 "'All
the days that he separates himself to Yahweh he shall not go near a dead body. ...
/s/separates.htm - 8k

Separateth (15 Occurrences)

/s/separateth.htm - 10k

Separately (7 Occurrences)

/s/separately.htm - 8k

Day (17670 Occurrences)
... Thus Stade separates Leviticus 16:3-10 as the original kernel from the
explanatory and changing details that were added in 16:11-28. ...
/d/day.htm - 70k

Red (124 Occurrences)
... Easton's Bible Dictionary Red Sea. The sea so called extends along the west coast
of Arabia for about 1,400 miles, and separates Asia from Africa. ...
/r/red.htm - 77k

Zechariah (55 Occurrences)
... The second part of the book (ch. 9-14) bears no date. It is probable that a
considerable interval separates it from the first part. It consists of two burdens. ...
/z/zechariah.htm - 70k

Neapolis (1 Occurrence)
... The town lay some 10 Roman miles from Philippi, with which it was connected by a
road leading over the mountain ridge named Symbolum, which separates the plain ...
/n/neapolis.htm - 9k

Olives (30 Occurrences)
... A second sharp dip in the ridge separates this northern summit from the next, a
broad plateau now occupied by the great Kaiserin Augusta Victoria Stiftung and ...
/o/olives.htm - 37k

Offshoot (1 Occurrence)
... Noah Webster's Dictionary (n.) That which branches off or separates from a main
stem, channel, family, race, etc.; as, the offshoots of a tree. ...
/o/offshoot.htm - 6k

Juice (8 Occurrences)
... characteristic fluid of any vegetable or animal substance; the sap or part which
can be expressed from fruit, etc.; the fluid part which separates from meat in ...
/j/juice.htm - 9k

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Separates: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.com

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