In biblical literature, the concept of being "skinned" or the act of skinning is often associated with sacrifice, punishment, and metaphorical expressions of suffering or vulnerability. The term itself may not frequently appear in its literal form, but the underlying themes are present throughout the Scriptures.

Sacrificial Context

In the Old Testament, the act of skinning animals is primarily associated with the sacrificial system established by God for the Israelites. The process of preparing a sacrifice often involved skinning the animal as part of the ritual. Leviticus 1:6 states, "He is to skin the burnt offering and cut it into pieces." This act was part of the detailed instructions given to the priests for offering sacrifices, symbolizing the removal of the outer layer to present the offering in its purest form to God.

The sacrificial system, including the act of skinning, foreshadows the ultimate sacrifice of Jesus Christ. The meticulous preparation of sacrifices in the Old Testament points to the perfect and final sacrifice of Christ, who was "pierced for our transgressions" (Isaiah 53:5), offering Himself as the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world (John 1:29).

Punishment and Suffering

The imagery of skinning can also be found in the context of punishment and suffering. In Micah 3:2-3 , the prophet Micah condemns the leaders of Israel for their oppressive actions, using vivid imagery: "You who hate good and love evil, who tear the skin from my people and the flesh from their bones, who eat the flesh of my people, strip off their skin, break their bones, and chop them in pieces like meat for the pan, like flesh for the pot." This metaphorical language highlights the severity of the leaders' exploitation and the suffering inflicted upon the people.

The use of such graphic imagery serves to underscore the depth of injustice and the need for repentance and restoration. It reflects the broader biblical theme of God's concern for justice and His condemnation of those who abuse their power.

Metaphorical Expressions

In a metaphorical sense, the concept of being "skinned" can represent vulnerability and exposure. The Bible often uses physical imagery to convey spiritual truths. For instance, the stripping away of one's outer layer can symbolize the exposure of one's true nature or the laying bare of one's soul before God. Hebrews 4:13 states, "Nothing in all creation is hidden from God’s sight; everything is uncovered and exposed before the eyes of Him to whom we must give account."

This idea of exposure and vulnerability is central to the Christian understanding of repentance and confession. Believers are called to come before God with honesty and humility, acknowledging their sins and seeking His forgiveness and grace.

Conclusion

While the literal act of skinning is primarily associated with the sacrificial practices of the Old Testament, its metaphorical implications extend to themes of suffering, justice, and spiritual vulnerability. These themes are woven throughout the biblical narrative, pointing ultimately to the redemptive work of Jesus Christ, who bore the suffering of humanity and offered Himself as the perfect sacrifice for sin.(imp. & p. p.) of Skin.6584. pashat -- to strip off, make a dash, raid
... dashed (2), invaded (1), made a raid (5), made...raid (1), put off (1), raid (2),
raided (2), removed (1), rush (1), rushed (1), skin (2), skinned (1), strip (8 ...
/hebrew/6584.htm - 6k

Now, as to the Question which You Raise, when it was that I Began ...
... you to evil speaking: what harm had a man who remains in obscurity done you, that
you should lay bare his scars, and when they were skinned over, should tear ...
/.../17 now as to the.htm

Standing with the People
... The Greek verbs are very inadequately rendered by "distressed and scattered." The
first means "skinned, harried"; the second means "flung down, prostrate." The ...
/.../rauschenbusch/the social principles of jesus/chapter iii standing with the.htm

Time Changes Nations' Dresses --And Fortunes.
... forgetfulness). For the ram withal"not that which Laberius [8] (calls).
"Back-twisted-horned, wool-skinned, stones-dragging,". but ...
/.../tertullian/on the pallium/chapter i time changes nations dressesand.htm

Canaan
... Their physical characteristics are those of the Libyan neighbours of the Egyptians
on the west, the forefathers of the fair-skinned and blue-eyed Kabyles or ...
/.../sayce/early israel and the surrounding nations/chapter ii canaan.htm

From the Flood to Abraham
... The sons of Cush, in the scripture commonly meaning the Ethiopian and now known
as the black-skinned African, are the very synonym for weakness, degradation ...
/.../tidwell/the bible period by period/chapter iii from the flood.htm

"Pan, Pan is Dead"
... You look to the left, and do it again. You look straight in front, and see
an extended skinned victim hung from the branch of a tree. ...
/.../wilson-carmichael/things as they are/chapter xxiii pan pan is.htm

Chap. xxxiii. And Now, when Galerius was in the Eighteenth Year of ...
... But the sore, after having been skinned over, broke out again; a vein burst,
and the blood flowed in such quantity as to endanger his life. ...
/.../of the manner in which the persecutors died/chap xxxiii and now when.htm

A Great World-Chorus.
... courtly, suave Frenchmen. Fair-haired, blue-eyed Scandinavians mingled with
olive-skinned, black-eyed sons of Italy. The steady-going ...
/.../gordon/quiet talks with world winners/a great world-chorus.htm

An Impossibility Made Possible
... They were occasionally accustomed to see the dark-skinned, Ethiopian, whether we
suppose that these were true from Southern Egypt or dark Arabs, and ...
/.../maclaren/expositions of holy scripture h/an impossibility made possible.htm

Abstraction from Material Things Necessary in Order to Attain to ...
... It was from Moses that the chief of the Greeks drew these philosophical tenets.
[3070] For he commands holocausts to be skinned and divided into parts. ...
/.../the stromata or miscellanies/chapter xi abstraction from material things.htm

Skinned (2 Occurrences)
... (imp. & pp) of Skin. Multi-Version Concordance Skinned (2 Occurrences). Leviticus
1:6 And the burned offering is to be skinned and cut up into its parts. (BBE). ...
/s/skinned.htm - 7k

Smooth-skinned (2 Occurrences)
Smooth-skinned. Smooths, Smooth-skinned. Smooth-sounding .
Multi-Version Concordance Smooth-skinned (2 Occurrences). ...
/s/smooth-skinned.htm - 7k

Kedar (11 Occurrences)
... Easton's Bible Dictionary Dark-skinned, the second son of Ishmael (Genesis
25:13). It is the name for the nomadic tribes of Arabs ...
/k/kedar.htm - 13k

On (40792 Occurrences)
... "It was at On that Joseph wooed and won the dark-skinned Asenath, the daughter of
the high priest of its great temple." This was a noted university town, and ...
/o/on.htm - 17k

Grape (20 Occurrences)
... The berries are smooth-skinned, have a juicy pulp, and are cultivated in great
quantities for table use and for making wine and raisins. ...
/g/grape.htm - 13k

Fair (147 Occurrences)
... in the King James Version from 9 Hebrew and 4 Greek expressions has nowhere in the
Bible the modern sense of "blond," "fair-skinned." The translation of Isaiah ...
/f/fair.htm - 40k

Ruddy (5 Occurrences)
... red"). The dark-skinned Hebrews found great beauty in a clear complexion.
Multi-Version Concordance Ruddy (5 Occurrences). Genesis ...
/r/ruddy.htm - 8k

Cucumber (2 Occurrences)
... Two varieties occur, Cucumis sativus (Arabic, Khyar), originally a product of Northwest
India, which is smooth-skinned, whitish and of delicate flavor, and ...
/c/cucumber.htm - 8k

Skinning (2 Occurrences)

/s/skinning.htm - 7k

Skin-mark (1 Occurrence)
Skin-mark. Skink, Skin-mark. Skinned . Multi-Version Concordance Skin-mark
(1 Occurrence). ... (BBE). Skink, Skin-mark. Skinned . Reference Bible.
/s/skin-mark.htm - 6k

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