Topical Encyclopedia In biblical terms, the concept of "sort" can be understood in various contexts, often relating to the idea of categorization, selection, or division. The term itself may not frequently appear in English translations of the Bible, but the underlying principles are evident throughout Scripture.Old Testament Context In the Old Testament, the idea of sorting or dividing is often associated with God's sovereign choices and the organization of the Israelite community. For example, the division of the land among the tribes of Israel was a form of sorting, as seen in the Book of Joshua. The land was apportioned by lot, a method that reflects divine decision-making rather than human preference (Joshua 18:10: "Joshua cast lots for them in Shiloh in the presence of the LORD, and there he distributed the land to the Israelites according to their divisions."). The Levitical priesthood also involved a sort of sorting, as only the descendants of Levi were chosen to serve in the temple, highlighting God's specific selection for sacred duties (Numbers 3:6-10). New Testament Context In the New Testament, sorting can be seen in the parables of Jesus, where He often speaks of separating or sorting as a metaphor for divine judgment. For instance, in the Parable of the Wheat and the Tares, Jesus describes a future sorting at the end of the age, where the righteous and the wicked will be separated (Matthew 13:30: "Let both grow together until the harvest. At that time I will tell the harvesters, 'First collect the weeds and tie them in bundles to be burned; then gather the wheat into my barn.'"). Similarly, the Parable of the Net describes a sorting process where good fish are kept, and bad fish are discarded, symbolizing the final judgment (Matthew 13:48: "When it was full, the men pulled it ashore. Then they sat down and sorted the good fish into containers, but threw the bad away."). Theological Implications Theologically, the concept of sorting underscores God's sovereignty and justice. It reflects the biblical theme that God is the ultimate judge who discerns the hearts and actions of individuals. The process of sorting, whether in the context of divine election or eschatological judgment, emphasizes the importance of living a life aligned with God's will. Practical Application For believers, the biblical principle of sorting serves as a reminder to examine one's life and priorities. It calls for self-reflection and alignment with God's standards, knowing that a time of divine sorting will come. The faithful are encouraged to live in a manner worthy of their calling, as Paul exhorts in Ephesians 4:1 (BSB: "I therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, urge you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling you have received."). In summary, while the term "sort" may not be explicitly prevalent in Scripture, the concept is deeply embedded in the biblical narrative, illustrating God's order, justice, and the ultimate separation of good from evil. Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary 1. (n.) Chance; lot; destiny.2. (n.) A kind or species; any number or collection of individual persons or things characterized by the same or like qualities; a class or order; as, a sort of men; a sort of horses; a sort of trees; a sort of poems. 3. (n.) Manner; form of being or acting. 4. (n.) Condition above the vulgar; rank. 5. (n.) A chance group; a company of persons who happen to be together; a troop; also, an assemblage of animals. 6. (n.) A pair; a set; a suit. 7. (n.) Letters, figures, points, marks, spaces, or quadrats, belonging to a case, separately considered. 8. (v. t.) To separate, and place in distinct classes or divisions, as things having different qualities; as, to sort cloths according to their colors; to sort wool or thread according to its fineness. 9. (v. t.) To reduce to order from a confused state. 10. (v. t.) To conjoin; to put together in distribution; to class. 11. (v. t.) To choose from a number; to select; to cull. 12. (v. t.) To conform; to adapt; to accommodate. 13. (v. i.) To join or associate with others, esp. with others of the same kind or species; to agree. 14. (v. i.) To suit; to fit; to be in accord; to harmonize. Greek 4169. poios -- of what sort? ... 4168, 4169. poios. 4170 . of what sort? Part of Speech ... of what sort. Word Origin from the same as posos Definition of what sort? ... //strongsnumbers.com/greek2/4169.htm - 6k 3697. hopoios -- of what sort 3634. hoios -- what sort or manner of 4217. potapos -- from what country? 3313. meros -- a part, share, portion 1042. Gabbatha -- stone pavement 5449. phusis -- nature 516. axios -- worthily 5130. touton -- this; he, she, it 60. agoraios -- pertaining to the marketplace, an agitator Strong's Hebrew 2178. zan -- kind, sort... 2177, 2178. zan. 2179 . kind, sort. Transliteration: zan Phonetic Spelling: (zan) Short Definition: kinds. ... kind. (Aramaic) corresponding to zan; sort -- kind ... /hebrew/2178.htm - 6k 2177. zan -- kind, sort 7230. rob -- multitude, abundance, greatness 120. adam -- man, mankind 1803. dallah -- hair, thrum 1524. giyl -- a rejoicing 428. elleh -- these 3660. kenema -- accordingly, as follows 3671. kanaph -- wing, extremity 3972. meumah -- anything Library What Sort of a Mediator and Deliverer Then must we Seek For? A Sort of Sorites, as the Logicians Call It, to Show that the ... Of the Second Sort of Unions: to Wit, Passive. ... Secondly, the Other Sort of People, whom He Excludes from his ... What Sort of Prayer the Gnostic Employs, and How it is Heard by ... Of a Fourth Sort of Monks. Touching a Special Sort of Internal Prayer Prescribed by Antonio ... All Arts of this Sort, Therefore, are Either Nullities... But There are a Sort of Saints Meet to be Your Companions Of Another Sort of Dejection which Produces Despair of Salvation. Thesaurus Sort (143 Occurrences)... n.) A kind or species; any number or collection of individual persons or things characterized by the same or like qualities; a class or order; as, a sort of men ... /s/sort.htm - 36k Manner (351 Occurrences) Pointing (13 Occurrences) Moving (117 Occurrences) Plants (70 Occurrences) Manners (6 Occurrences) Producing (20 Occurrences) Bason (3 Occurrences) Plant (92 Occurrences) Move (113 Occurrences) Resources What sort of interfaith ministries are appropriate? | GotQuestions.orgWhat sort of New Year's resolution should a Christian make? | GotQuestions.org What sort of prayers should we pray for unbelievers? | GotQuestions.org Sort: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.com Bible Concordance • Bible Dictionary • Bible Encyclopedia • Topical Bible • Bible Thesuarus Concordance Sort (143 Occurrences)Matthew 8:27 Matthew 13:47 Mark 1:27 Mark 9:29 Luke 1:29 Luke 4:36 Luke 4:40 Luke 7:39 Luke 11:42 Luke 19:3 John 12:33 John 18:32 John 21:19 Acts 7:49 Acts 17:5 Acts 19:3 Romans 3:27 Romans 6:20 Romans 15:15 1 Corinthians 1:5 1 Corinthians 3:13 1 Corinthians 8:2 1 Corinthians 15:35 1 Corinthians 15:37 2 Corinthians 6:13 2 Corinthians 7:9 2 Corinthians 7:11 2 Corinthians 8:2 2 Corinthians 11:4 Galatians 1:6 Galatians 1:7 Colossians 1:10 Colossians 2:23 1 Thessalonians 1:5 1 Thessalonians 4:1 2 Thessalonians 3:12 2 Timothy 3:5 2 Timothy 3:6 Philemon 1:6 Hebrews 4:11 Hebrews 13:16 James 1:2 James 1:7 James 1:24 James 3:7 James 3:16 1 Peter 1:11 2 Peter 3:11 1 John 5:17 3 John 1:6 Revelation 18:12 Genesis 1:11 Genesis 1:12 Genesis 1:21 Genesis 1:24 Genesis 1:25 Genesis 6:19 Genesis 6:20 Genesis 6:21 Genesis 7:14 Genesis 8:19 Genesis 37:10 Exodus 12:16 Exodus 31:3 Exodus 35:31 Exodus 35:33 Exodus 35:35 Exodus 36:4 Leviticus 5:3 Leviticus 5:4 Leviticus 11:14 Leviticus 11:15 Leviticus 11:16 Leviticus 11:19 Leviticus 11:29 Leviticus 11:44 Leviticus 14:35 Leviticus 16:29 Leviticus 17:10 Leviticus 17:14 Leviticus 23:3 Leviticus 23:7 Leviticus 23:28 Leviticus 23:30 Leviticus 23:31 Numbers 5:2 Numbers 11:5 Numbers 13:19 Numbers 28:18 Numbers 29:7 Deuteronomy 4:15 Deuteronomy 4:23 Deuteronomy 4:25 Deuteronomy 8:13 Deuteronomy 14:13 Deuteronomy 14:14 Deuteronomy 14:15 Deuteronomy 14:18 Deuteronomy 16:21 Deuteronomy 24:10 Subtopics Related Terms |