Definition and Usage:
Stature in the biblical context generally refers to the physical height or growth of an individual. It can also metaphorically denote maturity, wisdom, or spiritual growth. The term is used both in literal and figurative senses throughout the Scriptures.

Biblical References:

1. Physical Height:
· In the Old Testament, stature often describes the physical height of individuals, particularly in the context of strength and presence. For example, Saul, the first king of Israel, is noted for his impressive stature: "Kish had a son named Saul, as handsome a young man as could be found anywhere in Israel, and he was a head taller than anyone else" (1 Samuel 9:2). This physical attribute was significant in the cultural context of leadership and kingship.

2. Growth and Development:
· The New Testament uses stature to describe the growth and development of Jesus Christ. In Luke 2:52, it is written, "And Jesus grew in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and man" . This passage highlights not only physical growth but also the holistic development of Jesus in wisdom and spiritual maturity.

3. Metaphorical Use:
· Stature is also used metaphorically to describe spiritual maturity and the growth of believers. Ephesians 4:13 speaks of the church's growth: "until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God, as we mature to the full measure of the stature of Christ" . Here, stature represents the goal of spiritual maturity and Christlikeness that believers are encouraged to attain.

Theological Implications:

· Human Limitation and Divine Sovereignty:
· The Bible acknowledges human limitations in altering one's physical stature, as seen in Jesus' teaching in Matthew 6:27: "Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life?" . This rhetorical question underscores the futility of anxiety over physical attributes and emphasizes trust in God's sovereignty.

· Spiritual Growth:
· The concept of stature in a spiritual sense encourages believers to pursue growth in their faith and character. The call to grow into the "full measure of the stature of Christ" (Ephesians 4:13) serves as a reminder of the transformative journey of sanctification, where believers are conformed to the image of Christ.

Cultural and Historical Context:

· In ancient Near Eastern cultures, physical stature was often associated with power, leadership, and divine favor. This cultural backdrop provides insight into why figures like Saul were noted for their height and why Goliath's stature was intimidating to the Israelites (1 Samuel 17:4).

· The emphasis on spiritual stature in the New Testament reflects a shift from external attributes to internal, spiritual qualities as markers of true maturity and leadership within the Christian community.

Conclusion:
While physical stature is acknowledged in the Bible, the greater emphasis is placed on spiritual growth and maturity. Believers are encouraged to develop in wisdom and character, striving to reflect the stature of Christ in their lives.(n.) The natural height of an animal or human.STATURE

stat'-ur (madh, middah, "measure" (Numbers 13:32, etc.), qomah, "standing up" (1 Samuel 16:7, etc.); helikia, "greatness"): This last word means "height of the body," "stature," in Luke 2:52; Luke 19:3 Ephesians 4:13, but it can mean "length of life" equally well and has this force in John 9:21, 23 Hebrews 11:11. And this meaning, not "stature" (as in the King James Version), is fixed for Matthew 6:27 parallel Luke 12:25, for to add some 18 inches (see CUBIT) to one's "stature" would be a grotesque feat, while it is the smallness of the act that is emphasized. Hence, the translation "able to extend his long path of life by a single cubit" (the Revised Version (British and American) "measure of life"). Compare also "great of stature" Baruch 3:26 (eumegethes).

Burton Scott Easton

2244. helikia -- maturity, ie age
... maturity, ie age. Part of Speech: Noun, Feminine Transliteration: helikia Phonetic
Spelling: (hay-lik-ee'-ah) Short Definition: age, stature Definition: age ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/2244.htm - 6k4067. madon -- stature
... 4066, 4067. madon. 4068 . stature. Transliteration: madon Phonetic Spelling:
(maw-dohn') Short Definition: stature. Word Origin see middah. stature ...
/hebrew/4067.htm - 5k

4060a. middah -- measure, measurement, stature, size, a garment
... 4060, 4060a. middah. 4060b . measure, measurement, stature, size, a garment.
Transliteration: middah Short Definition: measurements. Word Origin fem. ...
/hebrew/4060a.htm - 5k

4060. middah -- measure, measurement, stature, size, a garment
... 4059, 4060. middah. 4060a . measure, measurement, stature, size, a garment.
Transliteration: middah Phonetic Spelling: (mid-daw') Short Definition: garment ...
/hebrew/4060.htm - 5k

7419. ramuth -- height, lofty stature
... 7418, 7419. ramuth. 7420 . height, lofty stature. Transliteration: ramuth
Phonetic Spelling: (raw-mooth') Short Definition: refuse. ...
/hebrew/7419.htm - 6k

6967. qomah -- height
... Word Origin from qum Definition height NASB Word Usage height (26), height of his
stature (1), high (9), length (1), stature (5), tall (2), very high (1). ...
/hebrew/6967.htm - 6k

4055. mad -- a measure, cloth garment
... garment NASB Word Usage armor (2), attire* (1), carpets (1), cloak (1), clothes
(1), garment (1), garments (1), measure (1), measured (1), robe (1), stature (1 ...
/hebrew/4055.htm - 6k

1432. gadel -- becoming great, growing up
... Word Origin from gadal Definition becoming great, growing up NASB Word Usage greater
(1), grow richer (1), growing* (1), lustful* (1), stature (1). great, grew. ...
/hebrew/1432.htm - 6k

This Thy Stature is Like to a Palmtree, and Thy Breasts to ...
... CHAPTER VII. 7. This thy stature is like to a palmtree, and thy breasts
to clusters of grapes. Thy stature, that is, thy whole soul ...
/.../christianbookshelf.org/guyon/song of songs of solomon/7 this thy stature is.htm

January 14. "Unto the Measure of the Stature of the Fulness of ...
... JANUARY 14. "Unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ" (Eph. ... 13).
"Unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ" (Ephesians 4:13). ...
/.../simpson/days of heaven upon earth /january 14 unto the measure.htm

Whether all Will Rise Again of the Same Stature?
... OF THE QUALITY OF THOSE WHO RISE AGAIN (FOUR ARTICLES) Whether all will rise again
of the same stature? ... Therefore all will rise again of the same stature. ...
/.../aquinas/summa theologica/whether all will rise again 3.htm

Of the Long Life and Greater Stature of the Antediluvians.
... Book XV. Chapter 9."Of the Long Life and Greater Stature of the Antediluvians.
Wherefore no one who considerately weighs facts ...
//christianbookshelf.org/augustine/city of god/chapter 9 of the long life.htm

Chapter xv.
... "Which of you, by taking thought, [389] can add one cubit unto his stature?
[390] And why take ye thought for raiment?" That is ...
/.../christianbookshelf.org/augustine/our lords sermon on the mount/chapter xv 2.htm

Whether the Body of Man was Given an Apt Disposition?
... the brutes. But plants are erect in stature, while brutes are prone in
stature. Therefore man should not be of erect stature. On ...
//christianbookshelf.org/aquinas/summa theologica/whether the body of man.htm

The Little Ones and their Angels.
... of such a kind, that furnish the reason why one is great, or little, or of middle
height; and it is of our free-will either by advancing in stature to increase ...
/.../origen/origens commentary on the gospel of matthew/26 the little ones and.htm

iv.
... But it belongs to humanity to increase in stature and in wisdom, and, I might add,
in grace, intelligence keeping pace with the measure of the body, and ...
//christianbookshelf.org/schaff/the seven ecumenical councils/iv.htm

Growing up into Christ
... In like manner those who are just converted to Christ are, "as new-born babes,"
to "grow up" to the stature of men and women in Christ Jesus.1 Peter 2:2 ...
//christianbookshelf.org/white/steps to christ/chapter 8 growing up into.htm

Against the Calumnies with which Unbelievers Throw Ridicule Upon ...
... And as the Lord says, "Verily I say unto you, not a hair of your head shall perish,"
[1628] shall all bodies have an equal stature and strength, or shall there ...
/.../augustine/city of god/chapter 12 against the calumnies with.htm

Stature (22 Occurrences)
... Noah Webster's Dictionary (n.) The natural height of an animal or human.
Int. Standard Bible Encyclopedia. STATURE. stat'-ur (madh ...
/s/stature.htm - 15k

Foliage (14 Occurrences)
... Ezekiel 17:6 It grew, and became a spreading vine of low stature, whose branches
turned toward him, and its roots were under him: so it became a vine, and ...
/f/foliage.htm - 11k

Boughs (29 Occurrences)
... Ezekiel 17:6 And it springeth up, and becometh a spreading vine, humble of stature,
To turn its thin shoots toward itself, And its roots are under it, And it ...
/b/boughs.htm - 16k

Towered (4 Occurrences)
... Ezekiel 19:11 It had strong rods for the scepters of those who bore rule, and their
stature was exalted among the thick boughs, and they were seen in their ...
/t/towered.htm - 7k

Giant (8 Occurrences)
... Noah Webster's Dictionary 1. (n.) A man of extraordinary bulk and stature. 2. (n.)
A person of extraordinary strength or powers, bodily or intellectual. ...
/g/giant.htm - 9k

Amidst (13 Occurrences)
... Ezekiel 31:3 Behold, Assyria was a cedar in Lebanon, with fair branches and a shadowing
shroud, and of a high stature: and his top was amidst the thick boughs. ...
/a/amidst.htm - 10k

Shoots (32 Occurrences)
... Ezekiel 17:6 And it springeth up, and becometh a spreading vine, humble of stature,
To turn its thin shoots toward itself, And its roots are under it, And it ...
/s/shoots.htm - 15k

Haughty (35 Occurrences)
... Isaiah 10:33 Behold, the Lord, the LORD of hosts, shall lop the bough with terror:
and the high ones of stature shall be hewn down, and the haughty shall be ...
/h/haughty.htm - 16k

Giants (18 Occurrences)
... a root signifying "wonder," and hence "monsters" or "prodigies." In Numbers 13:33
this name is given to a Canaanitish tribe, a race of large stature, "the sons ...
/g/giants.htm - 19k

Zacchaeus (3 Occurrences)
... a considerable quantity of balsam, was undoubtedly an important post, and would
account for Zacchaeus being a rich man." Being short of stature, he hastened on ...
/z/zacchaeus.htm - 10k

How tall was Adam? | GotQuestions.org

Who were the Sabeans? | GotQuestions.org

Who were the Rephaim? | GotQuestions.org

Stature: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.com

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