Topical Bible: Touches

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Topical Encyclopedia

In the Bible, the concept of "touch" carries significant spiritual, ceremonial, and relational implications. The act of touching can convey healing, impurity, blessing, or defilement, depending on the context and the individuals involved.

Old Testament Context

In the Old Testament, touching often relates to the laws of purity and impurity. The Mosaic Law contains numerous regulations about what can and cannot be touched. For instance, touching a dead body rendered a person ceremonially unclean (Numbers 19:11-13). Leviticus 5:2-3 outlines that touching anything unclean, whether it be a carcass or human uncleanness, required a sin offering for atonement.

The concept of touch also appears in the context of blessing and consecration. In Genesis 27, Isaac touches Jacob to confirm his identity before bestowing the blessing intended for Esau. The laying on of hands, a form of touch, is used for ordination and blessing, as seen when Moses lays hands on Joshua to commission him (Numbers 27:18-23).

New Testament Context

In the New Testament, touch is frequently associated with Jesus' healing ministry. Jesus often healed through touch, demonstrating His power and compassion. In Matthew 8:3, Jesus touches a leper, saying, "I am willing, be cleansed," and immediately the leprosy is cleansed. This act not only heals but also breaks social and ceremonial barriers, as lepers were considered unclean and untouchable.

The faith of those seeking healing through touch is highlighted in the account of the woman with the issue of blood. In Matthew 9:20-22, she touches the hem of Jesus' garment, believing that even this contact will heal her. Jesus acknowledges her faith, saying, "Take courage, daughter, your faith has healed you," and she is healed instantly.

Touch also signifies the impartation of the Holy Spirit and spiritual gifts. In Acts 8:17, Peter and John lay hands on the Samaritans, and they receive the Holy Spirit. Similarly, Paul lays hands on believers to impart spiritual gifts and healing (Acts 19:6, 28:8).

Symbolic and Spiritual Implications

Touch in the Bible often symbolizes the transfer of power, authority, or blessing. It can signify acceptance and inclusion, as seen in Jesus' interactions with those considered outcasts. Conversely, touch can also denote defilement and the need for purification, as outlined in the Levitical laws.

Theologically, touch underscores the incarnation of Christ, who, being fully God and fully man, physically interacted with humanity. His willingness to touch the unclean and the marginalized reflects the divine initiative to reach out and restore fallen humanity.

Practical Applications

For believers, the biblical concept of touch encourages a ministry of presence and compassion. It calls for discernment in maintaining spiritual and moral purity while reaching out to those in need. The practice of laying on hands in prayer and blessing continues in many Christian traditions, symbolizing the ongoing work of the Holy Spirit in the life of the Church.

In summary, the biblical theme of touch encompasses a range of meanings, from healing and blessing to impurity and defilement, each reflecting deeper spiritual truths about God's interaction with humanity.

Greek

4442. pur -- fire
... fire. 4442 -- . In Scripture, fire is often used figuratively -- like with
the "fire of God" which all it touches into and. , like ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/4442.htm - 7k

4625. skandalon -- a stick for bait (of a trap), generally a snare ...
... to the Jews who refused him" (Souter); "properly, the of a trap," (); the stick
in the trap that springs and closes the trap when the animal touches it" (, 1 ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/4625.htm - 8k

2345. thiggano -- to touch
... J. Thayer). Word Origin from a prim. root thig- Definition to touch NASB Word
Usage touch (2), touches (1). handle, touch. A prolonged ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/2345.htm - 6k

4509. rhupos -- filth
... 4509 (a masculine noun) -- properly, "grease-filth," soiling all it touches;
(figuratively) uncleanness that results from doing what is morally unfit, ie what ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/4509.htm - 6k

Strong's Hebrew

5060. naga -- to touch, reach, strike
... 5059, 5060. naga. 5061 . to touch, reach, strike. Transliteration: naga Phonetic
Spelling: (naw-gah') Short Definition: touches. Word Origin a prim. ...
/hebrew/5060.htm - 6k

7381a. riach -- to smell, perceive odor
... denominative verb from reach Definition to smell, perceive odor NASB Word Usage
accept (1), delight (2), scents (1), smell (3), smelled (2), touches (1), use ...
/hebrew/7381a.htm - 5k

Library

The First Touches on the Canvas.
... The Plan for Jesus' Coming The First Touches on the Canvas. This old Hebrew
picture is found to be a mosaic made up of bits gathered ...
/.../gordon/quiet talks about jesus/the first touches on the.htm

Whether There Can be Mortal Sin in Touches and Kisses?
... OF THE PARTS OF LUST (TWELVE ARTICLES) Whether there can be mortal sin in
touches and kisses? Objection 1: It would seem that there ...
/.../christianbookshelf.org/aquinas/summa theologica/whether there can be mortal.htm

Whether the Circumstances are Properly Set Forth in the Third Book ...
... Now this happens in three ways: first, inasmuch as it touches the act itself; secondly,
inasmuch as it touches the cause of the act; thirdly, inasmuch as it ...
/.../aquinas/summa theologica/whether the circumstances are properly.htm

Of the Active Life
... The prevenient grace touches all men, God bestowing it upon all men. ... The prevenient
grace of God touches a man from without and from within. ...
/.../john/the adornment of the spritual marriage/chapter i of the active.htm

He Exhorts the Jews to be Converted.
... Pharisaic teachers, and scoff not at the King of Israel, as the rulers of your
synagogues teach you to do after your prayers: for if he that touches those who ...
/.../chapter cxxxvii he exhorts the jews.htm

Thus Much in Proof of the Profession which we Make in the Creed ...
... says, "This corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on
immortality," are not his words those of one who in a manner touches his body and ...
/.../45 thus much in proof.htm

Teaching Three Things in one Action.
... All this touches the weakest spot in these men, and in"us. ... Peter touches John's
arm and with eye and word quietly asks him to find out. ...
/.../gordon/quiet talks on johns gospel/teaching three things in one.htm

Creation and Re-Creation.
... There is always the same deep thought: the Father remains outside of the creature;
the Son touches him outwardly; by the Holy Spirit the divine life touches ...
/.../kuyper/the work of the holy spirit/ix creation and re-creation.htm

The Misery of Man Without God
... This makes me believe that the springs in our brain are so adjusted that he who
touches one touches also its contrary. 71. Too much and too little wine. ...
//christianbookshelf.org/pascal/pensees/section ii the misery of.htm

The Universal Presence
... It is that God is the sum of all created things. Nature and God are one,
so that whoever touches a leaf or a stone touches God. ...
//christianbookshelf.org/tozer/the pursuit of god/v the universal presence.htm

Thesaurus

Touches (55 Occurrences)
... Multi-Version Concordance Touches (55 Occurrences). Luke 7:39 Now when the
Pharisee who had invited him saw it, he said to himself ...
/t/touches.htm - 22k

Bathe (35 Occurrences)
... Leviticus 15:5 Whoever touches his bed shall wash his clothes, and bathe
himself in water, and be unclean until the evening. (WEB ...
/b/bathe.htm - 18k

Carcass (30 Occurrences)
... Leviticus 5:2 "'Or if anyone touches any unclean thing, whether it is the carcass
of an unclean animal, or the carcass of unclean livestock, or the carcass of ...
/c/carcass.htm - 18k

Discharge (30 Occurrences)
... Leviticus 15:7 "'He who touches the body of him who has the discharge shall wash
his clothes, and bathe himself in water, and be unclean until the evening. ...
/d/discharge.htm - 18k

Corpse (18 Occurrences)
... he is clean. Whoever touches anything that is unclean by the dead, or a
man whose seed goes from him; (See NAS NIV). Numbers 19:11 ...
/c/corpse.htm - 14k

Evening (163 Occurrences)
... (WEB JPS ASV BBE YLT NAS RSV NIV). Leviticus 11:24 "'By these you will become unclean:
whoever touches the carcass of them shall be unclean until the evening. ...
/e/evening.htm - 41k

Impurity (42 Occurrences)
... Leviticus 15:19 "'If a woman has a discharge, and her discharge in her flesh is
blood, she shall be in her impurity seven days: and whoever touches her shall ...
/i/impurity.htm - 21k

Touch (82 Occurrences)
... 9. (vt) To mark or delineate with touches; to add a slight stroke to with the pencil
or brush. 10. ... Whoever touches the mountain shall be surely put to death. ...
/t/touch.htm - 35k

Becomes (138 Occurrences)
... Everyone who touches them shall be unclean. (See NAS). ... Whoever touches their
carcass shall be unclean until the evening. (See NAS). ...
/b/becomes.htm - 34k

Unaware (16 Occurrences)
... Leviticus 5:2 "'Or if anyone touches any unclean thing, whether it is the carcass
of an unclean animal, or the carcass of unclean livestock, or the carcass of ...
/u/unaware.htm - 11k

Resources

Is it acceptable to God for a husband and wife to have sex while the wife is menstruating / having her period? | GotQuestions.org

Federalism vs. seminalism'which view is correct? | GotQuestions.org

Would a human clone have a soul? | GotQuestions.org

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

Concordance

Touches (55 Occurrences)

Luke 7:39
Now when the Pharisee who had invited him saw it, he said to himself, "This man, if he were a prophet, would have perceived who and what kind of woman this is who touches him, that she is a sinner."
(WEB DBY)

Hebrews 12:20
for they could not stand that which was commanded, "If even an animal touches the mountain, it shall be stoned;"
(WEB WEY NAS RSV NIV)

Genesis 26:11
Abimelech commanded all the people, saying, "He who touches this man or his wife will surely be put to death."
(WEB DBY NAS RSV)

Genesis 27:12
What if my father touches me? I will seem to him as a deceiver, and I would bring a curse on myself, and not a blessing."
(WEB NIV)

Exodus 19:12
You shall set bounds to the people all around, saying,'Be careful that you don't go up onto the mountain, or touch its border. Whoever touches the mountain shall be surely put to death.
(WEB NAS RSV NIV)

Exodus 29:37
Seven days you shall make atonement for the altar, and sanctify it: and the altar shall be most holy; whatever touches the altar shall be holy.
(WEB NAS RSV NIV)

Exodus 30:29
You shall sanctify them, that they may be most holy. Whatever touches them shall be holy.
(WEB NAS RSV NIV)

Leviticus 5:2
"'Or if anyone touches any unclean thing, whether it is the carcass of an unclean animal, or the carcass of unclean livestock, or the carcass of unclean creeping things, and it is hidden from him, and he is unclean, then he shall be guilty.
(WEB NAS RSV NIV)

Leviticus 5:3
"'Or if he touches the uncleanness of man, whatever his uncleanness is with which he is unclean, and it is hidden from him; when he knows of it, then he shall be guilty.
(WEB NAS RSV NIV)

Leviticus 6:18
Every male among the children of Aaron shall eat of it, as their portion forever throughout your generations, from the offerings of Yahweh made by fire. Whoever touches them shall be holy.'"
(WEB NAS RSV NIV)

Leviticus 6:27
Whatsoever shall touch the flesh thereof shall be holy; and when there is sprinkled of the blood thereof upon any garment, thou shalt wash that whereon it was sprinkled in a holy place.
(See NAS RSV NIV)

Leviticus 7:19
"'The flesh that touches any unclean thing shall not be eaten. It shall be burned with fire. As for the flesh, everyone who is clean may eat it;
(WEB NAS RSV NIV)

Leviticus 7:21
When anyone touches any unclean thing, the uncleanness of man, or an unclean animal, or any unclean abomination, and eats some of the flesh of the sacrifice of peace offerings, which belong to Yahweh, that soul shall be cut off from his people.'"
(WEB NAS RSV NIV)

Leviticus 11:24
"'By these you will become unclean: whoever touches the carcass of them shall be unclean until the evening.
(WEB NAS RSV NIV)

Leviticus 11:26
"'Every animal which parts the hoof, and is not cloven-footed, nor chews the cud, is unclean to you. Everyone who touches them shall be unclean.
(WEB NAS RSV NIV)

Leviticus 11:27
Whatever goes on its paws, among all animals that go on all fours, they are unclean to you. Whoever touches their carcass shall be unclean until the evening.
(WEB NAS RSV NIV)

Leviticus 11:31
These are they which are unclean to you among all that creep. Whoever touches them when they are dead, shall be unclean until the evening.
(WEB NAS RSV NIV)

Leviticus 11:36
Nevertheless a spring or a cistern in which water is a gathered shall be clean: but that which touches their carcass shall be unclean.
(WEB NAS RSV NIV)

Leviticus 11:39
"'If any animal, of which you may eat, dies; he who touches its carcass shall be unclean until the evening.
(WEB NAS RSV NIV)

Leviticus 15:5
Whoever touches his bed shall wash his clothes, and bathe himself in water, and be unclean until the evening.
(WEB NAS RSV NIV)

Leviticus 15:7
"'He who touches the body of him who has the discharge shall wash his clothes, and bathe himself in water, and be unclean until the evening.
(WEB NAS RSV NIV)

Leviticus 15:10
Whoever touches anything that was under him shall be unclean until the evening. He who carries those things shall wash his clothes, and bathe himself in water, and be unclean until the evening.
(WEB NAS RSV NIV)

Leviticus 15:11
"'Whoever he who has the discharge touches, without having rinsed his hands in water, he shall wash his clothes, and bathe himself in water, and be unclean until the evening.
(WEB NAS RSV NIV)

Leviticus 15:12
"'The earthen vessel, which he who has the discharge touches, shall be broken; and every vessel of wood shall be rinsed in water.
(WEB NAS RSV NIV)

Leviticus 15:19
"'If a woman has a discharge, and her discharge in her flesh is blood, she shall be in her impurity seven days: and whoever touches her shall be unclean until the evening.
(WEB NAS RSV NIV)

Leviticus 15:21
Whoever touches her bed shall wash his clothes, and bathe himself in water, and be unclean until the evening.
(WEB NAS RSV NIV)

Leviticus 15:22
Whoever touches anything that she sits on shall wash his clothes, and bathe himself in water, and be unclean until the evening.
(WEB NAS RSV NIV)

Leviticus 15:23
If it is on the bed, or on anything whereon she sits, when he touches it, he shall be unclean until the evening.
(WEB NAS RSV NIV)

Leviticus 15:24
"'If any man lies with her, and her monthly flow is on him, he shall be unclean seven days; and every bed whereon he lies shall be unclean.
(See NIV)

Leviticus 15:27
Whoever touches these things shall be unclean, and shall wash his clothes, and bathe himself in water, and be unclean until the evening.
(WEB NAS RSV NIV)

Leviticus 22:4
"'Whoever of the seed of Aaron is a leper or has an issue; he shall not eat of the holy things, until he is clean. Whoever touches anything that is unclean by the dead, or a man whose seed goes from him;
(WEB NAS RSV NIV)

Leviticus 22:5
or whoever touches any creeping thing, whereby he may be made unclean, or a man of whom he may take uncleanness, whatever uncleanness he has;
(WEB NAS RSV NIV)

Leviticus 22:6
the person that touches any such shall be unclean until the evening, and shall not eat of the holy things, unless he bathe his body in water.
(WEB NAS RSV NIV)

Numbers 19:11
"He who touches the dead body of any man shall be unclean seven days:
(WEB NAS RSV NIV)

Numbers 19:13
Whoever touches a dead person, the body of a man who has died, and doesn't purify himself, defiles the tabernacle of Yahweh; and that soul shall be cut off from Israel: because the water for impurity was not sprinkled on him, he shall be unclean; his uncleanness is yet on him.
(WEB NAS RSV NIV)

Numbers 19:16
"Whoever in the open field touches one who is slain with a sword, or a dead body, or a bone of a man, or a grave, shall be unclean seven days.
(WEB NAS RSV NIV)

Numbers 19:21
It shall be a perpetual statute to them: and he who sprinkles the water for impurity shall wash his clothes, and he who touches the water for impurity shall be unclean until even.
(WEB NAS RSV NIV)

Numbers 19:22
"Whatever the unclean person touches shall be unclean; and the soul that touches it shall be unclean until evening."
(WEB NAS RSV NIV)

Joshua 16:7
and gone down from Janohah 'to' Ataroth, and to Naarath, and touched against Jericho, and gone out at the Jordan.
(See RSV)

Joshua 19:11
Their border went up westward, even to Maralah, and reached to Dabbesheth. It reached to the brook that is before Jokneam.
(See RSV)

Joshua 19:22
and the border hath touched against Tabor, and Shahazimah, and Beth-Shemesh, and the outgoings of their border have been 'at' the Jordan; sixteen cities and their villages.
(See RSV)

Joshua 19:26
and Alammelech, and Amad, and Misheal; and it toucheth against Carmel westward, and against Shihor-Libnath;
(See RSV)

Joshua 19:27
It turned toward the sunrise to Beth Dagon, and reached to Zebulun, and to the valley of Iphtah El northward to Beth Emek and Neiel. It went out to Cabul on the left hand,
(See RSV)

Judges 16:9
Now she had an ambush waiting in the inner chamber. She said to him, "The Philistines are on you, Samson!" He broke the cords, as a string of tow is broken when it touches the fire. So his strength was not known.
(WEB DBY NAS RSV)

2 Samuel 23:7
But the man who touches them must be armed with iron and the staff of a spear. They shall be utterly burned with fire in their place."
(WEB NAS RSV NIV)

Job 4:5
But now it is come to you, and you faint. It touches you, and you are troubled.
(WEB NAS RSV)

Job 20:6
Though his height mount up to the heavens, and his head reach to the clouds,
(See NAS NIV)

Psalms 104:32
He looks at the earth, and it trembles. He touches the mountains, and they smoke.
(WEB NAS RSV NIV)

Proverbs 6:29
So is he who goes in to his neighbor's wife. Whoever touches her will not be unpunished.
(WEB NAS RSV NIV)

Jeremiah 4:10
Then said I, Ah, Lord God! your words were not true when you said to this people and to Jerusalem, You will have peace; when the sword has come even to the soul.
(See NAS)

Ezekiel 17:10
Yes, behold, being planted, shall it prosper? shall it not utterly wither, when the east wind touches it? it shall wither in the beds where it grew.
(WEB)

Amos 9:5
For the Lord, Yahweh of Armies, is he who touches the land and it melts, and all who dwell in it will mourn; and it will rise up wholly like the River, and will sink again, like the River of Egypt.
(WEB NAS RSV NIV)

Haggai 2:12
'If someone carries holy meat in the fold of his garment, and with his fold touches bread, stew, wine, oil, or any food, will it become holy?'" The priests answered, "No."
(WEB NAS RSV NIV)

Haggai 2:13
Then Haggai said, Will any of these be made unclean by the touch of one who is unclean through touching a dead body? And the priests answering said, It will be made unclean.
(See NAS RSV NIV)

Zechariah 2:8
For thus says Yahweh of Armies:'For honor he has sent me to the nations which plundered you; for he who touches you touches the apple of his eye.
(WEB NAS RSV NIV)

Subtopics

Touches

Related Terms

Carcase (38 Occurrences)

Carcasses (30 Occurrences)

Flux (26 Occurrences)

Issue (59 Occurrences)

Whomsoever (28 Occurrences)

Apple (8 Occurrences)

Separation (50 Occurrences)

Eye (145 Occurrences)

Sitteth (74 Occurrences)