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Results from: Answered Bible Questions, Answers, Unanswered Bible Questions, Notes Ordered by Verse | ||||||
Results | Verse | Author | ID# | |||
1 | Does God have wings? | Bible general Archive 2 | Hank | 150192 | ||
MoreThanUseless: Does God have wings. Yes, the Bible does picture God as having wings in several passages, e.g. Ruth 2:12, Ps. 36:7 and Ps. 57:1, but we must never give a literal spin on verses that figuratively describe God in humanlike (anthropomorphic) terms. .... The Bible never intended to convey the notion that God has physcial features like His human or animal creation -- in spite of what Kenneth Copeland teaches about God: that He is about 6 feet 2 inches tall and weighs in the neighborhood of 200 pounds. ..... John Calvin said that God talks to us in baby talk, and anthropomorphic descriptions were part of that baby talk meant to help us understand and relate to our Maker. Jesus taught that "God is spirit" (John 4:24). God is not a spirit-being with a body (cf. Deut. 4:12). God is God and not a man (see Hosea 11:9). ...... God is anthromorphised in a number of ways in various passages of Scripture. In Exodus 33:24, for example, God himself speaks of His hand, back, and face. In Ezekiel 16:8, God uses the descriptive term, "I spread my wing over you." Is God anthropomorphising Himself in this way so that Jersalem will think He is a chicken? No, He is clothing His language in human terms so that human beings will be able better to understand Him and His message. A wise mother would not think of speaking to her toddler in a complex speech pattern or using an advanced vocabulary that she might use in speaking to an educated adult. She speaks to her toddler in language that he is capable of understanding. She talks to him in baby talk. And that, as Calvin has said, is how God talks to His children. --Hank | ||||||
2 | Does God have wings? | Bible general Archive 2 | MJH | 150199 | ||
The Hebrew word for wing is kaw-naf'. This word can mean either "wing" in Hebrew, or "corner". The Hebrews were told in Numbers 15:38 to tie tassels on the kaw-naf' of their robes (so we say corner). This was to remind them of the Laws of God which were to protect them. When the priest blessed the people, when lifting the robe with the tassels tied to it, he appeared to have wings. So the visual wings were seen when the corners were lifted to bless. (kaw-naf' was seen when the kaw-naf' was lifted). They equated these tassels as a symbol of God's protection. When David cut off the kaw-naf' (corner) of Saul's robe in the cave, David was saying by doing this that God's protection was no longer on Saul. Saul says this same thing when he learns of it. The Hebrews were very visual, and when they heard the psalmist say God had kaw-naf' (wings), they connected this to Num. 15:38, and saw the protection from God found in the symbol of the Tassels which represented the Law. NOW FOR A REALLY COOL TIDBIT WE OFTEN MISS... Malachi 4:2 "But for you who fear my name, the sun of righteousness shall rise with healing in His (kaw-naf') wings. You shall go out leaping like calves from the stall." Mattew 9:20-21 " And behold, a woman who had suffered from a discharge of blood for twelve years came up behind him and touched the fringe of his garment, for she said to herself, "If I only touch his garment, I will be made well." Jesus turned, and seeing her he said, "Take heart, daughter; your faith has made you well." And instantly the woman was made well.” Remember that the "fringe" or "tassel" was tied to the corner of the robes of all Jews. She didn't just touch him, she reached out and grabbed the tassel which was on the kaw-naf'(corner OR wing) of Jesus robe. We do not see Malachi's powerful prophesy and Jesus’ fulfillment, because we do not know that in Malachi, the word is kaw-naf'. Does God have wings? Yes, as it relates to the word kaw-naf'. It makes very perfect sense that the Hebrews would have pictured God with a robe and tassels held out to bless His people. Of course it's much easier to say, God covers me with His kaw-naf'. What was God's wing to the Hebrew? His wing was the Torah, or the Law given to Israel. What is God's wing to us now? The Salvation from sin and death through the Messiah Jesus, but more than that… MJH |
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