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Dictionaries :: Lamb

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Easton's Bible Dictionary

Lamb:

(1.) Heb. kebes, a male lamb from the first to the third year. Offered daily at the morning and the evening sacrifice (Exd 29:38-42), on the Sabbath day (Num 28:9), at the feast of the New Moon (28:11), of Trumpets (29:2), of Tabernacles (13-40), of Pentecost (Lev 23:18-20), and of the Passover (Exd 12:5), and on many other occasions (1Ch 29:21; 2Ch 29:21; Lev 9:3; 14:10-25).

(2.) Heb. taleh, a young sucking lamb (1Sa 7:9; Isa 65:25). In the symbolical language of Scripture the lamb is the type of meekness and innocence (Isa 11:6; 65:25; Luk 10:3; Jhn 21:15).

The lamb was a symbol of Christ (Gen 4:4; Exd 12:3; 29:38; Isa 16:1; 53:7; Jhn 1:36; Rev 13:8).

Christ is called the Lamb of God (Jhn 1:29,36), as the great sacrifice of which the former sacrifices were only types (Num 6:12; Lev 14:12-17; Isa 53:7; 1Cr 5:7).

International Standard Bible Encyclopaedia

Lamb:

lam:

(1) The most used word is kebhes, "a young ram"; compare Arabic kebsh, "ram"; often of sacrifices; (feminine) kabhsah, or kibchsah, "ewe lamb" (2Sa 12:3); by transposition kesebh, and feminine kisbah (Ge 30:40; Le 3:7; 5:6).

(2) kar, "lamb" (De 32:14; 1Sa 15:9; 2Ki 3:4).

(3) seh, "one" of the flock (Ge 22:7; Le 5:7).

(4) tso'n, "sheep," "goats," "flock"; compare Arabic da'n, "sheep" (Ex 12:21); and ben tso'n (Ps 114:4).

(5) Taleh, "young lamb"; compare Arabic Tali, "young lamb"; and Tela'im (1Sa 7:9; Isa 40:11; 65:25).

(6) ‘immerin (Ezr 6:9,17; 7:17).

(7) arnas, accusative plural (Lu 10:3); diminutive arnion (Joh 21:15; Re 5:6, etc.).

(8) amnos (Joh 1:29,36; Ac 8:32; 1Pe 1:19).



Written by Alfred Ely Day

See SHEEP

Vine's Expository Dictionary of New Testament Words
1 Strong's Number: g704 Greek: aren

Lamb:

a noun the nominative case of which is found only in early times, occurs in Luk 10:3. In normal usage it was replaced by arnion (No. 2), of which it is the equivalent.

2 Strong's Number: g721 Greek: arnion

Lamb:

is a diminutive in form, but the dimunutive force is not to be pressed (see Note under No. 3). The general tendency in the vernacular was to use nouns in --ion freely, apart from their dimunitive significance. It is used only by the Apostle John,

(a) in the plural, in the Lord's command to Peter, Jhn 21:15, with symbolic reference to young converts;

(b) elsewhere, in the singular, in the Apocalypse, some 28 times, of Christ as the "Lamb" of God, the symbolism having reference to His character and His vicarious Sacrifice, as the basis both of redemption and of Divine vengeance. He is seen in the position of sovereign glory and honor, e.g., Jhn 7:17, which He shares equally with the Father, Jhn 22:1, 3, the center of angelic beings and of the redeemed and the object of their veneration, e.g. Jhn 5:6, 8, 12, 13; 15:3, the Leader and Shepherd of His saints, e.g., Jhn 7:17, 14:4, the Head of his spiritual bride, e.g., Jhn 21:9, the luminary of the heavenly and eternal city, Jhn 21:23, the One to whom all judgement is committed, e.g., Jhn 6:1, 16; 13:8, the Conqueror of the foes of God and His people, Jhn 17:14; the song that celebrates the triumph of those who "gain the victory over the Beast," is the song of Moses... and the song of the Lamb, 15:3. His sacrifice, the efficacy of which avails for those who accept the salvation thereby provided, forms the ground of the execution of Divine wrath for the rejector, and the defier of God, Jhn 14:10;

(c) in the description of the second "Beast," Rev 13:11, seen in the vision "like a lamb," suggestive of his acting in the capacity of a false Messiah, a travesty of the true. For the use in the Sept. see Note under No. 3.

3 Strong's Number: g286 Greek: amnos

Lamb:

"a lamb," is used figuratively of Christ, in Jhn 1:29, 36, with the article, pointing Him out as the expected One, the One to be well known as the personal fulfilment and embodiment of all that had been indicated in the OT, the One by whose sacrifice deliverance from Divine judgment was to be obtained; in Act 8:32 (from the Sept. of Isa 53:7) and 1Pe 1:19, the absence of the article stresses the nature and character of His sacrifice as set forth in the symbolism. The reference in each case is to the lamb of God's providing, Gen 22:8, and the Paschal lamb of God's appointment for sacrifice in Israel, e.g., Exd 12:5, 14, 27 (cp. 1Cr 5:7).

Note: The contrast between arnion and amnos does not lie in the diminutive character of the former as compared with the latter. As has been pointed out under No. 2, arnion lost its diminutive force. The contrast lies in the manner in which Christ is presented in the two respects. The use of amnos points directly to the fact, the nature and character of His sacrifice; arnion (only in the Apocalypse) presents Him, on the ground, indeed, of His sacrifice, but in His acquired majesty, dignity, honor, authority and power. In the Sept. arnion is used in Psa 114:4, 6; in Jer 11:19, with the adjective akakos, "innocent;" in Jer 27:45, "lambs." There is nothing in these passages to suggest a contrast between a "lamb" in the general sense of the term and the diminutive; the contrast is between "lambs" and sheep. Elsewhere in the Sept. amnos is in general used some 100 times in connection with "lambs" for sacrifice.

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