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| == Hawker's Poor Man's Concordance And Dictionary <ref name="term_47745" /> == | | == International Standard Bible Encyclopedia <ref name="term_3723" /> == |
| <p> The finger of God. This is a very common expression in Scripture, to denote the works of God. Thus the magicians in the court of [[Pharaoh]] were compelled to acknowledge the finger of God concerning several of the ten plagues of Egypt which the Lord brought upon the Egyptians. It appears, that the Lord permitted the magicians, in certain instances, to be led into the persuasion, that their arts produced similar effects to the works of Moses and Aaron. Such as in the case of the rods becoming serpents; but even here, is if to draw the striking difference, Aaron's rod swallowed up their rods. ( Exodus 7:10-12) So in the turning the river into blood. ( Exodus 3:19; Exo 3:21-22) But this permission was evidently intended to the better conviction of their minds in other instances; and accordingly we find the magicians themselves openly confessing, in the case of the lice on man and beast, "This is the finger of God." Exodus 8:19. Our blessed Lord, in the days of his flesh, speaking of his miracles, made use of the same phrase. "If I (said Jesus) with the finger of God cast out devils, no doubt, the kingdom of God is come upon you." ( Luke 11:20. See Exodus 31:18) </p> <p> The expression of the finger, for the whole action, is not to us in the western world a circumstance so generally understood; but it appears, that in the east the greater part of the transactions in common life were carried on by those means. The silence observed by them would to us be astonishing. [[Servants]] seldom spoke in the presence of their masters. They received, for the most part, all their commands by signs; and in their approach to their lord observed the most profound silence. By the gesticulation of the body, the motion of the eye, or the expression of the finger, directions were conveyed, and never misunderstood. </p> <p> Some writer of ancient date hath interpreted one of the psalms of David (the hundred and twenty-third), under this view; and indeed, if read with an eye to this custom in the east, the beauty of it becomes abundantly more striking. [[Suppose]] David in that psalm had reference to the great humility and awe with which the lowest servants approach their lord, the expressions of his soul in that sweet psalm would strike the mind as if thus speaking: "Unto thee lift I up mine eyes, [[O]] thou that dwellest in the heavens. Behold, as the eyes of servants look unto the hand of their masters, and as the eyes of a maiden to the hand of her mistress, even so our eyes wait upon the Lord our God, until he have mercy upon us." </p>
| | <p> ''''' fin´gẽr ''''' ( אצבּע , <i> ''''' 'ecba‛ ''''' </i> ): The smallest of the [[Hebrew]] linear measures. It was equal to the breadth of the finger, or about 3/4 inches, four of which made a palm ( Jeremiah 52:21 ). See [[Weights And Measures]] . </p> |
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| == Wilson's Dictionary of Bible Types <ref name="term_197831" /> ==
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| <p> Exodus 8:19 (a) Here is a mark of the power of GOD. Only His finger was needed in order to do great things, and to perform marvelous miracles. We are reminded by this that if so much could be done by one finger, what tremendous things would be done by His whole person. </p> <p> 2 Samuel 21:20 (a) The presence of six fingers and six toes would mark this man as a "superman." Six in the Bible represents the number of man's sufficiency and supremacy. </p> <p> 1 Kings 12:10 (a) The king by means of this figure told the people that the least of his laws of oppression would be worse than the greater laws of oppression which were enforced by his father Solomon. He assured the people that he would be more oppressive and more cruel than his father had been. </p> <p> Isaiah 58:9 (a) The pointing of the finger was a gesture of impudence and scorn against GOD. This was to be discontinued entirely, and the attitude of [[Israel]] was to be completely changed into one of devotion, acceptance and friendliness. </p> <p> Daniel 5:5 (c) This is a picture to show that GOD uses human instruments to present divine truths. He used only a man's fingers because He did not need man's brains, nor his mind in order to make or reveal His decisions. The man's fingers simply wrote the story that GOD had devised in His own heart. </p> <p> Luke 11:20 (a) Probably the Lord [[Jesus]] was referring to the [[Holy]] Spirit as a part of Himself. He said on one occasion that He cast out demons by the Spirit of GOD. It may be also He used the finger to indicate that this was only a very little of His power. When He uses greater power the demons and the [[Devil]] himself will be cast into the lake of fire to be forever punished. </p> | |
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| == Webster's Dictionary <ref name="term_121772" /> ==
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| <p> '''(1):''' ''' (''' n.) The breadth of a finger, or the fourth part of the hand; a measure of nearly an inch; also, the length of finger, a measure in domestic use in the United States, of about four and a half inches or one eighth of a yard. </p> <p> '''(2):''' ''' (''' n.) One of the five terminating members of the hand; a digit; esp., one of the four extermities of the hand, other than the thumb. </p> <p> '''(3):''' ''' (''' n.) [[Anything]] that does work of a finger; as, the pointer of a clock, watch, or other registering machine; especially (Mech.) a small projecting rod, wire, or piece, which is brought into contact with an object to effect, direct, or restrain a motion. </p> <p> '''(4):''' ''' (''' n.) [[Skill]] in the use of the fingers, as in playing upon a musical instrument. </p> <p> '''(5):''' ''' (''' v. t.) To mark the notes of (a piece of music) so as to guide the fingers in playing. </p> <p> '''(6):''' ''' (''' v. t.) To touch with the fingers; to handle; to meddle with. </p> <p> '''(7):''' ''' (''' v. t.) To touch lightly; to toy with. </p> <p> '''(8):''' ''' (''' v. t.) To perform on an instrument of music. </p> <p> '''(9):''' ''' (''' v. t.) To take thievishly; to pilfer; to purloin. </p> <p> '''(10):''' ''' (''' v. t.) To execute, as any delicate work. </p> <p> '''(11):''' ''' (''' v. i.) To use the fingers in playing on an instrument. </p>
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| == King James Dictionary <ref name="term_60303" /> ==
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| <p> FIN'GER, n. fing'ger. </p> 1. One of the extreme parts of the hand, a small member shooting to a point. The fingers have joints which peculiarly fit them to be the instruments of catching, seizing and holding. When we speak of the fingers generally, we include the thumb as the five fingers. But we often make a distinction. The fingers and thumb consist of fifteen bones three to each. The word is applied to some other animals as well as to man. 2. A certain measure. We say a finger's breadth, or the breadth of the four fingers, or of three fingers. 3. The hand. <p> Who teacheth my fingers to fight. Psalms 146 . </p> 4. The finger or fingers of God, in scripture, signify his power, strength or operation. <p> The magicians said to Pharaoh, this is the finger of God. </p> <p> Exodus 8 . </p> 5. In music, ability skill in playing on a keyed instrument. She has a good finger. <p> FIN'GER, </p> 1. To handle with the fingers to touch lightly to toy. The covetous man delights to finger money. 2. To touch or take thievishly to pilfer. 3. To touch an instrument of music to play on an instrument. 4. To perform work with the fingers to execute delicate work. 5. To handle without violence. <p> FIN'GER, To dispose the fingers aptly in playing on an instrument. </p>
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| == Watson's Biblical & Theological Dictionary <ref name="term_80697" /> ==
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| <p> The finger of God signifies his power, his operation. Pharaoh's magicians discovered the finger of God in the miracle which Moses wrought, Exodus 8:19 . This legislator gave the law written by the finger of God to the Hebrews, Exodus 31:18 . Our [[Saviour]] says he cast out devils by the finger and Spirit of God, which he intimates was a sign that the kingdom of God was come; that God's spiritual government of his church was begun to be exercised among the Jews, by the Messiah, Luke 11:20 . To put forth one's finger, is a bantering, insulting gesture. "If thou take away from the midst of thee the yoke, and the putting out of the finger," Isaiah 58:9; if thou take away from the midst of thee the chain, or yoke, wherewith thou loadest thy debtors; and forbear pointing at them, and using jeering or menacing gestures. </p>
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| == Vine's Expository Dictionary of NT Words <ref name="term_77786" /> ==
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| <div> ''': ''' (Strong'S # — — — ) </div> <p> Matthew 23:4; Mark 7:33; Luke 11:46; 16:24; John 8:6; 20:25,27 , is used metaphorically in Luke 11:20 , for the power of God, the effects of which are made visible to men (cp. Matthew 12:28 , "by the Spirit of God;" cp. also Exodus 8:19 ). </p>
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| == Cyclopedia of Biblical, Theological and Ecclesiastical Literature <ref name="term_40174" /> ==
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| <p> ( '''''אֶצְבִּע''''' , ''Etsba', '''''Δάκτυλος''''' ),'' besides its ordinary meaning, is used in [[Scripture]] to denote the special and immediate agency of any one. (See [[Arm]]). The [[Egyptian]] magicians, terrified by the numerous plagues inflicted upon their country, at length said, "This is the finger of God," i.e. this is done by the power of God himself ( Exodus 8:19). Moses gave the tables of the law written by the finger (personal direction) of God to the Hebrews ( Exodus 31:18). The heavens are said to be the work of God's fingers, i.e. his power ( Psalms 8:3). Christ cast out devils with the finger or power of God ( Luke 11:20). " To put forth the finger" is a bantering, insulting gesture ( Isaiah 58:9). Some take this for a menacing gesture, as [[Nicanor]] stretched out his hand against the Temple, threatening to burn it ( 2 [[Maccabees]] 14:33). "Four fingers thick" occurs as a measure in Jeremiah 52:21. (See [[Ring]]). </p>
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| ==References == | | ==References == |
| <references> | | <references> |
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| <ref name="term_47745"> [https://bibleportal.com/dictionary/hawker-s-poor-man-s-concordance-and-dictionary/finger Finger from Hawker's Poor Man's Concordance And Dictionary]</ref> | | <ref name="term_3723"> [https://bibleportal.com/encyclopedia/international-standard-bible-encyclopedia/finger+(2) Finger from International Standard Bible Encyclopedia]</ref> |
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| <ref name="term_197831"> [https://bibleportal.com/dictionary/wilson-s-dictionary-of-bible-types/finger Finger from Wilson's Dictionary of Bible Types]</ref>
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| <ref name="term_121772"> [https://bibleportal.com/dictionary/webster-s-dictionary/finger Finger from Webster's Dictionary]</ref>
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| <ref name="term_60303"> [https://bibleportal.com/dictionary/king-james-dictionary/finger Finger from King James Dictionary]</ref>
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| <ref name="term_80697"> [https://bibleportal.com/dictionary/watson-s-biblical-theological-dictionary/finger Finger from Watson's Biblical & Theological Dictionary]</ref>
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| <ref name="term_77786"> [https://bibleportal.com/dictionary/vine-s-expository-dictionary-of-nt-words/finger Finger from Vine's Expository Dictionary of NT Words]</ref>
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| <ref name="term_40174"> [https://bibleportal.com/encyclopedia/cyclopedia-of-biblical-theological-and-ecclesiastical-literature/finger Finger from Cyclopedia of Biblical, Theological and Ecclesiastical Literature]</ref>
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| </references> | | </references> |
