SPECIAL TOPIC: SEAL

  1. Old Testament
    1. The main root (BDB 362, 368, KB 364) basically means "to shut," "to restrict," or "to seal." It is used in several senses.
      1. of items
        1. royal documents ‒ 1 Kgs. 21:8; Neh. 9:38; 10:1; Esther 3:12; 8:8
        2. love/marriage ‒ S of S 8:6
        3. bill of sale ‒ Jer. 32:10,11,14,44
        4. ownership ‒ Job 14:17; S of S 4:12
      2. of God's actions/will
        1. sovereignty ‒ Job 33:16; 37:7
        2. His word through prophets ‒ Isa. 8:16; Dan. 9:24
        3. His hidden truth ‒ Isa. 29:11; Dan. 12:4,9
        4. His protection ‒ Gen. 4:15
    2. That which is "sealed" is that which is secure and settled!

  2. New Testament
    1. The NT authors were OT thinkers (except Luke) who wrote in Koine Greek. However, their word meanings came from Hebrew roots. So, the best place to find out a word's possible connotation is the Koine Greek translation of the Hebrew Bible done by Jews in the B.C. period (see SPECIAL TOPIC: SEPTUAGINT).
    2. NT usage follows OT usage
      1. of items
        1. a sepulchre ‒ Matt. 27:66
        2. a sign of circumcision ‒ Rom. 4:11
        3. churches' financial gifts to Paul ‒ Rom. 15:28
        4. a vibrant church evidence of Paul's Apostleship ‒ 1 Cor. 9:2
      2. of God
        1. God of truth ‒ John 3:33; 6:27
        2. God's protection and security ‒ Matt. 27:66; Rom. 4:11; 15:28; 2 Cor. 1:22; Eph. 1:13; 4:30; Rev. 20:3
        3. God's ownership ‒ John 6:27; 2 Tim. 2:19; Rev. 7:2-3; 9:4
        4. reality of God's promised gift ‒ Rom. 4:11; 2 Cor. 9:2
        5. God's anointing, sealing, and pledging of Paul, Silas, and Timothy ‒ 2 Cor. 1:22
        6. God sealed by the presence of the Spirit ‒ Eph. 1:13-14; 4:30
        7. God knows who are His ‒ 2 Tim. 2:19
    3. Special numerous usages in the book of Revelation
      1. the book of human destiny sealed with seven seals (throne room in heaven scene)
        1. book sealed with seven seals ‒ Rev. 5:1,2,5,9
        2. book seals opened by the Lamb ‒ Rev. 6:1,2,3,5,7,9,12; 8:1
      2. angels act on God's behalf
        1. identity seal ‒ Rev. 7:2
        2. God's seal marks His bond-servants' foreheads (in Rev. 14:1; 22:4; the seal is Jesus' name) ‒ Rev. 7:3,4,5,6,7,8; 9:4
      3. seal up the seven seals ‒ Rev. 10:4; (cf. Dan. 8:26; 12:4,9); 22:10

  3. Biblically the seal is imagery for
    1. genuineness
    2. ownership
    3. protection

 

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