Bible Dictionary: Likeness

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Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary

1. (n.) The state or quality of being like; similitude; resemblance; similarity; as, the likeness of the one to the other is remarkable.

2. (n.) Appearance or form; guise.

3. (n.) That which closely resembles; a portrait.

4. (n.) A comparison; parable; proverb.

International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

LIKE; LIKEN; LIKENESS; LIKING

lik, lik'-n, lik'-nes, lik'-ing:

(1) As a noun, "like" in modern English is virtually obsolete, except in the phrase "and the like," which is not found in English Versions of the Bible. "The like," however, occurs in 1 Kings 10:20 parallel 2 Chronicles 9:19 2 Chronicles 1:12; Ezekiel 5:9; Ezekiel 18:10 (the Revised Version (British and American) "any one of these things"-the text is uncertain); 45:25:00; Joel 2:2; The Wisdom of Solomon 16:1 (the Revised Version (British and American) "creatures like those"); Sirach 7:12. "His like" is found in Job 41:33; Sirach 13:15; "their like" in Sirach 27:9. "And such like" (Galatians 5:21) is only slightly archaic, but "doeth not such like" (Ezekiel 18:14) is quite obsolete.

(2) As an adjective "like" is common in the King James Version in such combinations as "like manner" (frequently), "like weight" (Exodus 30:34), "like occupation" (Acts 19:25), etc. Modern English would in most cases replace "like" by "the same," as has been done in 1 Thessalonians 2:14 the Revised Version (British and American) (compare Romans 15:5 Philippians 2:2). So the Revised Version (British and American) has modernized the archaic "like precious faith" of 2 Peter 1:1 by inserting "a" before "like." The King James Version's rendering of 1 Peter 3:21, "the like figure whereunto," could not have been very clear at any time, and the Revised Version (British and American) has revised completely into "after a true likeness" (margin, "in the antitype").

(3) As an adverb "like" is used in Jeremiah 38:9, "He is like to die"; Jonah 1:4, "like to be broken." the Revised Version (British and American) could have used "likely" in these verses. Most common of all the uses of "like" is the quasi-prepositional construction in "He is like a man," etc. This is of course good modern English, but not so when "like" is enlarged (as it usually is in the English Versions of the Bible) into the forms "like to" (Daniel 7:5), "like unto" (very common), "like as" (Isaiah 26:17, etc.). These forms and the simple "like" are interchanged without much distinction, and the Revised Version (British and American) has attempted little systematizing beyond reducing the occurrences of "like as" (compare Matthew 12:13, and the American Standard Revised Version Isaiah 13:4 Jeremiah 23:29).

(4) The verb "like" has two distinct meanings, "be pleased with" and "give pleasure to." The latter sense occurs in Deuteronomy 23:16 (The King James Version, the English Revised Version), "in one of thy gates, where it liketh him best," and in Esther 8:8 Amos 4:5 the King James Version; Sirach 33:13 (the American Standard Revised Version has "pleaseth" in the three Old Testament passages). The other use of "like" belongs also to modern English, although in a much weakened sense. On account of this weakening, 1 Chronicles 28:4 the King James Version, "liked me to make me king" and Romans 1:28 the King James Version "did not like to retain God," have become in the Revised Version (British and American) "took pleasure in" and "refused to" (margin "did not approve"). It would have been better if Deuteronomy 25:7, 8, "like not to take," had been modified also into "hath no wish to take." From this use of "like" is derived liking in the modern sense in The Wisdom of Solomon 16:21, tempered itself to every man's liking" (the Revised Version (British and American) "choice"). In 1 Esdras 4:39, "All men do well like of her works" is a further obsolete use.

(5) Liken and "make like" are common. To be noted only is that, in Hebrews 7:3, "made like unto the Son of God," the sense really is "likened to," "presented by the writer with the qualities of." Likeness normally means "a copy of," but in Psalm 17:15 it means the actual form itself ("form" in the American Standard Revised Version, the English Revised Version margin); compare Romans 6:5; Romans 8:3 Philippians 2:7, and perhaps Acts 14:11. Closely allied with likeness" is an obsolete use of "liking" (quite distinct from that above) in Job 39:4 the King James Version the English Revised Version, "Their young ones are in good liking" Daniel 1:10, "see your faces worse liking." The meaning is "appearance," "appearing," and the American Standard Revised Version renders "their young ones become strong," "see your faces worse looking." Likewise varies in meaning from the simple conjunction "and" to a strong adverb, "in exactly the same way." the Revised Version (British and American) has made some attempt to distinguish the various forces (e.g. compare the King James Version with the Revised Version (British and American) in Luke 22:36; Luke 15:7; Luke 22:20). But complete consistency was not attainable, and in certain instances was neglected deliberately, in order to preserve the familiar wording, as in Luke 10:37, "Go, and do thou likewise."

Burton Scott Easton

Greek

3665. homoiotes -- likeness, in like manner
... likeness, in like manner. Part of Speech: Noun, Feminine Transliteration: homoiotes
Phonetic Spelling: (hom-oy-ot'-ace) Short Definition: likeness, resemblance ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/3665.htm - 6k

3669. homoiosis -- a making like, likeness
... a making like, likeness. Part of Speech: Noun, Feminine Transliteration: homoiosis
Phonetic Spelling: (hom-oy'-o-sis) Short Definition: making like, likeness ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/3669.htm - 7k

3667. homoioma -- that which is made like (something)
... made like (something). Part of Speech: Noun, Neuter Transliteration: homoioma Phonetic
Spelling: (hom-oy'-o-mah) Short Definition: a likeness, form, similitude ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/3667.htm - 7k

1504. eikon -- an image, ie lit. statue, fig. representation
... representation. Part of Speech: Noun, Feminine Transliteration: eikon Phonetic Spelling:
(i-kone') Short Definition: an image, likeness, bust Definition: an ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/1504.htm - 7k

5481. charakter -- a tool for engraving
... 5481 -- properly, an engraving; (figuratively) an exact impression (likeness)
which also reflects inner . ... exact representation, exact likeness. ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/5481.htm - 7k

2471. isotes -- equality
... Cognate: 2471 -- equality (likeness), proportional. See 2470 (). ... equality. Likeness
(in condition or proportion); by implication, equity -- equal(-ity). ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/2471.htm - 6k

38. hagiasmos -- consecration, sanctification
... derived from 40 , "holy") -- (the process of advancing in ); use of the believer
being progressively transformed by the Lord into His likeness (similarity of ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/38.htm - 7k

4756. stratia -- an army
... Feminine of a derivative of stratos (an army; from the base of stronnumi, as encamped);
camp-likeness, ie An army, ie (figuratively) the angels, the celestial ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/4756.htm - 7k

Strong's Hebrew

1823. demuth -- likeness, similitude
... 1822, 1823. demuth. 1824 . likeness, similitude. Transliteration: demuth
Phonetic Spelling: (dem-ooth') Short Definition: likeness. ...
/hebrew/1823.htm - 6k

8544. temunah -- likeness, form
... 8543, 8544. temunah. 8545 . likeness, form. Transliteration: temunah Phonetic
Spelling: (tem-oo-naw') Short Definition: form. ... image, likeness, similitude. ...
/hebrew/8544.htm - 6k

1825. dimyon -- likeness
... likeness. Transliteration: dimyon Phonetic Spelling: (dim-yone') Short Definition:
like. Word Origin from damah Definition likeness NASB Word Usage like (1). ...
/hebrew/1825.htm - 6k

4915b. moshel -- likeness
... moshel. 4916 . likeness. Transliteration: moshel Short Definition: like. Word
Origin from mashal Definition likeness NASB Word Usage like (1). 4915a, 4915b ...
/hebrew/4915b.htm - 5k

8403. tabnith -- construction, pattern, figure
... 8402, 8403. tabnith. 8404 . construction, pattern, figure. Transliteration:
tabnith Phonetic Spelling: (tab-neeth') Short Definition: likeness. ...
/hebrew/8403.htm - 6k

8404. Taberah -- "burning," a place in the desert
... Word Origin from baar Definition "burning," a place in the desert NASB Word Usage
Taberah (2). figure, form, likeness, pattern, similitude. ...
/hebrew/8404.htm - 6k

5566. semel -- an image, statue
... figure, idol, image. Or cemel {say'-mel}; from an unused root meaning to resemble;
a likeness -- figure, idol, image. 5565, 5566. semel or semel. 5567 . ...
/hebrew/5566.htm - 6k

Library

The Family Likeness
... THE FIRST EPISTLE OF PETER THE FAMILY LIKENESS. ... Shall we not try to be like the Father
of our spirits, and seek for His grace, to bear the likeness of sons? ...
/.../maclaren/expositions of holy scripture ephesians peter/the family likeness.htm

Image and Likeness.
... First Chapter. INTRODUCTION IV. Image and Likeness. "Let Us make man in
Our image, after Our likeness." "Genesis 1:26. Glorious ...
/.../kuyper/the work of the holy spirit/iv image and likeness.htm

Whether Likeness is a Cause of Love?
... OF THE CAUSE OF LOVE (FOUR ARTICLES) Whether likeness is a cause of love? Objection
1: It would seem that likeness is not a cause of love. ...
/.../christianbookshelf.org/aquinas/summa theologica/whether likeness is a cause.htm

The Likeness of Christ to the Father is Asserted on the Authority ...
... The likeness of Christ to the Father is asserted on the authority of St.� The likeness
of Christ to the Father is asserted on the authority of St. ...
/.../ambrose/works and letters of st ambrose/chapter vii the likeness of.htm

That Man is a Likeness of the Divine Sovereignty .
... III."Philosophical Works. V. That man is a likeness of the Divine
sovereignty . 1. It is true, indeed, that the Divine beauty ...
/.../gregory/gregory of nyssa dogmatic treatises etc/v that man is a.htm

For Christ-Likeness.
... ORIGINAL HYMNS HYMN CXI. For Christ-likeness. 8.6.8.6 James Montgomery. For
Christ-likeness. Son of the living God, display. Thy glory in this place,. ...
/.../montgomery/sacred poems and hymns/hymn cxi for christ-likeness.htm

Whether Likeness is a Cause of Pleasure?
... OF THE CAUSE OF PLEASURE (EIGHT ARTICLES) Whether likeness is a cause of pleasure?
Objection 1: It would seem that likeness is not a cause of pleasure. ...
/.../aquinas/summa theologica/whether likeness is a cause 2.htm

Whether "Likeness" is Properly Distinguished from "Image"?
... THE END OR TERM OF THE PRODUCTION OF MAN (NINE ARTICLES) Whether "likeness"
is properly distinguished from "image"? Objection 1: It ...
/.../aquinas/summa theologica/whether likeness is properly distinguished.htm

We must Reserve the Likeness of the virtues in Ourselves. ...
... Book I. Chapter XLIX. We must reserve the likeness of the virtues in ourselves.�
We must reserve the likeness of the virtues in ourselves. ...
/.../ambrose/works and letters of st ambrose/chapter xlix we must reserve.htm

The Likeness of God
... SERMON XXIV."THE LIKENESS OF GOD. Ephesians 4:23, 24. ... That, is after the pattern
of God, in the image of God, in the likeness of God. ...
/.../kingsley/discipline and other sermons/sermon xxiv the likeness of god.htm

Thesaurus

Likeness (52 Occurrences)
... 1. (n.) The state or quality of being like; similitude; resemblance; similarity;
as, the likeness of the one to the other is remarkable. ...
/l/likeness.htm - 29k

Resembling (19 Occurrences)
... Ezekiel 1:5 And out of its midst 'is' a likeness of four living creatures, and this
'is' their appearance; a likeness of man 'is' to them, (See NAS). ...
/r/resembling.htm - 12k

Graven (61 Occurrences)
... Exodus 20:4 Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image, or any likeness of any
thing that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is ...
/g/graven.htm - 27k

Expanse (18 Occurrences)
... Ezekiel 1:22 Over the head of the living creature there was the likeness of an expanse,
like the awesome crystal to look on, stretched forth over their heads ...
/e/expanse.htm - 11k

Similitude (18 Occurrences)
... Noah Webster's Dictionary 1. (n.) The quality of being similar or like;
resemblance; likeness; similarity; as, similitude of substance. ...
/s/similitude.htm - 13k

Firmament (17 Occurrences)
... Ezekiel 1:22 And the likeness of the firmament upon the heads of the living creature
was as the colour of the terrible crystal, stretched forth over their ...
/f/firmament.htm - 13k

Figure (19 Occurrences)
... fig'-ur, fig'-yur (cemel, cemel; tupos): The translation of cemel, or cemel, "a
likeness or image"; perhaps a transposition of tselem, the usual word for ...
/f/figure.htm - 19k

Resembled (18 Occurrences)
... Ezekiel 1:26 Above the expanse that was over their heads was the likeness of a throne,
as the appearance of a sapphire stone; and on the likeness of the throne ...
/r/resembled.htm - 12k

Counterfeit (3 Occurrences)
... counterfeit philanthropist. 4. (n.) That which resembles or is like another
thing; a likeness; a portrait; a counterpart. 5. (n.) That ...
/c/counterfeit.htm - 9k

Sapphire (11 Occurrences)
... Ezekiel 1:26 Above the expanse that was over their heads was the likeness of a throne,
as the appearance of a sapphire stone; and on the likeness of the throne ...
/s/sapphire.htm - 11k

Bible Concordance

Likeness (52 Occurrences)

Matthew 22:20 "Whose likeness and inscription," He asked, "is this?"
(WEY NAS RSV)

Mark 12:16 They brought one; and He asked them, "Whose is this likeness and this inscription?" "Caesar's," they replied.
(WEY NAS RSV)

Luke 20:24 "Show me a shilling; whose likeness and inscription does it bear?" "Caesar's," they said.
(WEY NAS RSV)

Acts 14:11 When the multitude saw what Paul had done, they lifted up their voice, saying in the language of Lycaonia, "The gods have come down to us in the likeness of men!"
(WEB KJV ASV WBS RSV)

Romans 1:23 and traded the glory of the incorruptible God for the likeness of an image of corruptible man, and of birds, and four-footed animals, and creeping things.
(WEB ASV DBY YLT)

Romans 5:14 Nevertheless death reigned from Adam until Moses, even over them that had not sinned after the likeness of Adam's transgression, who is a figure of him that was to come.
(ASV DBY YLT NAS)

Romans 6:5 For if we have become united with him in the likeness of his death, we will also be part of his resurrection;
(WEB KJV ASV DBY WBS YLT NAS)

Romans 8:3 For what the law couldn't do, in that it was weak through the flesh, God did, sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh and for sin, he condemned sin in the flesh;
(WEB KJV ASV DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)

Romans 8:29 For those whom He has known beforehand He has also pre-destined to bear the likeness of His Son, that He might be the Eldest in a vast family of brothers;
(WEY NIV)

1 Corinthians 15:49 As we have borne the image of those made of dust, let's also bear the image of the heavenly.
(See NIV)

2 Corinthians 3:18 And all of us, with unveiled faces, reflecting like bright mirrors the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same likeness, from one degree of radiant holiness to another, even as derived from the Lord the Spirit.
(WEY RSV NIV)

2 Corinthians 4:4 in whom the god of this world has blinded the minds of the unbelieving, that the light of the Good News of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God, should not dawn on them.
(See RSV)

Ephesians 4:24 and put on the new man, who in the likeness of God has been created in righteousness and holiness of truth.
(WEB NAS RSV)

Philippians 2:7 but emptied himself, taking the form of a servant, being made in the likeness of men.
(WEB KJV ASV DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)

Hebrews 7:15 This is yet more abundantly evident, if after the likeness of Melchizedek there arises another priest,
(WEB ASV NAS RSV)

James 3:9 With it we bless the Lord and Father, and with it we curse men, who are made in God's likeness.
(WEY ASV DBY NAS RSV NIV)

1 Peter 3:21 which also after a true likeness doth now save you, 'even' baptism, not the putting away of the filth of the flesh, but the interrogation of a good conscience toward God, through the resurrection of Jesus Christ;
(ASV)

Genesis 1:26 God said, "Let us make man in our image, after our likeness: and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the birds of the sky, and over the livestock, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth."
(WEB KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)

Genesis 5:1 This is the book of the generations of Adam. In the day that God created man, he made him in God's likeness.
(WEB KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)

Genesis 5:3 Adam lived one hundred thirty years, and became the father of a son in his own likeness, after his image, and named him Seth.
(WEB KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)

Exodus 20:4 Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image, or any likeness of any thing that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth.
(KJV JPS ASV WBS YLT NAS RSV)

Deuteronomy 4:16 Lest you corrupt yourselves, and make yourself an engraved image in the form of any figure, the likeness of male or female,
(WEB KJV JPS ASV WBS NAS RSV)

Deuteronomy 4:17 the likeness of any animal that is on the earth, the likeness of any winged bird that flies in the sky,
(WEB KJV JPS ASV WBS NAS RSV)

Deuteronomy 4:18 the likeness of anything that creeps on the ground, the likeness of any fish that is in the water under the earth;
(WEB KJV JPS ASV WBS NAS RSV)

Deuteronomy 4:23 Take heed unto yourselves, lest ye forget the covenant of the LORD your God, which he made with you, and make you a graven image, or the likeness of any thing, which the LORD thy God hath forbidden thee.
(KJV JPS WBS)

Deuteronomy 4:25 When thou shalt beget children, and children's children, and ye shall have remained long in the land, and shall corrupt yourselves, and make a graven image, or the likeness of any thing, and shall do evil in the sight of the LORD thy God, to provoke him to anger:
(KJV WBS)

Deuteronomy 5:8 "You shall not make an engraved image for yourself, nor any likeness of anything that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth:
(WEB KJV JPS ASV WBS NAS RSV)

2 Kings 16:10 And king Ahaz goeth to meet Tiglath-Pileser king of Asshur 'at' Damascus, and seeth the altar that 'is' in Damascus, and king Ahaz sendeth unto Urijah the priest the likeness of the altar, and its pattern, according to all its work,
(YLT)

2 Chronicles 4:3 Under it was the likeness of oxen, which encircled it, for ten cubits, encircling the sea. The oxen were in two rows, cast when it was cast.
(WEB ASV YLT)

Psalms 17:12 His likeness as a lion desirous to tear, As a young lion dwelling in secret places.
(YLT)

Psalms 17:15 As for me, I will behold thy face in righteousness: I shall be satisfied, when I awake, with thy likeness.
(KJV JPS DBY WBS NAS NIV)

Psalms 106:20 Thus they changed their glory For the likeness of an ox that eateth grass.
(ASV JPS)

Psalms 144:12 Because our sons 'are' as plants, Becoming great in their youth, Our daughters as hewn stones, Polished -- the likeness of a palace,
(YLT)

Isaiah 13:4 A voice of a multitude in the mountains, A likeness of a numerous people, A voice of noise from the kingdoms of nations who are gathered, Jehovah of Hosts inspecting a host of battle!
(YLT)

Isaiah 40:18 To whom then will you liken God? Or what likeness will you compare to him?
(WEB KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV)

Isaiah 52:14 According as many were appalled at thee--so marred was his visage unlike that of a man, and his form unlike that of the sons of men--
(See NIV)

Ezekiel 1:5 Out of its midst came the likeness of four living creatures. This was their appearance: they had the likeness of a man.
(WEB KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS YLT RSV)

Ezekiel 1:10 As for the likeness of their faces, they had the face of a man; and they four had the face of a lion on the right side; and they four had the face of an ox on the left side; they four had also the face of an eagle.
(WEB KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS YLT RSV)

Ezekiel 1:13 As for the likeness of the living creatures, their appearance was like burning coals of fire, like the appearance of torches: the fire went up and down among the living creatures; and the fire was bright, and out of the fire went forth lightning.
(WEB KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS YLT)

Ezekiel 1:16 The appearance of the wheels and their work was like a beryl: and they four had one likeness; and their appearance and their work was as it were a wheel within a wheel.
(WEB KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS YLT RSV)

Ezekiel 1:22 Over the head of the living creature there was the likeness of an expanse, like the awesome crystal to look on, stretched forth over their heads above.
(WEB KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS YLT RSV)

Ezekiel 1:26 Above the expanse that was over their heads was the likeness of a throne, as the appearance of a sapphire stone; and on the likeness of the throne was a likeness as the appearance of a man on it above.
(WEB KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS YLT RSV)

Ezekiel 1:28 As the appearance of the bow that is in the cloud in the day of rain, so was the appearance of the brightness all around. This was the appearance of the likeness of the glory of Yahweh. When I saw it, I fell on my face, and I heard a voice of one that spoke.
(WEB KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS NAS RSV NIV)

Ezekiel 2:1 It 'is' the appearance of the likeness of the honour of Jehovah, and I see, and fall on my face, and I hear a voice speaking, and He saith unto me, 'Son of man, stand on thy feet, and I speak with thee.'
(YLT)

Ezekiel 8:2 Then I saw, and behold, a likeness as the appearance of fire; from the appearance of his waist and downward, fire; and from his waist and upward, as the appearance of brightness, as it were glowing metal.
(WEB KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS YLT NAS)

Ezekiel 10:1 Then I looked, and see, in the expanse that was over the head of the cherubim there appeared above them as it were a sapphire stone, as the appearance of the likeness of a throne.
(WEB KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS YLT NIV)

Ezekiel 10:10 As for their appearance, they four had one likeness, as if a wheel have been within a wheel.
(WEB KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV)

Ezekiel 10:21 Every one had four faces, and every one four wings; and the likeness of the hands of a man was under their wings.
(WEB KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS YLT)

Ezekiel 10:22 As for the likeness of their faces, they were the faces which I saw by the river Chebar, their appearances and themselves; they went every one straight forward.
(WEB KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV)

Ezekiel 19:10 Thy mother was like a vine, in thy blood, planted by the waters: it was fruitful and full of branches by reason of many waters.
(See JPS)

Ezekiel 23:15 girded with girdles on their waists, with flowing turbans on their heads, all of them princes to look on, after the likeness of the Babylonians in Chaldea, the land of their birth.
(WEB JPS ASV DBY YLT)

Daniel 10:16 Behold, one in the likeness of the sons of men touched my lips: then I opened my mouth, and spoke and said to him who stood before me, my lord, by reason of the vision my sorrows are turned on me, and I retain no strength.
(WEB ASV DBY RSV)

Subtopics

Likeness

Related Terms

Resembling (19 Occurrences)

Graven (61 Occurrences)

Expanse (18 Occurrences)

Similitude (18 Occurrences)

Firmament (17 Occurrences)

Figure (19 Occurrences)

Resembled (18 Occurrences)

Counterfeit (3 Occurrences)

Sapphire (11 Occurrences)