The term "back-bone" is not explicitly mentioned in the Bible; however, the concept of the spine or backbone can be inferred through various scriptural references to strength, support, and structure. In biblical times, the backbone was understood as a crucial part of the human body, providing physical support and enabling movement. It is often used metaphorically to describe moral and spiritual fortitude.

Metaphorical Use in Scripture

The backbone is often symbolically associated with strength and resilience. In the Bible, strength is a recurring theme, and the backbone can be seen as a metaphor for the inner strength that believers are called to exhibit. For instance, in Ephesians 6:10 , Paul exhorts believers to "be strong in the Lord and in His mighty power." This strength is akin to having a spiritual backbone, standing firm in faith and righteousness.

Moral and Spiritual Fortitude

The concept of having a "backbone" in a moral or spiritual sense is reflected in the call to stand firm against adversity and temptation. In 1 Corinthians 16:13 , Paul instructs, "Be on the alert. Stand firm in the faith. Be men of courage. Be strong." This passage emphasizes the need for believers to have a strong spiritual backbone, maintaining their faith and integrity in the face of challenges.

Support and Structure

The backbone's role in providing support and structure to the body can be likened to the role of faith and the Word of God in a believer's life. Just as the spine supports the body, Scripture supports and guides the believer. Psalm 119:105 states, "Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path," highlighting the guiding and sustaining role of God's Word.

Community and Unity

In a communal sense, the backbone can also represent the unity and support within the body of Christ. Ephesians 4:16 describes the church as a body, "From Him the whole body, fitted and held together by every supporting ligament, grows and builds itself up in love, as each part does its work." Here, the backbone can be seen as a symbol of the interconnectedness and mutual support among believers, essential for the health and growth of the church.

Conclusion

While the term "back-bone" is not directly mentioned in the Bible, its symbolic implications are woven throughout Scripture. The backbone represents strength, support, and unity, both physically and spiritually, encouraging believers to stand firm in their faith and support one another in love.6096. atseh -- spine
... 6095, 6096. atseh. 6097 . spine. Transliteration: atseh Phonetic Spelling:
(aw-tseh') Short Definition: backbone. Word ... 1). backbone. ...
/hebrew/6096.htm - 6k

6100. Etsyon Geber -- a city on the shore of the Gulf of Aqaba
... Ezion-geber. (shorter) {Etsyon Geber, from atseh and geber; backbone-like of a man;
Etsjon-Geber, a place on the Red Sea -- Ezion-geber. see HEBREW atseh. ...
/hebrew/6100.htm - 6k

The Government of India.
... Years before the Mutiny, Sir Henry Lawrence said it was the backbone of
our strength, and events proved how true his remark was. ...
/.../chapter xxxi the government of.htm

The Unchangeable Christ
... Our noble forefathers of the Puritanic sort were men with backbone, men of solid
tread, independent and self-contained men, who could hold their own in the day ...
/.../spurgeon/spurgeons sermons volume 40 1894/the unchangeable christ.htm

The First Chaldaean Empire and the Hyksos in Egypt
... its tribes to mass themselves together, and oppose a compact body to the invading
hosts; but the range of mountains which forms its backbone subdivides it into ...
/.../chapter ithe first chaldaean empire.htm

Significant Phrases
... awe and reverence. awkwardness and crudity. B. babel and confusion. backbone and
sinew. baffled and disappointed. balanced and forceful. barbarity and wickedness ...
/.../kleiser/fifteen thousand useful phrases/section ii significant phrases.htm

The Mutiny of 1857-58.
... The small European force has always been the backbone of our armies; but in
every battle native soldiers have formed the great majority. ...
/.../life and work in benares and kumaon 1839-1877/chapter xvi the mutiny of.htm

The Last Days of Zinzendorf, 1755-1760.
... language. It was, therefore, the German element of the old Brethren's
Church that formed the backbone of the Renewed Church. It ...
/.../hutton/history of the moravian church/chapter xv the last days.htm

As I have Said, I Propose to Take Only one Central Instance...
... Just as there are fields too far off for law, so there are fields too near; as
a man may see the North Pole before he sees his own backbone. ...
/.../chesterton/whats wrong with the world/chapter 7 as i have.htm

Grace and Truth Coupled.
... Of course real grace and truth always are coupled. They tell the exquisite poise
that is in everything God does. Truth is the back-bone of grace. ...
/.../gordon/quiet talks on johns gospel/grace and truth coupled.htm

Caphar Tebi.
... be esteemed clean or unclean). "Tudrus said, Here is neither the backbone
nor the skull of a man. They said, therefore, Since here ...
/.../lightfoot/from the talmud and hebraica/chapter 18 caphar tebi.htm

The Net Spread
... only due honour to the second man in the kingdom.' But the monotheism of his race
was too deeply ingrained in him, and so he kept 'a stiff backbone' and 'bowed ...
/.../maclaren/expositions of holy scripture g/the net spread.htm

Backbone (1 Occurrence)
... 2. (n.) Anything like , or serving the purpose of, a backbone. 3. (n.) Firmness;
moral principle; steadfastness. ...Backbone (1 Occurrence). ...
/b/backbone.htm - 7k

Back-bone (1 Occurrence)
Back-bone. Backbone, Back-bone. Background . Multi-Version Concordance
Back-bone (1 Occurrence). ... Backbone, Back-bone. Background . Reference Bible.
/b/back-bone.htm - 6k

Rump (5 Occurrences)
... Noah Webster's Dictionary 1. (n.) The end of the backbone of an animal, with
the parts adjacent; the buttock or buttocks. 2. (n.) Among ...
/r/rump.htm - 9k

Luz (7 Occurrences)
... It may also mean "bone," particularly a bone of the spine, and might be applied
to a rocky height supposed to resemble a backbone (Lagarde, Uebersicht., 157). ...
/l/luz.htm - 11k

Graecia
... East. Intersecting this line, the lofty Pindus range, forming the backbone
of Northern Greece, extends southward to Mt. Tymphrestus ...
/g/graecia.htm - 21k

Inwards (24 Occurrences)
... offer from the sacrifice of peace offerings an offering made by fire to Yahweh;
its fat, the entire tail fat, he shall take away close to the backbone; and the ...
/i/inwards.htm - 14k

Tail (16 Occurrences)
... offer from the sacrifice of peace offerings an offering made by fire to Yahweh;
its fat, the entire tail fat, he shall take away close to the backbone; and the ...
/t/tail.htm - 13k

Rump-bone (1 Occurrence)
... the sacrifice of peace-offerings an offering made by fire unto Jehovah; the fat
thereof, the fat tail entire, he shall take away hard by the backbone; and the ...
/r/rump-bone.htm - 6k

Ezion-geber (6 Occurrences)
... The giant's backbone (so called from the head of a mountain which runs out into
the sea), an ancient city and harbour at the north-east end of the Elanitic ...
/e/ezion-geber.htm - 10k

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