The term "back-part" is notably referenced in the context of the divine encounter between Moses and God in the Old Testament. This term is primarily associated with the manifestation of God's glory and the limitations placed upon human perception of the divine presence.

Biblical Reference:

The most significant mention of "back-part" occurs in the Book of Exodus. In Exodus 33:18-23 , Moses requests to see God's glory. The Lord responds by explaining that no one can see His face and live. Instead, God offers to show Moses His "back-part":

> "Then Moses said, 'Please show me Your glory.' 'I will cause all My goodness to pass before you,' the LORD replied, 'and I will proclaim My name—the LORD—before you. I will have mercy on whom I have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I have compassion.' But He added, 'You cannot see My face, for no one can see Me and live.' The LORD continued, 'There is a place near Me where you are to stand upon a rock, and when My glory passes by, I will put you in a cleft of the rock and cover you with My hand until I have passed by. Then I will take My hand away, and you will see My back; but My face must not be seen.'"

Theological Significance:

The "back-part" of God, as described in this passage, symbolizes the partial revelation of God's glory that is accessible to humanity. It underscores the transcendence and holiness of God, emphasizing that while God desires to reveal Himself to His people, there are inherent limitations due to human finitude and sinfulness. The encounter illustrates the balance between God's immanence and transcendence, where He is both near to His people and yet beyond full human comprehension.

Interpretation and Symbolism:

From a theological perspective, the "back-part" can be seen as a metaphor for the indirect ways in which God reveals Himself to humanity. It suggests that while God's presence is real and impactful, it is often perceived in retrospect or through the effects of His actions rather than through direct vision. This aligns with the broader biblical theme that God's ways and thoughts are higher than those of humans (Isaiah 55:8-9).

Historical and Cultural Context:

In the ancient Near Eastern context, seeing the face of a deity was often associated with receiving a direct and potentially overwhelming revelation. The biblical narrative, however, sets a clear boundary, indicating that the full glory of the one true God is beyond human capacity to endure. This reflects the distinctiveness of Israel's understanding of God compared to surrounding cultures, emphasizing His holiness and the reverence due to Him.

Application in Christian Thought:

In Christian theology, the concept of seeing God's "back-part" can be related to the idea of progressive revelation. Throughout the Bible, God reveals Himself in stages, culminating in the person of Jesus Christ, who is described as the "image of the invisible God" (Colossians 1:15). While the full glory of God remains beyond human sight, believers are invited to know God through Christ and the indwelling of the Holy Spirit, who guides them into all truth (John 16:13).

The "back-part" thus serves as a reminder of the mystery of God and the grace extended to humanity in allowing them to experience His presence, albeit in a limited form, until the eschatological fulfillment when believers will see Him face to face (1 Corinthians 13:12).268. achor -- the hind side, back part
... 267, 268. achor. 269 . the hind side, back part. Transliteration: achor
Phonetic Spelling: (aw-khore') Short Definition: back. Word ...
/hebrew/268.htm - 6k

Ananias and Sapphira
... And he "kept back part of the price, his wife also being privy to it, and
brought a certain part, and laid it at the apostles' feet. ...
/.../milligan/men of the bible some lesser-known/ananias and sapphira.htm

Ananias and Sapphira.
... "But a certain man, named Ananias, with Sapphira his wife, sold a possession, and
kept back part of the price, his wife also being privy to it, and brought a ...
/.../dick/lectures on the acts of the apostles/lecture vi ananias and sapphira.htm

Of the Persons by Whom, and the Uses for Which, Ecclesiastical ...
... in the before-cited passage of the Acts of the Apostles: "But a certain man named
Ananias, with Sapphira his wife, sold land (agrum), and kept back part of the ...
//christianbookshelf.org/unknown/the decretals/ii of the persons by.htm

The Generosity of the Early Christians
... But a man named Ananias and his wife Sapphira sold some property, and with her approval
kept back part of the price and brought only a part of it to the ...
/.../sherman/the childrens bible/the generosity of the early.htm

The Annunciation
... The Blessed Virgin's bedchamber was in the back part of the house, near the hearth,
which was here placed, not in the center as in Anna's house, but rather on ...
/.../emmerich/the life of the blessed virgin mary/viii the annunciation.htm

Concerning the Garments of the Priests, and of the High Priest.
... connected them with golden bands to the tops of the shoulders, whose extremity turned
backwards, and went into the ring, on the prominent back part of the ephod ...
/.../josephus/the antiquities of the jews/chapter 7 concerning the garments.htm

Letter xxxi (AD 1132) to the Abbot of a Certain Monastery at York ...
... he proceeds: "He who renounces a more perfect state which he has embraced, to follow
another which is less so, is precisely the man who looks back" (Part iii. ...
/.../some letters of saint bernard abbot of clairvaux/letter xxxi a d 1132 to.htm

The Sunday Christian.
... "Walk back, gentlemen," said Lane, as he turned to lead the way. The four men retired
to the little office of the merchant in the back part of the store. ...
//christianbookshelf.org/arthur/words for the wise/the sunday christian.htm

Meditation ii. The Supper-Room.
... transparent blue gauze. The back part of this room was separated from the rest
by a curtain, also of blue transparent gauze. This division ...
/.../the dolorous passion of our lord jesus christ/meditation ii the supper-room.htm

Ninth Commandment
... When Ananias kept back part of the price of the land, Peter asked him""Why hath
Satan filled thine heart to lie unto the Holy Ghost?" Satan is the father of ...
//christianbookshelf.org/moody/weighed and wanting/ninth commandment.htm

Back-part (1 Occurrence)
Back-part. Background, Back-part. Backs . Multi-Version Concordance
Back-part (1 Occurrence). Leviticus 13:55 And the ...
/b/back-part.htm - 6k

Dishonestly (5 Occurrences)
... Acts 5:2 with her full knowledge and consent, dishonestly kept backpart of the
price which he received for it, though he brought the rest and gave it to the ...
/d/dishonestly.htm - 7k

Price (181 Occurrences)
... Acts 5:2 and kept backpart of the price, his wife also being aware of it, and
brought a certain part, and laid it at the apostles' feet. ...
/p/price.htm - 40k

Proceeds (20 Occurrences)
... Acts 5:2 and kept backpart of the price, his wife also being aware of it, and brought
a certain part, and laid it at the apostles' feet. (See RSV). ...
/p/proceeds.htm - 12k

Behind (188 Occurrences)
... achievement. 4. (adv.) At the backpart; in the rear. 5. (adv.) Toward the
backpart or rear; backward; as, to look behind. 6. (adv ...
/b/behind.htm - 37k

Received (312 Occurrences)
... Acts 5:2 with her full knowledge and consent, dishonestly kept backpart of the
price which he received for it, though he brought the rest and gave it to the ...
/r/received.htm - 35k

Backs (46 Occurrences)

/b/backs.htm - 21k

Front-part (1 Occurrence)
... plague hath not changed its aspect, and the plague hath not spread, -- it 'is' unclean;
with fire thou dost burn it; it 'is' a fretting in its back-part or in ...
/f/front-part.htm - 6k

Try (84 Occurrences)
... 5:3 "Ananias," said Peter, "why has Satan taken possession of your heart, that you
should try to deceive the Holy Spirit and dishonestly keep backpart of the ...
/t/try.htm - 31k

Deceive (48 Occurrences)
... 5:3 "Ananias," said Peter, "why has Satan taken possession of your heart, that you
should try to deceive the Holy Spirit and dishonestly keep backpart of the ...
/d/deceive.htm - 22k

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