The term "forepart" is used in the Bible to describe the front or forward section of an object or entity. This term is often employed in a literal sense, referring to the physical front portion of something, but it can also carry symbolic or metaphorical meanings depending on the context.

Biblical References:

1. Exodus 28:27-28 : In the instructions for the priestly garments, the forepart is mentioned in the context of the ephod, a sacred vestment worn by the high priest. The passage describes how the ephod should be fastened: "Make two gold rings and attach them to the two ends of the breastpiece, on its inner edge next to the ephod. Make two more gold rings and attach them to the bottom of the shoulder pieces on the front of the ephod, close to its seam above the woven waistband of the ephod." Here, the forepart of the ephod is significant for its role in securing the breastpiece, symbolizing the priest's duty to bear the names of the tribes of Israel before the Lord.

2. 1 Samuel 5:4 : The forepart is also mentioned in the account of the Ark of the Covenant being placed in the temple of Dagon. "But when they got up early the next morning, there was Dagon, fallen on his face on the ground before the ark of the LORD. His head and hands had been broken off and were lying on the threshold; only the body remained." The forepart of the idol Dagon, specifically its head and hands, is broken off, signifying the impotence of false gods before the true God of Israel.

3. Ezekiel 10:14 : In Ezekiel's vision of the cherubim, the forepart is described in the context of the faces of the living creatures: "Each one had four faces: the first face was that of a cherub, the second the face of a man, the third the face of a lion, and the fourth the face of an eagle." The forepart, or the face, of each cherub represents different aspects of God's creation and His attributes, such as strength, intelligence, majesty, and swiftness.

Symbolic and Theological Significance:

In a symbolic sense, the forepart often represents the aspect of something that is most prominent or significant. In the context of the priestly garments, the forepart of the ephod and breastpiece signifies the high priest's role as an intercessor for the people of Israel, bearing their names before God. This foreshadows the ultimate High Priest, Jesus Christ, who intercedes on behalf of believers.

The breaking of the forepart of Dagon in 1 Samuel 5:4 serves as a powerful demonstration of God's supremacy over idols and false gods. It underscores the futility of worshiping anything other than the one true God, a theme that resonates throughout Scripture.

In Ezekiel's vision, the forepart of the cherubim, with its diverse faces, reflects the multifaceted nature of God's creation and His divine attributes. Each face represents a different aspect of God's character and His relationship with the world.

Overall, the concept of the forepart in the Bible, whether in a literal or symbolic sense, often points to themes of prominence, significance, and divine authority.(n.) The part most advanced, or first in time or in place; the beginning.FOREPART

for'-part: The translation of panim, "face" (Exodus 28:27; Exodus 39:20 1 Kings 6:20, the Revised Version (British and American) "within"; Ezekiel 42:7, the Revised Version (British and American) "before"), and of prora, the forward part of a ship, the prow (Acts 27:41, "the forepart stuck fast," the Revised Version (British and American) "the foreship struck").

ARV has "its forepart into" for "with his face towards" (Joel 2:20 margin "with its forepart"); "in the forepart thereof" for "before it" (Exodus 28:25; Exodus 39:18).

4408. prora -- the prow (of a ship)
... forepart. Feminine of a presumed derivative of pro as noun; the prow, ie Forward
part of a vessel -- forepart(-ship). see GREEK pro. (prora) -- 1 Occurrence. ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/4408.htm - 6k

Journey to Evora
... The other poor fellow seemed by no means averse to go to the bottom; he sat at the
forepart of the boat looking the image of famine, and only smiled when the ...
//christianbookshelf.org/borrow/letters of george borrow/journey to evora.htm

Joel's Rhapsody of the Locust Plague
... a reproach among the nations: but I will remove far off from you the northern army,
and will drive him into a land barren and desolate, his forepart into the ...
/.../select masterpieces of biblical literature/joels rhapsody of the locust.htm

Acts xxvi. 30-32
... "And falling into a place where two seas met, they ran the ship aground; and the
forepart stuck fast, and remained unmovable, but the hinder part was broken ...
/.../chrysostom/homilies on acts and romans/homily liii acts xxvi 30-32.htm

The Third Continental Journey, or the Journey to Greece.
... In the forepart of the route we saw much wood and water, hill and dale, with cattle
feeding in the peaceful pastures, which is a lovely sight. ...
/.../chapter xi the third continental.htm

A Startling Statement
... A sailor was suspended over the side of the vessel making repairs when an enormous
wave tore him away, and he was very soon under the forepart of the ship. ...
//christianbookshelf.org/chapman/and judas iscariot/a startling statement.htm

Vespasian, when He had Taken the City Gadaea Marches to Jotapata. ...
... This battering ram is a vast beam of wood like the mast of a ship, its forepart
is armed with a thick piece of iron at the head of it, which is so carved as to ...
/.../chapter 7 vespasian when he.htm

From John Yeardley's Conversion to the Commencement of his Public ...
... The forepart was conducted, I think, to edification; but in the latter, one subject
occupied much time unnecessarily, and did not conclude to general ...
/.../chapter i from john yeardleys.htm

The Struggler;
... the folio, latter part; that is, those books formerly printed, where the printer
hath not failed to make it so, and also in the manuscripts, forepart, a guide ...
/.../bunyan/the works of john bunyan volumes 1-3/the struggler.htm

From his Entrance on the Ministry in 1815, to his Commission to ...
... The forepart of that meeting was very trying, at which I did not wonder, if we might
judge from a previous feeling; for ever since the prospect of this little ...
/.../chapter ii from his entrance.htm

Tiglath-Pileser iii. And the Organisation of the Assyrian Empire ...
History Of Egypt, Chaldaea, Syria, Babylonia, and Assyria, V 7. <. ...
/.../chapter iitiglath-pileser iii and the.htm

Forepart (6 Occurrences)
... Noah Webster's Dictionary (n.) The part most advanced, or first in time or in place;
the beginning. Int. Standard Bible Encyclopedia. FOREPART. ...
/f/forepart.htm - 9k

Shoulder-pieces (9 Occurrences)
... And the other two ends of the two wreathen chains thou shalt put on the two settings,
and put them on the shoulder-pieces of the ephod in the forepart thereof. ...
/s/shoulder-pieces.htm - 9k

Wreathen (8 Occurrences)
... And the other two ends of the two wreathen chains thou shalt put on the two settings,
and put them on the shoulder-pieces of the ephod in the forepart thereof. ...
/w/wreathen.htm - 8k

Attach (12 Occurrences)
... Exodus 28:25 The other two ends of the two braided chains you shall put on the two
settings, and put them on the shoulder straps of the ephod in its forepart. ...
/a/attach.htm - 11k

Straps (10 Occurrences)
... Exodus 28:25 The other two ends of the two braided chains you shall put on the two
settings, and put them on the shoulder straps of the ephod in its forepart. ...
/s/straps.htm - 9k

Ephod (45 Occurrences)
... Exodus 28:25 The other two ends of the two braided chains you shall put on the two
settings, and put them on the shoulder straps of the ephod in its forepart. ...
/e/ephod.htm - 27k

Shoulder (72 Occurrences)
... Exodus 28:25 The other two ends of the two braided chains you shall put on the two
settings, and put them on the shoulder straps of the ephod in its forepart. ...
/s/shoulder.htm - 37k

Pieces (209 Occurrences)
... Exodus 28:27 And thou shalt make two rings of gold, and shalt put them on the two
shoulder-pieces of the ephod underneath, in the forepart thereof, close by ...
/p/pieces.htm - 40k

Underneath (19 Occurrences)
... Exodus 28:27 You shall make two rings of gold, and shall put them on the two shoulder
straps of the ephod underneath, in its forepart, close by its coupling ...
/u/underneath.htm - 12k

Unmoveable (2 Occurrences)
... Acts 27:41 And falling into a place where two seas met, they ran the ship aground;
and the forepart stuck fast, and remained unmoveable, but the hinder part ...
/u/unmoveable.htm - 7k

Forepart: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.com

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