In the context of the Bible, the term "limb" can refer to the physical parts of the human body, such as arms and legs, and is often used metaphorically to convey spiritual truths or moral teachings. The Bible frequently uses the imagery of limbs to illustrate concepts of strength, action, and the interconnectedness of the body of Christ.

Physical Limbs in Scripture

The Bible acknowledges the importance of physical limbs as part of God's creation. In Genesis 32:25, we read about Jacob wrestling with a divine being: "When the man saw that He could not overpower Jacob, He struck the socket of Jacob’s hip and dislocated it as they wrestled." This incident highlights the vulnerability and significance of physical limbs in human experience.

Metaphorical Use of Limbs

The metaphorical use of limbs is prevalent throughout Scripture, often illustrating spiritual truths. In 1 Corinthians 12:12-27, the Apostle Paul uses the analogy of the human body to describe the Church: "For just as the body is one and has many parts, and all the parts of the body, though many, are one body, so also is Christ." Here, limbs represent the diverse yet unified members of the Church, each with a unique role and function.

Moral and Ethical Teachings

Jesus uses the imagery of limbs to teach about sin and righteousness. In Matthew 5:29-30, He states, "If your right eye causes you to sin, gouge it out and throw it away. It is better for you to lose one part of your body than for your whole body to be thrown into hell. And if your right hand causes you to sin, cut it off and throw it away." This hyperbolic language emphasizes the seriousness of sin and the lengths to which one should go to avoid it.

Healing and Restoration

The healing of physical limbs is a testament to Jesus' divine power and compassion. In Matthew 12:13, Jesus heals a man with a withered hand: "Then He said to the man, 'Stretch out your hand.' So he stretched it out, and it was restored to full use, just like the other." Such miracles demonstrate the restorative power of Christ and His authority over creation.

Symbol of Strength and Support

Limbs are also symbols of strength and support in the Bible. In Psalm 18:34, David praises God for empowering him: "He trains my hands for battle; my arms can bend a bow of bronze." This imagery underscores the idea that God equips His people with the strength needed for spiritual warfare and daily challenges.

Interconnectedness and Unity

The concept of limbs as part of a greater whole is a recurring theme. Ephesians 4:16 speaks of the body of Christ: "From Him the whole body, fitted and held together by every supporting ligament, grows and builds itself up in love through the work of each individual part." This passage highlights the importance of unity and cooperation among believers, each contributing to the growth and health of the Church.

In summary, the term "limb" in the Bible encompasses both the literal and metaphorical, serving as a powerful symbol of physical ability, spiritual truth, and communal unity within the body of Christ.1. (n.) A part of a tree which extends from the trunk and separates into branches and twigs; a large branch.

2. (n.) An arm or a leg of a human being; a leg, arm, or wing of an animal.

3. (n.) A thing or person regarded as a part or member of, or attachment to, something else.

4. (n.) An elementary piece of the mechanism of a lock.

5. (v. t.) To supply with limbs.

6. (v. t.) To dismember; to tear off the limbs of.

7. (n.) A border or edge, in certain special uses.

8. (n.) The border or upper spreading part of a monopetalous corolla, or of a petal, or sepal; blade.

9. (n.) The border or edge of the disk of a heavenly body, especially of the sun and moon.

10. (n.) The graduated margin of an arc or circle, in an instrument for measuring angles.

3196. melos -- a member or limb (of the body)
... a member or limb (of the body). Part of Speech: Noun, Neuter Transliteration: melos
Phonetic Spelling: (mel'-os) Short Definition: a limb, member Definition: a ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/3196.htm - 7k

2966. kolon -- a limb (of the body)
... a limb (of the body). Part of Speech: Noun, Neuter Transliteration: kolon Phonetic
Spelling: (ko'-lon) Short Definition: a limb, bodies Definition: a limb ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/2966.htm - 6k

1450. egguos -- under good security (adjective), guarantee (noun)
... surety. From en and guion (a limb); pledged (as if articulated by a member), ie
A bondsman -- surety. see GREEK en. (enguos) -- 1 Occurrence. 1449, 1450. ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/1450.htm - 6k

2814. klema -- a vine branch
... branch. From klao; a limb or shoot (as if broken off) -- branch. see GREEK klao.
(klema) -- 3 Occurrences. (klemata) -- 1 Occurrence. 2813, 2814. klema. 2815 ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/2814.htm - 6k

1917. haddam -- a member, limb
... 1916, 1917. haddam. 1918 . a member, limb. Transliteration: haddam Phonetic
Spelling: (had-dawm') Short Definition: limb. Word Origin ...
/hebrew/1917.htm - 6k

6106. etsem -- bone, substance, self
... Word Origin from atsom Definition bone, substance, self NASB Word Usage body (3),
bone (15), bone of my bones (1), bones (83), itself (1), limb (1), pains (1 ...
/hebrew/6106.htm - 6k

7105. qatsiyr -- harvesting, harvest
... From qatsar; severed, ie Harvest (as reaped), the crop, the time, the reaper, or
figuratively; also a limb (of a tree, or simply foliage) -- bough, branch ...
/hebrew/7105.htm - 5k

3338. yatsur -- form, member
... member. Passive participle of yatsar; structure, ie Limb or part -- member.ql. see
HEBREW yatsar. 3337, 3338. yatsur. 3339 . Strong's Numbers.
/hebrew/3338.htm - 6k

Mortification
... MORTIFICATION. "If by tying its main artery, we stop most of the blood going to
a limb, then, for as long as the limb performs its function, those parts which ...
/.../drummond/natural law in the spiritual world/mortification.htm

Immoralities of the Gods.
... And these, indeed, are the milder kinds of legends; since the god who is called
Osiris is found to have been torn limb from limb, whose mysteries are ...
/.../theophilus/theophilus to autolycus/chapter ix immoralities of the gods.htm

The Absurdity and Impiety of the Heathen Mysteries and Fables ...
... clashing their weapons, and the Titans having come upon them by stealth, and having
beguiled him with childish toys, these very Titans tore him limb from limb ...
/.../clement/exhortation to the heathen/chapter ii the absurdity and impiety.htm

The Disciple, -- Master, if Thou Wouldst Make a Special ...
... Often one hears something like this, "If this or that doubt of mine be removed I
am ready to believe." That is as though one with a broken limb should ask the ...
//christianbookshelf.org/singh/at the masters feet/section ii the disciple .htm

Is the Soul Wounded when the Body is Wounded?
... Where is the ground for the earnest contention to which you devoted your efforts,
when you laboured to show, that when a limb is cut off, the soul must not be ...
/.../augustine/anti-pelagian writings/chapter 27 is the soul wounded.htm

The Rule Given About not Seeking One's Own Gain is Established...
... partner. 17. The very form of thy body and the uses of thy limbs teach
thee this. Can one limb claim the duties of another? Can ...
/.../ambrose/works and letters of st ambrose/chapter iii the rule given.htm

But they with whom we Argue have Undoubtedly a Right to Select ...
... by Tacitus; II. The restoration of the limb of an attendant in a Spanish
church, as told by Cardinal de Retz; and,. III. The cures ...
/.../paley/evidences of christianity/chapter ii but they with.htm

Mighty to Save
... By special care in dressing his diseased limb I was able considerably to lessen
his sufferings, and he soon began to manifest grateful appreciation of my ...
//christianbookshelf.org/taylor/a retrospect/chapter vii mighty to save.htm

The Power of God's Word Over the Human Affections.
... In thousands of instances men and women have been stretched upon the "rack," torn
limb from limb, thrown to the wild beasts, and have been burned at the stake ...
/.../pink/the divine inspiration of the bible/iii the power of gods.htm

The Reality of the Resurrection
... To deny, for example, that those fetuses ever lived at all which are cut away limb
by limb and cast out of the wombs of pregnant women, lest the mothers die ...
/.../augustine/handbook on faith hope and love/chapter xxiii the reality of.htm

Limb (5 Occurrences)
... 10. (n.) The graduated margin of an arc or circle, in an instrument for measuring
angles. Multi-Version Concordance Limb (5 Occurrences). ...
/l/limb.htm - 8k

Arm (110 Occurrences)
... Noah Webster's Dictionary. 1. (n.) The limb of the human body which extends from
the shoulder to the hand; also, the corresponding limb of a monkey. ...
/a/arm.htm - 42k

Knife (10 Occurrences)
... Judges 19:29 When he was come into his house, he took a knife, and laid hold on
his concubine, and divided her, limb by limb, into twelve pieces, and sent her ...
/k/knife.htm - 13k

Leg (24 Occurrences)
... 1. (n.) A limb or member of an animal used for supporting the body, and in running,
climbing, and swimming; esp., that part of the limb between the knee and ...
/l/leg.htm - 19k

Reach (63 Occurrences)
... 1. (vi) To retch. 2. (n.) An effort to vomit. 3. (vt) To extend; to stretch; to
thrust out; to put forth, as a limb, a member, something held, or the like. ...
/r/reach.htm - 27k

Maim (4 Occurrences)
... 1. (vt) To deprive of the use of a limb, so as to render a person on fighting
less able either to defend himself or to annoy his adversary. ...
/m/maim.htm - 8k

Cripple (2 Occurrences)
... 1. (n.) One who creeps, halts, or limps; one who has lost, or never had, the use
of a limb or limbs; a lame person; hence, one who is partially disabled. ...
/c/cripple.htm - 7k

Areas (8 Occurrences)
... Judges 19:29 When he was come into his house, he took a knife, and laid hold on
his concubine, and divided her, limb by limb, into twelve pieces, and sent her ...
/a/areas.htm - 9k

Concubine (21 Occurrences)
... Judges 19:29 When he was come into his house, he took a knife, and laid hold on
his concubine, and divided her, limb by limb, into twelve pieces, and sent her ...
/c/concubine.htm - 15k

Hand (14438 Occurrences)
... 1. (n.) That part of the fore limb below the forearm or wrist in man and monkeys,
and the corresponding part in many other animals; manus; paw. See Manus. ...
/h/hand.htm - 27k

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