In the context of the Bible, the concept of being "singled" often relates to the idea of being chosen, set apart, or distinguished for a specific purpose by God. This theme is prevalent throughout the Scriptures, where individuals, groups, or nations are selected by God to fulfill His divine will.

Old Testament Examples

1. Abraham: Abraham is a prime example of someone singled out by God. In Genesis 12:1-3 , God calls Abram (later named Abraham) to leave his country and promises to make him a great nation. This singling out establishes the foundation for the nation of Israel and God's covenant people.

2. Israel: The nation of Israel itself is often described as being singled out by God. In Deuteronomy 7:6 , it is written, "For you are a people holy to the LORD your God. The LORD your God has chosen you to be a people for His prized possession, above all peoples on the face of the earth." This selection underscores Israel's unique role in God's redemptive plan.

3. David: King David was singled out by God to lead Israel. In 1 Samuel 16:12-13 , God instructs Samuel to anoint David as king, despite his being the youngest of Jesse's sons. David's selection highlights God's criteria, which often differ from human expectations.

New Testament Examples

1. Mary: Mary, the mother of Jesus, is another individual singled out by God. In Luke 1:30-31 , the angel Gabriel tells her, "Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. Behold, you will conceive and give birth to a son, and you are to give Him the name Jesus." Mary's selection emphasizes her role in the incarnation of Christ.

2. The Apostles: Jesus singled out the twelve apostles to be His closest followers and to spread the Gospel. In Mark 3:13-14 , it is recorded, "Then Jesus went up on the mountain and called for those He wanted, and they came to Him. He appointed twelve of them, whom He designated as apostles, to accompany Him and to be sent out to preach." This selection was crucial for the establishment of the early Church.

3. Paul: The Apostle Paul was uniquely singled out for his mission to the Gentiles. In Acts 9:15 , the Lord says to Ananias regarding Paul, "Go! This man is My chosen instrument to carry My name before the Gentiles and their kings and before the people of Israel." Paul's selection underscores the expansion of the Gospel beyond Jewish communities.

Theological Implications

The concept of being singled out by God carries significant theological implications. It reflects God's sovereignty and His active role in guiding history according to His purposes. Those who are singled out often face unique challenges and responsibilities, as their lives are meant to serve as instruments of God's will.

Spiritual Significance

For believers, the idea of being singled out can also be understood in a spiritual sense. In 1 Peter 2:9 , Christians are described as "a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for God’s own possession, to proclaim the virtues of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light." This passage highlights the calling of all believers to live lives that reflect God's glory and purpose.

In summary, the theme of being singled out in the Bible illustrates God's intentional selection of individuals and groups to fulfill His divine plan, demonstrating His sovereignty and the unique roles assigned to His chosen people.(imp. & p. p.) of Single.1870. epaischunomai -- to be ashamed (of)
... 1870 (from , ", fitting" intensifying 153, "disgrace") -- properly, , like someone
"singled out" because they placed their confidence or support ("believed the ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/1870.htm - 7k

You Observe How He Treats Ambrose. First, He Calls Him a Crow and ...
... in other birds' showy feathers; and then he rends him with his foul abuse, and declares
that there is nothing manly in a man whom God has singled out to be the ...
/.../25 you observe how he.htm

Love's Triumph Over Sin
... To the others, it was of little importance that his name should have been named
then; to him it was life from the dead, that he should have been singled out to ...
/.../maclaren/expositions of holy scripture d/loves triumph over sin.htm

The Sovereignty of God in Salvation
... Before His omniscient eye stood the whole of Adam's race, and from it He singled
out a people and predestinated them "to be conformed to the image of His Son ...
/.../pink/the sovereignty of god/chapter four the sovereignty of.htm

The Formation of the Old Testament Canon
... It is therefore safe to conclude that by 350 BC the first five books of our Old
Testament had not only been singled out of the larger literature of the race ...
/.../xiii the formation of the.htm

Earnest Expostulation
... thyself. Observe that the apostle singled out an individual who had condemned
others for transgressions, in which he himself indulged. ...
/.../spurgeon/spurgeons sermons volume 29 1883/earnest expostulation.htm

Model Speeches
... contains in itself not one but many lessons; and in the case of him whose character
and deeds we are here to commemorate, two may be singled out specially ...
/.../kleiser/successful methods of public speaking/study of model speeches.htm

Edwards -- Spiritual Light
... Pharisees, and rulers, and the nation in general, are left in darkness, to follow
their own misguided apprehensions; and that thou shouldst be singled out, as ...
/.../kleiser/the worlds great sermons volume 3/edwards spiritual light.htm

Pious Parents, under Such a Dispensation, May Conclude it is Well ...
... put into my Hand[p]? When I have perhaps felt some painful Fore-bodings of what
I am now suffering; I have, in my own Thoughts, particularly singled out that ...
/.../ii pious parents under such.htm

Brief Memoir of Thomas Watson
... Calamy, in his Nonconformist Memorial, says of him: - He was so well known in the
city for his piety and usefulness, that though he was singled out by the ...
/.../watson/a body of divinity/brief memoir of thomas watson.htm

The Indestructibility of the Bible is a Proof that Its Author is ...
... The very fact that the Bible has been so singled out for such relentless
persecution causes us to wonder at such a unique phenomenon. ...
/.../the divine inspiration of the bible/chapter eleven the indestructibility of.htm

Singled (1 Occurrence)
... Multi-Version Concordance Singled (1 Occurrence). Job 15:22 He believeth not that
he shall return out of darkness, and he is singled out for the sword. (DBY). ...
/s/singled.htm - 6k

Zacchaeus (3 Occurrences)
... There he was singled out by Jesus, who said to him, "Zacchaeus, make haste, and
come down; for to-day I must abide at thy house" (Luke 19:5). The offer thus ...
/z/zacchaeus.htm - 10k

Evangelist (2 Occurrences)
... But Ephesians 4:11 teaches that one particular order of the ministry, distinguished
from every other, is singled out by the Head of the church for this work in ...
/e/evangelist.htm - 23k

Deborah (10 Occurrences)
... A community by the name of Meroz is singled out for blame, `because they came not
to the help of Yahweh, to the help of Yahweh among the mighty' (5:23; compare ...
/d/deborah.htm - 14k

Corban (2 Occurrences)
... This shows clearly why Christ singled out this queer regulation in order to demonstrate
the sophistry of tradition and to bring out the fact of its possible ...
/c/corban.htm - 9k

Prison (131 Occurrences)
... while Peter appears to be speaking to his readers of something with which they are
familiar; it seems strange that these antediluvians should be singled out as ...
/p/prison.htm - 52k

Single-hearted (2 Occurrences)
Single-hearted. Singled, Single-hearted. Single-heartedness . Noah Webster's
Dictionary ... (See JPS). Singled, Single-hearted. Single-heartedness . ...
/s/single-hearted.htm - 7k

Spirits (129 Occurrences)
... while Peter appears to be speaking to his readers of something with which they are
familiar; it seems strange that these antediluvians should be singled out as ...
/s/spirits.htm - 42k

Revelation (52 Occurrences)
... Nor was this people permitted to imagine that it was for its own sake alone that
it had been singled out to be the sole recipient of the knowledge of Yahweh ...
/r/revelation.htm - 89k

Single (65 Occurrences)

/s/single.htm - 28k

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