The term "stretched-out" in the Bible often refers to the extension of God's power, judgment, or mercy. It is a vivid expression used to describe God's active involvement in the affairs of humanity, whether in delivering His people or executing judgment upon the wicked.

1. Divine Power and Creation: The imagery of God's "stretched-out" hand or arm is frequently used to convey His omnipotence and creative authority. In Isaiah 40:22, the prophet declares, "He sits enthroned above the circle of the earth; its dwellers are like grasshoppers. He stretches out the heavens like a curtain and spreads them out like a tent to dwell in." This passage emphasizes God's sovereign control over the universe, illustrating His ability to shape and sustain creation.

2. Judgment and Wrath: The "stretched-out" hand of God is also a symbol of His judgment. In Exodus 6:6, God promises deliverance to the Israelites, saying, "Therefore tell the Israelites: ‘I am the LORD, and I will bring you out from under the yoke of the Egyptians. I will free you from being slaves to them, and I will redeem you with an outstretched arm and with mighty acts of judgment.'" Here, the "outstretched arm" signifies God's intervention to liberate His people through acts of judgment against their oppressors.

3. Deliverance and Salvation: The concept of God's "stretched-out" hand is not limited to judgment but also encompasses His deliverance and salvation. In Psalm 136:12, the psalmist recounts God's deliverance of Israel from Egypt, stating, "with a mighty hand and an outstretched arm; His loving devotion endures forever." This reflects God's enduring commitment to His covenant people, demonstrating His willingness to act powerfully on their behalf.

4. Prophetic Warnings: The prophets often used the imagery of a "stretched-out" hand to warn of impending judgment due to Israel's disobedience. In Isaiah 5:25, it is written, "Therefore the anger of the LORD burns against His people; His hand is raised against them to strike them down. The mountains quake, and their corpses lie like refuse in the streets. Yet for all this, His anger is not turned away; His hand is still upraised." This serves as a sobering reminder of the consequences of turning away from God.

5. Christ's Ministry: In the New Testament, the concept of "stretched-out" takes on a new dimension in the ministry of Jesus Christ. 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." This act of healing symbolizes the restorative power of Christ, who came to bring wholeness and redemption.

The "stretched-out" hand or arm of God is a multifaceted symbol throughout Scripture, representing His power, judgment, mercy, and salvation. It underscores the active and dynamic nature of God's relationship with His creation, highlighting His readiness to intervene in human history according to His divine purposes.7257. rabats -- stretch oneself out, lie down, lie stretched out
... 7256, 7257. rabats. 7258 . stretch oneself out, lie down, lie stretched out.
Transliteration: rabats Phonetic Spelling: (raw-bats') Short Definition: down. ...
/hebrew/7257.htm - 6k

7250. raba -- to lie stretched out, lie down
... 7249, 7250. raba. 7251 . to lie stretched out, lie down. Transliteration: raba
Phonetic Spelling: (raw-bah') Short Definition: mate. Word Origin a prim. ...
/hebrew/7250.htm - 6k

5186. natah -- to stretch out, spread out, extend, incline, bend
... outstretched (17), pervert (4), perverted (1), pitch (1), pitched (11), push aside
(1), spread (3), stretch (28), stretched (32), stretched-out (1), stretches ...
/hebrew/5186.htm - 7k

4545. masseketh -- fabric on a loom
... web. From nacak in the sense of spreading out; something expanded, ie The warp in
a loom (as stretched out to receive the woof) -- web. see HEBREW nacak. ...
/hebrew/4545.htm - 6k

6571. parash -- a horse, steed
... horseman From parash; a steed (as stretched out to a vehicle, not single nor for
mounting (compare cuwc)); also (by implication) a driver (in a chariot), ie ...
/hebrew/6571.htm - 5k

2220. zeroa -- arm, shoulder, strength
... Or (shortened) zroao {zer-o'-ah}; and (feminine) zrowpah {zer-o-aw'}; or zrowah
{zer-o-aw'}; from zara'; the arm (as stretched out), or (of animals) the foreleg ...
/hebrew/2220.htm - 6k

And the Lord Stretched Out his Hand, and Said...
... And the Lord stretched out His hand, and said? And the Lord stretched out His hand,
and said: Come to me, all my saints, who have my image and likeness. ...
/.../unknown/the gospel of nicodemus /chapter 8 24 and the.htm

The Stretched-Out Hands of Moses Signified Beforehand the Cross.
... Chapter XC."The stretched-out hands of Moses signified beforehand the cross.
"Bring us on, then," said [Trypho], "by the Scriptures ...
/.../chapter xc the stretched-out hands of.htm

While Hades was Thus Discoursing to Satan, the King of Glory ...
... Part II."The Descent of Christ into Hell. Greek Form. Chapter 8 (24). While Hades
was thus discoursing to Satan, the King of glory stretched out His right? ...
/.../unknown/the gospel of nicodemus /chapter 8 24 while hades.htm

The Son in Union with the Father in the Creation of all Things ...
... But this very declaration of His they will hastily pervert into an argument of His
singleness. "I have," says He, "stretched out the heaven alone." Undoubtedly ...
/.../tertullian/against praxeas/chapter xix the son in union.htm

Conclusion Contrast Between the Statements of Hermogenes and the ...
... this is proved by Jeremiah when he says, "God hath made the earth by His power,
He hath established the world by His wisdom, and hath stretched out the heaven ...
/.../tertullian/against hermogenes/chapter xlv conclusion contrast between the.htm

The Cost of Being Cruel and Stubborn
... hand with your staff over the rivers, over the canals, and over the pools, and cause
frogs to come up over the land of Egypt.'" So Aaron stretched out his hand ...
/...//christianbookshelf.org/sherman/the childrens bible/the cost of being cruel.htm

The Gospel of Nicodemus.
... Chapter 8 (24). While Hades was thus discoursing to Satan, the King of glory stretched
out His right? ... And the Lord stretched out His hand, and said? ...
//christianbookshelf.org/unknown/the gospel of nicodemus /

The Escape from Egypt
... Then Moses stretched out his hand over the sea, and Jehovah by means of a strong
east wind caused the sea to go back all that night and made the bed of the sea ...
//christianbookshelf.org/sherman/the childrens bible/the escape from egypt.htm

Psalm CXXXVI.
... Give thanks to Him, "who alone doeth great wonders;" give thanks to Him, "who by
His wisdom made the heavens;" give thanks to Him, "who stretched out the earth ...
/.../augustine/exposition on the book of psalms/psalm cxxxvi.htm

The Nailing of Jesus to the Cross.
... The arms of Jesus, thus unnaturally stretched out, no longer covered the arms of
the cross, which were sloped; there was a wide space between them and his ...
/.../chapter xxxviii the nailing of.htm

Stretched-out (21 Occurrences)
Stretched-out. Stretched-forth, Stretched-out. Stretched-out-arm .
Multi-Version Concordance Stretched-out (21 Occurrences). ...
/s/stretched-out.htm - 13k

Stretched-out-arm (1 Occurrence)
Stretched-out-arm. Stretched-out, Stretched-out-arm. Stretchedst .
Multi-Version Concordance Stretched-out-arm (1 Occurrence). ...
/s/stretched-out-arm.htm - 6k

Upraised (6 Occurrences)
... Isaiah 5:25 For this reason the wrath of the Lord has been burning against his people,
and his hand has been stretchedout against them in punishment, and the ...
/u/upraised.htm - 8k

Spite (28 Occurrences)
... For all this his wrath is not turned away, but his hand is stretchedout still. ... For
all this his wrath is not turned away, but his hand is stretchedout still. ...
/s/spite.htm - 14k

Stretched (234 Occurrences)
... Matthew 8:3 Jesus stretchedout his hand, and touched him, saying, "I want to. ... Luke
5:13 He stretchedout his hand, and touched him, saying, "I want to. ...
/s/stretched.htm - 38k

Ice-storm (14 Occurrences)
... Exodus 9:22 And the Lord said to Moses, Now let your hand be stretchedout to heaven
so that there may be an ice-storm on all the land of Egypt, on man and on ...
/i/ice-storm.htm - 10k

Arch (24 Occurrences)
... Isaiah 40:22 It is he who is seated over the arch of the earth, and the people in
it are as small as locusts; by him the heavens are stretchedout like an arch ...
/a/arch.htm - 15k

Stretch (73 Occurrences)
... Romans 10:21 But as to Israel he says, "All day long I stretchedout my hands to
a disobedient and contrary people." (Root in WEB KJV WEY BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS). ...
/s/stretch.htm - 31k

Devised (35 Occurrences)
... (YLT NAS RSV). Psalms 21:11 For they stretchedout against Thee evil, They
devised a wicked device, they prevail not, (YLT NAS). Psalms ...
/d/devised.htm - 17k

Founded (42 Occurrences)
... (See NIV). Isaiah 48:13 Also, My hand hath founded earth, And My right hand stretched
out the heavens, I am calling unto them, they stand together. (YLT NAS). ...
/f/founded.htm - 18k

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