Topical Bible: Tables

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Topical Encyclopedia

In the biblical context, tables are mentioned both literally and symbolically, serving as significant elements in various narratives and teachings. The term "table" in the Bible often refers to a piece of furniture used for dining, writing, or displaying items, but it also carries deeper spiritual and covenantal meanings.

Literal Tables

1. Tables for Dining and Fellowship: Tables are frequently associated with meals and fellowship. In the ancient Near Eastern culture, sharing a meal at a table was a sign of friendship and covenant. Psalm 23:5 illustrates this imagery: "You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies. You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows." Here, the table signifies God's provision and protection.

2. The Table of Showbread: In the Tabernacle and later the Temple, the Table of Showbread was a sacred piece of furniture. It held twelve loaves of bread, representing the twelve tribes of Israel, and symbolized God's continual provision and presence with His people (Exodus 25:23-30). This table was a constant reminder of the covenant between God and Israel.

3. Tables in the New Testament: In the New Testament, tables are often mentioned in the context of Jesus' ministry. For instance, Jesus overturned the tables of the money changers in the temple, expressing His zeal for the purity of worship (Matthew 21:12). This act underscored the importance of reverence and sincerity in worship.

Symbolic and Spiritual Tables

1. The Lord's Table: The concept of the Lord's Table is central to Christian worship, symbolizing the communion of believers with Christ. In 1 Corinthians 10:21, Paul contrasts the "table of the Lord" with the "table of demons," emphasizing the exclusivity and sanctity of partaking in the Lord's Supper. This table represents the new covenant in Christ's blood, a profound mystery of faith and unity among believers.

2. Tables of the Heart: The prophet Jeremiah speaks of God's law being written on the "tables of the heart" (Jeremiah 31:33). This metaphorical use of "tables" signifies the internalization of God's commandments, moving from stone tablets to the hearts of His people. It highlights the transformative power of God's Word in the believer's life.

3. Tables of Stone: The Ten Commandments were inscribed on tables of stone, given to Moses on Mount Sinai (Exodus 31:18). These stone tables were a tangible representation of God's covenant with Israel, serving as a foundational moral and legal code for the nation.

Cultural and Historical Context

In biblical times, tables were typically low and surrounded by cushions or mats, where people would recline during meals. This setting facilitated intimate fellowship and discussion, as seen in the Last Supper, where Jesus shared His final meal with His disciples (Luke 22:14-20).

Theological Implications

Tables in the Bible often signify God's provision, covenant, and fellowship with His people. They serve as reminders of His faithfulness and the communal aspect of worship and relationship with Him. Whether in the context of a meal, a sacred offering, or a spiritual truth, tables underscore the importance of communion with God and one another.

Easton's Bible Dictionary

(Mark 7:4) means banqueting-couches or benches, on which the Jews reclined when at meals. This custom, along with the use of raised tables like ours, was introduced among the Jews after the Captivity. Before this they had, properly speaking, no table. That which served the purpose was a skin or piece of leather spread out on the carpeted floor. Sometimes a stool was placed in the middle of this skin. (see ABRAHAM'S BOSOM; BANQUET; MEALS.)

Greek

5132. trapeza -- a table, dining table
... Word Origin from modified forms of tessares and pezos Definition a table, dining
table NASB Word Usage bank (1), food (1), table (9), tables (4). table. ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/5132.htm - 7k

4109. plax -- anything flat and broad, hence a flat stone
... Word Origin a prim. word Definition anything flat and broad, hence a flat stone
NASB Word Usage tables (1), tablets (2). table, tablet. ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/4109.htm - 6k

Strong's Hebrew

7979. shulchan -- a table
... Definition: table. Word Origin from an unused word Definition a table NASB Word
Usage each table (1), table (55), tables (12). table. From ...
/hebrew/7979.htm - 6k

Library

Indexes and Tables
... Hymns, Book II Indexes and Tables. Note, The letters, i, ii, iii, signify the
first, second, and third book: the figures direct to the Hymn. ...
/.../watts/the psalms and hymns of isaac watts/indexes and tables.htm

The Tables Turned: the Questioners Questioned
... EXPOSITIONS OF HOLY SCRIPTURE; ALEXANDER MACLAREN, DD, Litt. D.; ST. MATTHEW Chaps.
XVIII to XXVIII THE TABLES TURNED: THE QUESTIONERS QUESTIONED. ...
/.../maclaren/expositions of holy scripture b/the tables turned the questioners.htm

Historical Summary and Chronological Tables.
... Prolegomena to St. Ambrose. III. Historical Summary and Chronological Tables.
ad 340. Birth of St. Ambrose (probably at Tr??ves), youngest ...
/.../works and letters of st ambrose/iii historical summary and chronological.htm

Chronological Tables to Accompany the History and Life of ...
... Chronological Tables to accompany the History and Life of Theodoret. 323. Defeat
and relegation of Licinius. Theod. i.1; Soc. i.4; Soz. i.8; Eus. x.9. 324. ...
/.../chronological tables to accompany the.htm

The Tables Turned Upon Marcion, by Contrasts, in Favour of the ...
... true and good God. Chapter XXVIII."The Tables Turned Upon Marcion, by
Contrasts, in Favour of the True God. Now, touching the ...
/.../the five books against marcion/chapter xxviii the tables turned upon.htm

Chronological Tables of the Life and Times of St. Jerome AD 345 ...
... Chronological Tables of the Life and Times of St. Jerome AD 345-420. Personal. Literary.
Contemporary History. Contemporary History (Ecclesiastical). 345. ...
/.../jerome/the principal works of st jerome/chronological tables of the life.htm

Of the Woman of Canaan who Said, "Yet the Dogs Eat of the Crumbs ...
... Chapter XLIX."Of the Woman of Canaan Who Said, "Yet the Dogs Eat of the Crumbs Which
Fall from Their Masters' Tables," And of the Harmony Between the Account ...
/.../augustine/the harmony of the gospels/chapter xlix of the woman of.htm

Faustus Claims to Believe the Gospel, yet Refuses to Accept the ...
... Book II. Faustus claims to believe the Gospel, yet refuses to accept the genealogical
tables on various grounds which Augustin seeks to set aside. ...
/.../faustus claims to believe the.htm

The Same Unity May Also be Recognized from the Fact that the ...
... human language. The tables of the law were written by this Finger, and they
were afterwards broken, and the reason. Lastly, Christ ...
/.../ambrose/works and letters of st ambrose/chapter iii the same unity.htm

The Swift Decay of Love
... THE BOOK OF EXODUS THE SWIFT DECAY OF LOVE. 'And Moses turned, and went down from
the mount, and the two tables of the testimony were in his hand: the tables ...
/.../maclaren/expositions of holy scripture k/the swift decay of love.htm

Thesaurus

Tables (41 Occurrences)
... This custom, along with the use of raised tables like ours, was introduced
among the Jews after the Captivity. ...Tables (41 Occurrences). ...
/t/tables.htm - 20k

Former (107 Occurrences)
... Exodus 34:1 And Jehovah saith unto Moses, 'Hew for thyself two tables of stone like
the first, and I have written on the tables the words which were on the ...
/f/former.htm - 41k

Onto (22 Occurrences)
... Deuteronomy 9:9 When I was gone up onto the mountain to receive the tables of stone,
even the tables of the covenant which Yahweh made with you, then I stayed ...
/o/onto.htm - 12k

Brakest (5 Occurrences)
... Exodus 34:1 And the LORD said unto Moses, Hew thee two tables of stone like unto
the first: and I will write upon these tables the words that were in the first ...
/b/brakest.htm - 7k

Gateway (40 Occurrences)
... Ezekiel 40:39 And in the porch of the gate 'are' two tables on this side, and two
tables on that side, to slaughter on them the burnt-offering, and the sin ...
/g/gateway.htm - 18k

Nights (27 Occurrences)
... Deuteronomy 9:9 When I was gone up onto the mountain to receive the tables of stone,
even the tables of the covenant which Yahweh made with you, then I stayed ...
/n/nights.htm - 14k

Whereupon (30 Occurrences)
... Ezekiel 40:41 Four tables were on this side, and four tables on that side, by the
side of the gate; eight tables, whereupon they killed the sacrifices. ...
/w/whereupon.htm - 15k

Hewed (22 Occurrences)
... Exodus 34:4 And he hewed two tables of stone like unto the first; and Moses rose
up early in the morning, and went up unto mount Sinai, as the LORD had ...
/h/hewed.htm - 14k

Hew (17 Occurrences)
... Exodus 34:1 And the LORD said unto Moses, Hew thee two tables of stone like unto
the first: and I will write upon these tables the words that were in the first ...
/h/hew.htm - 12k

Vestibule (36 Occurrences)
... Ezekiel 40:39 In the porch of the gate were two tables on this side, and two tables
on that side, to kill thereon the burnt offering and the sin offering and ...
/v/vestibule.htm - 16k

Resources

What are the responsibilities of deacons in the church? | GotQuestions.org

What does it mean that “zeal for your house will consume me” in John 2:17? | GotQuestions.org

What does it mean that the house of prayer had been turned into a den of thieves? | GotQuestions.org

Tables: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.com

Bible Concordance • Bible Dictionary • Bible Encyclopedia • Topical Bible • Bible Thesuarus

Concordance

Tables (41 Occurrences)

Matthew 15:27
"Be it so, Sir," she said, "for even the dogs eat the scraps which fall from their masters' tables."
(WEY)

Matthew 21:12
Jesus entered into the temple of God, and drove out all of those who sold and bought in the temple, and overthrew the money changers' tables and the seats of those who sold the doves.
(WEB KJV WEY ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)

Mark 7:4
And when they come from the market, except they wash, they eat not. And many other things there be, which they have received to hold, as the washing of cups, and pots, brasen vessels, and of tables.
(KJV WBS)

Mark 11:15
They came to Jerusalem, and Jesus entered into the temple, and began to throw out those who sold and those who bought in the temple, and overthrew the tables of the money changers, and the seats of those who sold the doves.
(WEB KJV WEY ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)

John 2:14
He found in the temple those who sold oxen, sheep, and doves, and the changers of money sitting.
(See NAS NIV)

John 2:15
He made a whip of cords, and threw all out of the temple, both the sheep and the oxen; and he poured out the changers' money, and overthrew their tables.
(WEB KJV WEY ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)

Acts 6:2
The twelve summoned the multitude of the disciples and said, "It is not appropriate for us to forsake the word of God and serve tables.
(WEB KJV WEY ASV DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)

Hebrews 9:4
Which had the golden censer, and the ark of the covenant overlaid round about with gold, wherein was the golden pot that had manna, and Aaron's rod that budded, and the tables of the covenant;
(KJV WEY ASV DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV)

Exodus 24:12
Yahweh said to Moses, "Come up to me on the mountain, and stay here, and I will give you the tables of stone with the law and the commands that I have written, that you may teach them."
(WEB KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS YLT RSV)

Exodus 31:18
And he gave unto Moses, when he had made an end of communing with him upon mount Sinai, two tables of testimony, tables of stone, written with the finger of God.
(KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS YLT RSV)

Exodus 32:15
And Moses turned, and went down from the mount, and the two tables of the testimony were in his hand: the tables were written on both their sides; on the one side and on the other were they written.
(KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS YLT RSV)

Exodus 32:16
The tablets were the work of God, and the writing was the writing of God, engraved on the tables.
(WEB KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS YLT RSV)

Exodus 32:19
And it came to pass, as soon as he came nigh unto the camp, that he saw the calf, and the dancing: and Moses' anger waxed hot, and he cast the tables out of his hands, and brake them beneath the mount.
(KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS YLT RSV)

Exodus 34:1
And the LORD said unto Moses, Hew thee two tables of stone like unto the first: and I will write upon these tables the words that were in the first tables, which thou brakest.
(KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS YLT RSV)

Exodus 34:4
And he hewed two tables of stone like unto the first; and Moses rose up early in the morning, and went up unto mount Sinai, as the LORD had commanded him, and took in his hand the two tables of stone.
(KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS YLT RSV)

Exodus 34:28
And he was there with the LORD forty days and forty nights; he did neither eat bread, nor drink water. And he wrote upon the tables the words of the covenant, the ten commandments.
(KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS YLT RSV)

Exodus 34:29
And it came to pass, when Moses came down from mount Sinai with the two tables of testimony in Moses' hand, when he came down from the mount, that Moses wist not that the skin of his face shone while he talked with him.
(KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS YLT RSV)

Deuteronomy 4:13
He declared to you his covenant, which he commanded you to perform, even the ten commandments; and he wrote them on two tables of stone.
(WEB KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS YLT RSV)

Deuteronomy 9:9
When I was gone up onto the mountain to receive the tables of stone, even the tables of the covenant which Yahweh made with you, then I stayed on the mountain forty days and forty nights; I did neither eat bread nor drink water.
(WEB KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS YLT RSV)

Deuteronomy 9:10
Yahweh delivered to me the two tables of stone written with the finger of God; and on them was written according to all the words, which Yahweh spoke with you on the mountain out of the midst of the fire in the day of the assembly.
(WEB KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS YLT RSV)

Deuteronomy 9:11
It came to pass at the end of forty days and forty nights, that Yahweh gave me the two tables of stone, even the tables of the covenant.
(WEB KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS YLT RSV)

Deuteronomy 9:15
So I turned and came down from the mountain, and the mountain was burning with fire: and the two tables of the covenant were in my two hands.
(WEB KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS YLT RSV)

Deuteronomy 9:17
I took hold of the two tables, and cast them out of my two hands, and broke them before your eyes.
(WEB KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS YLT RSV)

Deuteronomy 10:1
At that time Yahweh said to me, "Cut two tables of stone like the first, and come up to me onto the mountain, and make an ark of wood.
(WEB KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS YLT RSV)

Deuteronomy 10:2
I will write on the tables the words that were on the first tables which you broke, and you shall put them in the ark."
(WEB KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS YLT RSV)

Deuteronomy 10:3
So I made an ark of acacia wood, and cut two tables of stone like the first, and went up onto the mountain, having the two tables in my hand.
(WEB KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS YLT RSV)

Deuteronomy 10:4
He wrote on the tables, according to the first writing, the ten commandments, which Yahweh spoke to you on the mountain out of the midst of the fire in the day of the assembly: and Yahweh gave them to me.
(WEB KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS YLT RSV)

Deuteronomy 10:5
I turned and came down from the mountain, and put the tables in the ark which I had made; and there they are as Yahweh commanded me.
(WEB KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS YLT RSV)

1 Kings 8:9
There was nothing in the ark save the two tables of stone which Moses put there at Horeb, when Yahweh made a covenant with the children of Israel, when they came out of the land of Egypt.
(WEB KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS YLT RSV)

1 Chronicles 28:16
and the gold by weight for the tables of show bread, for every table; and silver for the tables of silver;
(WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)

2 Chronicles 4:8
He made also ten tables, and placed them in the temple, five on the right side, and five on the left. He made one hundred basins of gold.
(WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)

2 Chronicles 4:19
Solomon made all the vessels that were in the house of God, the golden altar also, and the tables with the show bread on them;
(WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)

2 Chronicles 5:10
There was nothing in the ark save the two tables which Moses put there at Horeb, when Yahweh made a covenant with the children of Israel, when they came out of Egypt.
(WEB KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS YLT RSV)

Esther 9:1
Now in the twelfth month, which is the month Adar, on the thirteenth day of the month, when the king's commandment and his decree drew near to be put in execution, on the day that the enemies of the Jews hoped to conquer them, (but it was turned out the opposite happened, that the Jews conquered those who hated them),
(See NIV)

Isaiah 28:8
For all tables are completely full of filthy vomit and filthiness.
(WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)

Ezekiel 40:39
In the porch of the gate were two tables on this side, and two tables on that side, to kill thereon the burnt offering and the sin offering and the trespass offering.
(WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)

Ezekiel 40:40
On the one side outside, as one goes up to the entry of the gate toward the north, were two tables; and on the other side, which belonged to the porch of the gate, were two tables.
(WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)

Ezekiel 40:41
Four tables were on this side, and four tables on that side, by the side of the gate; eight tables, whereupon they killed the sacrifices.
(WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)

Ezekiel 40:42
There were four tables for the burnt offering, of cut stone, a cubit and a half long, and a cubit and a half broad, and one cubit high; whereupon they laid the instruments with which they killed the burnt offering and the sacrifice.
(WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)

Ezekiel 40:43
The hooks, a handbreadth long, were fastened within all around: and on the tables was the flesh of the offering.
(WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)

Habakkuk 2:2
And the LORD answered me, and said, Write the vision, and make it plain upon tables, that he may run that readeth it.
(KJV JPS WBS YLT)

Subtopics

Tables

Related Terms

Writing-tablet (1 Occurrence)

Scroll (70 Occurrences)

Roll (57 Occurrences)

Lachish (22 Occurrences)

Writing-table (1 Occurrence)

Tool (13 Occurrences)

Michtam (12 Occurrences)

Maher-shalal-hash-baz (2 Occurrences)