Can your faith be seen?

Many see the Word of God. . .few observe!


8 hYou shall bind them as a sign on your hand, and they shall be as frontlets between your eyes.[1]

What does it mean to have a sign on your hand or between your eyes? Here is the Hebrew word from the Gesenius Lexicon:

אוֹת (for אוֹת from אָוָה No. III; comp. أَيَةُ or اَيَةُ sign for أَوْيَةُ from اوى), Pl. אֹתוֹת m. and f. (comp. sing, Gen. 9:12; Ex. 4:8, plur. Ex. 4:9; Josh. 24:17), a sign (Ch. אָת, Syr. ܐܳܬܳܐ pl. ܐܳܬܘ̈ܳܬܳܐ). Exod. 12:13;Josh. 2:12; Gen. 1:14; וְהָיוּ לְאֹתוֹת וּלְמוֹעֲדִים “and they shall be (the lights of heaven) for signs and times,” i.e. by ἓν διὰ δυοῖν, signs of times. It is--

(1) a military ensign, and specially that of each particular tribe, differing from דֶּגֶל standard, which be-longed to each camp of three tribes, Num. 2:2, seq.

(2) a sign of something past, which serves to keep it in memory, Ex: 13:9, 16; Deu. 6:8, hence a memorial, monument, Isa. 55:13; Eze. 14:8.--

(3) a sign of something future, a portent, τύπος τοῦ μέλλοντος [?] (Rom. 5:14), i.q. מוֹפֵת. Isa. 8:18; “behold, I and the children whom Jehovah hath given me are for signs and wonders in Israel from Jehovah of hosts,” i.e. by the names divinely bestowed upon us, all of which are of good omen (יְשַׁעְיָה “the salvation of God,” עִמָּנוּאֵל “God with us,” Isa. 7:14; 8:8; Shear Jashub, 7:3); God makes us types of future things as signifying future welfare. [Gesenius does not understand the true reference of the passage; we know, from Heb. 2:13, that Christ is speaking of himself and the Church, God’s children given him for redemption, brought into blessing while the nation of Israel continues in unbelief.] Comp. Isa. 20:3; Eze. 4:3.

(4) the sign of anything which cannot itself be seen, Gen. 1:14, ex. gr. “the sign of the covenant,” circumcision, Gen. 17:11, of the sabbath, Ex. 31:13, hence, token, proof, argument, Kennzeichen, Beweis; comp. Lat. signum, Cic. Invent. 1, 34; Gr. τεκμήριον, σημεῖον, Job 21:29, and hence a miracle, as a sign of the divine power, i.q. מוֹפֵת Deu. 4:34; 6:22; 7:19; 29:2; 34:11, see my remarks at length on Isa. 7:11; [see Matt. 1:23, as to the meaning of the passage]. Of the prophetic sign or [“token of the truth of a prophecy, viz. when God, or the prophet as his interpreter, foretells some minor event, the fulfilment of which serves as asign or proof of the future fulfilment of the whole prophecy. Ex. 3:12; Deu. 13:2, 3; 1 Sa. 2:27–34; 10:7–9; 2 Ki. 19:29; 20:8, 9; Isa. 7:11–14; 38:7, 22; Jer. 44:29, 30, comp. Mar. 13:4; Luke 1:18; 2:12.” Ges. add.][2]

Faith in God is a heart conviction that cannot always be seen by others. God said to Abraham, 11 You are to undergo circumcision,r and it will be the sign of the covenants between me and you.[3] Then no Hebrew man could have intimate relations with anyone without revealing his covenant with God.

Deuteronomy charges followers to wear a box as a sign of faith. But who is this a sign for? Is it for yourself or for others to see? The answer in our next Bible Nugget.

Cathy and Danny Sartin

Deeper Still Missions




Copyright © Danny Sartin and Deeper Still Missions. All Rights Reserved.

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h ch. 11:18; Prov. 3:3; 6:21; 7:3; See Ex. 13:9


[1] The Holy Bible: English Standard Version. 2001 (Dt 6:8). Wheaton: Standard Bible Society.


[2] Gesenius, W., & Tregelles, S. P. (2003). Gesenius’ Hebrew and Chaldee lexicon to the Old Testament Scriptures(24–25). Bellingham, WA: Logos Bible Software.


r Ex 12:48; Dt 10:16


s See Ge 9:12; Ro 4:11


[3] The New International Version. 2011 (Ge 17:11). Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan.

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