Definition and Context:
In biblical terms, "affinity" refers to a relationship or connection, often through marriage or alliance, between individuals or groups. This concept is significant in the Bible as it often pertains to familial ties, political alliances, and spiritual associations. Affinity can have both positive and negative connotations depending on the context in which it is used.

Biblical Instances:

1. Marriage Alliances:
Affinity through marriage is a recurring theme in the Bible. One notable example is the marriage of King Solomon to foreign women, which was intended to establish political alliances. However, these marriages led Solomon away from God. In 1 Kings 11:1-2 , it is written, "King Solomon, however, loved many foreign women along with the daughter of Pharaoh—women of Moab, Ammon, Edom, and Sidon, as well as Hittite women. These women were from the nations about which the LORD had told the Israelites, 'You must not intermarry with them, for surely they will turn your hearts after their gods.' Yet Solomon clung to these women in love."

2. Family Ties:
Affinity is also seen in the context of family relationships. The Bible often emphasizes the importance of maintaining strong family bonds and the responsibilities that come with them. For instance, the relationship between Ruth and Naomi highlights a positive form of affinity. Ruth's loyalty to Naomi, her mother-in-law, is a testament to the strength of familial affinity. Ruth 1:16 states, "But Ruth replied: 'Do not urge me to leave you or to turn from following you. For wherever you go, I will go, and wherever you live, I will live; your people will be my people, and your God will be my God.'"

3. Spiritual Affinity:
Spiritual affinity refers to the connection between individuals who share a common faith or belief in God. The New Testament often speaks of the unity and fellowship among believers as a form of spiritual affinity. In Ephesians 4:3-6 , Paul writes, "Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace. There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called to one hope when you were called; one Lord, one faith, one baptism; one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all."

4. Negative Affinity:
The Bible also warns against forming affinities that lead one away from God. In 2 Corinthians 6:14 , Paul advises, "Do not be unequally yoked with unbelievers. For what partnership can righteousness have with wickedness? Or what fellowship does light have with darkness?" This passage underscores the potential dangers of forming close relationships with those who do not share the same faith and values.

Theological Implications:
Affinity in the Bible often serves as a reflection of one's priorities and loyalties. It can be a means of strengthening one's faith and community or a source of temptation and spiritual compromise. The Bible encourages believers to form affinities that honor God and align with His commandments, while cautioning against those that may lead to spiritual downfall.Relationship by alliance (2 Chronicles 18:1) or by marriage (1 Kings 3:1). Marriages are prohibited within certain degrees of affinity, enumerated Leviticus 18:6-17. Consanguinity is relationship by blood. 1. (n.) Relationship by marriage (as between a husband and his wife's blood relations, or between a wife and her husband's blood relations); -- in contradistinction to consanguinity, or relationship by blood; -- followed by with, to, or between.

2. (n.) Kinship generally; close agreement; relation; conformity; resemblance; connection; as, the affinity of sounds, of colors, or of languages.

3. (n.) Companionship; acquaintance.

4. (n.) That attraction which takes place, at an insensible distance, between the heterogeneous particles of bodies, and unites them to form chemical compounds; chemistry; chemical or elective affinity or attraction.

5. (n.) A relation between species or higher/ groups dependent on resemblance in the whole plan of structure, and indicating community of origin.

6. (n.) A superior spiritual relationship or attraction held to exist sometimes between persons, esp. persons of the opposite sex; also, the man or woman who exerts such psychical or spiritual attraction.

AFFINITY

a-fin'-i-ti (chathan "to join one-self"): This term is used three times in the Old Testament:

(1) in 1 Kings 3:1, where we read that "Solomon made affinity with Pharaoh King of Egypt",

(2) in 2 Chronicles 18:1, where it is stated that Jehoshaphat "joined affinity with Ahab," and

(3) in Ezra 9:14, where it is asked "Shall we. join in affinity with the peoples that do these abominations?" The Hebrew word thus rendered in the above three passages refers in each case to marriage alliances rather than to family or political relationships.

See MARRIAGE; FAMILY.

W. W. Davies

1025. brephos -- an unborn or a newborn child
... unborn or newborn child, infant. Of uncertain affinity; an infant (properly, unborn)
literally or figuratively -- babe, (young) child, infant. ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/1025.htm - 6k

2413. hieros -- sacred, a sacred thing, a temple
... temple (71). holy. Of uncertain affinity; sacred -- holy. (iera) -- 2
Occurrences. 2412, 2413. hieros. 2414 . Strong's Numbers.
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/2413.htm - 6k

1859. heorte -- a feast, a festival
... feast, holy day. Of uncertain affinity; a festival -- feast, holyday. (eorte) --
11 Occurrences. (eorten) -- 9 Occurrences. (eortes) -- 5 Occurrences. ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/1859.htm - 6k

2398. idios -- one's own, distinct
... Of uncertain affinity; pertaining to self, ie One's own; by implication, private
or separate -- X his acquaintance, when they were alone, apart, aside, due ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/2398.htm - 8k

2203. Zeus -- Zeus, the greatest of the pagan Gk. gods
... Of uncertain affinity; in the oblique cases there is used instead of it a (probably
cognate) name; Dis (deece), which is otherwise obsolete; Zeus or Dis (among ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/2203.htm - 6k

5165. trublion -- a bowl, dish
... dish. Neuter of a presumed derivative of uncertain affinity; a bowl -- dish. (trublion)
-- 1 Occurrence. (trublio) -- 1 Occurrence. 5164, 5165. ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/5165.htm - 6k

2570. kalos -- beautiful, good
... Of uncertain affinity; properly, beautiful, but chiefly (figuratively) good (literally
or morally), ie Valuable or virtuous (for appearance or use, and thus ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/2570.htm - 7k

1204. deuro -- until now, come here!
... come hither. Of uncertain affinity; here; used also imperative hither!; and of time,
hitherto -- come (hither), hither(-to). (deuro) -- 9 Occurrences. ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/1204.htm - 6k

1024. brachus -- short, little
... few words, little space. Of uncertain affinity; short (of time, place, quantity,
or number) -- few words, little (space, while). (bracheon) -- 1 Occurrence. ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/1024.htm - 6k

2316. theos -- God, a god
... Of uncertain affinity; a deity, especially (with ho) the supreme Divinity; figuratively,
a magistrate; by Hebraism, very -- X exceeding, God, god(-ly, -ward). ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/2316.htm - 7k

2859. chathan -- make oneself a daughter's husband
... join in affinity, father-in-law, make marriages, mother-in-law, son-in-law.
A primitive root; to give (a daughter) away in marriage ...
/hebrew/2859.htm - 6k

1149. benas -- to be angry
... root Definition to be angry NASB Word Usage became indignant (1). be angry. (Aramaic)
of uncertain affinity; to be enraged -- be angry. 1148, 1149. ...
/hebrew/1149.htm - 5k

7014. Qayin -- a city in S. Judah
... The same as qayin (with a play upon the affinity to qanah); Kajin, the name of the
first child, also of a place in Palestine, and of an Oriental tribe -- Cain ...
/hebrew/7014.htm - 5k

251. ach -- a brother
... A primitive word; a brother (used in the widest sense of literal relationship and
metaphorical affinity or resemblance (like 'ab)) -- another, brother(-ly ...
/hebrew/251.htm - 6k

2524. cham -- husband's father
... father in law. From the same as chowmah; a father-in-law (as in affinity) -- father
in law. see HEBREW chowmah. 2523, 2524. cham. 2525 . Strong's Numbers.
/hebrew/2524.htm - 6k

Whether Affinity is Caused by Betrothal?
... OF THE IMPEDIMENT OF AFFINITY (ELEVEN ARTICLES) Whether affinity is caused
by betrothal? Objection 1: It would seem that affinity ...
/.../aquinas/summa theologica/whether affinity is caused by.htm

Whether the Degrees of Affinity Extend in the Same Way as the ...
... OF THE IMPEDIMENT OF AFFINITY (ELEVEN ARTICLES) Whether the degrees of affinity
extend in the same way as the degrees of consanguinity? ...
/.../aquinas/summa theologica/whether the degrees of affinity.htm

Whether Affinity is a Cause of Affinity?
... OF THE IMPEDIMENT OF AFFINITY (ELEVEN ARTICLES) Whether affinity is a cause of affinity?
Objection 1: It would seem that affinity also is a cause of affinity. ...
/.../christianbookshelf.org/aquinas/summa theologica/whether affinity is a cause.htm

Whether Unlawful Intercourse Causes Affinity?
... OF THE IMPEDIMENT OF AFFINITY (ELEVEN ARTICLES) Whether unlawful intercourse
causes affinity? ... For affinity is an honorable thing. ...
/.../aquinas/summa theologica/whether unlawful intercourse causes affinity.htm

Whether Affinity is an Impediment to Marriage?
... OF THE IMPEDIMENT OF AFFINITY (ELEVEN ARTICLES) Whether affinity is an impediment
to marriage? Objection 1: It would seem that affinity ...
/.../aquinas/summa theologica/whether affinity is an impediment.htm

Of the Impediment of Affinity (Eleven Articles)
... OF THE IMPEDIMENT OF AFFINITY (ELEVEN ARTICLES). We must consider next the impediment
of affinity. ... (1) Whether affinity results from matrimony? ...
/.../aquinas/summa theologica/of the impediment of affinity.htm

Whether Affinity in Itself Admits of Degrees?
... OF THE IMPEDIMENT OF AFFINITY (ELEVEN ARTICLES) Whether affinity in itself
admits of degrees? ... Now affinity is a kind of propinquity. ...
/.../aquinas/summa theologica/whether affinity in itself admits.htm

Whether Affinity Remains after the Death of Husband or Wife?
... OF THE IMPEDIMENT OF AFFINITY (ELEVEN ARTICLES) Whether affinity remains
after the death of husband or wife? Objection 1: It would ...
/.../aquinas/summa theologica/whether affinity remains after the.htm

Whether a Person Contracts Affinity through the Marriage of a ...
... OF THE IMPEDIMENT OF AFFINITY (ELEVEN ARTICLES) Whether a person contracts
affinity through the marriage of a blood-relation? Objection ...
/.../aquinas/summa theologica/whether a person contracts affinity.htm

Affinity of Christianity, as Absolute Truth, for the Various ...
... THE JEWS. Section 28. Affinity of Christianity, as absolute Truth, for
the various opposing Religious Systems. On the dissolution ...
/.../section 28 affinity of christianity.htm

Affinity (4 Occurrences)
... Relationship by alliance (2 Chronicles 18:1) or by marriage (1 Kings 3:1). Marriages
are prohibited within certain degrees of affinity, enumerated Leviticus 18 ...
/a/affinity.htm - 10k

Relationships (1 Occurrence)
... Kinsmen II. AFFINITY 1. Husband and Wife 2. Father-in-Law, etc. 3.
Brother-in-Law, etc. III. OTHER DOMESTIC ... 7). II. Affinity. 1. Husband ...
/r/relationships.htm - 38k

Relation (86 Occurrences)
... 3. (n.) Reference; respect; regard. 4. (n.) Connection by consanguinity or affinity;
kinship; relationship; as, the relation of parents and children. ...
/r/relation.htm - 33k

Persians (6 Occurrences)
... Persian Parsa, name of both country and people; does not occur in Avesta): I. AFFINITY
1. Three Classes 2. Tribal and Clan Divisions 3. Achemenian Dynasty II. ...
/p/persians.htm - 20k

Company (287 Occurrences)
... (7) A tumultuous crowd (2 Kings 9:17). (8) Associate, companion, often with reference
to moral affinity (Job 34:8 Proverbs 29:3 Acts 10:28), kollaomai, "to ...
/c/company.htm - 40k

Affirm (7 Occurrences)

/a/affirm.htm - 10k

Image (126 Occurrences)
... of it. (d) It is best to take the term as referring to the whole dignity
of man, in virtue of his fundamental affinity to God. It ...
/i/image.htm - 60k

Father (11359 Occurrences)
... the father of the faithful, Romans 4:11; or bad, as John 8:44, "Ye are of your father
the devil." (b) Indicating closest resemblance, kinship, affinity: Job 17 ...
/f/father.htm - 21k

Family (438 Occurrences)
... Kinsmen II. AFFINITY 1. Husband and Wife 2. Father-in-Law, etc. 3.
Brother-in-Law, etc. III. OTHER DOMESTIC ... 7). II. Affinity. 1. Husband ...
/f/family.htm - 87k

Kin (18 Occurrences)
... 3. (n.) Relationship, consanguinity, or affinity; connection by birth or marriage;
kindred; near connection or alliance, as of those having common descent. ...
/k/kin.htm - 12k

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