Dictionary of Bible Themes: 5194 touch

5194 touch

Dictionary of Bible Themes

Dictionary of Bible Themes » 5000 Humanity » 5125 Parts of the body and clothing » 5194 touch

God prohibits physical contact in certain circumstances and warns of serious consequences of violating the ritual law in this respect. Great sigificance is attached to the touch of God, Jesus Christ and angels and the disciples' touching of the risen Christ.

God's prohibits touch in certain circumstances

At Mount Sinai

Exodus 19:12-13 See also Hebrews 12:18-24

With the furnishings and articles of the tabernacle

Numbers 4:15 See also 2 Samuel 6:6-7

The law concerning touching certain articles

Anyone or anything touching what is ritually unclean also becomes unclean

Numbers 19:21-22 See also Leviticus 5:2-3; Leviticus 7:19-21; Leviticus 11:8,24-40; Leviticus 12:4; Leviticus 15:5-12,19-27; Leviticus 22:4-6; Numbers 19:11-16 the law concerning dead bodies; Deuteronomy 14:8 Pigs are unclean; Isaiah 52:11; Haggai 2:10-14

Touching what is purified confers consecration

Exodus 29:37; Exodus 30:29; Leviticus 6:18,27

Man-made rules against touching certain things are condemned by Paul

Colossians 2:20-22

The touch of God

Upon Jacob, to humble him

Genesis 32:25,32

Upon those he calls to be prophets

Jeremiah 1:9 See also Isaiah 6:7; Ezekiel 2:8-3:4; Daniel 10:16

Upon the world he has made, to display his glory

Psalm 104:32 See also Psalm 144:5; Amos 9:5

The touch of Jesus Christ

To heal

Matthew 8:3 pp Mark 1:41-42 pp Luke 5:13 See also Matthew 9:29-30; Matthew 20:34; Mark 7:33; Mark 8:22-25; Luke 22:51

To raise the dead

Matthew 9:18-25 pp Mark 5:22-42 pp Luke 8:41-55 In touching the dead, Jesus Christ shows his willingness to become unclean so that others can be healed. See also Luke 7:14

To bring reassurance and show acceptance

Matthew 17:6-7; Mark 10:13 pp Matthew 19:13 pp Luke 18:15

The touch of angels

1 Kings 19:5,7; Daniel 8:18; Daniel 10:10,18

The reality of Jesus Christ's incarnation and resurrection is confirmed by touch

1 John 1:1; John 20:24-27

The figurative use of touch

To mean harming people

Ezekiel 9:6 See also Genesis 20:6; Joshua 9:19; 1 Chronicles 16:22 pp Psalm 105:15; Proverbs 6:29; Zechariah 2:8-9; Hebrews 11:28

To mean separation from sin

2 Corinthians 6:17 See also Isaiah 52:11