The concept of resemblance in the Bible often pertains to the likeness or similarity between individuals, objects, or spiritual truths. This theme is woven throughout Scripture, illustrating both physical and spiritual parallels that convey deeper theological meanings.

Old Testament Usage

In the Old Testament, resemblance is frequently used to describe physical likeness. For instance, in Genesis 1:26, God declares, "Let Us make man in Our image, after Our likeness." This foundational verse establishes the resemblance between humanity and the divine, highlighting the unique position of humans in creation as bearers of God's image. This resemblance is not merely physical but encompasses moral and spiritual dimensions, reflecting God's attributes such as rationality, morality, and relationality.

The concept of resemblance also appears in the context of idolatry. In Isaiah 40:18, the prophet asks, "To whom will you liken God? To what image will you compare Him?" This rhetorical question underscores the futility of creating idols that resemble the divine, emphasizing God's incomparability and the inadequacy of physical representations to capture His essence.

New Testament Usage

In the New Testament, resemblance often takes on a more spiritual and moral dimension. Romans 8:29 states, "For those God foreknew, He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son, so that He would be the firstborn among many brothers." Here, the resemblance is not about physical likeness but about being transformed into the character and holiness of Christ. This transformation is a work of the Holy Spirit, who sanctifies believers, making them more like Jesus in their thoughts, actions, and desires.

The theme of resemblance is also evident in the teachings of Jesus. In Matthew 5:48, He instructs, "Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect." This call to perfection is a call to resemble the moral and ethical purity of God, a standard that believers strive toward through the grace and empowerment of the Holy Spirit.

Symbolic and Prophetic Resemblance

The Bible also uses symbolic language to convey resemblance, particularly in prophetic literature. In Daniel 7:5, Daniel describes a vision of a beast that "resembled a bear." Such imagery is symbolic, representing empires or kingdoms with characteristics akin to the animals described. These symbolic resemblances convey deeper truths about the nature and behavior of these entities in the unfolding of God's redemptive history.

In the book of Revelation, resemblance is used to describe the appearance of heavenly beings and visions. Revelation 4:7 describes the four living creatures, each with a face that "resembled" different animals, symbolizing various attributes of God's creation and His sovereign rule.

Moral and Ethical Resemblance

The Bible frequently calls believers to resemble Christ in their conduct. Ephesians 5:1-2 exhorts, "Be imitators of God, therefore, as beloved children, and walk in love, just as Christ loved us and gave Himself up for us as a fragrant sacrificial offering to God." This call to imitation is a call to moral and ethical resemblance, urging believers to reflect the love, sacrifice, and holiness of Christ in their daily lives.

In summary, the theme of resemblance in the Bible encompasses physical likeness, spiritual transformation, symbolic representation, and moral imitation. It serves as a reminder of humanity's unique creation in God's image, the call to reflect Christ's character, and the prophetic imagery that reveals God's sovereign plans.(imp. & p. p.) of Resemble.3666. homoioo -- to make like
... homoios Definition to make like NASB Word Usage become like (1), comparable (1),
compare (4), compared (4), like (2), made like (1), picture (1), resembled (1 ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/3666.htm - 7k1823. demuth -- likeness, similitude
... 1), figures like (1), figures resembling (1), form (4), like (4), likeness (8),
pattern (1), resembling (1), something resembling (1), which resembled (1), who ...
/hebrew/1823.htm - 6k

Christ's Flesh in Nature, the Same as Ours, Only Sinless the ...
... but he means us to understand likeness to the flesh which sinned, [7176] because
the flesh of Christ, which committed no sin itself, resembled that which had ...
/.../tertullian/ on the flesh of christ/chapter xvi christs flesh in nature.htm

The Scourging of Jesus.
... These cruel men had many times scourged poor criminals to death at this pillar.
They resembled wild beasts or demons, and appeared to be half drunk. ...
/.../the dolorous passion of our lord jesus christ/chapter xxii the scourging of.htm

Essay v. Whose Powers Shed Round Him in the Common Strife...
... latter circumstance he set an especial value, and, I may almost say, courted the
company and conversation of those whose pursuits had least resembled his own ...
/.../coleridge/confessions of an inquiring spirit etc/essay v whose powers shed.htm

In Jud??a and through Samaria - a Sketch of Samaritan History and ...
... [1890] Although this state of matters resembled that which had obtained in the original
kingdom of Israel, perhaps just because of this, Ezra and Nehemiah ...
/.../edersheim/the life and times of jesus the messiah/chapter vii in judaea and.htm

Editor's Preface
... Moreover, the pronunciation of the consonants resembled that of the Hebrew consonants,
the transliteration of which has long since become conventional. ...
/.../history of egypt chaldaea syria babylonia and assyria v 1/editors preface.htm

Fragment I.
... Fragment I. The most admirable Justin rightly declared that the aforesaid demons
[2636] resembled robbers."Tatian's Address to the Greeks, chap. xviii. ...
/.../justin/fragments from the lost writings of justin/fragment i.htm

Preface
... If I am right, if Knox, both as a politician and an historian, resembled Charles
I. in "sailing as near the wind" as he could, the circumstance (as another of ...
//christianbookshelf.org/lang/john knox and the reformation/preface.htm

A Sermon of the Reverend Father Master Hugh Latimer, Preached in ...
... Exivit qui seminat seminare semen suum; "He that soweth, the husbandman, the ploughman,
went forth to sow his seed." So that a preacher is resembled to a ...
/.../latimer/sermons on the card and other discourses/a sermon of the reverend.htm

Book Seven the Conversion to Neoplatonism. ...
... For at that time my mind dwelt only with ideas, which resembled the forms with which
my eyes are still familiar, nor could I see that the act of thought, by ...
/.../augustine/confessions and enchiridion/book seven the conversion to.htm

Smerdis the Magian.
... the Persian throne. This Smerdis resembled, it was said, the son of Cyrus
in his personal appearance as well as in name. The other ...
/.../abbott/darius the great/chapter iii smerdis the magian.htm

Resembled (18 Occurrences)
...Resembled (18 Occurrences). ... (WEY). Revelation 1:14 His head and His hair were white,
like white wool--as white as snow; and His eyes resembled a flame of fire. ...
/r/resembled.htm - 12k

Blast (28 Occurrences)
... Revelation 1:10 In the Spirit I found myself present on the day of the Lord, and
I heard behind me a loud voice which resembled the blast of a trumpet. (WEY). ...
/b/blast.htm - 20k

Ox (197 Occurrences)
... Revelation 4:7 The first living creature resembled a lion, the second an ox, the
third had a face like that of a man, and the fourth resembled an eagle flying. ...
/o/ox.htm - 43k

Resemble (15 Occurrences)

/r/resemble.htm - 11k

Dress (38 Occurrences)
... It resembled the Roman "tunic," corresponding most nearly to our "long shirt," reaching
below the knees always, and, in case it was designed for dress occasions ...
/d/dress.htm - 53k

Quicken (16 Occurrences)
... Possibly the condition under consideration resembled what is sometimes idiomatically
styled in English "proud flesh," and was thought of as a peculiar ...
/q/quicken.htm - 13k

Quick (49 Occurrences)
... Possibly the condition under consideration resembled what is sometimes idiomatically
styled in English "proud flesh," and was thought of as a peculiar ...
/q/quick.htm - 24k

Violently (92 Occurrences)
... Revelation 18:21 Then a single angel of great strength took a stone which resembled
a huge millstone, and hurled it into the sea, saying, "So shall Babylon ...
/v/violently.htm - 35k

Zalmun'na (8 Occurrences)
... said to Zebah and Zalmun'na, "Where are the men whom you slew at Tabor?" They answered,
"As you are, so were they, every one of them; they resembled the sons ...
/z/zalmun'na.htm - 8k

Nehemiah (9 Occurrences)
... The place of his death and burial is, however, unknown. "He resembled Ezra in his
fiery zeal, in his active spirit of enterprise, and in the piety of his life ...
/n/nehemiah.htm - 24k

Who is the beast of Revelation? | GotQuestions.org

What is the significance of the Negev in the Bible? | GotQuestions.org

What do angels look like? | GotQuestions.org

Resembled: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.com

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