Reference: Father
American
Is often synonymous with ancestor, founder, or originator, as Ge 4:20-21; Joh 8:56; Ro 4:16. Joseph was a father to Pharoah, Ge 45:8, as his counselor and provider. God is the FATHER of men, as their Creator, De 32:6; Isa 63:16; 64:8; Lu 3:38. But as we have forfeited the rights of children by our sins, it is only through Christ that we can call God by that endearing name, "our Father," Joh 20:17; Ro 8:15-17.
In patriarchal times, a father was master and judge in his own household, and exercised and authority almost unlimited over his family. Filial disobedience or disrespect was a high offence. Under the law, certain acts of children were capital crimes, Ex 21:15,17; Le 20:9; and the father was required to bring his son to the public tribunal, De 21:18-21. See MOTHER.
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And Adah bare Jabal, - he, was father of such as dwell in tents, and have cattle; and, the name of his brother, was Jubal, - he, was father of everyone handling lyre and flute,
Now, therefore it was not ye, who sent me hither, but, God, himself, - who also appointed me to be a father to Pharaoh, and a lord to all his house, and a ruler over all the land of Egypt.
And, he that smiteth his father or his mother, shall, surely be put to death.
And he who revileth his father or his mother, shall, surely be put to death.
When, any man whatsoever, curseth his father or his mother, he shall surely be put to death, - his father or his mother, hath he cursed, his blood, shall be upon himself.
When a man hath a son, rebellious and insulting, who will not hearken to the voice of his father, and to the voice of his mother, - though they chastise him, yet will not hearken unto them, then shall his father and his mother, lay hold of him, - and bring him forth unto the elders of his city, and unto the gate of his place; read more. and shall say unto the elders of his city: This our son, is rebellious and insulting, - he will not hearken unto our voice, - a glutton and a tippler. Then shall all the men of his city stone him with stones that he die, so shalt thou consume the wicked thing out of thy midst, - and, all Israel, shall hear and fear.
Is it Yahweh, ye thus requite, O impious people and unwise? Is not, he, thy father who begat thee? He, that made thee and established thee?
For, thou, art our father, Though, Abraham, knew us not, And Israel could not acknowledge us, - Thou, O Yahweh, art our father, Our Redeemer from the Age-past time, is thy name.
But, now, O Yahweh, our father, thou art, - We are the clay, and, thou, art our potter, Yea the work of thy hand, are we all:
Abraham, your father, exulted that he should see my day; and he saw, and rejoiced.
Jesus saith unto her - Be not detaining me, for, not yet, have I ascended unto the Father; but be going unto my disciples, and say unto them - I am ascending unto my Father and your Father, and my God and your God.
For this cause, it is by faith, in order that it may be by way of favour, so that the promise is firm unto all the seed, - not unto that by the law only, but unto that also which is such by the faith of Abraham; who is father of us all, -
For ye have not received a spirit of servitude, leading back into fear, but ye have received a spirit of sonship, whereby we are exclaiming - Abba! Oh Father! The Spirit itself, beareth witness together with our spirit that we are children of God; read more. And, if children, heirs also - heirs, indeed, of God, but co-heirs with Christ, - if, at least, we are suffering together, in order that we may also be glorified together.
Easton
a name applied (1) to any ancestor (De 1:11; 1Ki 15:11; Mt 3:9; 23:30, etc.); and (2) as a title of respect to a chief, ruler, or elder, etc. (Jg 17:10; 18:19; 1Sa 10:12; 2Ki 2:12; Mt 23:9, etc.). (3) The author or beginner of anything is also so called; e.g., Jabal and Jubal (Ge 4:20-21; comp. Job 38:28).
Applied to God (Ex 4:22; De 32:6; 2Sa 7:14; Ps 89:27-28, etc.). (1.) As denoting his covenant relation to the Jews (Jer 31:9; Isa 63:16; 64:8; Joh 8:41, etc.).
(2.) Believers are called God's "sons" (Joh 1:12; Ro 8:16; Mt 6:4,8,15,18; 10:20,29). They also call him "Father" (Ro 1:7; 1Co 1:3; 2Co 1:2; Ga 1:4)
See Verses Found in Dictionary
And Adah bare Jabal, - he, was father of such as dwell in tents, and have cattle; and, the name of his brother, was Jubal, - he, was father of everyone handling lyre and flute,
Then shalt thou say unto Pharaoh, Thus, saith Yahweh - My son - my firstborn, is Israel;
Yahweh, the God of your fathers, be adding unto you the like of you, a thousand times, - and bless you, as he hath spoken unto you!
Is it Yahweh, ye thus requite, O impious people and unwise? Is not, he, thy father who begat thee? He, that made thee and established thee?
And Micah said unto him - Dwell with me, and be to me a father and a priest, and, I, will give thee ten pieces of silver by the year, and a suit of apparel, and thy sustenance. So the Levite went.
And they said unto him - Hold thy peace, lay thy hand upon thy mouth, and go with us, and become to us a father and a priest, - is it better that thou be priest to the house of one man, or that thou be priest to a tribe and to a family in Israel?
Yea, I, will appoint him, firstborn, Most High to the kings of the earth! Age-abidingly, will I keep for him my lovingkindness, And, my covenant, hath been made steadfast for him;
For, thou, art our father, Though, Abraham, knew us not, And Israel could not acknowledge us, - Thou, O Yahweh, art our father, Our Redeemer from the Age-past time, is thy name.
But, now, O Yahweh, our father, thou art, - We are the clay, and, thou, art our potter, Yea the work of thy hand, are we all:
With weeping, shall they come in, And with supplications, will I lead them, I will bring them unto rivers of waters By a smooth way, wherein they shall not stumble, - For I have become, to Israel, a father, And as for Ephraim, my firstborn, is he!
and think not to be saying within yourselves, - As our father, we have, Abraham; for, I say unto you, that God is able, out of these stones, to raise up children unto Abraham.
that thine alms may be in secret, - and, thy Father, who seeth in secret, will give it back to thee.
do not, therefore, make yourselves like them, for Godyour Father knoweth of what things ye have, need, before ye ask him.
But, if ye forgive not men their faults, neither will your Father forgive, your faults.
that thou do not appear, unto men, to be fasting, but to thy Father who is in secret, - and, thy Father who seeth in secret, will reward thee.
For it is not, ye, who are speaking, but, the Spirit of your Father, that is speaking in you.
Are not, two sparrows, for a farthing, sold? And, one from among them, shall not fall upon the ground, without your Father;
And, father, be none of you called, upon the earth, for, one, is your Father, the Heavenly;
and say - If we had been in the days of our fathers, we would not have been their partners in the blood of the prophets:
But, as many as did receive him, he gave, unto them, authority, children of God, to become, - unto them who were believing on his name:
Ye, are doing the works of your father. They said unto him - We, of fornication, were not born: One father, have we - God.
Unto all that are in Rome, beloved of God, called saints, favour unto you, and peace, from God our Father and Lord Jesus Christ.
The Spirit itself, beareth witness together with our spirit that we are children of God;
Who gave himself for our sins, that he might deliver us out of the present evil age, according to the will of our God and Father, -
Unto the holy and faithful brethren in Christ that are, in Colosse, favour unto you, and peace, from our God and Father. We are giving thanks unto God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, always, for you, offering prayer, -
Fausets
Chaldaic 'abba. Christ's endearing filial mode of addressing God; so believers (Mr 14:36; Ro 8:15); from 'aabah, "to show kindness." God's fatherhood is the ground and pattern for human fatherhood. Abraham was "father of nations," both by natural descent from him and by spiritual fellowship in his faith (Ge 18:18-19; Ro 4:17). The godly father's blessing brought great good, his curse great evil (Ge 9:25-27); the undutifulness of Ham entailing a curse on his race, the dutifulness of Shem and Japhet a blessing on their races (Ge 27:27-40; 48:15-20,22). The fifth commandment, "honor thy father and mother," is the first with special promise (Eph 6:2).
Love descends rather than ascends; hence this commandment is more needed than one concerning parents' duties to children, but this is added (Eph 6:4; Col 3:21). Dishonoring parents is one of the worst sins (Ex 21:15-17; 1Ti 1:9; Mal 1:6; Isa 45:10). Still the parent was not to inflict death, but to bring the refractory child before the city elders in the gate or place of justice (De 21:18-21). Any ancestor is called "father" or "mother" (Isa 51:2; Jer 35:16-18, the sons of Jonadab son of Rechab, a striking instance of the blessing on obedience to parents; Da 5:2; 2Ch 15:16 margin). "Father" is used also for protector, patron (Job 29:16; Ps 68:5; De 32:6). "Fathers" mean elders (Ac 7:2; 22:1). The pupils of a spiritual master are called "sons" (2Ki 2:3; 4:1).
Father expresses one worshipped or reverenced (Jer 2:27; 2Ki 2:12; 5:13; 6:21). The inventor of any art is called "father" of it or of its practicers (Ge 4:20-21; Joh 8:44; Job 38:28; 17:14). So the source (2Co 1:3) or instrument of spiritual blessings, as "mercy," regeneration. 1Co 4:15; "though ye have ten thousand instructors in Christ, yet have ye not many fathers; for in Christ Jesus I have begotten you through the gospel." The father's great duty was to teach God's laws continually to his children; "speaking of them when thou sittest in thine house, and when thou walkest by the way, when thou liest down, and when thou risest up ... that your days may be multiplied, and the days of your children ... as the days of heaven upon the earth" (De 11:18-21).
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And Adah bare Jabal, - he, was father of such as dwell in tents, and have cattle; and, the name of his brother, was Jubal, - he, was father of everyone handling lyre and flute,
And he said, Accursed be Canaan, - a servant of servants, shall he be to his brethren! And he said, Blessed be Yahweh, God of Shem, - And let Cantata he their servant: read more. God give extension to Japheth, But make his habitation in the tents of Shem, And let Canaan be their servant.
when, Abraham, shall surely become, a great and mighty nation, - and all the nations of the earth, shall be blessed in him? For I have become his intimate friend, To the end that he may command his sons and his house after him, so shall they keep the way of Yahweh, by doing righteousness and justice. To the end that Yahweh may bring in for Abraham, what he hath spoken concerning him.
So he came near, and kissed him, and he smelled the smell of his garments and blessed him, - and said. See! the smell of my son, As the smell of a field, which Yahweh hath blessed; Then, may God give thee of the dew of the heavens, And of the fatness of the earth, - And abundance of corn and new wine: read more. Let peoples serve thee And races bow down to thee, Become thou lord to thy brethren, And let the sons of thy mother bow down to thee, - He that curseth thee, be accursed! And he that blesseth thee, be blessed! And it came to pass as soon as Isaac had made an end of blessing Jacob, - yea it came to pass when Jacob, had only just gone forth, from the presence of Isaac his father, that Esau his brother, came in from his hunting. Then, he too, made dainty meats, and brought in to his father, - and said to his father, Let my father rise that he may eat of the game of his son, To the end thy soul may bless me! And Isaac his father said to him Who art, thou? And he said, I, am thy son thy firstborn, Esau. Then did Isaac tremble with an exceeding great trembling, and said Who then was it that caught game and brought in to me and I did eat of all ere yet thou didst come in and I blessed him? Yea blessed, shall he remain! When Esau heard the words of his father, then cried he out with an outcry loud and bitter exceedingly, - and said to his father, Bless even me also, O my father! Then he said, Thy brother came in with deceit, - and took away thy blessing. And he said, Is it because his name, is called, Jacob, that he hath tricked me, now twice? My birthright, he took away, And lo! now, he hath taken away my blessing! And he said, Hast thou not reserved for me a blessing? Then answered Isaac and said to Esau, - Lo a lord, have I appointed him unto thee, And, all his brethren, lave I given to him as servants, And with corn and new wine, have I sustained him, - And for thee - now, what can I do, my son? And Esau said unto his father, But one blessing, hast thou, O my father? Bless, me also, O my father! And Esau lifted up his voice and wept. Then answered Isaac his father and said unto him, - Lo! of the fat parts of the earth, shall be thy dwelling, And of the dew of the heavens, above; And on thy sword, shalt thou live, And thy brother, shalt thou serve: But it shall come to pass when thou shalt rove at large, Then shalt thou break his yoke from off thy neck.
Thus blessed he Joseph, and said, - God himself - before whom walked my fathers. Abraham and Isaac, God himself - who hath been my shepherd, since I came into being until this day; - The Messenger - who hath been my redeemer from all evil - bless the lads! And may there be called upon them, my name, and the name of my fathers. Abraham and Isaac; And may they swarm into a multitude, in the midst of the earth! read more. And Joseph saw that his father had laid his right hand on the head of Ephraim and it was displeasing in his eyes, - so he took hold of his fathers hand to remove it from off the bead of Ephraim, on to the head of Manasseh. And Joseph said unto his father - Not so, my father! for, this, is the firstborn, lay thy right hand upon his head. And his father refused, and said - I know - my son, I know! He also, shall become a people, and he also, shall become great, - but nevertheless, his younger brother, shall become greater than he, and his seed, shall become a filling up of the nations. And he blessed them on that day, saying - In thee, let Israel bless himself saying, God set thee as Ephraim, and as Manasseh! So he set Ephraim before Manasseh.
But, I, have given to thee one mountain-track above thy brethren, - which I took out of the hand of the Amorite, with my sword and with my bow.
And, he that smiteth his father or his mother, shall, surely be put to death. And, he that stealeth a man of the sons of Israel, and selleth him, or he be found in his hand, shall, surely be put to death. read more. And he who revileth his father or his mother, shall, surely be put to death.
Therefore shall ye lay these my words upon your heart, and upon your soul, - and bind them for a sign upon your hand, and they shall serve as bands between your eyes; and ye shall teach them unto your children by speaking of them, - when thou sittest in thy house, and when thou walkest by the way, and when thou liest down and when thou risest up; read more. and thou shalt write them upon the door-posts of thy house and within thy gates: that your days may multiply, and the days of your children, upon rite soil which Yahweh sware unto your fathers, to give unto them, - like the days of the heavens upon the earth.
When a man hath a son, rebellious and insulting, who will not hearken to the voice of his father, and to the voice of his mother, - though they chastise him, yet will not hearken unto them, then shall his father and his mother, lay hold of him, - and bring him forth unto the elders of his city, and unto the gate of his place; read more. and shall say unto the elders of his city: This our son, is rebellious and insulting, - he will not hearken unto our voice, - a glutton and a tippler. Then shall all the men of his city stone him with stones that he die, so shalt thou consume the wicked thing out of thy midst, - and, all Israel, shall hear and fear.
Is it Yahweh, ye thus requite, O impious people and unwise? Is not, he, thy father who begat thee? He, that made thee and established thee?
And the sons of the prophets who were in Bethel came forth unto Elisha, and said unto him, Knowest thou that, to-day, Yahweh is taking away thy lord, from thy head? And he said - I also, know, be silent.
Now, a certain woman of the wives of the sons of the prophets, made outcry unto Elisha, saying - Thy servant, my husband, is dead, and, thou, knowest that, thy servant, was one who revered Yahweh, - now, the creditor, hath come to take my two boys to himself as bondmen.
To corruption, have exclaimed, My father, thou! My mother! and My sister! to the worm.
A father, was, I, to the needy, and, as for the cause which I knew not, I used to search it out;
The father of the fatherless, And the advocate of widows, Is God, in his holy habitation.
Alas, for one who saith to a father, What begettest thou? Or to a woman What dost thou bring forth?
Look well unto Abraham your father, And unto Sarah who gave you birth, - For he was, alone, when called I him, And, I blessed him that I might make him, many.
Saying, to a tree, My father, art thou! And to a stone, Thou, didst give us birth, For they have turned unto me the back and not the face, - But in the time of their calamity, they will say, Arise, and save us!
Because the sons of Jonadab son of Rechab have, confirmed, the commandment of their father which he commanded them, - whereas, this people, have not hearkened unto me, Therefore, Thus, saith Yahweh, God of hosts, God of Israel, Behold me! bringing in against Judah and against all the inhabitants of Jerusalem, all the calamity, which I have spoken concerning them, - Because I spake unto them and they did not hearken, And I called to them and they did not answer. read more. But to the house of the Rechabites, said Jeremiah: Thus, saith Yahweh of hosts, God of Israel, Because ye have hearkened unto the commandment of Jonadab your father, and have kept all his commandments, and dune according to all that he commanded you
Belshazzar, gave word, at the flavour of the wine, to bring the vessels of gold and silver, which Nebuchadnezzar his father, had brought forth, out of the temple which was in Jerusalem, - that the king and his nobles, his wives and his concubines, might drink therein.
A son, will honour a father, and, a servant, his lord, - If then, a father, I am, where is mine honour? And, if, a lord, I am, where is my reverence? saith Yahweh of hosts - to you, ye priests, who despise my Name, and yet say, Wherein have we despised thy Name?
and was saying - Abba! O Father! All things, are possible to thee: Bear aside this cup from me; but not what, I, will, but what, thou, wilt .
Ye, are, of your father - the adversary, and, the covetings of your father, ye choose to be doing. He, was, a murderer, from the beginning, and, in the truth, he stood not; because truth is not in him: Whensoever he speaketh falsehood, of his own, he speaketh; because, false, he is, and, the father of it.
And, he, said - Brethren and fathers, hearken! The God of Glory, appeared unto our father Abraham, while he was in Mesopotamia, before he dwelt in Haran, -
Even as it is written - Father of many nations, have I appointed thee: before him whom he believed - God, who causeth the dead to live, and calleth the things that are not as things that are: -
For ye have not received a spirit of servitude, leading back into fear, but ye have received a spirit of sonship, whereby we are exclaiming - Abba! Oh Father!
For, though myriads of tutors ye should have in Christ, yet not many fathers; for, in Christ Jesus, through means of the joyful message, I, begat you.
Blessed, be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassions, and God of all encouragement,
Honour thy father and thy mother, - which indeed is the first commandment with promise,
And ye fathers, be not provoking your children to anger, but be nourishing them up in the discipline and admonition of the Lord.
Ye fathers! be not irritating your children, lest they be disheartened;
Holding fast, in the matter of his teaching, the faithful word, that he may be able both to encourage with his healthful instruction, and, the gainsayers, to refute.
Hastings
Morish
Except as creator and preserver of all, God is not revealed as Father in the O.T. "Have we not all one father? hath not one God created us?" Mal 2:10. The Lord Jesus is also prophesied of as 'the everlasting Father' or 'Father of the everlasting age.' Isa 9:6. It was reserved for the N.T. times that God should be made known as Father; and this was done only by the Lord Jesus while upon earth, who constantly spoke to His disciples of God as their Father in heaven. Mt 5:16,45,48-6:1; 6:8,14-15, etc. He could, as the Son, while on earth thus make Him known to them. After the resurrection the Lord was able to send this message to His disciples, whom He now calls His 'brethren:' "I ascend unto my Father, and your Father; and to my God, and your God." Joh 20:17. The will of the Father and the work of His Son, the source of eternal life to them, had brought the disciples in this respect into the same heavenly position as the risen Christ Himself before the Father. The term 'father' is used symbolically when there is a moral likeness between a leader and his followers. Joh 8:38-44.
In the O.T. the word ab is at times used as 'founder:' thus in 1Ch 4:4 one is mentioned as the 'father' of Bethlehem.
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and Penuel the father of Gedor, and Ezer, the father of Hushah. These, are the sons of Hur, the firstborn of Ephrathah, the father of Bethlehem.
For, A Child, hath been born to us, A Son, hath been given to us, And the dominion is upon his shoulder, - And his Name hath been called Wonderful Counsellor, Mighty GOD, Father of Futurity, Prince of Prosperity.
Is there not, one Father, to us all? Did not, one GOD, create us? Wherefore should we deal treacherously one with another, profaning the covenant of our fathers?
In like manner, let your light shine before men, - that they may see your good works, - and glorify your Father who is in the heavens.
That ye may become sons of your Father who is in the heavens: because, his sun, he maketh arise on evil and good, and sendeth rain, on just and unjust.
do not, therefore, make yourselves like them, for Godyour Father knoweth of what things ye have, need, before ye ask him.
For, if ye forgive men their faults, Your Father who is in the heavens, will forgive, even you; But, if ye forgive not men their faults, neither will your Father forgive, your faults.
What things, I, have seen with the Father, I am speaking; Ye, also, then, what things ye have heard from your father, are doing. - They answered and said unto him - Our father, is, Abraham. Jesus saith unto them - If, children of Abraham, ye are, the works of Abraham, are ye doing. read more. But, now, ye are seeking, to kill me, - A man who, the truth, unto you, hath spoken, which I have heard from God: this, Abraham, did not. Ye, are doing the works of your father. They said unto him - We, of fornication, were not born: One father, have we - God. Jesus said unto them - If, God, had been your father, ye had been loving me, for, I, from God, came forth, and am here; for, not even of myself, have I come, but, he, sent me forth. Wherefore, is it, that, my speech, ye do not understand? because ye cannot hear my word. Ye, are, of your father - the adversary, and, the covetings of your father, ye choose to be doing. He, was, a murderer, from the beginning, and, in the truth, he stood not; because truth is not in him: Whensoever he speaketh falsehood, of his own, he speaketh; because, false, he is, and, the father of it.
Jesus saith unto her - Be not detaining me, for, not yet, have I ascended unto the Father; but be going unto my disciples, and say unto them - I am ascending unto my Father and your Father, and my God and your God.
Smith
The position and authority of the father as the head of the family are expressly assumed and sanctioned in Scripture, as a likeness of that of the Almighty over his creatures. It lies of course at the root of that so-called patriarchal government,
which was introductory to the more definite systems which followed, and which in part, but not wholly, superseded it. The father's blessing was regarded as conferring special benefit, but his malediction special injury, on those on whom it fell,
Ge 9:25,27; 27:27-40; 48:15,20; 49:1
... and so also the sin of a parent was held to affect, in certain cases, the welfare of his descendants.
The command to honor parents is noticed by St. Paul as the only one of the Decalogue which bore a distinct promise,
and disrespect towards them was condemned by the law as one of the worst crimes.
It is to this well-recognized theory of parental authority and supremacy that the very various uses of the term "father" in Scripture are due. "Fathers" is used in the sense of seniors,
and of parents in general, or ancestors.
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Unto the woman, he said, I will, increase, thy pain of pregnancy, In pain, shalt thou year children, - Yet, unto thy husband, shall be thy hinging, Though, he, rule over thee.
And he said, Accursed be Canaan, - a servant of servants, shall he be to his brethren!
God give extension to Japheth, But make his habitation in the tents of Shem, And let Canaan be their servant.
So he came near, and kissed him, and he smelled the smell of his garments and blessed him, - and said. See! the smell of my son, As the smell of a field, which Yahweh hath blessed; Then, may God give thee of the dew of the heavens, And of the fatness of the earth, - And abundance of corn and new wine: read more. Let peoples serve thee And races bow down to thee, Become thou lord to thy brethren, And let the sons of thy mother bow down to thee, - He that curseth thee, be accursed! And he that blesseth thee, be blessed! And it came to pass as soon as Isaac had made an end of blessing Jacob, - yea it came to pass when Jacob, had only just gone forth, from the presence of Isaac his father, that Esau his brother, came in from his hunting. Then, he too, made dainty meats, and brought in to his father, - and said to his father, Let my father rise that he may eat of the game of his son, To the end thy soul may bless me! And Isaac his father said to him Who art, thou? And he said, I, am thy son thy firstborn, Esau. Then did Isaac tremble with an exceeding great trembling, and said Who then was it that caught game and brought in to me and I did eat of all ere yet thou didst come in and I blessed him? Yea blessed, shall he remain! When Esau heard the words of his father, then cried he out with an outcry loud and bitter exceedingly, - and said to his father, Bless even me also, O my father! Then he said, Thy brother came in with deceit, - and took away thy blessing. And he said, Is it because his name, is called, Jacob, that he hath tricked me, now twice? My birthright, he took away, And lo! now, he hath taken away my blessing! And he said, Hast thou not reserved for me a blessing? Then answered Isaac and said to Esau, - Lo a lord, have I appointed him unto thee, And, all his brethren, lave I given to him as servants, And with corn and new wine, have I sustained him, - And for thee - now, what can I do, my son? And Esau said unto his father, But one blessing, hast thou, O my father? Bless, me also, O my father! And Esau lifted up his voice and wept. Then answered Isaac his father and said unto him, - Lo! of the fat parts of the earth, shall be thy dwelling, And of the dew of the heavens, above; And on thy sword, shalt thou live, And thy brother, shalt thou serve: But it shall come to pass when thou shalt rove at large, Then shalt thou break his yoke from off thy neck.
Thus blessed he Joseph, and said, - God himself - before whom walked my fathers. Abraham and Isaac, God himself - who hath been my shepherd, since I came into being until this day; -
And he blessed them on that day, saying - In thee, let Israel bless himself saying, God set thee as Ephraim, and as Manasseh! So he set Ephraim before Manasseh.
Then called Jacob unto his sons, - and said - Gather yourselves together, and let me tell you, that which shall befall you in the afterpart of the days.
Honour thy father, and thy mother, - that thy days may be prolonged upon the soil, which Yahweh thy God is about to give unto thee.
And, he that smiteth his father or his mother, shall, surely be put to death.
And he who revileth his father or his mother, shall, surely be put to death.
The leprosy of Naaman, therefore, shall cleave unto thee, and unto thy seed, to times age-abiding. And he went forth from before him - a leper - like snow.
Therefore shall all the nations serve him, and his son, and his sons son, - until the time even of his own land, itself arrive, when many nations and great kings, shall use him as a slave.
Belshazzar, gave word, at the flavour of the wine, to bring the vessels of gold and silver, which Nebuchadnezzar his father, had brought forth, out of the temple which was in Jerusalem, - that the king and his nobles, his wives and his concubines, might drink therein.
and say - If we had been in the days of our fathers, we would not have been their partners in the blood of the prophets:
And, he, said - Brethren and fathers, hearken! The God of Glory, appeared unto our father Abraham, while he was in Mesopotamia, before he dwelt in Haran, -
Honour thy father and thy mother, - which indeed is the first commandment with promise,
Holding fast, in the matter of his teaching, the faithful word, that he may be able both to encourage with his healthful instruction, and, the gainsayers, to refute.
Watsons
FATHER. This word, beside its common acceptation, is taken in Scripture for grandfather, great-grandfather, or the founder of a family, how remote soever. So the Jews in our Saviour's time called Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, their fathers. Jesus Christ is called the Son of David, though David was many generations distant from him. By father is likewise understood the institutor of a certain profession. Jabal "was father of such as dwell in tents, and such as have cattle." Jubal "was father of all such as handle the harp and organ," or flute, &c, Ge 4:20-21. Huram is called father of the king of Tyre, 2Ch 2:13; and, 2Ch 4:16, even of Solomon, because he was the principal workman, and chief director of their undertakings. The principal prophets were considered as fathers of the younger, who were their disciples, and are called sons of the prophets, 2Ki 2:12. Father is a term of respect given by inferiors to superiors. "My father," said Naaman's attendants to him, "if the prophet had bid thee do some great thing," 2Ki 5:13; and so the king of Israel addresses the prophet Elisha, 2Ki 6:21. Rechab, the founder of the Rechabites, is called their father, Jer 35:6. A man is said to be a father to the poor and orphans, when he supplies their necessities, and sympathizes with their miseries, as a father would do toward them: "I was a father to the poor," says Job 29:16. God declares himself to be the "Father of the fatherless, and Judge of the widow," Ps 68:5. God is frequently called our heavenly Father, and simply our Father; eminently the Father, Preserver, and Protector of all, especially of those who invoke him, and serve him: "Is he not thy Father that bought thee?" says Moses, De 32:6. Since the coming of Jesus Christ, we have a new right to call God our Father, by reason of the adoption which our Saviour has merited for us, by clothing himself in our humanity, and purchasing us by his death: "Ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father. The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God," Ro 8:15. Job entitles God "the Father of rain," Job 38:28; he produces it, and causes it to fall. The devil is called the father of the wicked and the father of lies, Joh 8:44. He deceived Eve and Adam; he introduced sin and falsehood; he inspires his followers with his spirit and sentiments. The father of Sichem, the father of Tekoah, the father of Bethlehem, &c, signify the chief persons who inhabited these cities; he who built or rebuilt them. Adam is the first father, the father of the living; Abraham is the father of the faithful, the father of the circumcision; called also the "father of many nations," because many people sprung from him; as the Jews, Ishmaelites, Arabs, &c. God is called "the Father of spirits," Heb 12:9. He not only creates them, but he justifies, sanctifies, and glorifies them, and thus confers upon them eternal happiness.
See Verses Found in Dictionary
And Adah bare Jabal, - he, was father of such as dwell in tents, and have cattle; and, the name of his brother, was Jubal, - he, was father of everyone handling lyre and flute,
Is it Yahweh, ye thus requite, O impious people and unwise? Is not, he, thy father who begat thee? He, that made thee and established thee?
And, as soon as Elisha saw it, he, began crying out - My father! my father! The chariots of Israel, and the horsemen thereof! But, when he could see him no longer, he took hold of his clothes, and rent them in two pieces.
Then drew near his servants, and spake unto him, and said - My father! if, some great thing, the prophet had commanded thee, wouldst thou not have done it? then, how much rather, when he hath said unto thee, Bathe and be clean?
Then said the king of Israel unto Elisha, when he saw them, - Shall I smite - shall I smite, my father?
Now, therefore, have I sent a wise man, skilled in understanding, pertaining to Huram my father:
and, the pans and the shovels and the flesh-hooks, and all the vessels, made Huram his father for King Solomon, for the house of Yahweh, - of burnished bronze,
A father, was, I, to the needy, and, as for the cause which I knew not, I used to search it out;
The father of the fatherless, And the advocate of widows, Is God, in his holy habitation.
Then said they, - We will not drink wine, - for Jonadab son of Rechab, our father, laid command upon us, saying, Ye shall not drink wine, ye, nor your sons, unto times age-abiding;
Ye, are, of your father - the adversary, and, the covetings of your father, ye choose to be doing. He, was, a murderer, from the beginning, and, in the truth, he stood not; because truth is not in him: Whensoever he speaketh falsehood, of his own, he speaketh; because, false, he is, and, the father of it.
For ye have not received a spirit of servitude, leading back into fear, but ye have received a spirit of sonship, whereby we are exclaiming - Abba! Oh Father!
Furthermore, indeed, the fathers of our flesh, we used to have, as administrators of discipline, and we used to pay deference: shall we not, much rather, submit ourselves to the Father of our spirits and, live?