Bible Encyclopedia: Member

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International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

MEMBER

mem'-ber

(1) yatsur; melos;

(2) shaphekhah, "membrum virile" (Deuteronomy 23:1)):

The first Hebrew word is derived from a root meaning "to knead," "to mold in clay," "to create." It therefore denotes any feature or part of the body. "So the tongue also is a little member, and boasteth great things" (James 3:5). "The members" is equivalent with "the body" (which see; compare Psalm 139:16 the King James Version). The members are not self-governing, but execute the orders of the mind, obeying either the lower nature in the commission of sin or iniquity, unrighteousness and uncleanness (Romans 6:13, 19), or following the higher nature, the Divine impulses in the fulfilling of the law of Christ (6:19).

By nature, the "law in my members" (Romans 7:23) is opposed to the better nature (James 4:1) until by "regeneration" (which see) this condition is changed, when the Spirit of Christ becomes the governing power, using our members, i.e. all our abilities, in the execution of His plans. This is not done while we remain passive, but only when we have actively presented or yielded our members to His service (Romans 6:19). Therefore our bodies must not be desecrated by baser uses (1 Corinthians 6:15, 19, 20). The Lord Jesus illustrates the severe discipline which is needed to subdue the members of even the regenerate to perfect submission under the higher law of the Spirit by the simile of the right eye, which is to be plucked out, and the right hand, which is to be cut off (Matthew 5:29, 30), and Paul speaks of putting to death (the King James Version "mortifying") the "members which are upon the earth" (Colossians 3:5).

It is the difference in character and gifts of individual Christians which leads Paul to speak of the variety of members, which, though of manifold functions, are equally important to the completeness of the body. It is thus in the manifold variety of the body of Christ (1 Corinthians 12:12-27 Ephesians 4:16), and Christians being members of Christ, who is the head (Ephesians 1:22; Ephesians 4:15; Ephesians 5:23), are members one of another (Romans 12:5 Ephesians 4:25).

In Deuteronomy 23:1 the Israelite Law against emasculation is referred to, and a religious disability is stated for the eunuch. Heathen Semites and other neighbors of Israel often castrated for religious purposes in the temple service of various divinities and for functions in princely palaces and harems. Heathen monarchs almost invariably had large numbers of these unfortunates, who frequently attained to positions of high power and responsibility. Herodotus states their frequent occurrence among the Persians (Hist. vi.32), and in the light of 2 Kings 20:18 and Daniel 1:3 it appears as not impossible that Daniel and his friends belonged to this class. In later years their existence is certain in Israel (1 Samuel 8:15 the Revised Version margin; Jeremiah 38:7 Matthew 19:12).

See also CONCISION; EUNUCH.

H. L. E. Luering

Greek

3196. melos -- a member or limb (of the body)
... a member or limb (of the body). Part of Speech: Noun, Neuter Transliteration: melos
Phonetic Spelling: (mel'-os) Short Definition: a limb, member Definition: a ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/3196.htm - 7k

4523. Saddoukaios -- a Sadducee, a member of a Jewish religious ...
... a Sadducee, a member of a Jewish religious sect. Part of Speech: Noun, Masculine
Transliteration: Saddoukaios Phonetic Spelling: (sad-doo-kah'-yos) Short ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/4523.htm - 7k

1409. Drousilla -- Drusilla, a member of the Herodian family
... Drusilla, a member of the Herodian family. Part of Speech: Noun, Feminine
Transliteration: Drousilla Phonetic Spelling: (droo'-sil-lah) Short Definition ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/1409.htm - 6k

2208. Zelotes -- the Zealot, a member of a Jewish political party
... Zelotes. 2209 . the Zealot, a member of a Jewish political party. Transliteration:
Zelotes Phonetic Spelling: (dzay-lo-tace') Short Definition: Zealot. ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/2208.htm - 6k

5330. Pharisaios -- a Pharisee, member of a Jewish religious sect
... a Pharisee, member of a Jewish religious sect. Part of Speech: Noun, Masculine
Transliteration: Pharisaios Phonetic Spelling: (far-is-ah'-yos) Short Definition ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/5330.htm - 7k

1010. bouleutes -- a councilor
... a councilor. Part of Speech: Noun, Masculine Transliteration: bouleutes Phonetic
Spelling: (bool-yoo-tace') Short Definition: a member of a city council, of the ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/1010.htm - 6k

698. Areopagites -- a judge of the court of Areopagus
... the court of Areopagus. Part of Speech: Noun, Masculine Transliteration: Areopagites
Phonetic Spelling: (ar-eh-op-ag-ee'-tace) Short Definition: member of the ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/698.htm - 6k

367. Ananias -- Ananias, the name of three Israelites
... Masculine Transliteration: Ananias Phonetic Spelling: (an-an-ee'-as) Short Definition:
Ananias Definition: Ananias, (a) husband of Sapphira, a member of the ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/367.htm - 6k

4245. presbuteros -- elder
... Transliteration: presbuteros Phonetic Spelling: (pres-boo'-ter-os) Short Definition:
elder Definition: elder, usually used as subst.; an elder, a member of the ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/4245.htm - 7k

758. archon -- ruler, chief
... Spelling: (ar'-khone) Short Definition: a ruler, prince, leader Definition: a ruler,
governor, leader, leading man; with the Jews, an official member (a member ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/758.htm - 7k

Strong's Hebrew

3338. yatsur -- form, member
... 3337, 3338. yatsur. 3339 . form, member. Transliteration: yatsur Phonetic
Spelling: (yaw-tsoor') Short Definition: members. ... member. ...
/hebrew/3338.htm - 6k

1905. Hagri -- a tribe East of the Jordan, also a member of the ...
... a tribe East of the Jordan, also a member of the tribe, also an Israelite.
Transliteration: Hagri Phonetic Spelling: (hag-ree') Short Definition: Hagrites. ...
/hebrew/1905.htm - 6k

1629b. Girzi -- member of a native tribe in Pal
... 1629a, 1629b. Girzi. 1630 . member of a native tribe in Pal.
Transliteration: Girzi Short Definition: Girzites. Word Origin from ...
/hebrew/1629b.htm - 5k

1917. haddam -- a member, limb
... 1916, 1917. haddam. 1918 . a member, limb. Transliteration: haddam Phonetic
Spelling: (had-dawm') Short Definition: limb. Word Origin ...
/hebrew/1917.htm - 6k

6133. eqer -- an offshoot, member
... 6132, 6133. eqer. 6134 . an offshoot, member. Transliteration: eqer
Phonetic Spelling: (ay'-ker) Short Definition: descendants. ...
/hebrew/6133.htm - 6k

3056. Yahday -- member of Caleb's family
... 3055, 3056. Yahday. 3057 . member of Caleb's family. Transliteration: Yahday
Phonetic Spelling: (yeh-dah'-ee) Short Definition: Jahdai. ...
/hebrew/3056.htm - 6k

8212. shophkah -- male organ
... privy member. Feminine of a derivative from shaphak; a pipe (for pouring forth,
eg Wine), ie The penis -- privy member. see HEBREW shaphak. 8211, 8212. ...
/hebrew/8212.htm - 6k

7017. Qeni -- members of the tribe of Kenites
... Kenite. Or Qiyniy (1 Chron. 2:55) {kee-nee'}; patronymic from Qayin; a Kenite or
member of the tribe of Kajin -- Kenite. see HEBREW Qayin. 7016, 7017. ...
/hebrew/7017.htm - 6k

8198. shiphchah -- maid, maidservant
... Feminine from an unused root meaning to spread out (as a family; see mishpachah);
a female slave (as a member of the household) -- (bond-, hand-)maid(-en ...
/hebrew/8198.htm - 6k

7716. seh -- one of a flock, a sheep (or goat)
... Or sey {say}; probably from sha'ah through the idea of pushing out to graze; a member
of a flock, ie A sheep or goat -- (lesser, small) cattle, ewe, goat, lamb ...
/hebrew/7716.htm - 6k

Library

To the First Member I Reply:
... I. To the FIRST MEMBER I reply. First. I never uttered this expression;
but have, on more occasions than one, taught both in public ...
/.../arminius/the works of james arminius vol 1/i to the first member.htm

To the Second Member of this Article, I Answer:
... II. TO THE SECOND MEMBER OF THIS ARTICLE, I ANSWER. First. I never made
such an assertion. Secondly. If even I had, it would not ...
/.../arminius/the works of james arminius vol 1/ii to the second member.htm

January 6. "The Body is not one Member, but Many" (I. Cor. xii. 14 ...
... JANUARY 6. "The body is not one member, but many" (I. Cor. xii. 14).
"The body is not one member, but many" (I. Cor. xii.14). ...
/.../simpson/days of heaven upon earth /january 6 the body is.htm

"Man, Considered as a Member of this World, who is to have his ...
... Address 58: "Man, considered as a member of this world, who is to have
his share of� "Man, considered as a member of this world ...
/.../address 58 0 0 man considered as.htm

Have Read the Document Sent from the East by Our Friend and Good ...
... I have read the document sent from the East by our friend and good brother
to a distinguished member of the Senate. I have read the ...
/.../i have read the document.htm

That this Prophecy Respecting Our Saviour was not the Fiction of ...
... which he addressed "to the assembly of the saints." Chapter XIX."That this Prophecy
respecting our Saviour was not the Fiction of any Member of the Christian ...
/.../the life of constantine/chapter xix that this prophecy respecting.htm

None of These Answers Will You Give Us. You Turn to Other Things ...
... I raise no question as to your declaration that it is this very flesh in which we
live which rises again, without the loss of a single member, and without any ...
/.../5 none of these answers.htm

The People of the New Earth
... xxi.1" 5. This member corresponds with the member B (chaps. ... This large member is
divided into three parts:". B., xxi.1" 5. The People of the New Earth. ...
/.../bullinger/commentary on revelation/the people of the new.htm

Obedience to the Last Command
... It lies in the very nature of His salvation that every member of His body, in full
and healthy access with Him feels himself urged to impart what he has ...
/.../murray/the school of obedience/viii obedience to the last.htm

Faith is not an Effect of Election, but is a Necessary Requisite ...
... This third member, therefore, is proposed in a manner much too confused.
Yet, when this confusion is corrected by the distinction ...
/.../arminius/the works of james arminius vol 1/article iv faith is not.htm

Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary

1. (v. t.) To remember; to cause to remember; to mention.

2. (n.) A part of an animal capable of performing a distinct office; an organ; a limb.

3. (n.) Hence, a part of a whole; an independent constituent of a body

4. (n.) A part of a discourse or of a period or sentence; a clause; a part of a verse.

5. (n.) Either of the two parts of an algebraic equation, connected by the sign of equality.

6. (n.) Any essential part, as a post, tie rod, strut, etc., of a framed structure, as a bridge truss.

7. (n.) Any part of a building, whether constructional, as a pier, column, lintel, or the like, or decorative, as a molding, or group of moldings.

8. (n.) One of the persons composing a society, community, or the like; an individual forming part of an association; as, a member of the society of Friends.

Thesaurus

Member (20 Occurrences)
... 8. (n.) One of the persons composing a society, community, or the like; an individual
forming part of an association; as, a member of the society of Friends. ...
/m/member.htm - 17k

Circumcision (98 Occurrences)
... Under the Jewish dispensation, church and state were identical. No one could be
a member of the one without also being a member of the other. ...
/c/circumcision.htm - 53k

Council (51 Occurrences)
... For "council" in the latter sense, its most frequent use, see SANHEDRIN.
A councilor (Greek bouleutes) was a member of the Sanhedrin. ...
/c/council.htm - 24k

Nor (6640 Occurrences)
... Noah Webster's Dictionary (conj.) A negative connective or particle, introducing
the second member or clause of a negative proposition, following neither, or ...
/n/nor.htm - 7k

Members (54 Occurrences)
... 1 Corinthians 12:26 When one member suffers, all the members suffer with it.
Or when one member is honored, all the members rejoice with it. ...
/m/members.htm - 21k

Organ (6 Occurrences)
... ORGAN. or'-gan. See MUSIC. Multi-Version Concordance Organ (6 Occurrences). 1
Corinthians 12:19 If they were all one member, where would the body be? (See RSV). ...
/o/organ.htm - 9k

Liberal (11 Occurrences)
... n.) One who favors greater freedom in political or religious matters; an opponent
of the established systems; a reformer; in English politics, a member of the ...
/l/liberal.htm - 12k

Freeman (9 Occurrences)
... 2. (n.) A member of a corporation, company, or city, possessing certain privileges;
a member of a borough, town, or State, who has the right to vote at ...
/f/freeman.htm - 10k

Fellow (166 Occurrences)
... 7. (n.) In an American college or university, a member of the corporation which
manages its business interests; also, a graduate appointed to a fellowship, who ...
/f/fellow.htm - 42k

Tenon
... 1. (n.) A projecting member left by cutting away the wood around it, and made to
insert into a mortise, and in this way secure together the parts of a frame ...
/t/tenon.htm - 8k

Bible Concordance

Member (20 Occurrences)

Matthew 5:29 If your right eye causes you to stumble, pluck it out and throw it away from you. For it is more profitable for you that one of your members should perish, than for your whole body to be cast into Gehenna.
(Root in WEB KJV WEY ASV DBY WBS YLT RSV)

Matthew 5:30 If your right hand causes you to stumble, cut it off, and throw it away from you. For it is more profitable for you that one of your members should perish, than for your whole body to be cast into Gehenna.
(Root in WEB KJV WEY ASV DBY WBS YLT RSV)

Mark 15:43 Joseph of Arimathaea, a prominent council member who also himself was looking for the Kingdom of God, came. He boldly went in to Pilate, and asked for Jesus' body.
(WEB WEY NAS RSV NIV)

Luke 23:50 Behold, a man named Joseph, who was a member of the council, a good and righteous man
(WEB WEY NAS RSV NIV)

John 3:1 Now there was a man of the Pharisees named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews.
(See NIV)

Acts 10:2 He was religious and God-fearing--and so was every member of his household. He was also liberal in his charities to the people, and continually offered prayer to God.
(WEY)

Acts 17:34 A few, however, attached themselves to him and believed, among them being Dionysius a member of the Council, a gentlewoman named Damaris, and some others.
(WEY NIV)

Romans 11:1 I ask then, did God reject his people? May it never be! For I also am an Israelite, a descendant of Abraham, of the tribe of Benjamin.
(See RSV)

Romans 12:5 so we, who are many, are one body in Christ, and individually members one of another.
(Root in WEB KJV WEY ASV DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)

1 Corinthians 12:14 For the body is not one member, but many.
(WEB KJV ASV DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV)

1 Corinthians 12:19 If they were all one member, where would the body be?
(WEB KJV ASV DBY WBS YLT NAS)

1 Corinthians 12:24 whereas our presentable parts have no such need. But God composed the body together, giving more abundant honor to the inferior part,
(See NAS NIV)

1 Corinthians 12:26 When one member suffers, all the members suffer with it. Or when one member is honored, all the members rejoice with it.
(WEB KJV ASV DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV)

Philippians 3:5 circumcised, as I was, on the eighth day, a member of the race of Israel and of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew sprung from Hebrews; as to the Law a Pharisee;
(WEY)

Hebrews 7:13 He, however, to whom that prophecy refers is associated with a different tribe, not one member of which has anything to do with the altar.
(WEY)

James 3:5 So the tongue is also a little member, and boasts great things. See how a small fire can spread to a large forest!
(WEB KJV WEY ASV DBY WBS YLT RSV)

Leviticus 4:27 "'If anyone of the common people sins unwittingly, in doing any of the things which Yahweh has commanded not to be done, and is guilty;
(See NIV)

Leviticus 22:23 A bullock and a sheep that hath a member too long or too short, that mayest thou offer as a voluntary offering; but as a vow it shall not be accepted.
(DBY NAS)

Leviticus 25:47 "'If a stranger or sojourner with you becomes rich, and your brother beside him has grown poor, and sells himself to the stranger or foreigner living among you, or to a member of the stranger's family;
(WEB RSV NIV)

Deuteronomy 23:1 He who is wounded in the stones, or has his privy member cut off, shall not enter into the assembly of Yahweh.
(WEB KJV ASV YLT RSV)

Subtopics

Member

Related Terms

Circumcision (98 Occurrences)

Council (51 Occurrences)

Nor (6640 Occurrences)

Members (54 Occurrences)

Organ (6 Occurrences)

Liberal (11 Occurrences)

Freeman (9 Occurrences)

Fellow (166 Occurrences)