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No.13.
"Satisfied . . . . . with Thy likeness."
pp. 221 - 223
We have devoted a number of pages to the references found in the Scripture to the
"Image". These studies would however lack completeness if we did not give some
consideration to the word `likeness'. This must therefore occupy our attention.
D'muth `likeness' occurs more times in the prophet Ezekiel than in the rest of the O.T.
Apart from the references to Adam in Genesis, the references in the remainder of the O.T.
do not contribute anything to our special theme except the one found in Daniel. We will,
however, supply the reader with these references in order that he may "see whether these
things are so". They are II Kings 16: 10; II Chron. 4: 3; Psa. 58: 4; Isa. 13: 4; and
40: 18.
It is our boast that the reader of this magazine manifests the true Berean spirit, and we
hope that some at least are ready to interpose with a question "What of the passages
which forbid the making of the likeness of anything; these are found in the law and you
have not given the references". The answer is that beside d'muth there are two other
Hebrew words that are translated "likeness", t'moonah "the likeness of anything"
(Exod. 20: 4), and tavneeth "the likeness of male or female" (Deut. 4: 16).
Gesenius is of the opinion that t'moonah is from a root that means `pretence' and
tavneeth is from the root which means `to build', and so this word is often rendered
`pattern' as in Exod. 25: 9; I Chron. 28: 11, etc. One occurrence of t'moonah must
inevitably come into our study at the close, and that is Psa. 17: 15. We must however
adhere to the Divine choice of word in Genesis and seek the teaching associated with that
word first.
Commenting on damah Parkhurst says:
"The general idea of this difficult and extensive root seems to be equable, even, level,
uniform, conform . . . . . Symmachus (Greek version of the O.T. similar to the LXX)
appears to have given nearly the ideal meaning of it, Psa. 89: 7, where he renders it
exisasei, shall equal."
In Isa. 46: 5 this approach to the idea of being equal is clearly seen:
"To whom will ye liken Me, and make Me equal, and compare Me, that we may be like?"
Parkhurst's translation is:
"To whom will ye equal Me (or make Me equivalent), or liken Me that we may be
equal (or conform)?"
It must not be assumed that by so understanding the word translated `likeness' in
Gen. 1: 26, that there is imported into the record an unholy suggestion at `equality' with