Prayer Tents Bible References - Prayer Tents

SON

A male descendant (Heb. bēn; Gk. huiós), including one beyond the first generation (e.g., Gen. 31:28; Exod. 12:24). The term is also a generic name for children, sometimes used to categorize groups: an entire nation, male and female (“sons of Israel,” Gen. 32:32[MT 33]); a geographical designation (“sons of Zion,” Ps. 149:2; “sons of the east,” 29:1); a class or profession (“descendants of Aaron” or “Asaph,” 2 Chr. 35:14-15; “sons of the perfumers,” Neh. 3:8; “sons of prophets,” 2 Kgs. 2:3; cf. Amos 7:14). It can also designate a person displaying a certain quality: “son of virtue” (1 Kgs. 1:52); “Sons of Thunder” (Mark 3:17).

The role of the son was of great importance in the ancient social order. Throughout the ancient Near East the standard inheritance pattern for transference of property was from father to son, with particular significance given to the firstborn (e.g., Gen. 27:19; Deut. 21:15-17). If a man died without issue, his widow married his brother; the union’s first son upheld the dead man’s name, so that it would “not be blotted out in Israel” (Deut. 25:5-6). Firstborn sons must be redeemed (Exod. 34:20). A frequent OT story concerns the childless couple. Abram and Sarai longed for a son; Isaac’s miraculous birth came when his parents were elderly (Gen. 21). Often such a son becomes a deliverer like Samson (Judg. 13) or fulfills a special mission like Samuel (1 Sam. 1–2).

Along with privilege came responsibility for the son. Sons must honor their parents (Exod 20:12), and must be instructed and disciplined (13:14; Deut. 8:5; 11:19; Josh. 4:6). A son is his father’s delight, but must heed his father’s commands and not abandon his mother’s teachings (Prov. 3:12; 6:20). Sexual relations are prohibited between a son and his mother, father’s wife, sister, son’s daughter, daughter’s daughter, father’s sister, mother’s sister, and daughter-in-law (Lev. 18:6-30).

“Sons of God” or “sons of gods” refer to divine or semi-divine beings related to the heavenly assembly (Job 1:6; Ps. 89:5-6[6-8]), angels (Dan. 3:25), or primordial beings (Gen. 6:2, 4). God calls Israel his firstborn son (Exod. 4:22), as is also its king (2 Sam. 7:14; Ps. 2:7). In the NT Jesus is called the Son of God (Matt. 14:33; 16:16; Mark 1:1; 3:11; Luke 1:35; cf. Mark 14:61).

Jesus is called the son of Abraham and the son of David (Matt. 1:1; Luke 20:41). Jesus’ favorite messianic definition of himself was Son of Man, a clear reference to Daniel’s vision of “one like a son of man” (Dan. 7:13; Mark 14:62).

Robin Gallaher Branch/Lee E. Klosinski

Prayer Tents Bible References - Prayer Tents

SON

Eerdmans Dictionary of the Bible (2000)