- FATHER a name applied (1) to any ancestor (Deuteronomy 1:11; 1 Kings
15:11; Matthew 3:9; 23:30, etc.); and (2) as a title of respect to a chief,
ruler, or elder, etc. (Judges 17:10; 18:19; 1 Samuel 10:12; 2 Kings 2:12;
Matthew 23:9, etc.). (3) The author or beginner of anything is also so
called; e.g., Jabal and Jubal (Genesis 4:20, 21; comp. Job 38:28).
Applied to God (Exodus 4:22; Deuteronomy 32:6; 2 Samuel 7:14; Psalm
89:27, 28, etc.). (1.) As denoting his covenant relation to the Jews
(Jeremiah 31:9; Isaiah 63:16; 64:8; John 8:41, etc.).
(2.) Believers are called God’s “sons” (John 1:12; Romans 8:16; Matthew
6:4, 8, 15, 18; 10:20, 29). They also call him “Father” (Romans 1:7; 1
Corinthians 1:3; 2 Corinthians 1:2; Galatians 1:4)
- FATHOM (Old A.S. faethm, “bosom,” or the outstretched arms), a span
of six feet (Acts 27:28). Gr. orguia (from orego, “I stretch”), the distance
between the extremities of both arms fully stretched out. - FATLING (1.) A fatted animal for slaughter (2 Samuel 6:13; Isaiah 11:6;
Ezekiel 39:18. Comp. Matthew 22:4, where the word used in the original,
sitistos, means literally “corn-fed;” i.e., installed, fat). (2.) Psalm 66:15
(Hebrews meah, meaning “marrowy,” “fat,” a species of sheep). (3.) 1
Samuel 15:9 (Hebrews mishneh, meaning “the second,” and hence
probably “cattle of a second quality,” or lambs of the second birth, i.e.,
autmnal lambs, and therfore of less value). - FEAR OF THE LORD THE is in the Old Testament used as a designation
of true piety (Proverbs 1:7; Job 28:28; Psalm 19:9). It is a fear conjoined
with love and hope, and is therefore not a slavish dread, but rather filial
reverence. (Comp. Deuteronomy 32:6; Hos. 11:1; Isaiah 1:2; 63:16; 64:8.)
God is called “the Fear of Isaac” (Genesis 31:42, 53), i.e., the God whom
Isaac feared.
A holy fear is enjoined also in the New Testament as a preventive of
carelessness in religion, and as an incentive to penitence (Matthew 10:28; 2
Corinthians 5:11; 7:1; Phil. 2:12; Ephesians 5:21; Hebrews 12:28, 29).