📖 Biblical Definition
"The arm of the LORD" is one of Scripture's most common images of divine saving power. "You with your mighty arm redeemed your people" (Ps 77:15). "The arm of the LORD has been revealed" (Isa 53:1) — Isaiah's question before the Suffering Servant passage. Deuteronomy repeatedly rehearses the Exodus as God's "mighty hand and outstretched arm" (Deut 4:34). The arm that delivered Israel from Egypt is the same arm that saves the sinner. "He has shown strength with his arm; he has scattered the proud in the thoughts of their hearts" (Luke 1:51, Mary's Magnificat).
📜 Webster 1828 Definition
ARM, n.
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ARM, n. [Sax. arm.] The limb of the human body extending from the shoulder to the hand. In Scripture, the arm is the repeated image of divine saving power: "the arm of the LORD" redeemed Israel from Egypt with a mighty outstretched arm; scattered the proud in Mary's song; and revealed itself in the suffering servant who is the arm of the LORD personally appearing.
📖 Key Scripture
Isaiah 53:1 — "Who has believed what he has heard from us? And to whom has the arm of the LORD been revealed?"
Deuteronomy 4:34 — "Or has any god ever attempted to go and take a nation for himself from the midst of another nation, by trials, by signs, by wonders, and by war, by a mighty hand and an outstretched arm."
Luke 1:51 — "He has shown strength with his arm; he has scattered the proud in the thoughts of their hearts."
Psalm 98:1 — "His right hand and his holy arm have worked salvation for him."
⚠️ Modern Corruption
Modern Christians often rely on their own arm. Scripture repeats that salvation belongs to the arm of the LORD.
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Jeremiah: "Cursed is the man who trusts in man and makes flesh his strength" (17:5) — literally "makes flesh his arm." The opposite: "Blessed is the man who trusts in the LORD" (17:7). Every Christian temptation to rely on self-effort rather than God's power is the sin of making flesh His arm. The outstretched arm of the LORD delivered Israel without their arm being required; the same arm saves you.
🔗 Greek & Hebrew Roots
H2220 — zeroa.
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H2220 — zeroa (זְרוֹעַ) — arm; divine saving power.
G1023 — brachiōn (βραχίων) — arm; NT usage in Magnificat.
Usage
"The arm of the LORD was revealed. Isaiah asked who would believe; the gospel answers."
"Cursed is the man who makes flesh his arm. Blessed is the man who trusts the LORD's arm."