📖 Biblical Definition
The upper limb; in Scripture, the most-used metaphor for divine strength. Israel was redeemed from Egypt with a stretched out arm (Deut 5:15); the underneath of the saint's life is the everlasting arms (Deut 33:27); the song of Mary celebrates he hath shewed strength with his arm; Isaiah 53 asks who has believed the report of the Servant: to whom is the arm of the Lord revealed?
📜 Webster 1828 Definition
ARM, n.
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1. The limb of the human body which extends from the shoulder to the hand. 2. The branch of a tree, river, or sea. 3. The arm of the Lord — in scripture, an emblem of divine strength and the messianic deliverer.
📖 Key Scripture
Deuteronomy 33:27 — "The eternal God is thy refuge, and underneath are the everlasting arms."
Isaiah 53:1 — "Who hath believed our report? and to whom is the arm of the Lord revealed?"
Luke 1:51 — "He hath shewed strength with his arm; he hath scattered the proud."
Isaiah 40:11 — "He shall feed his flock like a shepherd: he shall gather the lambs with his arm, and carry them in his bosom."
⚠️ Modern Corruption
Modern self-reliance flexes its own arm; Scripture rests in the everlasting ones underneath.
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Deuteronomy 33:27 is one of the sturdiest comforts in Scripture: underneath are the everlasting arms. However deep the saint falls, however bottomless the dark season seems, there is a floor — and the floor is the everlasting arm of God. Modern self-reliance flexes its own bicep; the believer leans backward into a stronger Arm.
Isaiah 53:1 is the haunting question: to whom is the arm of the Lord revealed? Answer: in a Suffering Servant the world refused to recognize. The Almighty arm is also a wounded arm. The arm that scattered Pharaoh is the arm that was pinned to a cross. Lean on it. The everlasting arms hold; the wounded arms welcome.
🔗 Greek & Hebrew Roots
Hebrew zeroa (H2220); Greek brachion (G1023).
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H2220 — zeroa — arm; strength; power
G1023 — brachion — arm
Usage
"Underneath are the everlasting arms — the deepest fall has a floor."
"The Almighty arm is also a wounded arm; the cross taught us both at once."
"Modern self-reliance flexes its own bicep; the believer leans backward into the Lord's."