figure, form, likeness, pattern, similitude

“Figure” From Concise Bible Dictionary:

See PARABLE.

“Similitude” From Concise Bible Dictionary:

1. demuth, “likeness, representation” (2 Chron. 4:3³And under it was the similitude of oxen, which did compass it round about: ten in a cubit, compassing the sea round about. Two rows of oxen were cast, when it was cast. (2 Chronicles 4:3); Dan. 10:16¹⁶And, behold, one like the similitude of the sons of men touched my lips: then I opened my mouth, and spake, and said unto him that stood before me, O my lord, by the vision my sorrows are turned upon me, and I have retained no strength. (Daniel 10:16); Hos. 12:10¹⁰I have also spoken by the prophets, and I have multiplied visions, and used similitudes, by the ministry of the prophets. (Hosea 12:10)).

2. tabnith, “pattern, form, structure” (Psa. 106:20²⁰Thus they changed their glory into the similitude of an ox that eateth grass. (Psalm 106:20); Psa. 144:12¹²That our sons may be as plants grown up in their youth; that our daughters may be as corner stones, polished after the similitude of a palace: (Psalm 144:12)).

3. temunah, “form, appearance,” which may not imply likeness (Num. 12:8⁸With him will I speak mouth to mouth, even apparently, and not in dark speeches; and the similitude of the Lord shall he behold: wherefore then were ye not afraid to speak against my servant Moses? (Numbers 12:8); Deut. 4:12,15-16¹²And the Lord spake unto you out of the midst of the fire: ye heard the voice of the words, but saw no similitude; only ye heard a voice. (Deuteronomy 4:12)
¹⁵Take ye therefore good heed unto yourselves; for ye saw no manner of similitude on the day that the Lord spake unto you in Horeb out of the midst of the fire: ¹⁶Lest ye corrupt yourselves, and make you a graven image, the similitude of any figure, the likeness of male or female, (Deuteronomy 4:15‑16)).

4. Three words derived from ὂμοιος, “like, similar” (Rom. 5:14¹⁴Nevertheless death reigned from Adam to Moses, even over them that had not sinned after the similitude of Adam's transgression, who is the figure of him that was to come. (Romans 5:14); Heb. 7:15¹⁵And it is yet far more evident: for that after the similitude of Melchisedec there ariseth another priest, (Hebrews 7:15); James 3:9⁹Therewith bless we God, even the Father; and therewith curse we men, which are made after the similitude of God. (James 3:9)).

Strong’s Dictionary of Hebrew Words:

Number:

8403 (find all occurrences in KJV Bible)

Transliteration:

tabniyth

Phonic:

tab-neeth’

Meaning:

from 1129; structure; by implication, a model, resemblance

KJV Usage:

figure, form, likeness, pattern, similitude

From Anstey’s Doctrinal Definitions:

When God created man, He said, “Let us make man in our image, after our likeness” (Gen. 1:26²⁶And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness: and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth. (Genesis 1:26)). “Image” has to do with man being set in a place of visibly representing God in the creation (1 Cor. 11:7⁷For a man indeed ought not to cover his head, forasmuch as he is the image and glory of God: but the woman is the glory of the man. (1 Corinthians 11:7)). “Likeness” has to do with man being made morally like God, who is without sin (Gen. 5:1¹This is the book of the generations of Adam. In the day that God created man, in the likeness of God made he him; (Genesis 5:1); James 3:9⁹Therewith bless we God, even the Father; and therewith curse we men, which are made after the similitude of God. (James 3:9)).

When man fell, he ceased to be like God morally. Hence, in his fallen state, man lost his likeness to God. Thereafter he is not said to be “in the likeness of God.” In fact, Adam’s posterity is said to be “in his own likeness” (Gen. 5:3³And Adam lived an hundred and thirty years, and begat a son in his own likeness, after his image; and called his name Seth: (Genesis 5:3)), which implies that Adam passed on to his descendants his sin-nature, which he acquired in the fall (Rom. 5:12¹²Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned: (Romans 5:12); Psa. 51:5⁵Behold, I was shapen in iniquity; and in sin did my mother conceive me. (Psalm 51:5)). However, even in his fallen state, man is said to be “in the image of God” (Gen. 9:6⁶Whoso sheddeth man's blood, by man shall his blood be shed: for in the image of God made he man. (Genesis 9:6)). The fall did not absolve him of his responsibility to represent God. But sad to say, that image in man has been marred by sin. Man has not represented God properly in the creation.

When Christ came into the world, Scripture says that He was “the image of God” (2 Cor. 4:4⁴In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them. (2 Corinthians 4:4); Col. 1:15¹⁵Who is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of every creature: (Colossians 1:15); Heb. 1:3³Who being the brightness of his glory, and the express image of his person, and upholding all things by the word of his power, when he had by himself purged our sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high; (Hebrews 1:3)). He was not “made” in the image of God (as man was)—He was that by virtue of who He was. Thus, He represented God perfectly as the Head of creation. However, Scripture does not say that Christ was “in the likeness of God,” as man was when God made man. The reason for this is that, when Christ walked here, He was not like God, He was God (John 1:1¹In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. (John 1:1)). Scripture does say that in coming into Manhood, Christ was “made in the likeness of men” (Phil. 2:7⁷But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men: (Philippians 2:7); Rom. 8:3³For what the law could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh, God sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin, condemned sin in the flesh: (Romans 8:3)). This does not mean that Christ took sinful flesh into union with Himself; He was not like man morally. This statement is referring to the Lord being in the likeness of men constitutionally—having a human spirit (John 13:21²¹When Jesus had thus said, he was troubled in spirit, and testified, and said, Verily, verily, I say unto you, that one of you shall betray me. (John 13:21)), a human soul (John 13:27²⁷And after the sop Satan entered into him. Then said Jesus unto him, That thou doest, do quickly. (John 13:27)), and a human body (Heb. 10:5⁵Wherefore when he cometh into the world, he saith, Sacrifice and offering thou wouldest not, but a body hast thou prepared me: (Hebrews 10:5)). Though a real Man, He was “sin apart” (Heb. 4:15¹⁵For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin. (Hebrews 4:15))—that is, without a sin-nature.

The good news is that God in grace has created a new race of men under Christ (2 Cor. 5:17¹⁷Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new. (2 Corinthians 5:17); Eph. 2:10¹⁰For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them. (Ephesians 2:10); Rev. 3:14¹⁴And unto the angel of the church of the Laodiceans write; These things saith the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the beginning of the creation of God; (Revelation 3:14)), wherein both likeness and image are regained. Christ’s “many brethren” (believers) in the new race can now exhibit the moral features of God and thus represent God on earth properly (Rom. 8:29²⁹For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren. (Romans 8:29); Heb. 2:11¹¹For both he that sanctifieth and they who are sanctified are all of one: for which cause he is not ashamed to call them brethren, (Hebrews 2:11)). The epistle to the Ephesians focuses on “the likeness of God” being displayed in this new race (Eph. 4:24-32²⁴And that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness. ²⁵Wherefore putting away lying, speak every man truth with his neighbor: for we are members one of another. ²⁶Be ye angry, and sin not: let not the sun go down upon your wrath: ²⁷Neither give place to the devil. ²⁸Let him that stole steal no more: but rather let him labor, working with his hands the thing which is good, that he may have to give to him that needeth. ²⁹Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good to the use of edifying, that it may minister grace unto the hearers. ³⁰And grieve not the holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption. ³¹Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamor, and evil speaking, be put away from you, with all malice: ³²And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ's sake hath forgiven you. (Ephesians 4:24‑32)), and the epistle to the Colossians focuses on the fact that the new race is “renewed in knowledge after the image of Him that created him” (Col. 3:10¹⁰And have put on the new man, which is renewed in knowledge after the image of him that created him: (Colossians 3:10)). Thus, the new race under Christ has regained what the old race lost under Adam.