SPECIAL TOPIC: SHADOW (using several related phrases)

This is a Hebraic idiom for

1. “shadow” as protection

a. of YHWH – Isa. 16:3-4

b. of Egypt – Isa. 30:2-3

c. of YHWH’s Messiah – Lam. 4:20

2. “shadow of the hand,” also of YHWH’s protection – Ps. 121:5; Isa. 49:2; 51:16; also note Exod. 33:22)

3. “shadow of my roof,” another idiom for protection – Gen. 19:8

4. “shadow of YHWH’s special cloud during the wilderness wandering period” (i.e., shade by day, light by night guided them) – Exod. 13:21-22; 14:19,20,24; Isa. 4:6; 25:4-5; 32:1-2

5. “shadow of the wing” – Hebrew idiom of God as mother bird – Ps. 17:8; 36:7; 57:1; 61:4; 91:1,4; Isa. 31:5 (same imagery in Deut. 32:10-11; Ruth 2:12; Matt. 23:37; Luke 13:34)

6. “shadow of a tree”

a. parable in connection with Abimelech – Jdgs. 9:15

b. parable of eagle and vine – Ezek. 17:23

c. parable of Egypt – Ezek. 31:6,17

d. dream of Nebuchadnezzar – Dan. 4:12

e. imagery of Israel’s captivity – Hosea 14:7

Shade was a powerful, life-saving metaphor for desert people.