Dictionary of Deities and Demons in the Bible Online

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Lamb ἀμνός, ἀρνίον
(961 words)

I. Name

In the NT Christ is designated 31 times as a lamb. In John 1.29, John 36 he is called the lamb (ἀμνός) of God; in the Revelation of John (John 5.6, John 8 et passim [29x]) he is depicted as a heavenly lamb (ἀρνίον) that receives honour and worship as if it is God himself.

II. Identity

There is much uncertainty and debate about the religio-historical background of the image of Christ as a lamb. There seems to be partly an OT background to this imagery, if one regards Isa. 53.6–7 as the source of the remark in John’s Gospel that Jesus is the l…

Cite this page
P. W. van der Horst, “Lamb ἀμνός, ἀρνίον”, in: Dictionary of Deities and Demons in the Bible Online, Edited by: Karel van der Toorn, Bob Becking, Pieter W. van der Horst. Consulted online on 03 December 2023 <http://dx.doi.org/10.1163/2589-7802_DDDO_DDDO_Lamb>



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