Bible Dictionary
UNDERNEATH
“Underneath” expresses what lies below or supports something. In Moses’ blessing, the everlasting arms underneath Israel portray God as the enduring support and protection beneath His people.
Definition
Underneath means at the bottom or in the supporting position below something. It may describe what lies beneath visible circumstances and provides support.
Biblical Usage
In Moses’ blessing, “underneath are the everlasting arms” expresses God as the enduring support beneath Israel. The words summarize the underlying power, love, and unchanging principle beneath life’s changes.
Historical Background
The Hebrew term carries the sense of a depressed bottom or lower position. The supplied exposition applies the image to the sustaining reality beneath visible events and changing circumstances.
Related Figures
Historical Bible Dictionaries
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia (ISBE)
<p>un-der-neth' (tachath, "the bottom (as depressed)"): "Underneath are the everlasting arms" (De 33:27). In these words Moses sums up the history of Israel and gives expression to his final thought about life and time and all things visible. Underneath all phenomena and all the chances and changes of life and time there is unchanging law, everlasting principle, an all-enfolding power, an all-embracing love.</p>