Types & Antitypes are Relationships

We are familiar with relationships

  • Parent child

    • Identifies the direction of the relationship

    • A child can also be a parent that has their own children

The most basic Biblical use of type, antitype

  • The symbol (type) points to the object (antitype)

    • Shows the direction of the relationship

    • Old Testament people, events, objects are types

    • New Testament people, events, objects are antitypes

    • Examples

      • Romans 5:14, Adam is a type of Christ

      • 1 Corinthians 5:7, Christ our Passover Lamb

      • 1 Peter 3:21, The flood and baptism

Other type, antitype relationships

  • Sometimes the type points to something that normally would think should be the type, for example:

    • Hebrews 8:5, make sure to build the tabernacle according to the pattern [type] shown you on the mountain.

      • The tabernacle is a type of Christ’s body — John 2:18-22; Matthew 27:37-44; Mark 15:26-32

      • However, when Moses is told to build the tabernacle he is told to make sure he builds it according to the pattern [type] shown him on the mountain. Exodus 25:40

Old Testament use of tabnith (pattern)

The book of Hebrews was written in Greek, the Old Testament quote was translated by the Hebrew writer from Hebrew into Greek or he used the Septuagint. The Hebrew word that translates into the Greek word tupos is: tabnith [Strong’s # h8403] meaning: pattern. In the Old Testament tabnith occurs 20 times.

How does the OT use this word?

In the Authorized Version (KJV) Bible, tabnith is translated:
pattern (9),
likeness (5), Deuteronomy 4:16 (1),17 (2),18 (2)
form (3),
similitude (2),
figure (1).

Exodus 25:9 (2); 25:40 (1) - pattern
Deuteronomy 4:16,17,18 - likeness
Joshua 22:28 (1)
2 Kings 16:10
1 Chronicles 28:11,12,18,19
Psalm 106:20; 144:12
Isaiah 44:13
Ezekiel 8:3,10; 10:8

AV - Authorized Version = KJV

Exodus 25:9 (KJV)

9 According to all that I shew thee, after the pattern of the tabernacle, and the pattern of all the instruments thereof, even so shall ye make it.

Exodus 25:9 (NKJV)

9 According to all that I show you, that is, the pattern of the tabernacle and the pattern of all its furnishings, just so you shall make it.

Exodus 25:40 (KJV)

40 And look that thou make them after their pattern, which was shewed thee in the mount.

Exodus 25:40 (NKJV)

40 And see to it that you make them according to the pattern which was shown you on the mountain.

Deuteronomy 4:16,17,18
Deuteronomy 4:16 (KJV)

16 Lest ye corrupt yourselves, and make you a graven image, the similitude of any figure, the likeness of male or female,

Deuteronomy 4:16 (NKJV)

16 lest you act corruptly and make for yourselves a carved image in the form of any figure: the likeness of male or female,

Deuteronomy 4:17 (KJV)

17 The likeness of any beast that is on the earth, the likeness of any winged fowl that flieth in the air,

Deuteronomy 4:17 (NKJV)

17 the likeness of any animal that is on the earth or the likeness of any winged bird that flies in the air,

Deuteronomy 4:18 (KJV)

18 The likeness of any thing that creepeth on the ground, the likeness of any fish that is in the waters beneath the earth:

Deuteronomy 4:18 (NKJV)

18 the likeness of anything that creeps on the ground or the likeness of any fish that is in the water beneath the earth.

Joshua 22:28 (KJV)

28 Therefore said we, that it shall be, when they should so say to us or to our generations in time to come, that we may say again, Behold the pattern of the altar of the LORD, which our fathers made, not for burnt offerings, nor for sacrifices; but it is a witness between us and you.

Joshua 22:28 (NKJV)

28 Therefore we said that it will be, when they say this to us or to our generations in time to come, that we may say, 'Here is the replica of the altar of the LORD which our fathers made, though not for burnt offerings nor for sacrifices; but it is a witness between you and us.'

2 Kings 16:10 (KJV)

10 And king Ahaz went to Damascus to meet Tiglathpileser king of Assyria, and saw an altar that was at Damascus: and king Ahaz sent to Urijah the priest the fashion of the altar, and the pattern of it, according to all the workmanship thereof.

2 Kings 16:10 (NKJV)

10 Now King Ahaz went to Damascus to meet Tiglath-Pileser king of Assyria, and saw an altar that was at Damascus; and King Ahaz sent to Urijah the priest the design of the altar and its pattern, according to all its workmanship.

1 Chronicles 28:11,12,18,19
1 Chronicles 28:11 (KJV)

11 Then David gave to Solomon his son the pattern of the porch, and of the houses thereof, and of the treasuries thereof, and of the upper chambers thereof, and of the inner parlours thereof, and of the place of the mercy seat,

1 Chronicles 28:11 (NKJV)

11 Then David gave his son Solomon the plans for the vestibule, its houses, its treasuries, its upper chambers, its inner chambers, and the place of the mercy seat;

1 Chronicles 28:12 (ASV)

12 and the pattern of all that he had by the Spirit, for the courts of the house of Jehovah, and for all the chambers round about, for the treasuries of the house of God, and for the treasuries of the dedicated things;

1 Chronicles 28:12 (NKJV)

12 and the plans for all that he had by the Spirit, of the courts of the house of the LORD, of all the chambers all around, of the treasuries of the house of God, and of the treasuries for the dedicated things;

1 Chronicles 28:18 (ASV)

18 and for the altar of incense refined gold by weight; and gold for the pattern of the chariot, even the cherubim, that spread out their wings, and covered the ark of the covenant of Jehovah.

1 Chronicles 28:18 (NKJV)

18 and refined gold by weight for the altar of incense, and for the construction of the chariot, that is, the gold cherubim that spread their wings and overshadowed the ark of the covenant of the LORD.

1 Chronicles 28:19 (ASV)

19 All this, said David, have I been made to understand in writing from the hand of Jehovah, even all the works of this pattern.

1 Chronicles 28:19 (NKJV)

19 "All this," said David, "the LORD made me understand in writing, by His hand upon me, all the works of these plans."

Note
si·mil·i·tude | siˈmiləˌt(y)o͞od |

noun
the quality or state of being similar to something: Conrad uses a range of constructions which express or imply similitude | [count noun] : there is a striking similitude between the brother and sister.

archaic

a comparison between two things.

archaic

a person or thing resembling someone or something else.
Psalms
Psalm 106:20 (KJV)

20 Thus they changed their glory into the similitude of an ox that eateth grass.

Psalm 106:20 (NKJV)

20 Thus they changed their glory Into the image of an ox that eats grass.

Psalms 144:12 (KJV)

12 That 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:

Psalms 144:12 (NKJV)

12 That our sons may be as plants grown up in their youth; That our daughters may be as pillars, Sculptured in palace style;

(ASV) fashion of a palace; (NASB Strong’s: Lit cut after the pattern of)

Isaiah 44:13 (KJV)

13 The carpenter stretcheth out his rule; he marketh it out with a line; he fitteth it with planes, and he marketh it out with the compass, and maketh it after the figure of a man, according to the beauty of a man; that it may remain in the house.

Isaiah 44:13 (NKJV)

13 The craftsman stretches out his rule, He marks one out with chalk; He fashions it with a plane, He marks it out with the compass, And makes it like the figure of a man, According to the beauty of a man, that it may remain in the house.

Ezekiel 8:3,10; 10:8
Ezekiel 8:3 (KJV)

3 And he put forth the form of an hand, and took me by a lock of mine head; and the spirit lifted me up between the earth and the heaven, and brought me in the visions of God to Jerusalem, to the door of the inner gate that looketh toward the north; where was the seat of the image of jealousy, which provoketh to jealousy.

Ezekiel 8:3 (NKJV)

3 He stretched out the form of a hand, and took me by a lock of my hair; and the Spirit lifted me up between earth and heaven, and brought me in visions of God to Jerusalem, to the door of the north gate of the inner court, where the seat of the image of jealousy was, which provokes to jealousy.

Ezekiel 8:10 (KJV)

10 So I went in and saw; and behold every form of creeping things, and abominable beasts, and all the idols of the house of Israel, pourtrayed upon the wall round about.

Ezekiel 8:10 (NKJV)

10 So I went in and saw, and there—every sort of creeping thing, abominable beasts, and all the idols of the house of Israel, portrayed all around on the walls.

Ezekiel 10:8 (KJV)

8 And there appeared in the cherubims the form of a man’s hand under their wings.

Ezekiel 10:8 (NKJV)

8 The cherubim appeared to have the form of a man’s hand under their wings.