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Translation Verse         Text
Strong Concordance Mal 1:6 A son [01121] honoureth [03513] his father [01], and a servant [05650] his master [0113]: if then I be a father [01], where is mine honour [03519]? and if I be a master [0113], where is my fear [04172]? saith [0559] the LORD [03068] of hosts [06635] unto you, O priests [03548], that despise [0959] my name [08034]. And ye say [0559], Wherein have we despised [0959] thy name [08034]?

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Word American Tract Society - Definition
FATHER Is often synonymous with ancestor, founder, or originator, as Ge 4:20-21 Joh 8:56 Ro 4:16. Joseph was a father to Pharoah, Ge 45:8, as his counselor and provider. God is the FATHER of men, as their Creator, De 32:6 Isa 63:16 64:8 Lu 3:38. But as we have forfeited the rights of children by our sins, it is only through Christ that we can call God by that endearing name, "our Father," Joh 20:17 Ro 8:15-17.

In patriarchal times, a father was master and judge in his own household, and exercised and authority almost unlimited over his family. Filial disobedience or disrespect was a high offence. Under the law, certain acts of children were capital crimes, Ex 21:15,17 Le 20:9; and the father was required to bring his son to the public tribunal, De 21:18-21. See MOTHER.
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