Messiah's Body

Paul describes the Body of Christ in First Corinthians chapter 12. He mentions a number of distinct parts while making the point that the body as a whole does not function properly without all the parts in place and working together. This passage has always begged to be mapped to the tribes of Israel, but until now it was difficult to see how that was possible.

Tribe	Member	Scripture
Judah	Foot (1)	50 First Corinthians 12:15 ¹⁵For if the foot should say, Because I am not the hand, I am not a part of the body; is it therefore not a member of the body?
Reuben	Hand (1)
Gad	Mouth	50 First Corinthians 12:16 ¹⁶And if the ear should say, Because I am not the eye, I am not a part of the body; is it therefore not a member of the body?
Asher	Eye (1)
Naphtali	Nose	50 First Corinthians 12:17 ¹⁷If the whole body were eyes, where would hearing be? And if the whole were hearing, where would smelling be?
Manasseh	Whole Body	50 First Corinthians 12:18-20 ¹⁸But now God has set every member in the body as it has pleased him. ¹⁹If they were all 1 member where would the body be? ²⁰But now they are many members yet 1 body.
Simeon	Eye (2)	50 First Corinthians 12:21 ²¹The eye cannot say to the hand, I have no need of you; nor can the head say to the feet, I have no need of you.
Levi	Hand (2)
Issachar	Head
Zebulun	Foot (2)
Joseph	"Delicate Part"	50 First Corinthians 12:22 ²²But rather, those members of the body which are considered to be delicate are necessary.
Benjamin	"Less Honorable Part"	50 First Corinthians 12:23 ²³And on those members of the body which we think to be less honorable, we bestow more abundant honor; and the parts that are unpleasing, we dress with greater care;
Dan	"Covered Part"

Notes on mapping

For this passage to map to the tribes three things need to happen. First, certain body parts that come in pairs and are mentioned more than once are used twice. Secondly, Manasseh is given the whole body instead of a certain body part (which is completely consistent with how he is designed and how he is expressed in other parts of the grid). Thirdly, the last three body parts, that go unnamed, must be included in the list. Paul was being discrete not to name the parts, he was not leaving them off the list. When these three things are met this list maps to the 13 tribes just fine.

Observations

Judah as a foot needs more study. It may play to his rule.

Reuben as a hand needs more study.

Gad as the mouth makes sense as he's the bread in the tent and his holiday is the opening assembly of Unlevened Bread. The translation reads "ear," not mouth, but it's clear that mouth is the intended body part because it occurrs in the list once and all other parts that come in pairs (feet, hands, eyes) are given twice. The paleo form of the letter that is drawn as an ear can also picture a mouth, because speaking is nothing without hearing and vice versa. So this needs more study, but I'm leaning towards saying the mouth is the intended body part here.

Asher is the eye which makes sense since he's the lampstand in the tent.

Naphtali is the nose (smelling) since he's the altar of incense in the tent.

Manasseh is the whole body since his physical design is a microcosm of all the tribes.

Simeon is the second eye which probably plays to his counsel. When he's on his counsel gives sight.

Levi is the second hand. Arm is one of the letters in the spelling of his name. He holds the staff. Makes sense that Levi would be a hand in the larger body. Probably also plays to his "service" in the tent.

Issachar is the head. I'm afraid I don't know this one well at all. Needs more study.

Zebulun is the second foot, which may play to his shipments or travel (albeit by sea).

Joseph is the "delicate" part, which could be an awful translation and cause us to miss what's really intended here. This and the next two need more careful study than the others to make sure we don't miss what's being said since Paul is already being a bit discrete by not naming specific body parts. To venture a guess, Joseph may be the breast/chest area of the body. Need to study this further.

Benjamin is the "less honorable" part. This too may sound more harsh or be more off base than it was meant 3 languages and 2000 years ago. To venture a guess, to begin the dialogue, he may be the stomach.

Dan is said to be the "covered" part, which I take to mean the reproductive organs near the waist. This one is a little easier to map than Joseph and Benjamin, but needs further study to understand the significance.

By Ryan Eaton
Posted Saturday, Joseph 25, 13000