Definition: The word "adumbrated" in the Bible refers to something that has been described, or has come to be understood, before it was fully formed or developed into a complete idea or concept. It can also mean to make a description, explanation, or inference based on prior knowledge. In the context of the Old Testament, this term is used when God reveals something previously unknown or not fully known about Himself to His people, like the creation story in Genesis 1-2. God's revelation of Himself through Adam and Eve was adumbrated by the angels who had seen His glory. The concept of "adumbrated" is also used in a metaphorical sense in the Old Testament as when God appears to Moses on Mount Sinai with an adumbration of His glory and promises, which He has revealed through Moses' life story. In this way, the term is seen as a reminder that God's revelation involves preparation and understanding of previous events. In the New Testament, it often refers to a detailed description or explanation of something which God had not previously known or described in His Word. For example, when Jesus spoke about the parables He gave on the Mount of Olives (Luke 16:13-47), He was adumbrated by the Old Testament narrative that he was speaking from the Father, and it is a description based on His previous teaching. The word "adumbrated" has also been used metaphorically in the New Testament when Paul's ministry is described as having been adumbrated by the apostles' knowledge and understanding of Christ. This implies that his own life journey was a part of God's plan from the very beginning, much like the revelation of Jesus to His disciples through the prophets. In summary, "adumbrated" refers to something that has come to be understood or described before it is fully formed, often in light of prior knowledge. It is used metaphorically when referring to a detailed description or explanation of something unseen or unknown.

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