Q. What does the term “arm of the Lord” mean?

A In Hebrew the term is “zeroah adonai” and in the peshat (literal) level it means the “power of the Lord” but in the sowd (hidden)level it is a metaphor for the Messiah in creation, judgment and salvation. When the Lord did something “with a strong hand” (yad) or “outstretched arm” (zeroah) it intimates that He did it through the Messiah. The metaphor came from the fact that one carries out a task with his arm (zeroah) or his hand (yad). So, at Passover an unbroken shank bone of a lamb is used called the “zeroah adonai” and it takes the place of a lamb. It symbolizes the unbroken bones of Messiah, the Lamb of God, whose blood delivered us from bondage, ratified the New Covenant, where we become a new creation, pass from judgment and experience salvation, all by the power of God.