Topical Encyclopedia
The term "commend" in the biblical context often refers to the act of entrusting, praising, or recommending someone or something to another. It is a concept that appears in various forms throughout the Scriptures, highlighting the importance of trust, approval, and the acknowledgment of virtue or responsibility.
Old Testament UsageIn the Old Testament, the idea of commendation is often implicit in the relationships between individuals and God, as well as among people. While the specific term "commend" may not frequently appear, the concept is evident in the way individuals are entrusted with responsibilities or praised for their faithfulness. For example, in Genesis, Joseph is commended by Pharaoh for his wisdom and ability to interpret dreams, leading to his elevation to a position of great authority in Egypt (
Genesis 41:39-41).
New Testament UsageIn the New Testament, the term "commend" is more explicitly used. One notable instance is found in the Apostle Paul's writings. In
2 Corinthians 10:18, Paul states, "For it is not the one who commends himself who is approved, but the one whom the Lord commends." This highlights the principle that true commendation comes from God rather than self-promotion or human approval.
Another significant passage is
Romans 5:8, where Paul writes, "But God proves His love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us." The Berean Standard Bible uses the term "commend" in this context to describe how God demonstrates His love through the sacrificial death of Jesus Christ. This act of commendation underscores the depth of God's love and the assurance of salvation for believers.
Commendation in Christian LivingThe concept of commendation is also relevant to Christian living and the relationships within the body of Christ. Believers are encouraged to commend one another for their faith and good works. In
Philippians 2:29, Paul instructs the church to "welcome him in the Lord with great joy, and honor men like him," referring to Epaphroditus, who had risked his life for the work of Christ. This serves as an example of how Christians are to recognize and affirm the contributions and sacrifices of fellow believers.
Furthermore, in
1 Peter 2:12, believers are urged to "conduct yourselves with such honor among the Gentiles that, though they slander you as evildoers, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day He visits us." Here, commendation is linked to living a life that reflects God's glory, leading others to acknowledge and praise God.
Commendation and StewardshipThe parable of the talents in
Matthew 25:14-30 illustrates the principle of commendation in the context of stewardship. The master commends the faithful servants, saying, "Well done, good and faithful servant!" (
Matthew 25:21). This commendation is a reward for their diligence and responsible management of the resources entrusted to them. It serves as a reminder of the accountability believers have before God and the commendation that awaits those who faithfully serve Him.
In summary, the biblical concept of commendation encompasses trust, approval, and the recognition of faithfulness and virtue. It is a theme that encourages believers to seek God's approval above all and to live lives worthy of commendation in the eyes of both God and others.
Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary
1. (
v. t.) To commit, entrust, or give in charge for care or preservation.
2. (v. t.) To recommend as worthy of confidence or regard; to present as worthy of notice or favorable attention.
3. (v. t.) To mention with approbation; to praise; as, to commend a person or an act.
4. (v. t.) To mention by way of courtesy, implying remembrance and good will.
5. (n.) Commendation; praise.
6. (n.) Compliments; greetings.
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia
COMMENDko-mend':
(1) For paratithemi (Luke 23:46), translating the Hebrew paqadh (Psalm 31:5), in the dying words of Jesus: "Into thy hands I commend my Spirit." the King James Version in Psalms has the more general word "commit." The use of the Greek word in the sense of "deposit what belongs to one into the hands of another" is not uncommon in the classics. So also the derivatives paratheke (2 Timothy 1:12) and parakatatheke (1 Timothy 6:202 Timothy 1:14). SeeDEPOSIT. This sense of the English, while slightly archaic, corresponds to the first meaning of the Latin, whence it comes, "to commit for preservation," especially of the dying; to commend children, parents, etc., to the care of others (for examples, see Harper's Latin Dictionary).
(2) For sunistiemi, "to stand together," and then, by standing together, to establish, prove, exhibit, as "righteousness" and "love of God" (Romans 3:5;Romans 5:8), and thus to attest (2 Corinthians 3:1;2 Corinthians 4:2), and, finally, to certify or to recommend a stranger (Romans 16:12 Corinthians 6:4). The use of paristemi in1 Corinthians 8:8 is equivalent.
(3) "To praise," epaineo (Luke 16:8), and sunistemi in2 Corinthians 10:12, 18; for the Old Testament, Hebrew hillel, inGenesis 12:15 the King James Version;Proverbs 12:8.
H. E. Jacobs
Greek
4921. sunistemi and sunistano -- tocommend, establish, stand near...... to
commend, establish, stand near, consist. Part of Speech: Verb Transliteration:
sunistemi and sunistano Phonetic Spelling: (soon-is-tah'-o) Short Definition
...1867. epaineo -- to praise
... to praise. Part of Speech: Verb Transliteration: epaineo Phonetic Spelling:
(ep-ahee-neh'-o) Short Definition: I praise,commend Definition: I praise,commend...
3908. paratithemi -- to place beside, to set before
... Word Origin from para and tithemi Definition to place beside, to set before NASB
Word Usagecommend (1), commended (1), commit (1), entrust (3), entrusted (1...
3936. paristemi -- to place beside, to present, stand by, appear
... Word Origin from para and histemi Definition to place beside, to present, stand
by, appear NASB Word Usage bystanders (5), come (1),commend (1), help (1...
3860. paradidomi -- to hand over, to give or deliver over, to...
... par-ad-id'-o-mee) Short Definition: I hand over, deliver, betray Definition: I hand
over, pledge, hand down, deliver, commit,commend, betray, abandon....
Strong's Hebrew
7623. shabach -- to soothe, still... to soothe, still. Transliteration: shabach Phonetic Spelling: (shaw-bakh') Short
Definition:
commend.
commend, glory, keep in, praise, still, triumph
...1984. halal -- to shine
... make boast self, celebrate,commend, deal, make, foolish glory, give light,
be make, A primitive root; to be clear (orig. Of sound...
Library
My God, to Thee I NowCommend
... VII. My God, to Thee I nowcommend. 8,6,8,6 Mein Gott in deine H??nde.... by Catherine
Winkworth, 1855. My God, to Thee I nowcommend. My soul; for Thou, O Lord,....
Behold Now ICommend My Soul to God who is Most Faithful and For.....
... Section 56. Behold now Icommend my soul to God who is most faithful and
for? 56. Behold now Icommend my soul to God who is most...
These Three Petitions, in which we SpeciallyCommend Ourselves and...
... Of Prayer. John Calvin Chapter 47 These three petitions, in which we
speciallycommend ourselves and all that we have to? These...
2 Cor. Iii. 1
... 2 1 Corinthians 3:1 Are we beginning, again tocommend ourselves? or need we, as
do some, epistles of commendation to you or letters of commendation from you?...
The Hands of the Father.
... "Father, into thy hand Icommend my spirit.""St Luke 23:46.... Then the cry meant, It
is finished; the cry meant, Father, into thy hands Icommend my spirit....
God's Love Commended to Us.
... WHAT is meant here by "commend?" To recommend to set forth in a clear and strong
light. Towards whom is this love exercised?... How does Hecommend this love?...
The Prayer of Jabez
... have only time to take one clause of it"indeed, that one clause may be said to
comprehend the rest: "Oh that thou wouldest bless me indeed!" Icommend it as...
The Armies Thus Approaching Each Other, Seemed on the Eve of a...
... "Supreme God, we beseech Thee; Holy God, we beseech Thee; unto Thee wecommend all
right; unto Thee wecommend our safety; unto Thee wecommend our empire....
Thirty-First Day. Calmness in Death.
... CALMNESS IN DEATH. "Father, into Thy hands Icommend My spirit.""Luke, xxiii.46....
into Thy hands Icommend my spirit." FATHER! It is going HOME!...
Acts xx. 32
... Homily XLV. Acts XX. 32. Acts XX.32 "And now, brethren, Icommend you to God, and
to the word of His grace, which is able to build you up, and to give you an...
Thesaurus
Commend (22 Occurrences)... 3. (vt) To mention with approbation; to praise; as, to
commend a person or an act.
... 6. (n.) Compliments; greetings. Int. Standard Bible Encyclopedia.
COMMEND.
...Recommend (2 Occurrences)
... 1. (vt) Tocommend to the favorable notice of another; to commit to another's care,
confidence, or acceptance, with favoring representations; to put in a...
Deposit (19 Occurrences)
... margin, paraphrased in both the King James Version and the Revised Version (British
and American) into "that which is committed" (seeCOMMEND)): The noun was...
Commendatory (1 Occurrence)
... 1. (a.) Serving tocommend; containing praise or commendation; commending; praising....
2 Corinthians 3:1 Do we begin again tocommend ourselves?...
Deaconess (1 Occurrence)
... Paul says, "Icommend unto you Phoebe our sister, who is a servant (the Revised
Version, margin "or, deaconess") of the church that is at Cenchrea" (Romans 16:1...
Ourselves (129 Occurrences)
... (WEB WEY ASV YLT NAS NIV). 2 Corinthians 3:1 Are we beginning again tocommend
ourselves? Or do we need, as do some, letters of commendation to you or from you?...
Commending (4 Occurrences)
... & vb. n.) ofCommend. Multi-Version Concordance... 2 Corinthians 10:18 for not he who
is commending himself is approved, but he whom the Lord dothcommend. (YLT)....
Vengeance (63 Occurrences)
... (KJV WBS). Romans 3:5 But if our unrighteousnesscommend the righteousness of
God, what shall we say? Is God unrighteous who taketh vengeance?...
Victuals (32 Occurrences)
... (YLT). 1 Corinthians 8:8 But victuals do notcommend us to God, for neither if we
may eat are we in advance; nor if we may not eat, are we behind; (YLT)....
Letters (51 Occurrences)
... 2 Corinthians 3:1 Are we beginning again tocommend ourselves? Or do we need,
as do some, letters of commendation to you or from you?...
Resources
Should Catholic tradition have equal or greater authority than the Bible? | GotQuestions.orgWhat are the weapons of righteousness in 2 Corinthians 6:7? | GotQuestions.orgWhat was Jesus' message to the church in Laodicea in Revelation? | GotQuestions.orgCommend: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.comBible Concordance •
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