Topical Encyclopedia
The term "abound" in the biblical context often refers to an abundance or plentifulness, whether in material, spiritual, or moral aspects. It is used to describe the overflowing nature of God's blessings, grace, and love, as well as the expected response of believers in their faith and actions.
Old Testament Usage:In the Old Testament, the concept of abounding is frequently associated with God's provision and blessings. For example, in
Deuteronomy 28:11, the abundance of God's blessings is promised to the Israelites if they obey His commandments: "The LORD will make you abound in prosperity, in the fruit of your womb, the offspring of your livestock, and the produce of your land, in the land that the LORD swore to your fathers to give you."
New Testament Usage:The New Testament expands on the idea of abounding, particularly in the context of spiritual growth and the Christian life. The Apostle Paul often uses the term to encourage believers to grow in love, faith, and good works. In
Philippians 1:9, Paul writes, "And this is my prayer: that your love may abound more and more in knowledge and depth of insight."
In
Romans 5:20, Paul speaks of the superabundance of grace: "But where sin increased, grace abounded all the more." This highlights the overwhelming nature of God's grace in overcoming sin.
Abounding in Love and Good Works:Believers are called to abound in love and good works as a reflection of their faith. In
1 Thessalonians 3:12, Paul exhorts, "May the Lord cause you to increase and overflow with love for one another and for everyone else, just as our love for you overflows." Similarly, in
2 Corinthians 9:8, Paul assures the Corinthians of God's provision for every good work: "And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that in all things, at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work."
Abounding in Hope:The concept of abounding is also linked to hope. In
Romans 15:13, Paul prays for the believers, "May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in Him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit."
Abounding in Thanksgiving:Thanksgiving is another area where believers are encouraged to abound.
Colossians 2:7 urges believers to be "rooted and built up in Him, established in the faith as you were taught, and overflowing with thankfulness."
Moral and Ethical Implications:The call to abound is not merely about receiving but also about giving and living out one's faith. In
1 Corinthians 15:58, Paul encourages steadfastness and abundant work in the Lord: "Therefore, my beloved brothers, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your labor in the Lord is not in vain."
The biblical concept of abounding encompasses a life marked by the overflow of God's grace, love, and provision, which in turn inspires believers to live abundantly in faith, hope, love, and good works.
Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary
1. (
v. i.) To be in great plenty; to be very prevalent; to be plentiful.
2. (v. i.) To be copiously supplied; -- followed by in or with.
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia
ABOUND; ABUNDANCE; ABUNDANT; ABUNDANTLYa-bound', a-bun'-dans, a-bun'-dant, a-bun'-dant-li: These words represent in the English Versions of the Bible a considerable variety of different words in the Hebrew and Greek original. In the Old Testament they most frequently stand for some form of the stem rabh, signifying "to cast together," "to increase." InProverbs 8:24 the primary idea is "to be heavy" (root: kabhadh); inDeuteronomy 33:19 andJob 22:11 it is "to overflow" shapha`; inJob 36:31 it is "to plait together," "to augment," "to multiply" (makhbir from ka-bhar); inIsaiah 47:9 it is "strength" `otsmah; in1 Kings 18:41 it is "tumult," "crowd" hamon; inEcclesiastes 5:12 it is "to fill to satiety" (Revised Version (British and American) "fulness"); inIsaiah 15:7 it is "excellence" yithrah and inIsaiah 66:11 "a full breast" ziz; inJeremiah 33:6 it is "copiousness" (`athereth from `athar). In several passages (e.g.Ezekiel 16:49Psalm 105:30Isaiah 56:12) the Revised Version (British and American) gives other and better renderings than the King James Version. In the New Testament perissos, perisseuo, perisseia, etc., are the usual words for "abundant," "abound," "abundance," etc. (the adjective signifies "exceeding some number or measure"). A slight formal difference of conception may be noted in pleonazo, which suggests that the abundance has resulted from augmentation. InRomans 5:20 the two words stand in the closest connection: `Where sin abounded (by its increase) grace abounded more exceedingly (was rich beyond measure).' InMark 12:44Luke 21:42 Corinthians 8:20;2 Corinthians 12:7;Revelation 18:3 the Revised Version (British and American) gives improved renderings instead of "abundance," and in Titus 3:6 and2 Peter 1:11 instead of "abundantly."
J. R. Van Pelt
Greek
4052. perisseuo -- to be over and above, toabound... to be over and above, to
abound. Part of Speech: Verb Transliteration: perisseuo
Phonetic Spelling: (per-is-syoo'-o) Short Definition: I exceed, am left over
...5248. huperperisseuo -- toabound more exceedingly
... toabound more exceedingly. Part of Speech: Verb Transliteration: huperperisseuo
Phonetic Spelling: (hoop-er-per-is-syoo'-o) Short Definition: Iabound...
4121. pleonazo -- to superabound, to make toabound
... to superabound, to make toabound. Part of Speech: Verb Transliteration: pleonazo
Phonetic Spelling: (pleh-on-ad'-zo) Short Definition: Iabound, increase...
5250. huperpleonazo -- toabound exceedingly
... toabound exceedingly. Part of Speech: Verb Transliteration: huperpleonazo Phonetic
Spelling: (hoop-er-pleh-on-ad'-zo) Short Definition: I am exceedingly...
4102. pistis -- faith, faithfulness
... God" (). 7" But just as youabound in everything, in (4102).... we inspired in
you, see that youabound in this gracious work also". ()....
4149. ploutos -- wealth
... Word Origin probably from pleo in an early sense of to flow,abound Definition
wealth NASB Word Usage riches (18), wealth (4). riches....
4129. plethuno -- to increase, to be increased
... multiply. From another form of plethos; to increase (transitively or intransitively) --
abound, multiply. see GREEK plethos. (eplethuneto) -- 3 Occurrences....
4148. ploutizo -- to make rich
... of Speech: Verb Transliteration: ploutizo Phonetic Spelling: (ploo-tid'-zo) Short
Definition: I make rich Definition: I make rich, cause toabound in, enrich....
4147. plouteo -- to be rich
... Part of Speech: Verb Transliteration: plouteo Phonetic Spelling: (ploo-teh'-o) Short
Definition: I become rich Definition: I become rich, am rich,abound in....
Strong's Hebrew
7680. sega -- to grow great... 7679, 7680. sega. 7681 . to grow great. Transliteration: sega Phonetic
Spelling: (seg-aw') Short Definition:
abound. Word Origin
...3498. yathar -- to remain over
... root Definition to remain over NASB Word Usageabound (1), had some left (1), had
left (1), have preeminence (1), leave (3), leave a remnant (1), leave of it...
7227. rab -- much, many, great
... By contracted from rabab; abundant (in quantity, size, age, number, rank, quality) --
(in)abound(-undance, -ant, -antly), captain, elder, enough, exceedingly...
8317. sharats -- to swarm, teem
... A primitive root; to wriggle, ie (by implication) swarm orabound -- breed (bring
forth, increase) abundantly (in abundance), creep, move. 8316, 8317....
7231. rabab -- to be or become many or much
... root Definition to be or become many or much NASB Word Usageabound (1),
become...numerous (1), been many (1), great (1), increase (1), increased (1), long (...
8228. shepha -- abundance
... abundance (1). abundance. From an unused root meaning toabound; resources --
abundance. 8227b, 8228. shepha. 8229 . Strong's Numbers.
7227a. rab -- much, many, great
... Word Origin from rabab Definition much, many, great NASB Word Usageabound (1),
abounding (4), abounds (1), abundance (1), abundant (15), abundantly (2), broad...
Library
Introductory. Heresies must Exist, and EvenAbound; they are a...
... The Prescription Against Heretics. Chapter I."Introductory. Heresies Must Exist,
and EvenAbound; They are a Probation to Faith. [1850]...
Abounding Grace for Abounding Work
... XIV Abounding Grace for Abounding Work. And God is able to make all graceabound
unto you, that ye mayabound unto every good work.'"2:Cor.9:8...
Through the Law Sin Has Abounded.
... one, expressly mentioning Adam as the former, and Christ as the latter; and then
says that "the law, however, entered, that the offence mightabound: but where...
The New Covenant: a Covenant of Grace
... Of the New Covenant, grace is the great characteristic: "The law came in, that the
offence mightabound; but where sin abounded, grace didabound more...
What virtues Ought to Exist in Him whom we Consult. ...
... [508]. 91. Paul knew, too, how toabound, for he had a rich soul, though
he possessed not the treasure of a rich man. He knew how...
Love and Discernment.
... IX. LOVE AND DISCERNMENT. "And this I pray, that your love mayabound yet more and
more in knowledge and all judgment: that ye may approve things that are...
Christ's Kingdom among the Gentiles. 1 Jesus Shall Reign Where'er...
... 4 Blessingsabound where'er he reigns; The joyful prisoner bursts his chains;
The weary find eternal rest, And all the sons of want are blest....
Prayerless Christians
... ability of God to do for us is thus expressed by Paul in one of his most comprehensive
statements, "And God is able to make all graceabound toward you," he...
Twenty-Fifth Day. Holy and Blameless.
... witnesses, and God also, how holily and justly and unblameably we behaved ourselves
among you that believe."The Lord make you to increase andabound in love...
2 Cor. viii. 7
... 2 Cor. viii. 7. 2 1 Corinthians 8:7 Therefore that [814] yeabound [815] in every
thing; in faith and utterance, and knowledge, and in all earnestness....
Thesaurus
Abound (36 Occurrences)... Int. Standard Bible Encyclopedia.
ABOUND; ABUNDANCE; ABUNDANT; ABUNDANTLY.
a
... Multi-Version Concordance
Abound (36 Occurrences). Matthew
...Overflow (43 Occurrences)
... 3. (vi) To run over the bounds. 4. (vi) To be superabundant; toabound. 5.
(n.) A flowing over, as of water or other fluid; an inundation....
Excel (12 Occurrences)
... 2 Corinthians 8:7 But as youabound in everything, in faith, utterance, knowledge,
all earnestness, and in your love to us, see that you alsoabound in this...
Abundance (194 Occurrences)
... Int. Standard Bible Encyclopedia.ABOUND; ABUNDANCE; ABUNDANT; ABUNDANTLY.... ABUNDANCE;
ABUNDANT. a-bun'-dans, a-bun'-dant. SeeABOUND. Multi-Version Concordance...
Gracious (106 Occurrences)
... 2 Corinthians 8:7 but even as in every thing ye doabound, in faith, and word, and
knowledge, and all diligence, and in your love to us, that also in this...
Abundant (124 Occurrences)
... Int. Standard Bible Encyclopedia.ABOUND; ABUNDANCE; ABUNDANT; ABUNDANTLY.... ABUNDANCE;
ABUNDANT. a-bun'-dans, a-bun'-dant. SeeABOUND. Multi-Version Concordance...
Abundantly (73 Occurrences)
...ABOUND; ABUNDANCE; ABUNDANT; ABUNDANTLY.... 2 Corinthians 1:5 For as the sufferings
of Christabound to us, even so our comfort also abounds through Christ....
Instructed (80 Occurrences)
... Philippians 4:12 I know both how to be abased, and I know how toabound: every where
and in all things I am instructed both to be full and to be hungry, both...
Learned (70 Occurrences)
... (WEB KJV ASV WBS NAS RSV NIV). Philippians 4:12 I know how to be humbled,
and I know also how toabound. In everything and in all...
Towards (416 Occurrences)
... (DBY YLT). 2 Corinthians 1:5 Because, even as the sufferings of the Christabound
towards us, so through the Christ does our encouragement alsoabound. (DBY)....
Resources
Is it right for a church to go into debt? | GotQuestions.orgWhat is the meaning of the Parable of the Rich Fool? | GotQuestions.orgIf you have a lot of debt, can you temporarily stop tithing while paying off the debt? | GotQuestions.orgAbound: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.comBible Concordance •
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