Topical Encyclopedia
The concept of "big" in the Bible often relates to the grandeur and majesty of God, His creation, and His works. While the term "big" itself is not frequently used in the Berean Standard Bible, the idea is conveyed through various descriptions of God's power, the vastness of His creation, and the significance of His actions.
God's Grandeur and PowerThe Bible frequently emphasizes the greatness of God, which can be understood as His "bigness" in terms of power, authority, and presence. In
Isaiah 40:12, the prophet speaks of God's immense power and understanding: "Who has measured the waters in the hollow of His hand, or marked off the heavens with the span of His hand? Who has held the dust of the earth in a basket, or weighed the mountains on a scale and the hills with a balance?" This imagery portrays God's ability to encompass the vastness of creation, highlighting His supreme power and control over all things.
Creation's VastnessThe vastness of creation is another way the Bible illustrates the concept of "big." The heavens and the earth are often described in terms that emphasize their enormity and the majesty of God's creative work.
Psalm 19:1 declares, "The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of His hands." The sheer size and beauty of the universe serve as a testament to God's greatness and the "bigness" of His creative power.
Significant Events and MiraclesThroughout the Bible, significant events and miracles demonstrate God's ability to perform mighty acts that are beyond human comprehension. The parting of the Red Sea in
Exodus 14 is one such example, where God delivers the Israelites from the Egyptians through a miraculous and grand display of His power. In
Exodus 14:21-22, it is written, "Then Moses stretched out his hand over the sea, and all that night the LORD drove the sea back with a strong east wind and turned it into dry land. So the waters were divided, and the Israelites went through the sea on dry ground, with walls of water on their right and on their left."
The Kingdom of GodThe concept of "big" is also reflected in the teachings of Jesus about the Kingdom of God. In
Matthew 13:31-32, Jesus compares the Kingdom to a mustard seed, which, though small, grows into a large tree: "The kingdom of heaven is like a mustard seed that a man planted in his field. Although it is the smallest of all seeds, yet when it grows, it is the largest of garden plants and becomes a tree, so that the birds of the air come and nest in its branches." This parable illustrates the expansive and all-encompassing nature of God's Kingdom, which starts small but grows to have a significant impact.
God's Love and SalvationThe magnitude of God's love and the scope of His salvation plan are also described in terms that convey "bigness."
John 3:16 is a well-known verse that captures the vastness of God's love: "For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that everyone who believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life." The inclusivity and reach of God's love and the offer of salvation to all humanity underscore the greatness of His redemptive work.
In summary, while the Bible may not frequently use the word "big," the concept is woven throughout Scripture in descriptions of God's power, creation, significant events, the Kingdom of God, and His love and salvation. These elements collectively highlight the grandeur and majesty of God and His works.
Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary
1. (
superl.) Having largeness of size; of much bulk or magnitude; of great size; large.
2. (superl.) Great with young; pregnant; swelling; ready to give birth or produce; -- often figuratively.
3. (superl.) Having greatness, fullness, importance, inflation, distention, etc., whether in a good or a bad sense; as, a big heart; a big voice; big looks; to look big. As applied to looks, it indicates haughtiness or pride.
4. (n.) Alt. of Bigg
5. (v. t.) Alt. of Bigg
Greek
3173. megas -- great... word Definition great NASB Word Usage abundant (1), all the more (1), arrogant
(1),
big (2), completely* (1), fierce (2), great (115), great men (2), great
...3166. megalaucheo -- boast great things.
... From a compound of megas and aucheo (to boast; akin to auzano and kauchaomai); to
talkbig, ie Be grandiloquent (arrogant, egotistic) -- boast great things....
1870. epaischunomai -- to be ashamed (of)
... fitting" intensifying 153, "disgrace") -- properly, , like someone "singled out"
because they placed their confidence or support ("believed thebig lie"); to...
2245. helikos -- how great, how small
... how great. From helix (a comrade, ie One of the same age); asbig as, ie
(interjectively) how much -- how (what) great. (eliken) -- 1 Occurrence....
Strong's Hebrew
931. bohen -- thumb, great toe... Word Origin from an unused word Definition thumb, great toe NASB Word Usage
big toe (6),
big toes (1), thumb (6), thumbs (1), thumbs and their
big (1), thumbs
...904. Bigthan -- a eunuch of Ahasuerus
... 903, 904. Bigthan or Bigthana. 905 . a eunuch of Ahasuerus. Transliteration:
Bigthan or Bigthana Phonetic Spelling: (big-thawn') Short Definition: Bigthan....
902. Bigvay -- perhaps "happy," an Israelite name
... 901, 902. Bigvay. 903 . perhaps "happy," an Israelite name. Transliteration:
Bigvay Phonetic Spelling: (big-vah'ee) Short Definition: Bigvai....
903. Bigtha -- a eunuch of Ahasuerus
... 902, 903. Bigtha. 904 . a eunuch of Ahasuerus. Transliteration: Bigtha
Phonetic Spelling: (big-thaw') Short Definition: Bigtha....
7588. shaon -- a roar (of waters, etc.), din, crash, uproar
... Word Origin from shaah Definition a roar (of waters, etc.), din, crash, uproar NASB
Word Usagebig noise (1), clamor (1), destruction (1), din (1), noise (1...
Library
TheBig Road
... CHAPTER II THEBIG ROAD. "Allons! whoever you are, come travel with me!... THEBIG ROAD.
INDICATING THE SITUATION OF HWOCHOW IN THE PROVINCE OF SHANSI....
ABig Crowd at Newcastle
... Chapter 4. Preaching Incidents; Wesley's Labor Colony; Dispute with Whitefield;
Curious Interruptions; The Mother of the Wesleys ABig Crowd at Newcastle....
TheBig End of Trouble
... TALK FORTY-THREE. THEBIG END OF TROUBLE.... "Trouble has a way of comingBig end
first; And when seen at its appearing, Looks its very worst."....
What theBig Chest Contained
... CHAPTER III What theBig Chest Contained.... I wonder if we couldn't manage in some
way to break the lock. My, but I tell you we could get abig haul!...
May the Twentieth the Lone Cry in theBig Crowd
... MAY The Twentieth THE LONE CRY IN THEBIG CROWD. MARK x.46-52. Our Lord hears the
cry of need even when it rises from the midst of the tumultuous crowd....
Living Broad Lives in Narrow Alleys.
... It's an immense relief to see somethingbig Big things always attract.... The Master's
gracious plan is that we shall have the refreshment of doingbig things....
Little Foxes
... little foxes. They can see thebig foxes and drive them off, but the little
ones they cannot see, and so these destroy the vines. I...
Prayerful About Everything.
... We want to underscore and italicize this fact: if a thing isbig enough to concern
you, it is not too small for Him "because He has you on His heart." For your...
The Young Martyr
... He came at length to a stream of water where there was a gang of idle, ill-looking,
big boys; who, when they saw Kund, came up to him; and said they wanted him...
I did not See Diamond for a Week or So after This...
... When a child like that dies, instead of having a silly book written about him, he
should be stuffed like one of those awfulbig-headed fishes you see in museums...
Thesaurus
Big (21 Occurrences)... 3. (superl.) Having greatness, fullness, importance, inflation, distention, etc.,
whether in a good or a bad sense; as, a
big heart; a
big voice;
big looks; to
...Tip (17 Occurrences)
... and put it on the tip of the right ear of Aaron, and on the tip of the right ear
of his sons, and on the thumb of their right hand, and on thebig toe of their...
Thumb (7 Occurrences)
... and put it on the tip of the right ear of Aaron, and on the tip of the right ear
of his sons, and on the thumb of their right hand, and on thebig toe of their...
Toe (7 Occurrences)
... and put it on the tip of the right ear of Aaron, and on the tip of the right ear
of his sons, and on the thumb of their right hand, and on thebig toe of their...
Lobe (19 Occurrences)
... and put it on the tip of the right ear of Aaron, and on the tip of the right ear
of his sons, and on the thumb of their right hand, and on thebig toe of their...
Cleansed (76 Occurrences)
... offering, and the priest shall put it on the tip of the right ear of him who is
to be cleansed, and on the thumb of his right hand, and on thebig toe of his...
Little (2458 Occurrences)
... 1. (a.) Small in size or extent; notbig; diminutive; -- opposed tobig or large;
as, a little body; a little animal; a little piece of ground; a little hill...
Great (10383 Occurrences)
... 1. (superl.) Large in space; of much size;big; immense; enormous; expanded; --
opposed to small and little; as, a great house, ship, farm, plain, distance...
Guided (86 Occurrences)
... James 3:4 Behold, the ships also, though they are sobig and are driven by fierce
winds, are yet guided by a very small rudder, wherever the pilot desires....
Fierce (92 Occurrences)
... (WEB KJV WEY ASV WBS YLT RSV). Mark 4:37 Abig wind storm arose, and the waves beat
into the boat, so much that the boat was already filled. (See NAS)....
Resources
Did God use the "Big Bang" to create the universe? | GotQuestions.orgHow big is God? | GotQuestions.orgHow big is heaven? | GotQuestions.orgBig: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.comBible Concordance •
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