Topical Encyclopedia
Definition and Context:Bravery, in the biblical context, refers to the quality of having courage and facing danger, fear, or difficulty with a steadfast spirit. It is often associated with faith in God and reliance on His strength rather than one's own. The Bible presents numerous examples of individuals who demonstrated bravery in the face of overwhelming odds, often as a result of their trust in God's promises and commands.
Old Testament Examples:1.
David: One of the most iconic examples of bravery in the Bible is David's confrontation with Goliath. Despite being a young shepherd, David faced the Philistine giant with confidence, declaring, "You come against me with sword and spear and javelin, but I come against you in the name of the LORD of Hosts, the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have defied" (
1 Samuel 17:45). David's courage was rooted in his faith in God rather than his own strength or skill.
2.
Joshua: After the death of Moses, Joshua was tasked with leading the Israelites into the Promised Land. God commanded him to be strong and courageous, saying, "Have I not commanded you to be strong and courageous? Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the LORD your God will be with you wherever you go" (
Joshua 1:9). Joshua's bravery was demonstrated through his obedience to God's commands and his leadership in the conquest of Canaan.
3.
Esther: Queen Esther displayed remarkable bravery when she risked her life to save her people from annihilation. Despite the danger of approaching the king unsummoned, she declared, "If I perish, I perish" (
Esther 4:16). Her courage was motivated by her faith and her commitment to her people.
New Testament Examples:1.
Peter and John: After the resurrection of Jesus, Peter and John boldly proclaimed the gospel despite threats from the authorities. When commanded to stop teaching in the name of Jesus, they replied, "We cannot stop speaking about what we have seen and heard" (
Acts 4:20). Their bravery was fueled by their conviction and the empowerment of the Holy Spirit.
2.
Paul: The Apostle Paul exhibited bravery throughout his ministry, enduring persecution, imprisonment, and hardship for the sake of the gospel. In his letter to the Philippians, he wrote, "I eagerly expect and hope that I will in no way be ashamed, but will have complete boldness, so that now as always Christ will be exalted in my body, whether by life or by death" (
Philippians 1:20).
Theological Insights:Bravery in the Bible is often linked to faith and trust in God. It is not merely the absence of fear but the willingness to act in spite of fear, relying on God's presence and promises. The biblical narrative consistently shows that true bravery comes from a deep relationship with God and a commitment to His purposes. Believers are encouraged to be brave, knowing that God is with them and will provide the strength needed to face any challenge.
Related Concepts:·
Faith: Bravery is closely tied to faith, as it often requires trusting in God's unseen hand and His plans.
·
Obedience: Many acts of bravery in the Bible are acts of obedience to God's commands, demonstrating trust in His wisdom and authority.
·
Perseverance: Bravery is also linked to perseverance, as it involves enduring through trials and maintaining faithfulness in difficult circumstances.
Scriptural Encouragement:The Bible offers numerous exhortations to be brave and courageous. In
2 Timothy 1:7, Paul reminds believers, "For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power, love, and self-control" . This verse underscores the belief that bravery is a gift from God, enabling believers to face life's challenges with confidence and strength.
Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary
1. (
superl.) Bold; courageous; daring; intrepid; -- opposed to cowardly; as, a brave man; a brave act.
2. (superl.) Having any sort of superiority or excellence; -- especially such as in conspicuous.
3. (superl.) Making a fine show or display.
4. (n.) A brave person; one who is daring.
5. (n.) Specifically, an Indian warrior.
6. (n.) A man daring beyond discretion; a bully.
7. (n.) A challenge; a defiance; bravado.
8. (v. t.) To encounter with courage and fortitude; to set at defiance; to defy; to dare.
9. (v. t.) To adorn; to make fine or showy.
Greek
407. andrizo -- to behave like a man, to play the man... to play the man. Part of Speech: Verb Transliteration: andrizo Phonetic Spelling:
(an-drid'-zom-ahee) Short Definition: I act like a man, am
brave Definition: I
...Strong's Hebrew
691. erel -- perhaps a hero... 690, 691. erel. 692 . perhaps a hero. Transliteration: erel Phonetic
Spelling: (er-ale') Short Definition:
brave. Word Origin of
...393. akzar -- cruel, fierce
... cruel, fierce. From an unused root (apparently meaning to act harshly); violent;
by implication deadly; also (in a good sense)brave -- cruel, fierce....
8597. tipharah -- beauty, glory
... 1), pomp (1), pride (1), splendor (1). beautiful,brave, comely, fair, glorious,
honor, majesty. Or tiphereth {tif-eh'-reth}; from...
Library
Brave Encouragements
... HAGGAIBRAVE ENCOURAGEMENTS. 'In the seventh month, in the one and twentieth
day of the month, came the word of the Lord by the prophet...
TheBrave Hebrew Boys.
... THEBRAVE HEBREW BOYS.Brave boys and girls! We all wish to bebrave, do
we not? Then... Azariah. [Illustration: THEBRAVE HEBREW BOYS.]....
BeBrave
... BEBRAVE. Bebrave. Only thebrave are strong. The coward is a weakling; if he has
strength, he dares not use it. We must bebrave, for life is a battle....
Lord of theBrave and Strong,
... MISCELLANEOUS V Lord of thebrave and strong,. 6,6,6,6,6,6. Lord of thebrave and
strong,. Armed for the ceaseless fight,. Fired with the love of right,....
November the Sixteenth the Making of aBrave Man
... NOVEMBER The Sixteenth THE MAKING OF ABRAVE MAN. ACTS iv.13-22. Here is
a marvellous transformation! I have been wondering at the...
Whether theBrave Man Delights in his Act?
... TREATISE ON FORTITUDE AND TEMPERANCE (QQ -170) cOF FORTITUDE (TWELVE ARTICLES)
Whether thebrave man delights in his act? Objection...
Whether theBrave Man Acts for the Sake of the Good of his Habit?
... TREATISE ON FORTITUDE AND TEMPERANCE (QQ -170) cOF FORTITUDE (TWELVE ARTICLES) Whether
thebrave man acts for the sake of the good of his habit?...
Great Son of God, SupremelyBrave,
... HYMNS OF THE EARLY CHURCH Great Son of God, supremelybrave,. 8,8,8,8,8,8. Great
Son of God, supremelybrave,. Who stooped to earth in fleshly guise,....
Whether theBrave Man Makes Use of Anger in his Action?
... TREATISE ON FORTITUDE AND TEMPERANCE (QQ -170) cOF FORTITUDE (TWELVE ARTICLES)
Whether thebrave man makes use of anger in his action?...
Whether theBrave are More Eager at First than in the Midst of...
... OF DARING (FOUR ARTICLES) Whether thebrave are more eager at first than
in the midst of danger? Objection 1: It would seem that...
Thesaurus
Brave (15 Occurrences)... 1. (superl.) Bold; courageous; daring; intrepid; -- opposed to cowardly; as, a
brave man; a
brave act.
... 4. (n.) A
brave person; one who is daring.
...Bravely (3 Occurrences)
... Noah Webster's Dictionary 1. (adv.) In abrave manner; courageously; gallantly;
valiantly; splendidly; nobly. 2. (adv.) Finely; gaudily; gayly; showily....
Jonathan (109 Occurrences)
... lived. His character is, as far as our knowledge goes, nearly perfect. He
was athletic andbrave (1 Samuel 14:13 2 Samuel 1:22, 23). 3...
Valiant (66 Occurrences)
... Noah Webster's Dictionary 1. (a.) Vigorous in body; strong; powerful; as, a
valiant fencer. 2. (a.) Intrepid in danger; courageous;brave....
Valor (45 Occurrences)
... courage; prowess; intrepidity. 3. (n.) Abrave man; a man of valor.
Multi-Version Concordance Valor (45 Occurrences). Deuteronomy 3...
Valorous (1 Occurrence)
... Noah Webster's Dictionary (a.) Possessing valor;brave; courageous; valiant;
intrepid. Multi-Version Concordance Valorous (1 Occurrence)....
Virtuous (5 Occurrences)
... Noah Webster's Dictionary 1. (a.) Possessing or exhibiting virtue. 2. (a.)
Exhibiting manly courage and strength; valorous; valiant;brave....
Living (3112 Occurrences)
... It gives "a perfect picture of true service, which should be asbrave as the lion,
patient as the ox, aspiring as the eagle, intelligent as man" (Milligan in...
Lionlike (2 Occurrences)
... Noah Webster's Dictionary (a.) Like a lion;brave as a lion. Multi-Version
Concordance Lionlike (2 Occurrences). 2 Samuel 23:20 And...
Gammadim (1 Occurrence)
... 27:11)brave warriors; RV marg., "valorous men;" others interpret this word as meaning
"short-swordsmen," or "daring ones", the name of a class of men who were...
Resources
What does the Bible say about bravery / being brave? | GotQuestions.orgWho was Gad in the Bible? | GotQuestions.orgWhat does the Bible say about courage? | GotQuestions.orgBrave: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.comBible Concordance •
Bible Dictionary •
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