Topical Encyclopedia
The term "brimful" is not directly found in the Bible; however, the concept of being filled to the brim or overflowing is a recurring theme throughout Scripture. This idea often symbolizes abundance, blessing, and the fullness of God's provision and presence.
Old Testament ContextIn the Old Testament, the imagery of being filled to the brim is often associated with God's blessings and provision. For instance, in
Psalm 23:5, David declares, "You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies. You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows." Here, the overflowing cup signifies the abundance of God's blessings and His generous provision for His people.
Another example can be found in the account of Elisha and the widow's oil in
2 Kings 4:1-7. The widow's jars were filled to the brim with oil, demonstrating God's miraculous provision and care for those who trust in Him. This narrative illustrates how God can take what little we have and multiply it beyond our expectations when we act in faith.
New Testament ContextIn the New Testament, the concept of being brimful is often linked to the fullness of joy, grace, and the Holy Spirit. In
John 2:7, during the wedding at Cana, Jesus instructs the servants to fill the water jars to the brim, which He then turns into wine. This miracle not only signifies the abundance of God's grace but also points to the transformative power of Jesus' ministry.
The Apostle Paul frequently speaks of fullness in his epistles. In
Ephesians 3:19, he prays that believers "may be filled with all the fullness of God." This fullness is not merely a measure of quantity but a quality of life that reflects the character and presence of God within us.
Spiritual SignificanceThe concept of being brimful in a spiritual sense is deeply rooted in the believer's relationship with God. It signifies a life that is overflowing with the fruits of the Spirit, as described in
Galatians 5:22-23, which include love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. A brimful life is one that is fully surrendered to God, allowing His Spirit to work in and through us to accomplish His purposes.
Moreover, being brimful is often associated with the joy and peace that come from a deep and abiding relationship with Christ. In
John 15:11, Jesus tells His disciples, "I have told you these things so that My joy may be in you and your joy may be complete." This completeness or fullness of joy is a hallmark of a life lived in close communion with the Savior.
Practical ApplicationFor believers, the call to be brimful is an invitation to live a life of abundance in Christ. It encourages Christians to seek the fullness of God's presence and to allow His Spirit to fill every aspect of their lives. This involves regular prayer, study of the Scriptures, and active participation in the life of the church community.
In practical terms, being brimful means living with an attitude of gratitude, recognizing God's blessings, and sharing them with others. It is about being generous with our time, talents, and resources, reflecting the overflowing love and grace that we have received from God.
In summary, while the term "brimful" may not appear explicitly in the Bible, its underlying concept is woven throughout the Scriptures, illustrating the abundant life that God offers to those who follow Him.
Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary
(
a.) Full to the brim; completely full; ready to overflow.
Library
Apostolic Exhortation
... Those holy men werebrimful of the gospel, and therefore they had but to run over
spontaneously, speaking of that topic which laid nearest to their hearts....
And Now we Can Turn at Last to See in Our Picture...
... And yet they arebrimful of a vitality that will last (given the necessary conditions)
"while the earth remaineth," through harvest after harvest in ever...
Prepositional Phrases
... breach of law. breath of life. breeze of anxiety. brilliancy of wit.brimful of
fun. broil of politics. brood of emotions. brow of expectation. brunt of disgrace...
The Comforts Belonging to Mourners
... to be filled with water, and then turned the water into wine (John 2:9). So when
the eye, that earthen vessel, has been filled with waterbrimful, then Christ...
The Sunday School or Church School
... The Sunday school, then, should be a happy, joyous, sunny place,brimful of ideas,
suggestion and impulse; for these three are at once the giants and fairies...
The Child in the Midst.
... One of the saddest and not least common sights in the world is the face of a child
whose mind is sobrimful of worldly wisdom that the human childishness has...
The Relation of the Godhead to Creation
... Even so the Ultimate Godhead,brimful with Its Super-Unity, must overflow into
multiplicity, must pass from Indifference into Differentiation and must issue...
Life in the Villages
... All was fresh and delightful to me andbrimful of interest, from the hour when I
rode through the city gate, passed the great tanks of lotus bloom to the edge...
1 Cor. Iv. 3, 4
... Religious men and dear to God were ridiculed and cast out for their want of learning;
while others,brimful of evils innumerable, were classed highly because...
Kurie, E En Pollais Hamartias.
... English verse. It isbrimful of pathos and tinged with melancholy, without
doubt traceable to the sad experiences of her life. May...
Thesaurus
Brimful (1 Occurrence)... Noah Webster's Dictionary (a.) Full to the brim; completely full; ready to
overflow. Multi-Version Concordance
Brimful (1 Occurrence).
...Brim (9 Occurrences)
Depth (22 Occurrences)
... with many tears I write to you, and in deep suffering and depression of spirit,
not in order to grieve you, but in the hope of showing you howbrimful my heart...
Depression (1 Occurrence)
... with many tears I write to you, and in deep suffering and depression of spirit,
not in order to grieve you, but in the hope of showing you howbrimful my heart...
Brim-full (1 Occurrence)
Brim-full.Brimful, Brim-full. Brimstone . Multi-Version Concordance Brim-full
(1 Occurrence)....Brimful, Brim-full. Brimstone . Reference Bible.
Showing (41 Occurrences)
... with many tears I write to you, and in deep suffering and depression of spirit,
not in order to grieve you, but in the hope of showing you howbrimful my heart...
Deep (237 Occurrences)
... with many tears I write to you, and in deep suffering and depression of spirit,
not in order to grieve you, but in the hope of showing you howbrimful my heart...
Suffering (104 Occurrences)
... with many tears I write to you, and in deep suffering and depression of spirit,
not in order to grieve you, but in the hope of showing you howbrimful my heart...
Hope (291 Occurrences)
... with many tears I write to you, and in deep suffering and depression of spirit,
not in order to grieve you, but in the hope of showing you howbrimful my heart...
Resources
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