Topical Encyclopedia
Definition and Usage:The term "comprehend" generally means to grasp mentally, understand, or perceive the meaning of something. In the context of the Bible, it often refers to the ability to understand spiritual truths, divine mysteries, or the nature of God. The concept of comprehension in Scripture is not merely intellectual but involves a deeper, spiritual insight granted by God.
Biblical References:1.
John 1:5 : "The Light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not comprehended it."
· This verse highlights the inability of the darkness, representing evil and ignorance, to understand or overcome the Light, which is Christ. The use of "comprehend" here suggests a failure to recognize or accept the truth and divinity of Jesus.
2.
Ephesians 3:18-19 : "may have power, together with all the saints, to comprehend the length and width and height and depth of the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled with all the fullness of God."
· Paul prays for believers to have the strength to grasp the vastness of Christ's love. This comprehension is not merely intellectual but experiential, leading to a fuller relationship with God.
3.
Job 37:5 : "God thunders wondrously with His voice; He does great things we cannot comprehend."
· This passage acknowledges the limitations of human understanding in the face of God's mighty works. It underscores the idea that God's ways and thoughts are higher than ours, as also reflected in
Isaiah 55:8-9.
4.
Psalm 139:6 : "Such knowledge is too wonderful for me, too lofty for me to attain."
· The psalmist expresses awe at God's intimate knowledge and presence, recognizing that fully comprehending God's omniscience and omnipresence is beyond human capacity.
Theological Implications:·
Divine Revelation: Comprehension of spiritual truths is often linked to divine revelation. Human understanding is limited, and true comprehension of God's nature and will is made possible through the Holy Spirit. As seen in
1 Corinthians 2:10-12, the Spirit reveals the deep things of God to believers.
·
Faith and Understanding: Comprehension in the biblical sense often requires faith.
Hebrews 11:3 states, "By faith we understand that the universe was formed at God's command." Faith enables believers to comprehend truths that are beyond empirical evidence.
·
Spiritual Maturity: Comprehension is associated with spiritual growth and maturity.
Ephesians 4:13 speaks of attaining "the whole measure of the fullness of Christ," which involves growing in understanding and living out the truths of the faith.
·
Mystery of the Gospel: The gospel itself is described as a mystery that has been revealed (
Ephesians 3:4-6). Comprehending this mystery involves recognizing the inclusion of Gentiles in God's redemptive plan, a truth that was once hidden but is now made known through Christ.
Practical Application:·
Prayer for Understanding: Believers are encouraged to pray for wisdom and understanding, as seen in
Colossians 1:9, where Paul prays for the Colossians to be filled with the knowledge of God's will through all spiritual wisdom and understanding.
·
Study of Scripture: Diligent study of the Bible is essential for growing in comprehension.
Acts 17:11 commends the Bereans for examining the Scriptures daily to understand the truth.
·
Dependence on the Holy Spirit: Recognizing the role of the Holy Spirit in illuminating Scripture and guiding believers into all truth (
John 16:13) is crucial for true comprehension.
In summary, the biblical concept of "comprehend" involves a deep, spiritual understanding that goes beyond mere intellectual knowledge, requiring divine revelation, faith, and the work of the Holy Spirit in the believer's life.
Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary
1. (
v. t.) To contain; to embrace; to include; as, the states comprehended in the Austrian Empire.
2. (v. t.) To take in or include by construction or implication; to comprise; to imply.
3. (v. t.) To take into the mind; to grasp with the understanding; to apprehend the meaning of; to understand.
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia
COMPREHENDkom-pre-hend': Used in a twofold sense in both the Old Testament and New Testament. This double meaning appears in two Hebrew and two Greek words which signify in turn
(1) mental or spiritual perception,
(2) capacity to hold or contain, as in a measure or in an all-inclusive principle, e.g.:
(1) yadha`, "to see with the eyes or the mind," hence, "know," "understand." Job was urged by Elihu to accept as inscrutable the ways of God, inasmuch as His operations in the physical world are so mighty and mysterious that "we cannot comprehend" them (Job 37:5). Modern science, in unveiling the secrets of Nature, is opening the way for a better understanding of God's creative purpose and plan.
katalambano, "to lay hold of," hence, mentally to apprehend: used of the spiritual capacity of the Christian "to comprehend (the Revised Version (British and American) "apprehend") with all saints" (Ephesians 3:18) the measureless love of God; and of the inability of the unrenewed heart to know or perceive the revelation of God made in Christ: "the darkness comprehended it not" (John 1:5 the Revised Version (British and American) "apprehended"; the Revised Version, margin "overcame"; compareJohn 12:35).
(2) kul, "to measure" or "contain," as grain in a bushel. So God's immeasurable greatness is seen in His being able to hold oceans in the hollow of His hand and "comprehend the dust of the earth in a measure" (Isaiah 40:12).
anakephalaioo, "to sum up under one head," e.g. love includes every other moral principle and process. The entire law on its manward side, says Paul, "is comprehended (the Revised Version (British and American) "summed up") in this saying, namely, Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself" (Romans 13:9).
Dwight M. Pratt
Greek
4894. suneidon -- to see together, hence tocomprehend... to see together, hence to
comprehend. Part of Speech: Verb Transliteration: suneidon
Phonetic Spelling: (soon-i'-do) Short Definition: I know, consider, am
...2638. katalambano -- to lay hold of, seize
... of Speech: Verb Transliteration: katalambano Phonetic Spelling: (kat-al-am-ban'-
o) Short Definition: I seize tight hold of, overtake,comprehend Definition: (a...
4920. suniemi -- to set together, fig. to understand
... From sun and hiemi (to send); to put together, ie (mentally) tocomprehend; by
implication, to act piously -- consider, understand, be wise. see GREEK sun....
1097. ginosko -- to come to know, recognize, perceive
... root gno- Definition to come to know, recognize, perceive NASB Word Usage ascertaining
(1), aware (7), certainty (1), come to know (1),comprehend (1), felt (1...
1840. exischuo -- to have strength enough
... Eph 3:17,18: " 17 So that Christ may dwell in your hearts through (4102 ); and that
you, being rooted and grounded in love, 18 (1840) tocomprehend with all...
421. anexichniastos -- that cannot be traced out
... able to trace the steps of") -- properly, impossible to "track" ("trace the steps
of"); unable to follow or fullycomprehend ("incomprehensible"); inscrutable...
3539. noeo -- to perceive, think
... From nous; to exercise the mind (observe), ie (figuratively) tocomprehend,
heed -- consider, perceive, think, understand. see GREEK nous....
191. akouo -- to hear, listen
... Part of Speech: Verb Transliteration: akouo Phonetic Spelling: (ak-oo'-o) Short
Definition: I hear, listen Definition: I hear, listen,comprehend by hearing...
346. anakephalaioo -- to sum up, gather up
... summarize. From ana and kephalaioo (in its original sense); to sum up -- briefly
comprehend, gather together in one. see GREEK ana. see GREEK kephalaioo....
1987. epistamai -- to know, to understand
... know, understand. Apparently a middle voice of ephistemi (with nous implied); to
put the mind upon, ieComprehend, or be acquainted with -- know, understand....
Strong's Hebrew
3557. kul -- tocomprehend, contain... 3556, 3557. kul. 3558 . to
comprehend, contain. Transliteration: kul Phonetic
Spelling: (kool) Short Definition: provided. Word Origin a prim.
...3045. yada -- to know
... 5), acquainted (1), aware (6), becomes known (1), bring forth (1), cared (1), chosen
(2), clearly understand (2), cohabit (1),comprehend (1), concern (2...
7919a. sakal -- to be prudent
... root Definition to be prudent NASB Word Usage act wisely (1), acts wisely (3), behaved
himself wisely (1),comprehend (1), consider (1), considers (2), discern...
Library
Whether those who See the Essence of GodComprehend Him?
... HOW GOD IS KNOWN BY US (THIRTEEN ARTICLES) Whether those who see the essence
of Godcomprehend Him? Objection 1: It seems that those...
How Sweetness and Tenderness in Prayer Differ from Consolations....
... EXPLAINS HOW ADVANTAGEOUS IT WAS FOR ST. TERESA TOCOMPREHEND THAT THE
IMAGINATION AND THE UNDERSTANDING ARE NOT THE SAME THING....
Must I Demonstrate to You So Simple a Truth? Can You not...
... VII. Must I demonstrate to you so simple a truth? Can you notcomprehend?
Must I demonstrate to you so simple a truth? Can you...
The Carnal Mind is Unable toComprehend this Doctrine of the...
... Fifth Head of Doctrine Article 15 The carnal mind is unable tocomprehend
this doctrine of the perseverance of the saints? The...
That we Ought not to Seek toComprehend the Infinite Ages of Time...
... Book XI. Chapter 5."That We Ought Not to Seek toComprehend the Infinite Ages
of Time Before the World, Nor the Infinite Realms of Space....
The Domain or Province of Science.
... When you apprehend a phenomenon and discover its law you have accomplished all that
the term indicates, even though you fail tocomprehend the whys and...
Not with Outward Show
... Because of their selfishness and earthliness, even the disciples of Jesus could
notcomprehend the spiritual glory which He sought to reveal unto them....
Of Temperance and Sobriety
... For all that a creature cancomprehend is of the creature; but God is above all
creatures and within and without all creatures, and every created comprehension...
On the Trinity
... the world.". 6. But it is objected: "Whatever becomes of the text, we cannot
believe what we cannotcomprehend. When, therefore, you...
The Essence of the Self-Existent Being Incomprehensible.
... substance or essence of that being, which is self-existent, or necessarily-existing,
is, we have no idea; neither is it at all possible for us tocomprehend it...
Thesaurus
Comprehend (9 Occurrences)... Int. Standard Bible Encyclopedia.
COMPREHEND. kom-pre-hend': Used in a
twofold sense in both the Old Testament and New Testament.
...Grasp (20 Occurrences)
... possession of. 2. (vt) To lay hold of with the mind; to become thoroughly
acquainted or conversant with; tocomprehend. 3. (vi) To...
Unchangeableness (1 Occurrence)
... Moreover, since the finite mind cannotcomprehend the infinite God, back of all
that God has revealed of Himself, back even of His absoluteness, eternity and...
Understand (208 Occurrences)
... 1. (vt) To have just and adequate ideas of; to apprehended the meaning or intention
of; to have knowledge of; tocomprehend; to know; as, to understand a...
Unchangeable (4 Occurrences)
... Moreover, since the finite mind cannotcomprehend the infinite God, back of all
that God has revealed of Himself, back even of His absoluteness, eternity and...
Logos
... conception of God. Tocomprehend the relation of the Deity to the world
has been the aim of all religious philosophy. While widely...
Lord (59401 Occurrences)
... He was teaching in His own town, Nazareth, His neighbors, who, since they had watched
His natural growth among them, could notcomprehend the extraordinary...
Insight (39 Occurrences)
... meditation. (See NAS NIV). Proverbs 1:2 To know wisdom and instruction; to
comprehend the words of understanding; (See RSV NIV). Proverbs...
Include (7 Occurrences)
... 2. (vt) Tocomprehend or comprise, as a genus the species, the whole a part, an
argument or reason the inference; to contain; to embrace; as, this volume of...
Foreknowledge (2 Occurrences)
... Acts 2:23; Romans 8:29; 11:2; 1 Peter 1:2 ), one of those high attributes essentially
appertaining to him the full import of which we cannotcomprehend....
Resources
What does God mean when He says, “my ways are higher than your ways” in Isaiah 55:9? | GotQuestions.orgWhat are some popular illustrations of the Holy Trinity? | GotQuestions.orgWhat is the doctrine of eternal generation and is it biblical? | GotQuestions.orgComprehend: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.comBible Concordance •
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Bible Encyclopedia •
Topical Bible •
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