Topical Encyclopedia
In the context of the Bible, "converse" refers to communication or dialogue, often highlighting the interaction between God and humans, as well as among individuals. The act of conversing is a significant theme throughout the Scriptures, emphasizing the importance of words, speech, and the exchange of ideas in the spiritual and communal life of believers.
Divine-Human CommunicationOne of the most profound examples of converse in the Bible is the communication between God and humanity. This divine-human dialogue is foundational to understanding God's will and purpose. In
Genesis 3:9, after Adam and Eve sinned, "the LORD God called out to the man, 'Where are you?'" This question initiates a conversation that reveals the consequences of disobedience and the beginning of God's redemptive plan.
The prophets often served as intermediaries in this divine conversation, receiving messages from God to deliver to the people. For instance, in
Jeremiah 1:9, God says, "Behold, I have put My words in your mouth." This highlights the role of prophets as conduits of divine communication, tasked with conveying God's words to His people.
Prayer as ConversePrayer is a primary means of converse with God, allowing believers to communicate their thoughts, needs, and praises. The Psalms are replete with examples of this dialogue.
Psalm 5:3 states, "In the morning, O LORD, You hear my voice; at daybreak I lay my plea before You and wait in expectation." This verse underscores the expectation of a two-way communication, where God listens and responds to the prayers of His people.
Jesus taught His disciples to pray, providing a model for this divine conversation in
Matthew 6:9-13, commonly known as the Lord's Prayer. This prayer emphasizes reverence, dependence, and the seeking of God's will, illustrating the nature of proper converse with the Father.
Interpersonal CommunicationThe Bible also addresses the importance of converse among individuals.
Proverbs 15:1 advises, "A gentle answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger." This wisdom literature underscores the power of words in human relationships, advocating for gentle and thoughtful communication.
The New Testament further emphasizes the significance of speech in the life of a believer.
Ephesians 4:29 instructs, "Let no unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building up the one in need and bringing grace to those who listen." This directive highlights the role of converse in edifying others and fostering a community of grace and encouragement.
Jesus and Conversational TeachingJesus' ministry was marked by His use of conversation to teach and reveal truth. His dialogues with individuals, such as the Samaritan woman at the well (
John 4:7-26) and Nicodemus (
John 3:1-21), demonstrate His ability to engage in meaningful conversation that leads to spiritual insight and transformation.
In these interactions, Jesus often used questions and parables to provoke thought and elicit deeper understanding. His conversational approach made profound theological truths accessible and personal, inviting individuals to enter into a relationship with Him.
ConclusionThe concept of converse in the Bible encompasses both divine-human communication and interpersonal dialogue. It is through these conversations that God's will is revealed, relationships are built, and spiritual growth is fostered. The Scriptures provide guidance on how to engage in meaningful and edifying communication, reflecting the character and purposes of God.
Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary
1. (
v. i.) To keep company; to hold intimate intercourse; to commune; -- followed by with.
2. (v. i.) To engage in familiar colloquy; to interchange thoughts and opinions in a free, informal manner; to chat; -- followed by with before a person; by on, about, concerning, etc., before a thing.
3. (v. i.) To have knowledge of, from long intercourse or study; -- said of things.
4. (n.) Frequent intercourse; familiar communion; intimate association.
5. (n.) Familiar discourse; free interchange of thoughts or views; conversation; chat.
6. (a.) Turned about; reversed in order or relation; reciprocal; as, a converse proposition.
7. (n.) A proposition which arises from interchanging the terms of another, as by putting the predicate for the subject, and the subject for the predicate; as, no virtue is vice, no vice is virtue.
8. (n.) A proposition in which, after a conclusion from something supposed has been drawn, the order is inverted, making the conclusion the supposition or premises, what was first supposed becoming now the conclusion or inference. Thus, if two sides of a sides of a triangle are equal, the angles opposite the sides are equal; and the converse is true, i.e., if these angles are equal, the two sides are equal.
Greek
3656. homileo -- to consort with, hence toconverse with... to consort with, hence to
converse with. Part of Speech: Verb Transliteration: homileo
Phonetic Spelling: (hom-il-eh'-o) Short Definition: I associate with
...4926. sunomileo -- toconverse with
... toconverse with. Part of Speech: Verb Transliteration: sunomileo Phonetic Spelling:
(soon-om-il-eh'-o) Short Definition: I talk with Definition: I talk with...
1255. dialaleo -- to discuss
... to discuss. Part of Speech: Verb Transliteration: dialaleo Phonetic Spelling:
(dee-al-al-eh'-o) Short Definition: Iconverse together, talk of Definition: I...
1256. dialegomai -- to discuss, to address, to preach
... to address, to preach. Part of Speech: Verb Transliteration: dialegomai Phonetic
Spelling: (dee-al-eg'-om-ahee) Short Definition: Iconverse, address, preach...
4354. proslaleo -- to speak to
... speak to. Part of Speech: Verb Transliteration: proslaleo Phonetic Spelling:
(pros-lal-eh'-o) Short Definition: I speak to Definition: I speak to,converse with...
4814. sullaleo -- to talk together
... confer, talk with, commune. From sun and laleo; to talk together, ieConverse --
commune (confer, talk) with, speak among. see GREEK sun. see GREEK laleo....
4820. sumballo -- to throw together, hence to discuss, consider...
... From sun and ballo; to combine, ie (in speaking) toconverse, consult, dispute,
(mentally) to consider, (by implication) to aid, (personally) to join, attack...
1793. entugchano -- to chance upon, by impl. confer with, by ext....
... which intensifies 5177 , "to obtain by hitting the mark") -- properly, "light upon
(meet with), obtain" (); "to go and meet a person toconverse, consult," ie...
Strong's Hebrew
5517. Sia -- father of some returning exiles... Sia, Siaha. Or Ciyeahai {see-ah-haw'}; from an unused root meaning to
converse;
congregation; Sia or Siaha, one of the Nethinim -- Sia, Siaha. 5516, 5517.
...7878. siach -- to muse, complain, talk (of)
... A primitive root; to ponder, ie (by implication)converse (with oneself, and hence,
aloud) or (transitively) utter -- commune, complain, declare, meditate, muse...
Library
Self-Converse.
... THE SOUL. XIII. SELF-CONVERSE. Cofia f' enaid cyn it' dreulio 8,7,8,7,8,7,8,7. Heedless
soul of mine, bethink thee. Ere thine hours on earth are past,"....
Fenelon -- the SaintsConverse with God
... FENELON " THE SAINTSCONVERSE WITH GOD. THE SAINTSCONVERSE WITH GOD BIOGRAPHICAL
NOTE.... FENELON. 1651-1715. THE SAINTSCONVERSE WITH GOD....
And Again Moses Tells How the Son of God Drew Near to Hold...
... THE DEMONSTRATION OF THE APOSTOLIC PREACHING Chapter 44 And again Moses
tells how the Son of God drew near to holdconverse with?...
Here, if any Means could be Found, I Should Wish toConverse Thus...
... Book II. 1 Here, if any means could be found, I should wish toconverse
thus with all? Here, if any means could be found, I should...
The World is Best Enjoyed and Most Immediately While weConverse...
... THE FOURTH CENTURY 19 The world is best enjoyed and most immediately while
weconverse blessedly and wisely with men. The world is...
But Besides, if Birds of AuguryConverse with one Another...
... Chapter XCI. But besides, if birds of auguryconverse with one another?
But besides, if birds of auguryconverse with one another...
Psalm 119:02. Second Part. Secret Devotion and Spiritual...
... THE Psalms of David, In Metre. Psalm 119:02. Second Part. Secret devotion and
spiritual mindedness; or, Constantconverse with God. Ver.147 55....
To Win Souls Requires Wisdom.
... him. (4.) If possible, where you wish toconverse with a man on the subject
of salvation, take him when he is in a good temper....
Early Manifestations of the Son of God, as Recorded in the Old...
... For He it was who at all times came down to holdconverse with men, from Adam on
to the patriarchs and the prophets, in vision, in dream, in mirror, in dark...
Other Objections Considered God's Condescension in the Incarnation...
... fact the sacrament of man's salvation. God heldconverse with man, that
man might learn to act as God. God dealt on equal terms...
Thesaurus
Converse (5 Occurrences)... 6. (a.) Turned about; reversed in order or relation; reciprocal; as, a
converse proposition.
... Multi-Version Concordance
Converse (5 Occurrences).
...Talk (164 Occurrences)
... 1. (n.) To utter words; esp., toconverse familiarly; to speak, as in familiar
discourse, when two or more persons interchange thoughts....
Question (153 Occurrences)
... 7. (n.) To ask questions; to inquire. 8. (n.) To argue; toconverse; to dispute....
12. (vt) To talk to; toconverse with. Int. Standard Bible Encyclopedia....
Commune (7 Occurrences)
... Noah Webster's Dictionary 1. (vi) Toconverse together with sympathy and confidence;
to interchange sentiments or feelings; to take counsel....
Speak (855 Occurrences)
... 2. (vi) To express opinions; to say; to talk; toconverse.... 10. (vt) To talk orconverse
in; to utter or pronounce, as in conversation; as, to speak Latin. 11....
Conversation (30 Occurrences)
... conduct. The New Testament words for "converse" in the modern sense are homileo
(Luke 24:14, 15 Acts 20:11) and sunomileo (Acts 10:27)....
Kingdom (409 Occurrences)
... From a secular point of view it would be more natural to regard the latter
as an offshoot from the former, rather than theconverse....
Whisper (9 Occurrences)
... 2. (n.) To make a low, sibilant sound or noise. 3. (n.) To speak with suspicion,
or timorous caution; toconverse in whispers, as in secret plotting....
Witchcraft (8 Occurrences)
... Scripture. The "witch of En-dor" (1 Samuel 28) was a necromancer, ie, one
who feigned to holdconverse with the dead. The damsel...
Excommunication
... purely personal: "And if he refuse to hear the church also, let him be unto thee
as the Gentile and the publican," out of the pale of association andconverse....
Resources
What is monothelitism? | GotQuestions.orgWhat are indigo children? | GotQuestions.orgWhat is the meaning of the yin and the yang? | GotQuestions.orgConverse: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.comBible Concordance •
Bible Dictionary •
Bible Encyclopedia •
Topical Bible •
Bible Thesuarus
