Topical Encyclopedia
In the context of the Bible, the term "deed" refers to an action or work performed by an individual. Deeds can be either good or evil, and they are often used as a measure of one's faith and character. The Bible emphasizes the importance of deeds as evidence of one's faith and as a reflection of one's relationship with God.
Old TestamentIn the Old Testament, deeds are frequently associated with obedience to God's commandments. The Israelites were instructed to follow God's laws and statutes, and their deeds were a testament to their faithfulness. For example, in
Deuteronomy 28:1, it is written, "If you fully obey the LORD your God and carefully follow all his commands I give you today, the LORD your God will set you high above all the nations of the earth."
The Psalms and Proverbs also highlight the significance of deeds.
Proverbs 12:14 states, "By fruitful speech a man is filled with good things, and the work of his hands returns to him as a reward." This verse underscores the principle that good deeds lead to blessings and rewards.
New TestamentIn the New Testament, deeds continue to play a crucial role in the life of a believer. Jesus Christ taught that deeds are a reflection of one's heart and faith. In
Matthew 5:16, Jesus instructs, "In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven." Here, good deeds are seen as a way to bring glory to God and to serve as a witness to others.
The Apostle Paul also emphasizes the importance of deeds in the life of a Christian. In
Ephesians 2:10, he writes, "For we are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do." This passage highlights that believers are created for the purpose of performing good deeds, which are prepared by God.
James, the brother of Jesus, provides a clear connection between faith and deeds. In
James 2:17, he states, "So too, faith by itself, if it does not result in action, is dead." James argues that genuine faith is demonstrated through deeds, and without them, faith is incomplete.
Judgment and DeedsThe Bible teaches that deeds will be a basis for judgment. In
Revelation 20:12, it is written, "And I saw the dead, great and small, standing before the throne, and books were opened. Another book was opened, which is the book of life. The dead were judged according to their deeds, as recorded in the books." This passage indicates that deeds are recorded and will be considered in the final judgment.
Similarly, in
2 Corinthians 5:10, Paul writes, "For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may receive his due for the things done in the body, whether good or bad." This reinforces the idea that deeds have eternal significance and consequences.
ConclusionThroughout the Bible, deeds are portrayed as an essential aspect of a believer's life. They serve as evidence of faith, a means to glorify God, and a basis for judgment. The consistent message is that deeds matter, and they reflect the heart and character of an individual in their walk with God.
Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary
1. (
a.) Dead.
2. (v. t.) That which is done or effected by a responsible agent; an act; an action; a thing done; -- a word of extensive application, including, whatever is done, good or bad, great or small.
3. (v. t.) Illustrious act; achievement; exploit.
4. (v. t.) Power of action; agency; efficiency.
5. (v. t.) Fact; reality; -- whence we have indeed.
6. (n.) A sealed instrument in writing, on paper or parchment, duly executed and delivered, containing some transfer, bargain, or contract.
7. (v. t.) Performance; -- followed by of.
8. (v. t.) To convey or transfer by deed; as, he deeded all his estate to his eldest son.
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia
DEEDded: Used in its ordinary modern sense in EV. In the Old Testament it is used to translates five Hebrew words: gemylah, literally, "recompense" (Isaiah 59:18); dabhar, literally, "word," "thing" (2 Chronicles 35:27 the King James Version, the Revised Version (British and American) "acts";Esther 1:17, 18Jeremiah 5:28); ma`aseh (Genesis 20:9;Genesis 44:15Ezra 9:13); `alilah (1 Chronicles 16:8 the King James Version, the Revised Version (British and American) "doings";Psalm 105:1 the King James Version, the Revised Version (British and American) "doings"); po`al (Psalm 28:4 the King James Version, the Revised Version (British and American) "work";Jeremiah 25:14).
In the New Testament "deed" very frequently translates ergon (same root as English "work"; compare "energy"), which is still more frequently (espescially in the Revised Version (British and American)) rendered "work." InLuke 23:51Acts 19:18Romans 8:13Colossians 3:9 the King James Version, the Revised Version (British and American) "doings," it stands for Greek praxis (literally, "a doing," "transaction"), each time in a bad sense, equivalent to wicked deed, crime, a meaning which is frequently associated with the plural of praxis (compare English "practices" in the sense of trickery; so often in Polybius; Deissmann maintains that praxis was a technical term in magic), although inMatthew 16:27 (the King James Version "works") andRomans 12:4 the same Greek word has a neutral meaning. InJames 1:25 the King James Version "deed" is the translation of Greek poiesis, more correctly rendered "doing" in the Revised Version (British and American).
D. Miall Edwards
Greek
4229. pragma -- adeed, a matter... a
deed, a matter. Part of Speech: Noun, Neuter Transliteration: pragma Phonetic
Spelling: (prag'-mah) Short Definition: a thing done, a matter Definition: a
...2735. katorthoma -- very worthydeed, public reform
... very worthydeed, public reform. Part of Speech: Noun, Neuter Transliteration:
katorthoma Phonetic Spelling: (kat-or'-tho-mah) Short Definition: anything...
2108. euergesia -- a gooddeed
... a gooddeed. Part of Speech: Noun, Feminine Transliteration: euergesia Phonetic
Spelling: (yoo-erg-es-ee'-ah) Short Definition: good action, kind service...
1345. dikaioma -- an ordinance, a sentence of acquittal or...
... an ordinance, a sentence of acquittal or condemnation, a righteousdeed. Part of
Speech: Noun, Neuter Transliteration: dikaioma Phonetic Spelling: (dik-ah'-yo...
4234. praxis -- adeed, function
... adeed, function. Part of Speech: Noun, Feminine Transliteration: praxis Phonetic
Spelling: (prax'-is) Short Definition: an action, deeds, function Definition...
2041. ergon -- work
... work. Part of Speech: Noun, Neuter Transliteration: ergon Phonetic Spelling:
(er'-gon) Short Definition: work, labor, action,deed Definition: work, task...
265. hamartema -- a sin
... a sin. Part of Speech: Noun, Neuter Transliteration: hamartema Phonetic Spelling:
(ham-ar'-tay-mah) Short Definition: a fault, sin, evildeed Definition: a fault...
4162. poiesis -- a making, a doing
... Word Origin from poieo Definition a making, a doing NASB Word Usage what...does
(1).deed. From poieo; action, ie Performance (of the law) --deed....
3393. miasma -- a stain, defilement
... pollution, fouldeed. From miaino ("miasma"); (morally) foulness (properly, the
effect) -- pollution. see GREEK miaino. (miasmata) -- 1 Occurrence. 3392, 3393...
5287. hupostasis -- a support, substance, steadiness, hence...
... 5287 (from 5259 , "under" and 2476 , "to stand") -- properly, (to possess) a guaranteed
agreement ("title-deed"); (figuratively) "" to a promise or property...
Strong's Hebrew
5950. aliliyyah -- adeed... a
deed. Transliteration: aliliyyah Phonetic Spelling: (al-ee-lee-yaw') Short Definition:
deed. Word Origin from alal Definition a
deed NASB Word Usage
deed (1).
...4639. maaseh -- adeed, work
... 4638, 4639. maaseh. 4640 . adeed, work. Transliteration: maaseh Phonetic
Spelling: (mah-as-eh') Short Definition: work. Word Origin...
6467. poal -- doing,deed, work
... 6466, 6467. poal. 6468 . doing,deed, work. Transliteration: poal Phonetic
Spelling: (po'-al) Short Definition: work.... act,deed, do, getting, maker, work....
5949. alilah -- wantonness, adeed
... wantonness, adeed. Transliteration: alilah or alilah Phonetic Spelling:
(al-ee-law') Short Definition: deeds.... action,deed, doing, invention, occasion, work....
2063. zoth -- hereby in it, likewise, the one other, same, she, so...
... hereby in it, likewise, the one other, same, she, so much, suchdeed, that,.
Transliteration: zoth Phonetic Spelling: (zothe') Short Definition: likewise....
4611. maalal -- adeed, practice
... 4610, 4611. maalal. 4612 . adeed, practice. Transliteration: maalal Phonetic
Spelling: (mah-al-awl') Short Definition: deeds. Word...
4659b. miphalah -- adeed
... miphalah. 4660 . adeed. Transliteration: miphalah Short Definition: works. Word
Origin from paal Definition adeed NASB Word Usage works (2). 4659a, 4659b...
199. ulam -- but, but indeed
... 1), rather (1), truly (1). as for, but, howbeit, in verydeed, surely, truly,
wherefore. Apparently a variation of 'uwlay; however...
1697. dabar -- speech, word
... conditions (1), conduct (2), conferred (1), consultation (1), conversation (1),
counsel (1), custom (1), customs (1), dealings (2), decree (2),deed (2), deeds...
2617. checed -- goodness, kindness
... Definition: favour. favor, gooddeed, kindly, loving-kindness, merciful
kindness, mercy, pity, reproach, wicked thing From chacad...
Library
Mighty in Word andDeed
... MIGHTY IN WORD ANDDEED. 'And they went into Capernaum; and straightway on
the Sabbath day He entered into the synagogue, and taught.22....
Thought,Deed, Word
... THE BOOK OF EXODUS THOUGHT,DEED, WORD. 'It shall be for a sign unto thee
upon thine hand, and for a memorial between thine eyes, that...
Origen's DaringDeed.
... Book VI. Chapter VIII."Origen's DaringDeed. 1. At this time while Origen
was conducting catechetical instruction at Alexandria...
Jonathan's BraveDeed
... THE OLD TESTAMENT JONATHAN'S BRAVEDEED. Saul picked out three thousand men
from the Israelites. Two thousand were with Saul in Michmash...
Whether Sins are Fittingly Divided into Sins of Thought, Word, and...
... OF THE DISTINCTION OF SINS (NINE ARTICLES) Whether sins are fittingly divided
into sins of thought, word, anddeed? Objection 1: It...
"My Sin Shall not Hinder his Goodness Working. . . . ADeed Shall...
... Adeed shall be done"as we come to Heaven"and it may be known here in part;"though
it be truly taken for the general Man, yet it excludeth not the special...
"All Thing that is Done, it is Well Done: for Our Lord God Doeth...
... THE THIRD REVELATION CHAPTER XI "All thing that is done, it is well done:
for our Lord God doeth all." "Sin is nodeed". "All thing...
Whether Sin is Fittingly Defined as a Word,Deed, or Desire...
... EVIL HABITS, ie VICES AND SINS (QQ -89) Whether sin is fittingly defined
as a word,deed, or desire contrary to the eternal law?...
Whether in Giving Thanks we Should Look at the Benefactor's...
... OF THANKFULNESS OR GRATITUDE (SIX ARTICLES) Whether in giving thanks we
should look at the benefactor's disposition or at thedeed?...
How they are to be Admonished who Lament Sins ofDeed, and those...
... How they are to be admonished who lament sins ofdeed, and those who lament
only sins of thought. (Admonition 30.) Differently to...
Thesaurus
Deed (71 Occurrences)... 7. (vt) Performance; -- followed by of. 8. (vt) To convey or transfer by
deed; as,
he deeded all his estate to his eldest son.
... Standard Bible Encyclopedia.
DEED.
...Purchase (25 Occurrences)
... Jeremiah 32:11 So I took thedeed of the purchase, both that which was sealed,
containing the terms and conditions, and that which was open; (WEB KJV JPS ASV...
Sealed (31 Occurrences)
... Jeremiah 32:10 I subscribed thedeed, and sealed it, and called witnesses, and weighed
him the money in the balances. (WEB KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS NAS RSV NIV)....
Neriah (10 Occurrences)
... Jeremiah 32:12 and I delivered thedeed of the purchase to Baruch the son of Neriah,
the son of Mahseiah, in the presence of Hanamel my uncle's son, and in the...
Unsealed (4 Occurrences)
... Jeremiah 32:11 So I took thedeed of the purchase, both that which was sealed,
containing the terms and conditions, and that which was open; (See NIV)....
Imputation
... is concerned, who it is that imputes, whether man (1 Samuel 22:15) or God (Psalm
32:2); it makes no difference what is imputed, whether a gooddeed for reward...
Repayeth (16 Occurrences)
... giveth. (YLT). Proverbs 19:17 Whoso is lending 'to' Jehovah is favouring
the poor, And hisdeed He repayeth to him. (YLT). Isaiah...
Subscribed (2 Occurrences)
... Subscribed (2 Occurrences). Jeremiah 32:10 I subscribed thedeed, and sealed it,
and called witnesses, and weighed him the money in the balances....
Signed (8 Occurrences)
... (BBE). Jeremiah 32:10 I subscribed thedeed, and sealed it, and called witnesses,
and weighed him the money in the balances. (See NAS RSV NIV)....
Earthen (19 Occurrences)
... vessels in which to cook it. An earthen vessel was used to preserve a land
deed (Jeremiah 32:14). Figurative: In Jeremiah 19:1 breaking...
Resources
Why is being a good person not enough to get you into heaven? | GotQuestions.orgWhat are indulgences and plenary indulgences and is the concept biblical? | GotQuestions.orgDoes the Bible teach mortal and venial sin? | GotQuestions.orgDeed: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.comBible Concordance •
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