Topical Encyclopedia
The term "devout" in the Bible is used to describe individuals who exhibit deep religious commitment and reverence toward God. This characteristic is often associated with piety, sincerity, and a heartfelt dedication to spiritual practices and obedience to God's commandments.
Old Testament ContextIn the Old Testament, the concept of being devout is closely linked to the fear of the Lord and adherence to His laws. Although the specific term "devout" is not frequently used, the idea is embodied in the lives of those who earnestly seek to follow God's will. For example, the Psalms often highlight the characteristics of a devout person, emphasizing a life of prayer, worship, and obedience.
Psalm 4:3 states, "Know that the LORD has set apart the godly for Himself; the LORD hears when I call to Him."
New Testament ContextIn the New Testament, the term "devout" is more explicitly used to describe individuals who are deeply committed to their faith. One notable example is Simeon, a righteous and devout man who awaited the consolation of Israel.
Luke 2:25 describes him: "Now there was a man in Jerusalem named Simeon, who was righteous and devout. He was waiting for the consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit was upon him."
Another example is found in
Acts 10:2 , where Cornelius, a centurion, is described as "a devout man who feared God with all his household. He gave generously to the people and prayed to God regularly." Cornelius's devout nature is demonstrated through his reverence for God, his charitable actions, and his commitment to prayer.
Characteristics of a Devout Life1.
Reverence for God: A devout person holds a profound respect and awe for God, recognizing His sovereignty and holiness. This reverence is often expressed through worship and a desire to honor God in all aspects of life.
2.
Prayer and Worship: Devout individuals are characterized by a consistent and earnest prayer life. They seek communion with God and prioritize worship as a central aspect of their spiritual journey.
3.
Obedience to God's Commandments: A devout person strives to live in accordance with God's laws and teachings. This obedience is not merely external but stems from a genuine love for God and a desire to please Him.
4.
Charitable Actions: Devout individuals often demonstrate their faith through acts of kindness and generosity. Their devotion to God is reflected in their love and care for others, as seen in the life of Cornelius.
5.
Spiritual Discernment: The devout are often portrayed as having a heightened sensitivity to the leading of the Holy Spirit. This discernment enables them to understand and respond to God's will in their lives.
Significance in the Early ChurchIn the early Christian community, devout individuals played a crucial role in the spread of the Gospel and the establishment of the Church. Their commitment to prayer, teaching, and fellowship helped to strengthen the faith of believers and attract new converts.
Acts 2:42 highlights the devotion of the early Christians: "They devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer."
The devout nature of early Christians set a standard for future generations, emphasizing the importance of a sincere and committed faith. Their example continues to inspire believers to pursue a life of devotion, characterized by a deep love for God and a commitment to His purposes.
Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary
1. (
a.) Devoted to religious feelings and duties; absorbed in religious exercises; given to devotion; pious; reverent; religious.
2. (v. t.) Expressing devotion or piety; as, eyes devout; sighs devout; a devout posture.
3. (v. t.) Warmly devoted; hearty; sincere; earnest; as, devout wishes for one's welfare.
4. (n.) A devotee.
5. (n.) A devotional composition, or part of a composition; devotion.
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia
DEVOUTde-vout' (eulabes, eusebes, sebomai, "pious," "dutiful," "reverential"): The word is peculiar to Luke. Applied to Simeon (Luke 2:25), Cornelius (Acts 10:2, 7), Ananias (Acts 22:12). "Devout proselytes" (Acts 13:43, the King James Version "religious proselytes"), with possible reference to the proselytes of righteousness as distinguished from the proselytes of the gate (see PROSELYTE). "Devout women of honorable estate" (Acts 13:50), proselytes to Judaism and wives of the men in high position among the heathen (see Josephus, BJ, II, xx, 2). "Devout Greeks" (Acts 17:4), probably, though not necessarily, proselytes of the gate, heathen by birth, who attended the synagogue services and worshipped God. "Devout persons" (Acts 17:17), proselytes of the gate.
M. O. Evans
Greek
2152. eusebes -- pious... Part of Speech: Adjective Transliteration: eusebes Phonetic Spelling: (yoo-seb-ace')
Short Definition: pious, God-fearing Definition: pious, God-fearing,
devout...2126. eulabes -- cautious
... 2126 ("devout") literally means "taking hold of what is good." It focuses on the
someone gives to what they feel is (worthy of respect)....devout, God-fearing....
4576. sebo -- to worship
... Word Origin a prim. verb Definition to worship NASB Word Usagedevout (1),
God-fearing (3), worship (4), worshiper (2).devout, religious....
2318. theosebes -- God-fearing
... God-fearing. Part of Speech: Adjective Transliteration: theosebes Phonetic Spelling:
(theh-os-eb-ace') Short Definition:devout, pious Definition:devout, pious...
2357. threskos of unc. or. -- religious.
... Short Definition: religious Definition: (refers probably to a careful observance
of religious restrictions), religious (probably in a limited sense),devout....
3741. hosios -- righteous, pious, holy
... Word Origin a prim. word Definition righteous, pious, holy NASB Word Usage
devout (1), holy (4), Holy One (3). righteous, pious, holy....
2124. eulabeia -- caution
... 2124 ("godly respect") is illustrated by a person carrying a Persian vase across
the room -- which will always be in a "devout" (respectful) fashion!...
4434. ptochos -- (of one who crouches and cowers, hence) beggarly...
... Spelling: (pto-khos') Short Definition: poor, destitute Definition: poor, destitute,
spiritually poor, either in a good sense (humbledevout persons) or bad....
2153. eusebos -- piously
... Cognate: 2153 (from 2152 , "inward piety") -- venerably, inwardly pious (devout).
Word Origin adverb from eusebes Definition piously NASB Word Usage godly (2)....
1174. deisidaimonesteros -- very fearful of gods, religious...
... of deisidaimon (fearing the gods); from deido (to fear) and daimon Definition very
fearful of gods, religious, superstitious.devout, religious, superstitious....
Strong's Hebrew
2617a. chesed -- goodness, kindness... Word Origin from chasad Definition goodness, kindness NASB Word Usage deeds of devotion
(2), devotion (1),
devout (1), faithfulness (1), favor (2), good (1
...Library
To theDevout Reader.
... CERTAIN PATTERNS OFDEVOUT EXERCISES OF IMMEDIATE ACTS AND AFFECTIONS OF
THE WILL. TO THEDEVOUT READER.Devout Reader, According...
To theDevout Reader.
... THE PRACTICE OF PIETY. TO THEDEVOUT READER. I had not purposed to enlarge
the last Edition, save that the importunity of many devoutly...
The IdealDevout Life
... HABAKKUK THE IDEALDEVOUT LIFE. 'The Lord God is my Strength, and He will
make my feet like hinds' feet, and He will make me to walk...
The Blessedness of theDevout.
... SOCIAL AND DOMESTIC WORSHIP. 914. " The Blessedness of theDevout. 914.
CM Milton. The Blessedness of theDevout. 1 How lovely...
Hezekiah, a Pattern ofDevout Life
... THE SECOND BOOK OF KINGS HEZEKIAH, A PATTERN OFDEVOUT LIFE....Devout people
in all ages and stations are very much like each other....
The Course and Crown of aDevout Life
... GENESIS THE COURSE AND CROWN OF ADEVOUT LIFE. 'And Enoch walked with God;
and he was not, for God took him.' GENESIS v.24. This...
The Trials and visions ofDevout Youth
... GENESIS THE TRIALS AND VISIONS OFDEVOUT YOUTH. 'And Jacob dwelt in the land
wherein his father was a stranger, in the land of Canaan....
ADevout Exhortation to the Holy Communion the Voice of Christ
... THE FOURTH BOOK. OF THE SACRAMENT OF THE ALTAR Adevout exhortation to
the Holy Communion The Voice of Christ. Come unto Me, all...
The Fourteenth Chapter: the Ardent Longing ofDevout Men for the...
... BOOK FOUR. AN INVITATION TO HOLY COMMUNION The Fourteenth Chapter: The Ardent
Longing ofDevout Men for the Body of Christ. The Disciple...
That theDevout Soul Ought with the Whole Heart to Yearn after...
... THE FOURTH BOOK. OF THE SACRAMENT OF THE ALTAR CHAPTER XIII That thedevout soul
ought with the whole heart to yearn after union with Christ in the Sacrament....
Thesaurus
Devout (13 Occurrences)... 2. (vt) Expressing devotion or piety; as, eyes
devout; sighs
devout; a
devout posture. 3. (vt) Warmly devoted; hearty; sincere; earnest
...Cornelius (10 Occurrences)
... A centurion whose history is narrated in Acts 10. He was a "devout man," and
like the centurion of Capernaum, believed in the God of Israel....
Devoutly (1 Occurrence)
... Noah Webster's Dictionary 1. (adv.) In adevout and reverent manner; withdevout
emotions; piously. 2. (adv.) Sincerely; solemnly; earnestly....
Prayer (406 Occurrences)
... an institution. But ages before that, stated hours of prayer were known
and religiously observed by alldevout Jews. It evidently...
Urged (44 Occurrences)
... Acts 13:43 Now when the synagogue broke up, many of the Jews and of thedevout
proselytes followed Paul and Barnabas; who, speaking to them, urged them to...
Prominent (13 Occurrences)
... Acts 13:50 But the Jews stirred up thedevout and prominent women and the chief
men of the city, and stirred up a persecution against Paul and Barnabas, and...
Thessalonians (6 Occurrences)
... This is a fact of great interest in view of the contention that the Jesus of the
four Gospels is a product of the legend-making propensity ofdevout souls in...
Proselyte (2 Occurrences)
... The "proselytes of righteousness", religious ordevout proselytes (Acts 13:43),
were bound to all the doctrines and precepts of the Jewish economy, and were...
Immaculate
... From the viewpoint of thedevout Roman Catholic, and for the sake of the prestige
of the papacy, this particular dogma seems to have been unfortunately chosen....
Golden (86 Occurrences)
... also the bull was a sacred animal, as well as in northern Syria where it ranked
as one of the chief Hittite deities its images receivingdevout worship (see...
Resources
What does it mean to be devout? | GotQuestions.orgHow to get to heaven - what are the ideas from the different religions? | GotQuestions.orgWho was Cornelius in the Bible? | GotQuestions.orgDevout: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.comBible Concordance •
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