Topical Encyclopedia
Definition and Meaning:The term "diligent" refers to a steady, earnest, and energetic effort in pursuing a task or goal. In the biblical context, diligence is often associated with faithfulness, hard work, and perseverance in spiritual and practical matters. It is a virtue that is highly esteemed and encouraged throughout Scripture.
Biblical References:1.
Proverbs 10:4 · "Idle hands make one poor, but diligent hands bring wealth."
This proverb highlights the contrast between laziness and diligence, emphasizing that diligent work leads to prosperity and success. The Bible often associates diligence with material and spiritual blessings.
2.
Proverbs 12:24 · "The hand of the diligent will rule, but laziness ends in forced labor."
Here, diligence is linked to leadership and authority. Those who are diligent in their work are more likely to rise to positions of influence and responsibility, while laziness results in subjugation and hardship.
3.
Proverbs 13:4 · "The soul of the sluggard craves and gets nothing, but the soul of the diligent is fully satisfied."
This verse contrasts the unfulfilled desires of the lazy with the satisfaction and fulfillment that come from diligent effort. Diligence is portrayed as a path to contentment and fulfillment.
4.
Proverbs 21:5 · "The plans of the diligent bring plenty, as surely as haste leads to poverty."
Diligence is associated with careful planning and thoughtful execution, leading to abundance and success. In contrast, rash and hasty actions often result in lack and poverty.
5.
Hebrews 6:11-12 · "We want each of you to show this same diligence to the very end, so that your hope may be fully assured. Then you will not be sluggish, but will imitate those who through faith and patience inherit what has been promised."
In the New Testament, diligence is connected to spiritual perseverance and the assurance of hope. Believers are encouraged to remain diligent in their faith to inherit God's promises.
6.
2 Peter 1:5-7 · "For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith virtue; and to virtue, knowledge; and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; and to godliness, brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness, love."
The apostle Peter exhorts believers to be diligent in cultivating Christian virtues. Diligence in spiritual growth is essential for a fruitful and effective Christian life.
Theological Significance:Diligence is a key aspect of Christian discipleship and stewardship. It reflects a commitment to God’s calling and a willingness to work hard in all areas of life, whether spiritual, vocational, or relational. The diligent person is one who seeks to honor God through faithful service and responsible living.
In the biblical narrative, diligence is often rewarded by God, both in this life and in the life to come. It is seen as a reflection of God's own nature, as He is depicted as a diligent worker in creation and redemption. Believers are called to emulate this divine diligence in their own lives, striving to fulfill their God-given purposes with zeal and dedication.
Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary
1. (
a.) Prosecuted with careful attention and effort; careful; painstaking; not careless or negligent.
2. (a.) Interestedly and perseveringly attentive; steady and earnest in application to a subject or pursuit; assiduous; industrious.
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia
DILIGENCE; DILIGENT; DILIGENTLYdil'-i-jens, dil'-i-jent-li: This word is used in various senses in our English Bibles.
1. In the Old Testament:
InEzra 5:8, "with diligence" means "with care"; inEzra 6:12;Ezra 7:17, "with speed," "speedily"; inProverbs 4:23 "watchfulness"; inDeuteronomy 4:9;Deuteronomy 6:17;Deuteronomy 19:18Psalm 77:6Proverbs 27:23Isaiah 55:2Micah 7:3, "with care," "scrupulously," "earnestly." Sometimes it means "early" "with haste" (Job 8:5Proverbs 8:17). It may mean "industrious," "exacting" (Proverbs 10:4;Proverbs 12:27;Proverbs 22:29).
2. In the New Testament:
The American revisers have rendered "diligence" for various words in the King James Version, e.g. for "business" inRomans 12:11; "giving diligence" for "endeavoring" (Ephesians 4:3); "give diligence" for "study" (2 Timothy 2:15,), for "labor" (Hebrews 4:11); "diligently" for "carefully" (Philippians 2:28Hebrews 12:17); "be diligent in" for "meditate upon" (1 Timothy 4:15). It is well also to remember that the Old English meaning of diligence is "with love," from diligo, "to love."
G. H. Geberding
Greek
4705. spoudaios -- hasty, eager,diligent... hasty, eager,
diligent. Part of Speech: Adjective Transliteration: spoudaios Phonetic
Spelling: (spoo-dah'-yos) Short Definition:
diligent, earnest Definition
...4707. spoudaioteros -- morediligent
... spoudaioteros. 4708 . morediligent. Transliteration: spoudaioteros Phonetic Spelling:
(spoo-dah-yot'-er-os) Short Definition:diligent.... morediligent...
4704. spoudazo -- to make haste, hence to give diligence
... Word Origin from spoude Definition to make haste, hence to give diligence NASB Word
Usagediligent (6), eager (2), make every effort (3). be eager, hasten....
4342. proskartereo -- to attend constantly
... From pros and kartereo; to be earnest towards, ie (to a thing) to persevere, be
constantlydiligent, or (in a place) to attend assiduously all the exercises...
3191. meletao -- to care for, practice, study
... study, ponder. Cognate: 3191 -- properly, to care for, attend to; hence be
diligent, especially to ponder (study). See 3199 (). Word...
3907. parateresis -- observation
... watching. Cognate: 3907 -- close,diligent watching as to (control). 3907
("watching like a guard") is only used in Lk 17:20. Word...
2145. euprosedros -- attend to
... attend to From eu and the same as prosedreuo; sitting well towards, ie (figuratively)
assiduous (neuter,diligent service) -- X attend upon. see GREEK eu....
Strong's Hebrew
2742a. charuts -- sharp,diligent... 2742, 2742a. charuts. 2742b . sharp,
diligent. Transliteration: charuts
Short Definition:
diligent. Word Origin pass. part. of charats
...2742. charuwts -- sharp,diligent
... 2741, 2742. charuwts. 2742a . sharp,diligent. Transliteration: charuwts
Phonetic Spelling: (khaw-roots') Short Definition: decision....
2664. chaphas -- to search
... change, makediligent search, disguise self, hide, search for, out. A primitive
root; to seek; causatively, to conceal oneself (ie...
4106. mahir -- quick, prompt, ready, skilled
...diligent, hasty, ready. Or mahir {maw-here'}; from mahar; quick; hence, skilful --
diligent, hasty, ready. see HEBREW mahar. 4105, 4106. mahir or mahir. 4107...
3045. yada -- to know
... advise, answer, appoint, assuredly, be aware, (un-)awares, can(-not), certainly,
comprehend, consider, X could they, cunning, declare, bediligent, (can, cause...
3966. meod -- muchness, force, abundance
... word Definition muchness, force, abundance NASB Word Usage abundantly (1), all
(1), almost (1), badly (3), carefully (1), closely (1),diligent (1), diligently...
3190. yatab -- to be good, well, glad, or pleasing
... happy, successful, right) -- be accepted, amend, use aright, benefit, be (make)
better, seem best, make cheerful, be comely, + be content,diligent(-ly), dress...
Library
BeDiligent
... II. PETER BEDILIGENT.... Now these three"a bright hope, a sovereign purpose, and a
diligent earnestness"are the three conditions of all noble life....
I Would, However, Proceed to a More Searching andDiligent...
... Section 5. I would, however, proceed to a more searching anddiligent
consideration and handling of? 5. I would, however, proceed...
That Without the Grace of God we Cannot Make anyDiligent Efforts.
... The Conferences of John Cassian. Chapter VI. That without the grace of God
we cannot make anydiligent efforts. And therefore though...
A Third Passage with which He Finds Fault is that in which I Gave...
... and whose opinions I was translating into the Latin tongue. But, I said, thediligent
reader will at once search into these things and form his own opinion....
Diligence.
... the witness comprehends. Let me ask you, Are you asdiligent in every respect
as the Bible commands you to be? Diligence implies...
The Twenty-Fifth Chapter: Zeal in Amending Our Lives
... BE WATCHFUL anddiligent in God's service and often think of why you left the world
and came here.... A fervent anddiligent man is ready for all things....
Of Sloth
... Most solicitous anddiligent ought a man to be in acquiring and preserving virtue
and the grace of God by constant faithful co-operation with the grace...
Demonstration x. --Of Pastors.
... went in front of his people that he was leading, and tended them for forty years;
and he was vigilant and toiled on behalf of his sheep, adiligent and good...
Sanctification.
... He supposes the condition of attaining this state or the way to attain it, is by
adiligent use of the means of grace, and that the saints are sanctified just...
Of the Zealous Amendment of Our Whole Life
... Be thou watchful anddiligent in God's service, and bethink thee often why thou
hast renounced the world.... A zealous anddiligent man is ready for all things....
Thesaurus
Diligent (33 Occurrences)... industrious. Int. Standard Bible Encyclopedia. DILIGENCE;
DILIGENT; DILIGENTLY.
dil
... Geberding. Multi-Version Concordance
Diligent (33 Occurrences). Romans
...Slothful (22 Occurrences)
... (YLT). Proverbs 10:4 Poor 'is' he who is working -- a slothful hand, And the hand
of thediligent maketh rich.... And the soul of thediligent is made fat. (YLT)....
Diligence (31 Occurrences)
... DILIGENCE;DILIGENT; DILIGENTLY.... Proverbs 12:27 The slothful man shall not hunt his
prey; but the precious substance of men is to bediligent. (See NAS)....
Diligently (85 Occurrences)
... Noah Webster's Dictionary (adv.) In adiligent manner; not carelessly; not negligently;
with industry or assiduity. Int.... DILIGENCE;DILIGENT; DILIGENTLY....
Zealous (40 Occurrences)
... is good? (WEY ASV NAS RSV). 2 Peter 1:10 Therefore, brothers, be morediligent
to make your calling and election sure. For if you...
Zeal (45 Occurrences)
... then, if also I wrote to you, it was not for the sake of him that injured, nor for
the sake of him that was injured, but for the sake of ourdiligent zeal for...
Oftentimes (7 Occurrences)
... 2 Corinthians 8:22 And we have sent with them our brother, whom we have oftentimes
proveddiligent in many things, but now much morediligent, upon the great...
Winter (22 Occurrences)
... wherever I go. (WEB KJV WEY ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV). 2 Timothy
4:21 Bediligent to come before winter. Eubulus salutes you...
Inquisition (5 Occurrences)
... out," "to strive after," "inquire" (Esther 2:23)): The term refers, as indicated
by these passages, first of all to a careful anddiligent inquiry necessary to...
Effort (16 Occurrences)
... (WEY NAS). Titus 3:12 When I send Artemas to you, or Tychicus, bediligent to come
to me to Nicopolis, for I have determined to winter there. (See NAS)....
Resources
What does the Bible say about diligence? | GotQuestions.orgWhat is good biblical exegesis? | GotQuestions.orgWhy did God give us four Gospels? | GotQuestions.orgDiligent: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.comBible Concordance •
Bible Dictionary •
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