Topical Encyclopedia
The term "divine" in the context of the Bible refers to that which pertains to God, His nature, and His actions. It encompasses the attributes, essence, and works of God as revealed in Scripture. The divine nature is characterized by holiness, omnipotence, omniscience, omnipresence, and love, among other attributes. The Bible provides numerous insights into the divine nature and its implications for humanity.
Divine Nature and AttributesThe divine nature is fundamentally different from human nature, being perfect and infinite. In
2 Peter 1:3-4 , it is written, "His divine power has given us everything we need for life and godliness through the knowledge of Him who called us by His own glory and excellence. Through these He has given us His precious and magnificent promises, so that through them you may become partakers of the divine nature, now that you have escaped the corruption in the world caused by evil desires." This passage highlights the transformative power of the divine nature, which believers are invited to partake in through faith and the promises of God.
Divine HolinessHoliness is a central attribute of the divine nature. God is described as holy, set apart, and pure. In
Isaiah 6:3 , the seraphim proclaim, "Holy, holy, holy is the LORD of Hosts; His glory fills the whole earth." This thrice-repeated declaration emphasizes the absolute holiness of God, which is foundational to His character and actions.
Divine OmnipotenceGod's omnipotence is another key aspect of His divine nature. He is all-powerful and sovereign over creation. In
Jeremiah 32:17 , the prophet declares, "Ah, Lord GOD! You have made the heavens and the earth by Your great power and outstretched arm. Nothing is too difficult for You." This verse underscores God's ability to accomplish His will without limitation.
Divine OmniscienceThe divine attribute of omniscience refers to God's complete and perfect knowledge.
Psalm 147:5 states, "Great is our Lord and mighty in power; His understanding has no limit." God's omniscience assures believers that He is fully aware of all things, past, present, and future.
Divine OmnipresenceGod's omnipresence means that He is present everywhere at all times. In
Psalm 139:7-10 , David reflects on this truth: "Where can I go to escape Your Spirit? Where can I flee from Your presence? If I ascend to the heavens, You are there; if I make my bed in Sheol, You are there. If I rise on the wings of the dawn, if I settle by the farthest sea, even there Your hand will guide me; Your right hand will hold me fast." This passage reassures believers of God's constant presence and guidance.
Divine LoveDivine love is a defining characteristic of God's relationship with humanity.
John 3:16 famously declares, "For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that everyone who believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life." This verse encapsulates the sacrificial and redemptive nature of God's love, which is central to the Christian faith.
Divine RevelationGod's divine nature is revealed through Scripture, creation, and ultimately through Jesus Christ.
Hebrews 1:1-2 states, "On many past occasions and in many different ways, God spoke to our fathers through the prophets. But in these last days, He has spoken to us by His Son, whom He appointed heir of all things, and through whom He made the universe." Jesus is the ultimate revelation of the divine, embodying God's nature and will.
Divine Judgment and MercyThe divine nature encompasses both judgment and mercy. God's holiness and justice necessitate judgment against sin, while His love and mercy offer forgiveness and redemption.
Romans 11:22 advises, "Consider therefore the kindness and severity of God: severity to those who fell, but kindness to you, provided that you continue in His kindness. Otherwise, you also will be cut off." This balance of judgment and mercy is integral to understanding the divine character.
In summary, the concept of the divine in the Bible encompasses the attributes and actions of God, as well as His relationship with creation and humanity. Through His divine nature, God reveals His holiness, power, knowledge, presence, love, and justice, inviting believers to partake in His divine nature and live in accordance with His will.
Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary
1. (
a.) Of or belonging to God; as, divine perfections; the divine will.
2. (a.) Proceeding from God; as, divine judgments.
3. (a.) Appropriated to God, or celebrating his praise; religious; pious; holy; as, divine service; divine songs; divine worship.
4. (a.) Pertaining to, or proceeding from, a deity; partaking of the nature of a god or the gods.
5. (a.) Godlike; heavenly; excellent in the highest degree; supremely admirable; apparently above what is human. In this application, the word admits of comparison; as, the divinest mind. Sir J. Davies.
6. (a.) Presageful; foreboding; prescient.
7. (a.) Relating to divinity or theology.
8. (a.) One skilled in divinity; a theologian.
9. (n.) A minister of the gospel; a priest; a clergyman.
10. (v. t.) To foresee or foreknow; to detect; to anticipate; to conjecture.
11. (v. t.) To foretell; to predict; to presage.
12. (v. t.) To render divine; to deify.
13. (v. i.) To use or practice divination; to foretell by divination; to utter prognostications.
14. (v. i.) To have or feel a presage or foreboding.
15. (v. i.) To conjecture or guess; as, to divine rightly.
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia
DIVINE; DIVINERdi-vin, di-vin'-er. SeeAUGURY;ASTROLOGY; DIVINATION.
DIVINE NAMES
SeeGOD, NAMES OF.
DIVINE VISITATION
SeePUNISHMENTS
Greek
2304. theios --divine...divine. Part of Speech: Adjective Transliteration: theios Phonetic Spelling:
(thi'-os) Short Definition:
divine Definition:
divine; subst: the Deity.
...5538. chrematismos -- adivine response, an oracle
... adivine response, an oracle. Part of Speech: Noun, Masculine Transliteration:
chrematismos Phonetic Spelling: (khray-mat-is-mos') Short Definition: an oracle...
2305. theiotes -- divinity,divine nature
... divinity,divine nature. Part of Speech: Noun, Feminine Transliteration: theiotes
Phonetic Spelling: (thi-ot'-ace) Short Definition: divinity Definition...
1589. ekloge -- a (divine) selection
... a (divine) selection. Part of Speech: Noun, Feminine Transliteration: ekloge Phonetic
Spelling: (ek-log-ay') Short Definition: a choosing out, selecting, choice...
3132. manteuomai -- todivine
... todivine. Part of Speech: Verb Transliteration: manteuomai Phonetic Spelling:
(mant-yoo'-om-ahee) Short Definition: I practice soothsaying Definition: Idivine...
4396. prophetes -- a prophet (an interpreter or forth-teller of...
... a prophet (an interpreter or forth-teller of thedivine will). Part of Speech: Noun,
Masculine Transliteration: prophetes Phonetic Spelling: (prof-ay'-tace...
2920. krisis -- a decision, judgment
... a decision, judgment. Part of Speech: Noun, Feminine Transliteration: krisis Phonetic
Spelling: (kree'-sis) Short Definition: judging,divine judgment Definition...
1343. dikaiosune -- righteousness, justice
... always in a Jewish atmosphere), justice, justness, righteousness, righteousness
of which God is the source or author, but practically: adivine righteousness....
2999. latreia -- service
... Word Origin from latreuo Definition service NASB Word Usagedivine worship (2),
service (2), service of worship (1).divine service, worship....
3056. logos -- a word (as embodying an idea), a statement, a...
... a speech. Part of Speech: Noun, Masculine Transliteration: logos Phonetic Spelling:
(log'-os) Short Definition: a word, speech,divine utterance, analogy...
Strong's Hebrew
7080. qasam -- to practice divination... Word Origin denominative verb from qesem Definition to practice divination NASB
Word Usage conjure (1), divination (2),
divine (2), diviner (2), diviners (7
...7081. qesem -- divination
... Word Origin from an unused word Definition divination NASB Word Usage divination
(10),divine decision (1). divination,divine sentence, witchcraft....
5172. nachash -- to practice divination, observe signs
... certainly,divine, enchanter, use enchantment, learn by experience, diligently
observe. A primitive root; properly, to hiss, ie Whisper...
430. elohim -- God, god
... of eloah Definition God, god NASB Word Usagedivine (1),divine being (1), exceedingly
(1), God (2326), god (45), God's (14), goddess (2), godly (1), gods (204...
6038. anavah -- humility
... gentleness, humility, meekness. From anav; condescension, human and subjective
(modesty), ordivine and objective (clemency) -- gentleness, humility, meekness....
5397. neshamah -- breath
... blast, that breaths, inspiration, soul, spirit. From nasham; a puff, ie
Wind, angry or vital breath,divine inspiration, intellect....
4687. mitsvah -- commandment
... From tsavah; a command, whether human ordivine (collectively, the Law) -- (which
was) commanded(-ment), law, ordinance, precept. see HEBREW tsavah....
5144. nazar -- to dedicate, consecrate
... A primitive root; to hold aloof, ie (intransitivey) abstain (from food and drink,
from impurity, and even fromdivine worship (ie Apostatize)); specifically...
113. adon -- lord
... lord, master, owner. Or (shortened) adon {aw-done'}; from an unused root (meaning
to rule); sovereign, ie Controller (human ordivine) -- lord, master, owner....
4941. mishpat -- judgment
... properly, a verdict (favorable or unfavorable) pronounced judicially, especially
a sentence or formal decree (human or (participant's)divine law, individual...
Library
Abandonment toDivine Providence
Abandonment toDivine Providence. <. Abandonment toDivine Providence
Jean-Pierre de Caussade. Table of Contents. Title Page. INTRODUCTION....
Thedivine institutes
Thedivine institutes. <. Thedivine institutes Lactantius. translated
by the rev. william fletcher, dd Table of Contents. Title Page....
The Way toDivine Knowledge
The Way toDivine Knowledge. <. The Way toDivine Knowledge William
Law. Table of Contents. Title Page. [Way-1-1] Humanus.?...
Divine and Moral Songs
Divine and Moral Songs. <.Divine and Moral Songs Isaac Watts. facsimile edition,
Morgan, PA: Soli Deo Gloria, 1988. Table of Contents. Title Page....
Divine Songs For Children
Divine Songs For Children. <.Divine Songs For Children Isaac Watts.
Produced by Lewis Jones Table of Contents. Title Page....
Revelations ofDivine Love
Revelations ofDivine Love. <. Revelations ofDivine Love Julian of Norwich.
Warrack, Grace (Translator) Table of Contents. Title Page....
TheDivine Inspiration of the Bible
TheDivine Inspiration of the Bible. <. TheDivine Inspiration of the Bible
Arthur W. Pink. Table of Contents. Title Page. Introduction....
Dionysis onDivine Names
Dionysis onDivine Names. <. Dionysis onDivine Names Dionysius. Table of
Contents. Title Page. PRINCIPAL WORKS ON DIONYSIUS THE AREOPAGITE....
A Theodicy, or, Vindication of theDivine Glory
A Theodicy, or, Vindication of theDivine Glory. <. A Theodicy, or, Vindication
of theDivine Glory Albert Taylor Bledsoe. Table of Contents....
ADivine Cordial
ADivine Cordial. <. ADivine Cordial Thomas Watson. Table of Contents.
Title Page. Extract from the preface. ADivine Cordial....
Thesaurus
Divine (39 Occurrences)... Noah Webster's Dictionary 1. (a.) Of or belonging to God; as,
divine perfections;
the
divine will. 2. (a.) Proceeding from God; as,
divine judgments.
...Kol
... a "sound," bath qol, while oil does not), sometimes also "echo." The expression
acquired among the rabbis a special use, signifying theDivine voice, audible...
Bath (13 Occurrences)
... a "sound," bath qol, while oil does not), sometimes also "echo." The expression
acquired among the rabbis a special use, signifying theDivine voice, audible...
Visitation (17 Occurrences)
... 5. (n.) Special dispensation; communication ofdivine favor and goodness, or, more
usually, ofdivine wrath and vengeance; retributive calamity; retribution...
Omniscience
... 2. Tacit Assumption and Explicit Affirmation: Scripture everywhere teaches
the absolute universality of thedivine knowledge. In...
Godhead (5 Occurrences)
... Noah Webster's Dictionary. 1. (n.) Godship; deity; divinity;divine nature or
essence; godhood. 2. (n.) The Deity; God; the Supreme Being....
Wrath (503 Occurrences)
... snorting mad (Genesis 27:45 Matthew 2:16). 1.Divine Wrath: Wrath is used with
reference to both God and man. When used of God it is to...
Spirituality
... word. It is purely a religious term and signifies the state of a soul
vitalized by theDivine Spirit and made alive unto God. It...
Selfsurrender
... 3. The Prophets: In thedivine call to the prophets and in their
life-work self-surrender is prominent. The seer, as such, must...
Self-surrender
... 3. The Prophets: In thedivine call to the prophets and in their
life-work self-surrender is prominent. The seer, as such, must...
Resources
What is the divine right of kings? | GotQuestions.orgWhat is divine simplicity? | GotQuestions.orgWhat is divine providence? | GotQuestions.orgDivine: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.comBible Concordance •
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