Topical Encyclopedia
Hungering, in the biblical context, refers to both the physical sensation of needing food and a deeper spiritual longing for righteousness and communion with God. The concept of hunger is used throughout Scripture to illustrate human dependence on God and the spiritual nourishment that only He can provide.
Physical HungerPhysical hunger is a common experience depicted in the Bible, often highlighting human vulnerability and the need for God's provision. In the Old Testament, the Israelites experienced hunger during their wilderness journey, leading them to rely on God's miraculous provision of manna (
Exodus 16:3-4). This event underscores God's faithfulness and the importance of trusting in His provision.
In the New Testament, Jesus addresses physical hunger in His ministry. The feeding of the five thousand (
Matthew 14:13-21) and the four thousand (
Matthew 15:32-39) are significant miracles where Jesus provides for the physical needs of the people, demonstrating His compassion and divine authority.
Spiritual HungerBeyond physical needs, the Bible emphasizes a deeper spiritual hunger. This hunger is a longing for righteousness, truth, and a relationship with God. In the Beatitudes, Jesus declares, "Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled" (
Matthew 5:6). This statement highlights the promise of spiritual fulfillment for those who earnestly seek God's will and righteousness.
The Psalms often express a deep spiritual longing for God.
Psalm 42:1-2 vividly portrays this desire: "As the deer pants for streams of water, so my soul longs after You, O God. My soul thirsts for God, the living God." This imagery reflects the intense yearning for God's presence and the satisfaction found only in Him.
Jesus as the Bread of LifeJesus Christ is central to the theme of spiritual hunger. In
John 6:35 , Jesus declares, "I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to Me will never hunger, and whoever believes in Me will never thirst." This profound statement reveals that Jesus Himself is the ultimate source of spiritual nourishment and fulfillment. By coming to Him in faith, believers find their deepest spiritual needs met.
Dependence on GodHungering serves as a reminder of human dependence on God for both physical sustenance and spiritual fulfillment. In the Lord's Prayer, Jesus teaches His disciples to pray, "Give us this day our daily bread" (
Matthew 6:11), emphasizing the need to rely on God for daily provision.
The experience of hunger, both physical and spiritual, is a call to seek God earnestly. It is an invitation to trust in His provision and to find satisfaction in His presence. Through Christ, believers are assured that their spiritual hunger will be satisfied, as they are drawn into a deeper relationship with God.
Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary
(
p. pr. & vb. n.) of Hunger.
Greek
4361. prospeinos -- hungry... very hungry. From pros and the same as peinao;
hungering further, ie Intensely
hungry -- very hungry. see GREEK pros. see GREEK peinao.
...Library
The Bliss of the Glorified
... also innocent. There are many men that in this world arehungering after
wealth, and the mouth of avarice can never be filled. It...
Their Calumny About the Fulfilment of Precepts in the Life to Come...
... only from the divine perception, but also from the human perception, as to say that
in man there can be such righteousness while he ishungering and thirsting...
Entire Sanctification a Necessity.
... They arehungering for full salvation, and rejoice to hear the message of entire
sanctification through the baptism with the Holy Ghost and fire....
The Divine Hunger and Thirst
... It speaks of man as a creature who is, or rather ought to be, alwayshungering and
thirsting after something better than he has, as it is written: 'Blessed are...
Chapter iv.
... Fortitude corresponds to thosehungering and thirsting: for they labour in earnestly
desiring joy from things that are truly good, and in eagerly seeking to...
Do You Know Yourself?
... But the man who does not know himself, who does not stop to consider and analyze,
feels an unrest, a yearning, ahungering within his soul, and knows not why...
Psalm LVIII.
... another man hath bread, and there is abundance with him beyond sufficiency, he knoweth
thee to want, he giveth not: it displeaseth thee whenhungering, let it...
But to Speak a Word or Two of the Fire...
... incomprehensible light, which no creature can enter into, is that which gave birth
to all nature, and from whence all nature hath itshungering, and state of...
The Nature of Spiritual Hunger
... In this blessed righteousness we shine brighter than the angels. This righteousness
is worthhungering after.... It is buthungering and thirsting....
God's Family.
... dissatisfied with itself, comes this word, at once rousing and consoling, from the
Power that lives and makes him live"that in hishungering and thirsting he...
Thesaurus
Thirsting (7 Occurrences)... Multi-Version Concordance Thirsting (7 Occurrences). Matthew 5:6 Happy those
hungering and thirsting for righteousness -- because they shall be filled. (YLT).
...Hungering (4 Occurrences)
... Multi-Version ConcordanceHungering (4 Occurrences). Matthew 5:6 Happy thosehungering
and thirsting for righteousness -- because they shall be filled. (YLT)....
Nourished (29 Occurrences)
... Matthew 25:37 Then shall the righteous answer him saying, Lord, when saw we thee
hungering, and nourished thee; or thirsting, and gave thee to drink? (DBY YLT)....
Infirm (25 Occurrences)
... Matthew 25:44 Then shall they answer, they also, saying, Lord, when did we see thee
hungering, or thirsting, or a stranger, or naked, or infirm, or in prison...
Themselves (911 Occurrences)
... Matthew 25:44 Then shall they answer, they also, saying, Lord, when did we see thee
hungering, or thirsting, or a stranger, or naked, or infirm, or in prison...
Ministered (53 Occurrences)
... Matthew 25:44 Then shall they also answer saying, Lord, when saw we theehungering,
or thirsting, or a stranger, or naked, or ill, or in prison, and have not...
Hungred (9 Occurrences)
Hungereth (2 Occurrences)
Hunger (52 Occurrences)
... Metaphorically the passionate striving for moral and spiritual rectitude is called
hungering and thirsting after righteousness (Matthew 5:6); and the...
Resources
What does the Bible say about sharing? | GotQuestions.orgHungering: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.comBible Concordance •
Bible Dictionary •
Bible Encyclopedia •
Topical Bible •
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