Topical Encyclopedia
In the Bible, the term "infant" refers to a very young child, typically one who is still in the early stages of life. Infants are often mentioned in Scripture in the context of family, community, and the covenant relationship between God and His people. The Bible provides various insights into the significance and treatment of infants, reflecting the value placed on human life from its earliest stages.
Biblical References and Context1.
Creation and Value of Life: The Bible affirms the sanctity of life from conception.
Psalm 139:13-16 speaks of God's intimate involvement in the formation of a person in the womb: "For You formed my inmost being; You knit me together in my mother’s womb. I praise You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made" . This passage highlights the belief that life is sacred and divinely ordained from the very beginning.
2.
Infants in the Old Testament: Infants are often mentioned in the context of family lineage and God's promises. In
Genesis 21:1-7, the birth of Isaac to Abraham and Sarah in their old age is a fulfillment of God's promise, demonstrating His faithfulness and the importance of offspring in the continuation of God's covenant.
3.
Protection and Care: The Mosaic Law includes provisions for the protection and care of infants. For example,
Exodus 22:22-24 warns against mistreating widows and orphans, implicitly including infants in the call for justice and compassion. The care for the vulnerable, including infants, is a recurring theme in the Old Testament.
4.
Infants in the New Testament: The New Testament continues to emphasize the value of infants. In the Gospels, Jesus' own infancy is recorded, highlighting His humanity and the fulfillment of prophecy.
Luke 2:16-20 describes the shepherds visiting the newborn Jesus, underscoring the significance of His birth.
5.
Jesus and Children: Jesus' attitude towards children, including infants, is one of welcome and blessing. In
Mark 10:13-16, Jesus rebukes His disciples for hindering children from coming to Him, saying, "Let the little children come to Me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these" . This passage illustrates the value Jesus places on children and their place in the kingdom of God.
6.
Spiritual Symbolism: Infants are sometimes used symbolically in Scripture to represent purity, innocence, and the need for spiritual rebirth. In
1 Peter 2:2, believers are encouraged to "crave pure spiritual milk, so that by it you may grow up in your salvation" , drawing a parallel between physical and spiritual nourishment.
Theological ImplicationsThe biblical portrayal of infants underscores several key theological themes. First, it affirms the inherent dignity and worth of every human life, created in the image of God. Second, it highlights the importance of family and community in nurturing and protecting the young. Third, it reflects the broader biblical narrative of God's covenant faithfulness, as seen in the birth and preservation of key figures in salvation history.
Infants, therefore, are not only a symbol of new life and hope but also a reminder of God's ongoing work in the world through successive generations. The care and protection of infants are seen as a moral and spiritual responsibility, reflecting the character of God as a loving and compassionate Father.
Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary
1. (
n.) A child in the first period of life, beginning at his birth; a young babe; sometimes, a child several years of age.
2. (n.) A person who is not of full age, or who has not attained the age of legal capacity; a person under the age of twenty-one years; a minor.
3. (n.) Same as Infante.
4. (a.) of or pertaining to infancy, or the first period of life; tender; not mature; as, infant strength.
5. (a.) Intended for young children; as, an infant school.
6. (v. t.) To bear or bring forth, as a child; hence, to produce, in general.
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia
BAPTISM, INFANTSeeBAPTISM (I), II; (II), III, 3, v; (III), III, 3.
INFANT, BAPTISM
in'-fant.
SeeBAPTISM.
Greek
3516. nepios -- aninfant, fig. a simple-minded or immature person... 3515, 3516. nepios. 3517 . an
infant, fig. a simple-minded
... an
infant, child.
Word Origin of uncertain origin Definition an
infant, fig.
...3515. nepiazo -- to be aninfant
... to be aninfant. Part of Speech: Verb Transliteration: nepiazo Phonetic Spelling:
(nay-pee-ad'-zo) Short Definition: I am childish, infantile Definition: I am...
1025. brephos -- an unborn or a newborn child
... an unborn or a newborn child. Part of Speech: Noun, Neuter Transliteration: brephos
Phonetic Spelling: (bref'-os) Short Definition:infant, babe Definition...
3813. paidion -- a young child
... young child. Part of Speech: Noun, Neuter Transliteration: paidion Phonetic Spelling:
(pahee-dee'-on) Short Definition: a little child, aninfant Definition: a...
4683. sparganoo -- to wrap in swaddling clothes
... From sparganon (a strip; from a derivative of the base of sparasso meaning to strap
or wrap with strips); to swathe (aninfant after the Oriental custom...
5040. teknion -- a little child
... little child. Diminutive of teknon; aninfant, ie (plural figuratively) darlings
(Christian converts) -- little children. see GREEK teknon....
2012. epitropos -- an administrator (one having authority)
... ep-it'-rop-os) Short Definition: a steward, guardian Definition: (a) (procurator)
a steward, (b) (tutor) a guardian (appointed for aninfant [under 14 perhaps...
451. Hanna -- Anna, a prophetess
... Speech: Noun, Feminine Transliteration: Hanna Phonetic Spelling: (an'-nah) Short
Definition: Anna Definition: Anna, a prophetess, who visited theinfant Jesus....
Strong's Hebrew
5764. ul -- a sucking child, suckling... 5763, 5764. ul. 5765 . a sucking child, suckling. Transliteration: ul Phonetic
Spelling: (ool) Short Definition:
infant.
... sucking child,
infant.
...5768. olel -- a child
... babe, young child,infant, little one. Or lolal {o-lawl'}; from uwl; a suckling --
babe, (young) child,infant, little one. see HEBREW uwl. 5767b, 5768....
3243. yanaq -- to suck
... root Definition to suck NASB Word Usage draw (1),infant (3), infants (2), milking
(1), nurse (11), nursed (3), nurses (1), nursing (1), nursing babes (1...
Library
The Angel and theInfant
... THE ANGEL AND THEINFANT. THE ANGEL AND THEINFANT 8,6,8,6. [23]Unbekanntes....
Smiling, a bright-eyed seraph bent. Over aninfant's dream;...
Infant Salvation
...Infant Salvation. A Sermon (No.411). Delivered on Sunday Morning, September 29th,
1861 by the. Rev. CH SPURGEON,. At the Metropolitan Tabernacle, Newington....
For anInfant School.
... ORIGINAL HYMNS HYMN CCCXLII. For anInfant School. 8.8.8.8 James Montgomery. For
anInfant School. "Eli perceived that the Lord had called the child.""I. Sam....
Infant Baptism.
... RELIGIOUS EXULTATION. 670. "Infant Baptism. 670. 7s. M. Bowring.Infant
Baptism. 1 Drop the limpid waters now On theinfant's...
Death of anInfant.
... MOURNING AND CONSOLATION. 582. " Death of anInfant. 582. LM Epis. Coll.
Death of anInfant. 1 As the sweet flower that scents...
Infant Baptism.
... SERMON XVI.Infant Baptism. "Except... sin. Who does not see that this reason
is equally cogent forinfant Baptism as for Baptism at all?...
Dirge for anInfant.
... MOURNING AND CONSOLATION. 587. " Dirge for anInfant. 587. 7s. M. Anonymous. Dirge
for anInfant. 1 Lay her gently in the dust; Grievous task, but oh!...
An Empty Book is Like anInfant's Soul
... THE FIRST CENTURY 1 An empty book is like aninfant's soul. An empty book
is like aninfant's soul, in which anything may be written....
Christ the Saviour Even of Infants; Christ, when anInfant, was...
... Book II. Chapter 48."Christ the Saviour Even of Infants; Christ, When
anInfant, Was Free from Ignorance and Mental Weakness....
Argument: the Story About Christians Drinking the Blood of an...
... Chapter XXX."Argument: The Story About Christians Drinking the Blood of
anInfant that They Have Murdered, is a Barefaced Calumny....
Thesaurus
Infant (14 Occurrences)... 3. (n.) Same as Infante. 4. (a.) of or pertaining to infancy, or the first period
of life; tender; not mature; as,
infant strength.
... BAPTISM,
INFANT.
...Infant's (1 Occurrence)
... Multi-Version ConcordanceInfant's (1 Occurrence). Lamentations 4:4 Cleaved
hath the tongue of a suckling unto his palate with thirst...
Infanticide
... Noah Webster's Dictionary 1. (n.) The murder of aninfant born alive; the murder
or killing of a newly born or young child; child murder....
Baby (23 Occurrences)
... Noah Webster's Dictionary 1. (n.) Aninfant or young child of either sex;
a babe. 2. (n.) A small image of aninfant; a doll. 3. (a...
Babe (15 Occurrences)
... 1. (n.) Aninfant; a young child of either sex; a baby.... Nepios is also used of a
child as a minor orinfant in the eye of the law (Galatians 4:1, 3). T. Rees....
Nurse (23 Occurrences)
... nourishes; a person who supplies food, tends, or brings up; as: (a) A woman who
has the care of young children; especially, one who suckles aninfant not her...
Nursing (14 Occurrences)
... 1. (p. pr. & vb. n.) of Nurse. 2. (a.) Supplying or taking nourishment from, or
as from, the breast; as, a nursing mother; a nursinginfant. Int....
Baptist (16 Occurrences)
... 2. (n.) One of a denomination of Christians who deny the validity ofinfant baptism
and of sprinkling, and maintain that baptism should be administered to...
Infancy (2 Occurrences)
... Noah Webster's Dictionary 1. (n.) The state or period of being aninfant;
the first part of life; early childhood. 2. (n.) The first...
Midwife (4 Occurrences)
... The duties which they had to perform are enumerated in Ezekiel 16:4: division of
the cord, washing theinfant in water, salting with salt and swathing in...
Resources
What does the Bible say about infant baptism / paedobaptism? | GotQuestions.orgIs christening in the Bible? | GotQuestions.orgDoes the Bible teach believer's baptism/credobaptism? | GotQuestions.orgInfant: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.comBible Concordance •
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