Topical Encyclopedia
The concept of "live" in the Bible encompasses both physical existence and spiritual vitality. It is a multifaceted term that appears throughout Scripture, reflecting God's design for human life, the quality of life He desires for His people, and the eternal life offered through Jesus Christ.
Physical LifeIn the creation narrative, God breathes life into Adam, the first man, signifying the divine origin of human life.
Genesis 2:7 states, "Then the LORD God formed the man from the dust of the ground and breathed the breath of life into his nostrils, and the man became a living being." This act of creation underscores the sanctity and value of life, a theme that permeates the biblical text.
The preservation of life is a recurring theme in the Old Testament. The Mosaic Law includes numerous commandments aimed at protecting and sustaining life, such as prohibitions against murder (
Exodus 20:13) and instructions for community health and safety (
Leviticus 19:16).
Spiritual LifeBeyond physical existence, the Bible emphasizes the importance of spiritual life. In
Deuteronomy 30:19-20 , Moses exhorts the Israelites, "I call heaven and earth as witnesses against you today that I have set before you life and death, blessing and curse. Therefore choose life, so that you and your descendants may live, and that you may love the LORD your God, obey His voice, and hold fast to Him." Here, "choosing life" involves a commitment to God and His commandments, which leads to spiritual flourishing.
The Psalms frequently express a longing for spiritual vitality.
Psalm 119:50 declares, "This is my comfort in affliction, that Your promise has given me life." The psalmist finds life in God's word, indicating that true life is rooted in a relationship with the Creator.
Eternal LifeThe New Testament reveals the fullness of life through Jesus Christ. In
John 10:10 , Jesus proclaims, "The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I have come that they may have life, and have it in all its fullness." This abundant life is not merely physical but encompasses a deep, spiritual dimension that begins now and extends into eternity.
Eternal life is a central promise of the Gospel.
John 3:16 affirms, "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 life is a gift from God, granted through faith in Jesus Christ, who conquered death through His resurrection.
The Apostle Paul elaborates on the transformative power of this new life in Christ. In
Romans 6:4 , he writes, "We were therefore buried with Him through baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may walk in newness of life." Believers are called to live in the reality of this new life, characterized by righteousness and holiness.
Living in ChristThe Christian life is marked by a continual process of growth and renewal.
Galatians 2:20 captures this dynamic: "I have been crucified with Christ, and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself up for me." This verse highlights the believer's union with Christ, which empowers them to live according to God's will.
The call to live a life worthy of the Gospel is echoed in
Philippians 1:21 , where Paul states, "For to me, to live is Christ, and to die is gain." This perspective prioritizes the eternal over the temporal, encouraging believers to focus on their heavenly citizenship.
ConclusionThe biblical understanding of "live" encompasses the entirety of human existence, from the physical breath given by God to the eternal life secured through Christ. It calls individuals to a life of obedience, faith, and spiritual vitality, rooted in a relationship with the Creator and sustained by His promises.
Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary
1. (
v. i.) To be alive; to have life; to have, as an animal or a plant, the capacity of assimilating matter as food, and to be dependent on such assimilation for a continuance of existence; as, animals and plants that live to a great age are long in reaching maturity.
2. (v. i.) To pass one's time; to pass life or time in a certain manner, as to habits, conduct, or circumstances; as, to live in ease or affluence; to live happily or usefully.
3. (v. i.) To make one's abiding place or home; to abide; to dwell; to reside.
4. (v. i.) To be or continue in existence; to exist; to remain; to be permanent; to last; -- said of inanimate objects, ideas, etc.
5. (v. i.) To enjoy or make the most of life; to be in a state of happiness.
6. (v. i.) To feed; to subsist; to be nourished or supported; -- with on; as, horses live on grass and grain.
7. (v. i.) To have a spiritual existence; to be quickened, nourished, and actuated by divine influence or faith.
8. (v. i.) To be maintained in life; to acquire a livelihood; to subsist; -- with on or by; as, to live on spoils.
9. (v. i.) To outlast danger; to float; -- said of a ship, boat, etc.; as, no ship could live in such a storm.
10. (v. t.) To spend, as one's life; to pass; to maintain; to continue in, constantly or habitually; as, to live an idle or a useful life.
11. (v. t.) To act habitually in conformity with; to practice.
12. (a.) Having life; alive; living; not dead.
13. (a.) Being in a state of ignition; burning; having active properties; as, a live coal; live embers.
14. (a.) Full of earnestness; active; wide awake; glowing; as, a live man, or orator.
15. (a.) Vivid; bright.
16. (a.) Imparting power; having motion; as, the live spindle of a lathe.
17. (n.) Life.
Greek
4800. suzao -- tolive with... to
live with. Part of Speech: Verb Transliteration: suzao Phonetic Spelling:
(sood-zah'-o) Short Definition: I
live together with Definition: I
live together
...980. bioo -- tolive
... tolive. Part of Speech: Verb Transliteration: bioo Phonetic Spelling: (bee-o'-o)
Short Definition: Ilive, pass my life Definition: Ilive, pass my life....
2198. zao -- tolive
... 2197, 2198. zao. 2199 . tolive. Part of Speech: Verb Transliteration: zao
Phonetic Spelling: (dzah'-o) Short Definition: Ilive Definition: Ilive, am alive...
5171. truphao -- tolive luxuriously
... tolive luxuriously. Part of Speech: Verb Transliteration: truphao Phonetic Spelling:
(troo-fah'-o) Short Definition: Ilive a luxurious life Definition: Ilive...
4176. politeuomai -- tolive as a citizen
... tolive as a citizen. Part of Speech: Verb Transliteration: politeuomai Phonetic
Spelling: (pol-it-yoo'-om-ahee) Short Definition: Ilive the life of a citizen...
4684. spatalao -- tolive riotously
... tolive riotously. Part of Speech: Verb Transliteration: spatalao Phonetic Spelling:
(spat-al-ah'-o) Short Definition: Ilive extravagantly Definition: Ilive...
63. agrauleo -- tolive in the fields
... tolive in the fields. Part of Speech: Verb Transliteration: agrauleo Phonetic Spelling:
(ag-row-leh'-o) Short Definition: I spend the night in the open...
326. anazao -- tolive again
... tolive again. Part of Speech: Verb Transliteration: anazao Phonetic Spelling:
(an-ad-zah'-o) Short Definition: I come to life again, revive Definition: I come...
2450. Ioudaizo -- to Judaize
... to Judaize. Part of Speech: Verb Transliteration: Ioudaizo Phonetic Spelling:
(ee-oo-dah-id'-zo) Short Definition: Ilive as a Jew Definition: Ilive as a Jew...
390. anastrepho -- to overturn, turn back
... and pass: I conduct myself,live Definition: I overturn; I turn back, return; I
turn hither and thither; pass: I turn myself about; I sojourn, dwell; I conduct...
Strong's Hebrew
2418. chaya -- tolive... 2417, 2418. chaya. 2419 . to
live. Transliteration: chaya Phonetic Spelling:
(khah-yaw') Short Definition:
live. Word Origin (Aramaic
...2421a. chayah -- tolive
... 2421, 2421a. chayah. 2421b . tolive. Transliteration: chayah Short
Definition:live. Word Origin a prim. root Definition tolive...
2425. chayay --live, save life
... 2424, 2425. chayay. 2425a .live, save life. Transliteration: chayay Phonetic
Spelling: (khaw-yah'-ee) Short Definition:live.live, save life...
2421. chayah -- tolive
... 2420, 2421. chayah. 2421a . tolive. Transliteration: chayah Phonetic Spelling:
(khaw-yaw') Short Definition: leave. keep leave, make...
3171. Yechiel -- "may Godlive," the name of a number of Isr.
... Yechiel or Yechavel. 3172 . "may Godlive," the name of a number of Isr.... Word Origin
from chayah and el Definition "may Godlive," the name of a number of Isr....
3174. Yechiyyah -- "may Yahlive," an Israelite
... 3173, 3174. Yechiyyah. 3175 . "may Yahlive," an Israelite. Transliteration:
Yechiyyah Phonetic Spelling: (yekh-ee-yaw') Short Definition: Jehiah....
2425a. chayay --live, save life
... 2425, 2425a. chayay. 2425b .live, save life. Transliteration: chayay Short
Definition:live. Word Origin the same as chay, qv. 2425, 2425a. chayay. 2425b...
3117. yom -- day
... forevermore* (1), full (5), full year (1), future* (1), holiday* (3), later* (2),
length (1), life (12), life* (1), lifetime (2), lifetime* (1),live (1), long...
2673. chatsah -- to divide
... Word Origin a prim. root Definition to divide NASB Word Usage divide (4), divided
(7),live out half (1), parceled (1), reaches (1), separated (1)....
2425b. chayyim -- life
... Word Origin from chayah Definition life NASB Word Usage alive (1), life (124),
life-giving (1), lifetime (4),live (5),live* (1), lived (2), lived* (1), lives...
Library
How toLive a Holy Life
How toLive a Holy Life. <. How toLive a Holy Life CE Orr. This
eBook was produced by Mark Zinthefer, Charles Franks...
Live by Faith.
How toLive a Holy Life. <....LIVE BY FAITH.Live by faith. There
is no other true and right way tolive. Without faith...
How toLive the Christ-Life.
How toLive a Holy Life. <.... HOW TOLIVE THE CHRIST-LIFE. Man can not
naturallylive the Christ-life. But Christ has promised...
"To Me toLive is Christ"
... "TO ME TOLIVE IS CHRIST". PHILIPPIANS i.21. In connection with Acts
9:1"18. THERE is no more significant sign of the days in which...
What it is toLive According to Man, and what toLive According to...
... Book XIV. Chapter 4."What It is toLive According to Man, and What toLive
According to God. When, therefore, man lives according...
How we MayLive as the Bible Reads.
How toLive a Holy Life. <.... HOW WE MAYLIVE AS THE BIBLE READS.
It is just as natural and easy for a Christian tolive...
Dying toLive
... XX DYING TOLIVE. 2 Corinthians iv.13. Paul repeatedly described his spiritual
experiences under physical figures of speech; and...
Whether it is Lawful for Religious toLive on Alms?
... OF THOSE THINGS THAT ARE COMPETENT TO RELIGIOUS (SIX ARTICLES) Whether it
is lawful for religious tolive on alms? Objection 1: It...
LongLive the Pope
... No. 122 LongLive the Pope. THE CHURCH LongLive the Pope. Hymn for the Pope Rt.
Rev. Msgr. Hugh T. Henry, Litt. D. HG Ganss. Maestoso. 1. Longlive the Pope!...
February 23. "For Me toLive is Christ and to Die is Gain" (Phil....
... FEBRUARY 23. "For me tolive is Christ and to die is gain" (Phil. i. 21). "For
me tolive is Christ and to die is gain" (Philippians 1:21)....
Thesaurus
Live (3203 Occurrences)... the capacity of assimilating matter as food, and to be dependent on such assimilation
for a continuance of existence; as, animals and plants that
live to a
...Survive (20 Occurrences)
... Noah Webster's Dictionary 1. (vt) Tolive beyond the life or existence of; tolive
longer than; to outlive; to outlast; as, to survive a person or an event....
Aliens (53 Occurrences)
... Acts 7:6 God spoke in this way: that his seed wouldlive as aliens in a strange
land, and that they would be enslaved and mistreated for four hundred years....
Sustain (28 Occurrences)
... (WEY DBY). Genesis 13:6 The land was not able to bear them, that they mightlive
together: for their substance was great, so that they could notlive together....
Spared (45 Occurrences)
... Genesis 12:13 Please say that you are my sister, that it may be well with me for
your sake, and that my soul maylive because of you." (See RSV NIV)....
Coal (7 Occurrences)
... The words "live coal" in Isaiah 6:6 are more correctly "glowing stone." In Lamentations
4:8 the expression "blacker than a coal" is literally rendered in the...
Alien (102 Occurrences)
... Genesis 19:9 They said, "Stand back!" Then they said, "This one fellow came
in tolive as a foreigner, and he appoints himself a judge....
Behalf (140 Occurrences)
... 2 Corinthians 5:15 He died for all, that those wholive should no longerlive to
themselves, but to him who for their sakes died and rose again. (See NAS)....
Proceedeth (21 Occurrences)
... Matthew 4:4 But he answered and said, It is written, Man shall notlive by bread
alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God....
Proceeds (20 Occurrences)
... Matthew 4:4 But he answered, "It is written,'Man shall notlive by bread alone,
but by every word that proceeds out of the mouth of God.'" (WEB NAS RSV)....
Resources
Is “you only live once / YOLO” something a Christian should live by? | GotQuestions.orgCan man live without God? | GotQuestions.orgWhat does it mean "to live is Christ" (Philippians 1:21)? | GotQuestions.orgLive: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.comBible Concordance •
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