Topical Encyclopedia
The term "lively" in the context of the Bible often conveys a sense of vibrancy, vitality, and active life. It is used to describe both physical and spiritual states, reflecting the dynamic and life-giving nature of God's creation and His work in the lives of believers.
Old Testament UsageIn the Old Testament, the concept of being lively is often associated with physical vitality and the flourishing of life. For example, in
Exodus 1:19, the Hebrew midwives describe the Hebrew women as "lively" in childbirth, indicating their strength and vigor: "The midwives answered Pharaoh, 'The Hebrew women are not like the Egyptian women; they are vigorous and give birth before the midwife arrives.'" This usage underscores the robust and resilient nature of the Hebrew people, even under oppression.
New Testament UsageIn the New Testament, the term takes on a more spiritual dimension. The Apostle Peter uses the term "lively" in
1 Peter 2:5 to describe believers as "living stones" being built into a spiritual house: "you also, like living stones, are being built into a spiritual house to be a holy priesthood, offering spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ." Here, "lively" or "living" signifies the active and dynamic role of believers in the spiritual community, animated by the Holy Spirit.
Spiritual ImplicationsThe lively nature of believers is further emphasized in the transformative power of the Holy Spirit. In
Romans 8:11, Paul writes about the Spirit giving life to mortal bodies: "And if the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead is living in you, He who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through His Spirit, who lives in you." This passage highlights the life-giving power of the Spirit, which not only enlivens believers spiritually but also promises future resurrection.
Lively HopeThe concept of a "lively hope" is also central to the Christian faith. In
1 Peter 1:3, Peter speaks of a "living hope" through the resurrection of Jesus Christ: "Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! By His great mercy He has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead." This lively hope is characterized by its active and enduring nature, providing believers with assurance and motivation in their spiritual journey.
ConclusionThe term "lively" in the Bible encapsulates both physical vitality and spiritual vibrancy. It reflects the dynamic and life-giving work of God in creation and in the lives of His people, emphasizing the active role of believers in the spiritual community and the transformative power of the Holy Spirit. Through the resurrection of Jesus Christ, believers are endowed with a lively hope that sustains and energizes their faith.
Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary
1. (
superl.) Endowed with or manifesting life; living.
2. (superl.) Brisk; vivacious; active; as, a lively youth.
3. (superl.) Gay; airy; animated; spirited.
4. (superl.) Representing life; lifelike.
5. (superl.) Bright; vivid; glowing; strong; vigorous.
6. (adv.) In a brisk, active, or animated manner; briskly; vigorously.
7. (adv.) With strong resemblance of life.
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia
LIVELY; LIVINGliv'-li, liv'-ing (chay; zao): "Living," sometimes "lively," is the translation of chay (often also translated "life"); it denotes all beings possessed of life (Genesis 1:21, 24;Genesis 2:7, 19Exodus 21:35, "live"); we have frequently the phrase, "the land of the living" (as contrasted with she'ol, the abode of the dead), e.g.Job 28:13Psalm 27:13;Psalm 52:5Isaiah 38:11; the characteristically Biblical expression, "the living God," also frequently occurs (Joshua 3:101 Samuel 17:26, 362 Kings 19:4Psalm 84:2); also frequently in the New Testament as the translation of zao (Matthew 16:16;Matthew 26:63John 6:57, "the living Father";Acts 14:15); "lively" inExodus 1:19 (chayeh) andPsalm 38:19 denotes fullness of life, vigor; chayyah, "a living being," is mostly confined to Ezekiel, translated "living creatures" (1:5, 13, 14, etc.), alsoGenesis 1:28;Genesis 8:17, "living thing"; "living" is sometimes applied figuratively to that which is not actually alive; thus we have the phrase "living waters" (Jeremiah 2:13;Jeremiah 17:13Zechariah 14:8, "Living waters shall go out from Jerusalem") in contrast with stagnant waters-waters that can give life; soJohn 4:10, 11 (bubbling up from the spring at bottom of the well); 7:38;Revelation 7:17 the King James Version; "living bread" (John 6:51); a new and living way (Hebrews 10:20), perhaps equivalent to "ever-living" in Christ; "living stones" (1 Peter 2:4, 5) are those made alive in Christ; a "living hope" (a hope full of life),1 Peter 1:3; "living" (zao)is sometimes also "manner of life" (Luke 15:13Colossians 2:20); diago, "to lead or go through," is also so translated (Titus 3:3); bios is "means of life," translated "living" (Mark 12:44Luke 8:43); "living," in this sense, occurs in Apocrypha as the translation of zoe, "Defraud not the poor of his living" (Ecclesiasticus 4:1).
The Revised Version (British and American) has "living" for "alive" (Leviticus 14:4), for "the lively" (Acts 7:38), for "quick" (Hebrews 4:12), for "lively" (1 Peter 1:3;1 Peter 2:5), for "conversation" (1 Peter 1:152 Peter 3:11); "living creatures" for "beasts" (Revelation 4:6;Revelation 5:6, etc.); "every living thing" for "all the substance" (Deuteronomy 11:6); "living things" for "beasts" (Leviticus 11:2, 47 twice); for "living" (Psalm 58:9), "the green" (thorns under the pots), margin "Wrath shall take them away while living as with a whirlwind"; for "the book of the living" (Psalm 69:28), "the book of life"; for "(I am) he that liveth" (Revelation 1:18), "the Living one"; for "living fountains of waters" (Revelation 7:17), "fountains of waters of life"; for "trade" (Revelation 18:17), "gain their living," margin "work the sea"; for "Son of the living God" (John 6:69), "the Holy One of God" (emended text).
W. L. Walker
Greek
2198. zao -- to live... lifetime, alive,
lively. A primary verb; to live (literally or figuratively) --
life(-time), (a-)live(-ly), quick. (ezesa) -- 1 Occurrence.
...Strong's Hebrew
2422b. chayeh -- having the vigor of life,lively... 2422a, 2422b. chayeh. 2423 . having the vigor of life,
lively.
Transliteration: chayeh Short Definition: vigorous. Word Origin from
...2422. chayeh -- community
... community. Transliteration: chayeh Phonetic Spelling: (khaw-yeh') Short Definition:
lively.lively From chayah; vigorous --lively. see HEBREW chayah....
2416. chay -- alive, living
... khah'-ee) Short Definition: age. age, alive, appetite, wild beast, company,
congregation, lifetime,lively, From chayah; alive; hence...
Library
Lively Hope, and Gracious Fear.
... IV. COMFORT. Hymn 51Lively hope, and gracious fear. William Cowper 8,6,8,6.Lively
hope, and gracious fear. I was a groveling creature once,....
TheLively Stones. Rev. W. Morley Punshon.
... THELIVELY STONES. REV. W. MORLEY PUNSHON.... Take the first thought, spirituality.
They arelively or living stones, built up into a spiritual house....
The Adventures of Saint Denis of France.
... Thus, with agreeable andlively conversation, ample justice was done to the feast,
which was composed of the lightest and most delicate viands, such as the...
Acts vii. 35
... is he, that was in the Church in the wilderness with the Angel which spake to him
in the mount Sina, and with our fathers: who received thelively oracles to...
Peter and the Gospel of Hope.
... This future glorious manifestation is so certain that it is already anticipated
here in blessed joy by alively hope which stimulates to a holy life of...
How to Make Use of Christ as the Life, when the Believer is So...
... that little or no difference will be observed betwixt him and others that are yet
in nature; and be not only unable to go actively andlively about commanded...
How Christ is to be Made Use of as Our Life, in Case of...
... 1. The sense of a strong, active,lively, and continually stirring body of death,
and that notwithstanding of means used to bear it down and kill it....
Some General Uses.
... For such gifts of knowledge and utterance may be, where thelively operations of
the grace of Christ are not, and consequently where Christ is not, as the Life...
The Life of Mr. James Mitchel.
... the Lady Houston and some country gentlemen at Bagles, the Spirit of prayer and
supplication was poured upon him, in such a powerful andlively manner, two...
Obedience
... Obedience without fervency, is like a sacrifice without fire. Why should not our
obedience belively and fervent?...Lively affections make golden services....
Thesaurus
Lively (5 Occurrences)... 1. (superl.) Endowed with or manifesting life; living. 2. (superl.) Brisk; vivacious;
active; as, a
lively youth.
... Standard Bible Encyclopedia.
LIVELY; LIVING.
...Living (3112 Occurrences)
... WL Walker.LIVELY; LIVING. liv'-li, liv'-ing (chay; zao): "Living," sometimes
"lively," is the translation of chay (often also translated...
Bright (85 Occurrences)
... 6. (a.) Sparkling with wit;lively; vivacious; shedding cheerfulness and joy around;
cheerful; cheery.... 9. (a.) of brilliant color; oflively hue or appearance....
Alive (166 Occurrences)
... 4. (a.) Sprightly;lively; brisk. 5. (a.) Having susceptibility; easily impressed;
havinglively feelings, as opposed to apathy; sensitive....
Smart (2 Occurrences)
... 1. (vi) To feel alively, pungent local pain; -- said of some part of the body as
the seat of irritation; as, my finger smarts; these wounds smart....
Liver (16 Occurrences)
Quicken (16 Occurrences)
... 2. (v.) To makelively, active, or sprightly; to impart additional energy to; to
stimulate; to make quick or rapid; to hasten; to accelerate; as, to quicken...
Vermilion (2 Occurrences)
... in printing, etc. 2. (n.) Hence, a red color like the pigment; alively and
brilliant red; as, cheeks of vermilion. 3. (vt) To color...
Laugh (23 Occurrences)
... in laughter. 2. (vi) Fig.: To be or appear gay, cheerful, pleasant, mirthful,
lively, or brilliant; to sparkle; to sport. 3. (vt...
Livelihood (3 Occurrences)
Resources
What is the significance of Antioch in the Bible? | GotQuestions.orgWho was D. L. Moody? | GotQuestions.orgWho was Thérèse of Lisieux? | GotQuestions.orgLively: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.comBible Concordance •
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Bible Encyclopedia •
Topical Bible •
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