Topical Encyclopedia
In the context of the Bible, "meaning" often refers to the significance or purpose behind words, actions, events, or life itself. The quest for meaning is a central theme throughout the Scriptures, as individuals seek to understand God's will and their place in His creation.
Creation and PurposeThe Bible begins with the account of creation, where meaning is established through God's intentional design.
Genesis 1:27 states, "So God created man in His own image; in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them." This verse underscores the inherent meaning and purpose in human life, as being made in the image of God implies a unique role and responsibility within creation.
The Search for MeaningThe book of Ecclesiastes delves deeply into the search for meaning. King Solomon, traditionally considered the author, reflects on the futility of worldly pursuits.
Ecclesiastes 1:2 declares, "Futility of futilities, says the Teacher, futility of futilities! Everything is futile!" Yet, the conclusion of the book points to a meaningful life found in reverence for God: "When all has been heard, the conclusion of the matter is this: Fear God and keep His commandments, for this is the duty of all mankind" (
Ecclesiastes 12:13).
Meaning in SufferingThe Bible addresses the question of meaning in suffering, a topic explored in the book of Job. Job's trials and his dialogues with friends and God reveal that human understanding is limited, but trust in God's wisdom and sovereignty provides a deeper sense of meaning.
Job 42:2 acknowledges, "I know that You can do all things and that no plan of Yours can be thwarted."
Redemption and FulfillmentThe New Testament reveals the ultimate meaning and purpose through the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ. In
John 10:10 , Jesus states, "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 fullness of life is found in a relationship with Christ, who provides redemption and a restored purpose.
The Role of the ChurchThe Church, as the body of Christ, plays a significant role in conveying meaning to believers.
Ephesians 4:11-13 explains, "And it was He who gave some to be apostles, some to be prophets, some to be evangelists, and some to be pastors and teachers, to equip the saints for works of ministry and to build up the body of Christ, until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God, as we mature to the full measure of the stature of Christ." The Church is tasked with guiding believers in understanding their purpose and role within God's plan.
Eternal PerspectiveThe Bible encourages believers to view life from an eternal perspective, where ultimate meaning is found in the hope of eternal life with God.
2 Corinthians 4:17-18 reminds, "For our light and momentary affliction is producing for us an eternal glory that is far beyond comparison. So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal."
In summary, the Bible presents a comprehensive view of meaning that encompasses creation, human experience, suffering, redemption, and eternal hope, all centered on a relationship with God through Jesus Christ.
Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary
1. (
p. pr. & vb. n.) of Mean.
2. (n.) That which is meant or intended; intent; purpose; aim; object; as, a mischievous meaning was apparent.
3. (n.) That which is signified, whether by act language; signification; since; import; as, the meaning of a hint.
4. (n.) Sense; power of thinking.
Greek
1411. dunamis -- (miraculous) power, might, strength... doo'-nam-is) Short Definition: might, power, marvelous works Definition: (a) physical
power, force, might, ability, efficacy, energy,
meaning (b) plur
...1180. dekatessares -- fourteen
... 1180 ("14") is used in Scripture both with literalmeaning (2 Cor 12:2; Gal 2:1)
and double entendre (simultaneous symbolicmeaning, cf. Mt 1:17)....
2154. eusemos -- clear
... clear. Part of Speech: Adjective Transliteration: eusemos Phonetic Spelling:
(yoo'-say-mos) Short Definition: with clearmeaning, intelligible Definition: with...
4456. poroo -- to petrify, ie to harden
... 2, 153). 4456 () was applied to (a "," ) - hencemeaning "to petrify"
(as in "covering over with a callus"). 4456 () is in the...
1537. ek -- from, from out of
... 1537 ("out of") is one of the most under-translated (and therefore mis-translated)
Greek propositions -- often being confined to themeaning "by." 1537 () has...
40. hagios -- sacred, holy
... The fundamental (core)meaning of 40 () is "different" -- thus a temple in the 1st
century was ("holy") because from other buildings (Wm. Barclay)....
766. aselgeia -- licentiousness, wantonness
... 766 (from "brutal") -- properly, which and indulges in lawless insolence (wanton
caprice). [This is likewise themeaning of 766 in classical Greek (, 110).]....
4352. proskuneo -- to do reverence to
... ["The basicmeaning of 4352 (), in the opinion of most scholars, is to . . .On
Egyptian reliefs worshipers are represented with outstretched hand...
4241. prepo -- to be fitting, proper, suitable
... is right. 4241 (a primitive verbmeaning "," ", so ) -- properly, stand out, ,
especially in a way that is ("fitting"). 4241 () refers...
1018. brabeuo -- to act as umpire
... Cognate: 1018 -- properly, "act as an" (this is also themeaning of this term in
classical Greek, as with Isocrates and Demosthenes, etc.); (figuratively) the...
Strong's Hebrew
1665. Gittith -- a musical term of unc.meaning.... 1664, 1665. Gittith. 1666 . a musical term of unc.
meaning.
... Word Origin fem.
of Gitti Definition a musical term of unc.
meaning. Gittith
...3321. yetsab -- to make certain, gain certainty
... 3320, 3321. yetsab. 3322 . to make certain, gain certainty. Transliteration:
yetsab Phonetic Spelling: (yets-abe') Short Definition:meaning....
998. binah -- an understanding
... knowledge,meaning, perfectly, understanding, wisdom. From biyn; understanding --
knowledge,meaning, X perfectly, understanding, wisdom. see HEBREW biyn....
2823. chashok -- obscure, low
...meaning. From chashak; dark (figuratively, ie Obscure) --meaning. see HEBREW
chashak. 2822, 2823. chashok. 2824 . Strong's Numbers.
8184. seorah -- barley
... Or snowrah {seh-o-raw'} (femininemeaning the plant); and (masculinemeaning the
grain); also s or {seh-ore'}; or s-owr {seh-ore'}; from sa'ar in the sense of...
5708. ed -- filthy
... filthy From an unused rootmeaning to set a period (compare adah, uwd); the menstrual
flux (as periodical); by implication (in plural) soiling -- filthy....
5631. saris -- eunuch
... Or caric {saw-reece'}; from an unused rootmeaning to castrate; a eunuch; by
implication, valet (especially of the female apartments), and thus, a minister of...
5461. sagan -- a prefect, ruler
... prince, ruler. From an unused rootmeaning to superintend; a prefect of a province --
prince, ruler. 5460, 5461. sagan. 5462 . Strong's Numbers.
5845. atin -- probably a pail, bucket
... breast. From an unused rootmeaning apparently to contain; a receptacle (for milk,
ie Pail; figuratively, breast) -- breast. 5844b, 5845. atin. 5846 ....
5572. seneh -- perhaps blackberry bush
... Word Usage bush (6). bush. From an unused rootmeaning to prick; a bramble --
bush. 5571, 5572. seneh. 5573 . Strong's Numbers.
Library
TheMeaning
... A MEMORABLE SENTENCE, THEMEANING. Of the Outer Court with the Holy City
trodden under foot by the Gentiles, and on that account...
TheMeaning
... A MEMORABLE SENTENCE, THEMEANING. Of... apostles. Of which authors, I think
I can collect, that this is themeaning, from c. xix. v.15....
TheMeaning
... A MEMORABLE SENTENCE, THEMEANING. Of the Interior Court measured by the
Reed of God. The inner court of the temple, with those who...
TheMeaning of Faith
... THE NEW TESTAMENT THEMEANING OF FAITH. Now faith is the confidence that
we shall receive the things for which we hope, the proof...
What is theMeaning of "In whom all have Sinned"?
... Book IV. Chapter 7."What is theMeaning of "In Whom All Have Sinned"? But
these speak thus who wish to wrest men from the apostle's...
But what theMeaning of this Is, is Already Clear to All. ...
... Book V. 43 But what themeaning of this is, is already clear to all.?
But what themeaning of this is, is already clear to all....
The Disciple, -- what is theMeaning and Purpose of the Cross...
... V. THE CROSS AND THE MYSTERY OF SUFFERING SECTION I The Disciple, " What
is themeaning and purpose of the cross? The Disciple...
TheMeaning and Mission of Prayer
... I. TheMeaning And Mission Of Prayer. 1. Prayer the Greatest Outlet of Power.
2. Prayer the Deciding Factor in a Spirit Conflict.3...
Q. What is theMeaning of Such a Water Baptism?
... I. The Ten Commandments: The Simple Way a Father Should Present Them to His
Household Q. What is themeaning of such a water Baptism?...
God'sMeaning of "Human. "
... The Human Jesus God'sMeaning of "Human.".... The first truemeaning, and a second,
that has grown up through sin, and sin's taint and trail....
Thesaurus
Meaning (41 Occurrences)... & vb. n.) of Mean. 2. (n.) That which is meant or intended; intent; purpose; aim;
object; as, a mischievous
meaning was apparent.
...Meaning (41 Occurrences).
...Passion (82 Occurrences)
... Easton's Bible Dictionary Only once found, in Acts 1:3,meaning suffering, referring
to the sufferings of our Lord. Noah Webster's Dictionary....
Bush (14 Occurrences)
... Themeaning appears to be rather a place for watering flocks, the corresponding
Arabic root nahal, having themeaning "to quench one's thirst," and the...
Paraclete
... 2. GeneralMeaning: In general the word signifies: (1) a legal advocate, or counsel
for defense, (2) an intercessor, (3) a helper, generally....
Determine (13 Occurrences)
... DETERMINE. de-tur'-min: (1) "To resolve," "decide." This is the primarymeaning
of the word and it is also the one that is the most common....
Proverb (24 Occurrences)
... It comes from a rootmeaning "to be like," "parable." Rendered "proverb" in Isaiah
14:4; Habakkuk 2:6; "dark saying" in Psalm 49:4, Numbers 12:8. Ahab's...
Passions (26 Occurrences)
... (1) Close to what seems to be the primary force of the root is themeaning "suffer,"
and in this sense "passion" is used in Acts 1:3, "to whom he also showed...
Burning (415 Occurrences)
... burn, burn'-ing: Figurative: In addition to the ordinarymeaning, burn is used
metaphorically in the following passages of the New Testament: (1) kaio (Luke 24...
Affect (3 Occurrences)
... Standard Bible Encyclopedia. AFFECT; AFFECTION. a-fekt', a-fek'-shun: The literal
meaning of "affect" is to act upon (Latin ad, "to," "upon," facio, "to do")....
Affection (30 Occurrences)
... Standard Bible Encyclopedia. AFFECT; AFFECTION. a-fekt', a-fek'-shun: The literal
meaning of "affect" is to act upon (Latin ad, "to," "upon," facio, "to do")....
Resources
What is the meaning of the Parables of the Hidden Treasure and the Pearl of Great Price? | GotQuestions.orgWhat is the meaning of the Parable of the Prodigal Son? | GotQuestions.orgWhat is the meaning of the Parable of the Growing Seed (Mark 4:26-29)? | GotQuestions.orgMeaning: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.comBible Concordance •
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