Topical Encyclopedia
In the context of the Bible, "means" often refers to the resources, methods, or instruments through which God accomplishes His purposes or through which individuals achieve their goals. The concept of means is integral to understanding how divine providence and human responsibility interact within the biblical narrative.
Divine MeansGod frequently uses various means to fulfill His divine will. These can include natural phenomena, human agents, or miraculous interventions. For instance, in the account of Joseph, God uses the means of Joseph's enslavement and subsequent rise to power in Egypt to preserve the Israelites during a severe famine (
Genesis 50:20: "As for you, what you intended against me for evil, God intended for good, in order to accomplish a day like this—to preserve the lives of many people"). This demonstrates how God can use even adverse circumstances as means to achieve His greater purposes.
Human MeansThe Bible also emphasizes the importance of human means in achieving goals and fulfilling responsibilities.
Proverbs 21:5 states, "The plans of the diligent bring plenty, as surely as haste leads to poverty." This highlights the value of diligent planning and effort as means to prosperity. Similarly, in the New Testament, the Apostle Paul often speaks of his labor and efforts in spreading the Gospel as means through which God works (
1 Corinthians 15:10: "But by the grace of God I am what I am, and His grace to me was not in vain. No, I worked harder than all of them—yet not I, but the grace of God that was with me").
Means of GraceIn Christian theology, the "means of grace" refer to the instruments through which God imparts grace to believers. These include the Word of God, the sacraments (such as baptism and the Lord's Supper), and prayer. These means are considered vital for spiritual growth and sanctification.
Romans 10:17 underscores the importance of the Word as a means of faith: "Consequently, faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of Christ."
Means and FaithThe relationship between means and faith is a recurring theme in Scripture. While God often uses means to accomplish His purposes, faith is required to trust in God's provision and timing.
Hebrews 11:1 defines faith as "the assurance of what we hope for and the certainty of what we do not see." This assurance allows believers to rely on God's means, even when they are not immediately visible or understandable.
Means and MiraclesWhile God often works through ordinary means, the Bible also records instances where He bypasses natural means through miracles. These supernatural acts serve to reveal God's power and authority. For example, the parting of the Red Sea (
Exodus 14:21-22) and the feeding of the five thousand (
John 6:10-13) are instances where God directly intervenes without the use of ordinary means.
ConclusionThe concept of means in the Bible underscores the interplay between divine sovereignty and human agency. Whether through ordinary or extraordinary means, God accomplishes His purposes, inviting believers to participate in His work through faith, obedience, and the diligent use of the resources He provides.
Greek
3760. oudamos -- by nomeans... by no
means. Part of Speech: Adverb, Negative Transliteration: oudamos Phonetic
Spelling: (oo-dam-oce') Short Definition: by no
means Definition: by no
means...3365. medamos -- by nomeans
... by nomeans. Part of Speech: Adverb, Negative Transliteration: medamos Phonetic
Spelling: (may-dam-oce') Short Definition: by nomeans, not at all Definition...
3843. pantos -- altogether, by allmeans
... altogether, by allmeans. Part of Speech: Adverb Transliteration: pantos Phonetic
Spelling: (pan'-toce) Short Definition: entirely, in every way, certainly...
4200. porismos -- a providing, ameans of gain
... a providing, ameans of gain. Part of Speech: Noun, Masculine Transliteration: porismos
Phonetic Spelling: (por-is-mos') Short Definition: a source of gain...
1513. ei pos -- if by anymeans, if somehow
... 1512, 1513. ei pos. 1513a . if by anymeans, if somehow. Transliteration: ei
pos Phonetic Spelling: (i poce) Short Definition: if. if by anymeans, if somehow...
1529. eisodos -- an entrance, ameans or place of entering
... an entrance, ameans or place of entering. Part of Speech: Noun, Feminine
Transliteration: eisodos Phonetic Spelling: (ice'-od-os) Short Definition: entering...
1513a. eipon -- if by anymeans, if somehow
... 1513, 1513a. eipon. 1513b . if by anymeans, if somehow. Transliteration: eipon
Short Definition: somehow. Word Origin see lego. 1513, 1513a. eipon. 1513b...
2141. euporeo -- to prosper
... to prosper. Part of Speech: Verb Transliteration: euporeo Phonetic Spelling:
(yoo-por-eh'-o) Short Definition: I havemeans, am prosperous Definition: I have...
1096. ginomai -- to come into being, to happen, to become
... 1096 () fundamentallymeans "" (becoming, became) so it is an exact equivalent to
the ordinary equative verb "to be" (, , ) as with 1510 (1511 , 2258 )....
1537. ek -- from, from out of
... basis (2), because (10), belonged* (1), belonging* (1), depends (1), depends* (1),
derived (1), grudgingly* (1), heavenly* (1), inspired (1),means (1), over (1...
Strong's Hebrew
4383. mikshol -- a stumbling,means or occasion of stumbling, a...... a stumbling,
means or occasion of stumbling, a stumbling block. Transliteration:
mikshol or mikshol Phonetic Spelling: (mik-shole') Short Definition: block.
...4072. midcheh --means or occasion of stumbling
... 4071, 4072. midcheh. 4073 .means or occasion of stumbling. Transliteration:
midcheh Phonetic Spelling: (mid-kheh') Short Definition: ruin....
4581. maoz -- a place ormeans of safety, protection
... a place ormeans of safety, protection. Transliteration: maoz or mauz or maoz or
mauz Phonetic Spelling: (maw-oze') Short Definition: stronghold....
5352. naqah -- to be empty or clean
... root Definition to be empty or clean NASB Word Usage acquit (3), acquitted (2),
avenge (1), avenged (1), blameless (1), bymeans clear (1), completely...
3027. yad -- hand
... 1), idle* (1), influence (1), jaws (1), labor (1), large* (2), leadership (1),
left-handed* (2), let go* (1), lose courage* (1), manhood (1),means (11),means...
6299. padah -- to ransom
... root Definition to ransom NASB Word Usage anymeans redeem (1), ransom (4), ransomed
(7), redeem (24), redeemed (18), redeems (1), redemption price (1...
1157. baad -- away from, behind, about, on behalf of
... about, at bymeans of, for, over, through, up on, within.... about, at by (means of),
for, over, through, up (-on), within. see HEBREW ad. 1156, 1157....
4284. machashabah -- thought, device
... 4), thoughts (19), ways (1). cunning work, curious work, imagination, invented,
means, purpose, thought. Or machashebeth {makh-ash...
518. im -- if
... indeed (1), less than* (1), more of her than* (1), more than* (1), most assuredly*
(1), never (2), never* (1), nevertheless* (1), no (6), nomeans (1), none (1...
6310. peh -- mouth
... From pa'ah; the mouth (as themeans of blowing), whether literal or figurative
(particularly speech); specifically edge, portion or side; adverbially (with...
Library
Means for Growth.
...MEANS FOR GROWTH. You have started out fairly upon the Christian way.... There
are certainmeans for you to use that will promote growth....
What PeaceMeans
What PeaceMeans. <. What PeaceMeans Henry Van Dyke. E-text prepared
by Juliet Sutherland, Melissa Er-Raqabi, and the...
On the Predestination of theMeans to the End
... DISPUTATION XLI ON THE PREDESTINATION OF THEMEANS TO THE END. After we
have finished our discussion on the predestination by which...
Of the Recovery of virtue byMeans of Penance (Six Articles)
... OF THE RECOVERY OF VIRTUE BYMEANS OF PENANCE (SIX ARTICLES). We must now
consider the recovery of virtues bymeans of Penance, under...
Whether Choice is Only of theMeans, or Sometimes Also of the End?
... OF CHOICE, WHICH IS AN ACT OF THE WILL WITH REGARD TO THEMEANS (SIX ARTICLES) Whether
choice is only of themeans, or sometimes also of the end?...
That the Mind Works byMeans of the Senses.
... III."Philosophical Works. X. That the mind works bymeans of the senses.
1. As the mind then produces the music of reason bymeans...
What itMeans to Trust the Lord
... TALK ONE. WHAT ITMEANS TO TRUST THE LORD.... Are they true in your life? God
means that they shall be. Trust will make them real to you....
Fragment xxxi. Observe That, byMeans of the Grain of Mustard Seed...
... Fragment XXXI. Observe that, bymeans of the grain of mustard seed in
the parable? Observe [4848] that, bymeans of the grain...
Whether Satisfaction must be Made byMeans of Penal Works?
... OF THEMEANS OF MAKING SATISFACTION (THREE ARTICLES) Whether satisfaction
must be made bymeans of penal works? Objection 1: It...
Of the Union throughMeans
... THE BOOK OF SUPREME TRUTH CHAPTER III. OF THE UNION THROUGHMEANS. And next,
I will say that all good men are united with God throughmeans....
Thesaurus
Means (490 Occurrences)... Multi-Version Concordance
Means (490 Occurrences).
Means appears 490 times in 12
translations. You can narrow your search using the Advanced Bible Search.
...Axe (19 Occurrences)
... Used in the Authorized Version of Deuteronomy 19:5; 20:19; 1 Kings 6:7, as the
translation of a Hebrew word whichmeans "chopping." It was used for felling...
Somehow (8 Occurrences)
... (adv.) In one way or another; in some way not yet known or designated; by some
means; as, the thing must be done somehow; he lives somehow....
Service (317 Occurrences)
... is (1) `abhodhah, from `abhadh, which is the general word, meaning "to work" and
so "to serve," "to till," also "to enslave." The nounmeans "bondage," "labor...
Kol
... of God was part of a larger theophany, while for the prophets it was the resultant
inward demonstration of the Divine will, by whatevermeans effected, given...
Beguile (10 Occurrences)
... be-gil': In 2 Peter 2:14 the King James Version (compare James 1:14) the word deleazo,
is translated "beguile," andmeans particularly to "entice," "catch by...
Churl (6 Occurrences)
... Easton's Bible Dictionary In Isaiah 32:5 (RV marg., "crafty"),means a deceiver.
In 1 Samuel 25:3, the word churlish denotes a man...
Advantage (44 Occurrences)
... 1. (n.) Any condition, circumstance, opportunity, ormeans, particularly favorable
to success, or to any desired end; benefit; as, the enemy had the advantage...
Answer (2099 Occurrences)
... (1) It is frequently used where no question has been asked and in such cases it
means a word, a statement. (2) It alsomeans a response (Job 21:34; Job 34:36)....
Arm (110 Occurrences)
... 17. (vt) Fig.: To furnish withmeans of defense; to prepare for resistance;
to fortify, in a moral sense. 18. (vi) To provide one's...
Resources
Are baptism and communion means of grace? | GotQuestions.orgDo the ends justify the means? | GotQuestions.orgWhat is the meaning of living for Jesus? | GotQuestions.orgMeans: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.comBible Concordance •
Bible Dictionary •
Bible Encyclopedia •
Topical Bible •
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