Topical Encyclopedia
Definition and Context:In the biblical context, "play" can refer to various forms of amusement, recreation, or entertainment. It is often associated with joy, celebration, and sometimes idolatry or sinful behavior, depending on the context. The Bible presents play both positively and negatively, highlighting its role in human life and its potential for misuse.
Positive Aspects of Play:Play is seen as a natural and joyful expression of life, particularly in the context of children. Jesus Himself acknowledged the innocence and joy of children at play. In
Matthew 11:16-17 , Jesus compares the generation to children sitting in the marketplaces, calling to others, "We played the flute for you, and you did not dance; we sang a dirge, and you did not mourn." This passage illustrates the natural inclination of children to engage in playful activities and the expectation of a joyful response.
The Bible also recognizes the importance of rest and recreation.
Ecclesiastes 3:4 states, "a time to weep and a time to laugh, a time to mourn and a time to dance," suggesting that play and joy have their rightful place in the rhythm of life. Play, in this sense, can be a form of celebration and a way to express gratitude for God's blessings.
Negative Aspects of Play:Conversely, the Bible warns against forms of play that lead to idolatry or immorality. In
Exodus 32:6 , during the incident of the golden calf, the Israelites "sat down to eat and drink and got up to indulge in revelry." Here, "revelry" is associated with idolatrous worship and sinful behavior, indicating that play can become corrupt when it leads people away from God.
Similarly, in
1 Corinthians 10:7 , Paul warns the Corinthians, "Do not be idolaters, as some of them were. As it is written: 'The people sat down to eat and to drink, and got up to revel in play.'" This admonition serves as a reminder that play should not become an occasion for sin or distraction from spiritual devotion.
Play in Worship and Celebration:Play is also present in the context of worship and celebration. King David's dance before the Ark of the Covenant is a notable example. In
2 Samuel 6:14 , "And David, wearing a linen ephod, danced with all his might before the LORD." David's exuberant dance was an expression of worship and joy in the presence of God, demonstrating that play can be a form of worship when directed towards the Lord.
Conclusion:While the Bible acknowledges the joy and innocence associated with play, it also cautions against its potential misuse. Play should be enjoyed within the boundaries of righteousness and should ultimately glorify God.
Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary
1. (
n.) To engage in sport or lively recreation; to exercise for the sake of amusement; to frolic; to spot.
2. (n.) To act with levity or thoughtlessness; to trifle; to be careless.
3. (n.) To contend, or take part, in a game; as, to play ball; hence, to gamble; as, he played for heavy stakes.
4. (n.) To perform on an instrument of music; as, to play on a flute.
5. (n.) To act; to behave; to practice deception.
6. (n.) To move in any manner; especially, to move regularly with alternate or reciprocating motion; to operate; to act; as, the fountain plays.
7. (n.) To move gayly; to wanton; to disport.
8. (n.) To act on the stage; to personate a character.
9. (v. t.) To put in action or motion; as, to play cannon upon a fortification; to play a trump.
10. (v. t.) To perform music upon; as, to play the flute or the organ.
11. (v. t.) To perform, as a piece of music, on an instrument; as, to play a waltz on the violin.
12. (v. t.) To bring into sportive or wanton action; to exhibit in action; to execute; as, to play tricks.
13. (v. t.) To act or perform (a play); to represent in music action; as, to play a comedy; also, to act in the character of; to represent by acting; to simulate; to behave like; as, to play King Lear; to play the woman.
14. (v. t.) To engage in, or go together with, as a contest for amusement or for a wager or prize; as, to play a game at baseball.
15. (v. t.) To keep in play, as a hooked fish, in order to land it.
16. (n.) Amusement; sport; frolic; gambols.
17. (n.) Any exercise, or series of actions, intended for amusement or diversion; a game.
18. (n.) The act or practice of contending for victory, amusement, or a prize, as at dice, cards, or billiards; gaming; as, to lose a fortune in play.
19. (n.) Action; use; employment; exercise; practice; as, fair play; sword play; a play of wit.
20. (n.) A dramatic composition; a comedy or tragedy; a composition in which characters are represented by dialogue and action.
21. (n.) The representation or exhibition of a comedy or tragedy; as, he attends ever play.
22. (n.) Performance on an instrument of music.
23. (n.) Motion; movement, regular or irregular; as, the play of a wheel or piston; hence, also, room for motion; free and easy action.
24. (n.) Hence, liberty of acting; room for enlargement or display; scope; as, to give full play to mirth.
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia
PLAYpla.
SeeGAMES.
Greek
3815. paizo -- toplay as a child... to
play as a child. Part of Speech: Verb Transliteration: paizo Phonetic Spelling:
(paheed'-zo) Short Definition: I
play, sport Definition: I
play, sport
...832. auleo -- toplay on a flute
... toplay on a flute. Part of Speech: Verb Transliteration: auleo Phonetic Spelling:
(ow-leh'-o) Short Definition: Iplay the flute, pipe Definition: Iplay the...
2789. kitharizo -- toplay on the lyre
... toplay on the lyre. Part of Speech: Verb Transliteration: kitharizo Phonetic Spelling:
(kith-ar-id'-zo) Short Definition: Iplay on the harp Definition: intrans...
5567. psallo -- to pull, twitch, twang,play, sing
... to pull, twitch, twang,play, sing. Part of Speech: Verb Transliteration: psallo
Phonetic Spelling: (psal'-lo) Short Definition: I sing psalms Definition: I sing...
4942. sunupokrinomai -- toplay a part with
... toplay a part with. Part of Speech: Verb Transliteration: sunupokrinomai Phonetic
Spelling: (soon-oo-pok-rin'-om-ahee) Short Definition: I dissemble with...
407. andrizo -- to behave like a man, toplay the man
... to behave like a man, toplay the man. Part of Speech: Verb Transliteration: andrizo
Phonetic Spelling: (an-drid'-zom-ahee) Short Definition: I act like a man...
4135. plerophoreo -- to bring in full measure, to fulfill
... to bring in full measure, to fulfill. Part of Speech: Verb Transliteration: plerophoreo
Phonetic Spelling: (play-rof-or-eh'-o) Short Definition: I carry out...
4134. pleres -- full
... full. Part of Speech: Adjective Transliteration: pleres Phonetic Spelling:
(play'-race) Short Definition: full Definition: full, abounding in, complete...
4129. plethuno -- to increase, to be increased
... to increase, to be increased. Part of Speech: Verb Transliteration: plethuno Phonetic
Spelling: (play-thoo'-no) Short Definition: I increase, multiply Definition...
4136. plerophoria -- full assurance
... full assurance. Part of Speech: Noun, Feminine Transliteration: plerophoria Phonetic
Spelling: (play-rof-or-ee'-ah) Short Definition: full assurance Definition...
Strong's Hebrew
5059. nagan -- to touch orplay a stringed instrument... nagan. 5060 . to touch or
play a stringed instrument. Transliteration: nagan Phonetic
Spelling: (naw-gan') Short Definition:
play. Word Origin a prim.
...2490b. chalal -- toplay the pipe, to pipe
... 2490a, 2490b. chalal. 2490c . toplay the pipe, to pipe. Transliteration:
chalal Short Definition: flutes. Word Origin denominative...
5953c. alal -- to act orplay the child
... 5953b, 5953c. alal. 5953d . to act orplay the child. Transliteration:
alal Short Definition: children. Word Origin denominative...
2181. zanah -- to commit fornication, be a harlot
... 1), harlot (22), harlot continually (1), harlot's (2), harlot's* (2), harlot* (3),
harlotry (3), harlots (5), making her a harlot (1),play the harlot (18...
7832. sachaq -- to laugh
... 2), celebrating (3), hold a contest (1), joking (1), laugh (6), laughed them to
scorn (1), laughs (6), merrymakers (2), mock (1), mocked (1),play (2), played...
8608. taphaph -- to sound the timbrel, beat
... taber,play with timbrels. A primitive root; to drum, iePlay (as) on the tambourine --
taber,play with timbrels. 8607, 8608. taphaph. 8609 ....
6711. tsachaq -- to laugh
... root Definition to laugh NASB Word Usage caressing (1), entertained* (1), jesting
(1), laugh (4), laughed (2), make sport (2), mocking (1),play (1)....
7696. shaga -- to be mad
...play the mad man. A primitive root; to rave through insanity -- (be,play the)
mad (man). 7695, 7696. shaga. 7697 . Strong's Numbers.
5528. sakal -- to be foolish or a fool
... be silly,play the fool. For kacal; to be silly -- do (make,play the, turn into)
fool(-ish, -ishly, -ishness). see HEBREW kacal. 5527b, 5528. sakal. 5529...
2388. chazaq -- to be or grow firm or strong, strengthen
... take) courage(-ous, -ly), encourage (self), be established, fasten, force, fortify,
make hard, harden, help, (lay) hold (fast), lean, maintain,play the man...
Library
InnocentPlay.
... InnocentPlay.... 2 If we had been ducks, we might dabble in mud: Or dogs, we might
play till it ended in blood; So foul, or so fierce are their natures....
Song 2. InnocentPlay.
... Divine Songs Song 2. Innocentplay. Innocentplay. 11,11,8,11,11,8.... When theyplay
all in love, without anger or rage,. How much may we learn from the sight....
Whether There Can be Sin in the Excess ofPlay?
... OF MODESTY AS CONSISTING IN THE OUTWARD MOVEMENTS OF THE BODY (FOUR ARTICLES)
Whether there can be sin in the excess ofplay? Objection...
First Part of the Subject, Touching the Constitution of the...
... First Part of the Subject, Touching the Constitution of the Pleroma, Briefly
Recapitulated Transition to the Other Part, Which is Like aPlay Outside the...
Concerning the Hatred of Learning, the Love ofPlay, and the Fear...
... Book I. Chapter IX."Concerning the Hatred of Learning, the Love ofPlay, and the
Fear of Being Whipped Noticeable in Boys: and of the Folly of Our Elders and...
No one at All, Whether Cleric or Layman, is from this Time Forward...
... The Sixth Ecumenical Council. Canon L. No one at all, whether cleric or layman,
is from this time forward toplay?... A layman should notplay at dice....
Ode on the Installation of the Duke of Devonshire, Chancellor of...
... knowing she will sleep the sounder, Cheerier-hearted on the morrow Rise to grapple
care and sorrow, Grandly leads the dance adown, and joins the children'splay...
Morning Prayers.
... Amen. 9. I thank Thee, Lord, for sleep and rest, For all the things that I love
best, Now guide me through another day And bless my work and bless myplay....
On Deck
... Boys and girls are always on deck, whether they are playing ball or not, for a boy
or girl never knows when he is going to be called upon toplay some part in...
The Great Unknown Lack.
... Bull renewed his invitation, time and again, finally saying, "If you won't come,
I'll bring my violin down here to your shop, andplay." "If you do," replied...
Thesaurus
Play (61 Occurrences)... 3. (n.) To contend, or take part, in a game; as, to
play ball; hence, to
gamble; as, he played for heavy stakes. 4. (n.) To perform
...Frolic (3 Occurrences)
... 2. (n.) A wild prank; a flight of levity, or of gayety and mirth. 3. (n.) A scene
of gayety and mirth, as in livelyplay, or in dancing; a merrymaking....
Scene (3 Occurrences)
... 1. (n.) The structure on which a spectacle orplay is exhibited; the part of a theater
in which the acting is done, with its adjuncts and decorations; the stage...
Playing (37 Occurrences)
... Noah Webster's Dictionary 1. (p. pr. & vb. n.) ofPlay. 2. (a. & vb. N.)
ofPlay. Multi-Version Concordance Playing (37 Occurrences)....
Prostitute (83 Occurrences)
... Exodus 34:15 "Don't make a covenant with the inhabitants of the land, lest they
play the prostitute after their gods, and sacrifice to their gods, and one call...
Wanton (20 Occurrences)
... 7. (n.) A lewd person; a lascivious man or woman. 8. (vi) To rove and ramble without
restraint, rule, or limit; to revel; toplay loosely; to frolic....
Astray (116 Occurrences)
... Exodus 34:15 lest thou make a covenant with the inhabitants of the land, and they
play the harlot after their gods, and sacrifice unto their gods, and one call...
Game (11 Occurrences)
... 4. (n.) The use or practice of such a game; a single match atplay; a single contest;
as, a game at cards.... 12. (n.) Toplay at any sport or diversion. 13....
Indulge (12 Occurrences)
... 1 Corinthians 10:7 Neither be idolaters, as some of them were. As it is written,
"The people sat down to eat and drink, and rose up toplay." (See NIV)....
Thumb (7 Occurrences)
... See Pollex. 2. (vt) To handle awkwardly. 3. (vt) Toplay with the thumbs,
or with the thumbs and fingers; as, to thumb over a tune....
Resources
Should a Christian play Pokémon? Should a Christian play Yu-Gi-Oh!? | GotQuestions.orgShould a Christian play video games? | GotQuestions.orgShould a Christian prank / do pranks? Is it wrong to play a practical joke on someone? | GotQuestions.orgPlay: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.comBible Concordance •
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