Topical Encyclopedia
In the context of the Bible, "raising" often refers to the act of bringing someone back to life from the dead, a miraculous event that signifies divine power and authority over life and death. This concept is central to several key narratives in both the Old and New Testaments, highlighting God's sovereignty and the hope of resurrection.
Old Testament Instances1.
Elijah and the Widow's Son: One of the earliest accounts of raising the dead is found in
1 Kings 17:17-24. The prophet Elijah raises the son of the widow of Zarephath. After the boy falls ill and dies, Elijah prays to the LORD, and the child's life is restored. This miracle demonstrates God's compassion and power through His prophet.
2.
Elisha and the Shunammite's Son: In
2 Kings 4:18-37, Elisha, the successor of Elijah, performs a similar miracle. The Shunammite woman's son dies, and Elisha prays to the LORD, stretching himself upon the child, who then sneezes seven times and opens his eyes. This act of raising the dead further establishes the prophetic authority and the presence of God's power in Israel.
New Testament Instances1.
Jesus Raises the Widow's Son at Nain: In
Luke 7:11-17, Jesus encounters a funeral procession for the only son of a widow in the town of Nain. Moved with compassion, He tells the widow not to weep and commands the young man to arise. The dead man sits up and begins to speak, and Jesus gives him back to his mother. This miracle underscores Jesus' authority over death and His deep compassion for human suffering.
2.
The Raising of Jairus' Daughter: In
Mark 5:21-43, Jesus raises the daughter of Jairus, a synagogue leader. Despite being told that the girl is dead, Jesus tells Jairus, "Do not be afraid; only believe" (
Mark 5:36). He takes the girl by the hand and says, "Talitha koum," which means, "Little girl, I say to you, get up!" (
Mark 5:41). The girl immediately gets up and walks, demonstrating Jesus' power over death and His call to faith.
3.
The Raising of Lazarus: Perhaps the most well-known instance of raising the dead is found in
John 11:1-44. Lazarus, a close friend of Jesus, has been dead for four days when Jesus arrives. Jesus declares, "I am the resurrection and the life" (
John 11:25) and calls Lazarus out of the tomb. This miracle not only foreshadows Jesus' own resurrection but also serves as a powerful testament to His divine nature and the promise of eternal life for believers.
Theological SignificanceThe act of raising the dead in the Bible is not merely a demonstration of miraculous power but is deeply intertwined with the themes of faith, hope, and the promise of eternal life. It points to the ultimate resurrection of Jesus Christ, which is the cornerstone of Christian faith. As Paul writes in
1 Corinthians 15:20-22 , "But now Christ has been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep. For since death came through a man, the resurrection of the dead comes also through a man. For as in Adam all die, so in Christ all will be made alive."
Eschatological HopeThe concept of raising the dead also carries eschatological implications, as it anticipates the final resurrection at the end of the age. In
1 Thessalonians 4:16-17 , Paul describes the return of Christ, when "the dead in Christ will rise first. After that, we who are alive and remain will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air." This future hope is a source of comfort and encouragement for believers, affirming the victory over death through Jesus Christ.
Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary
1. (
p. pr. & vb. n.) of Raise.
2. (n.) The act of lifting, setting up, elevating, exalting, producing, or restoring to life.
3. (n.) Specifically, the operation or work of setting up the frame of a building; as, to help at a raising.
4. (n.) The operation of embossing sheet metal, or of forming it into cup-shaped or hollow articles, by hammering, stamping, or spinning.
Greek
386. anastasis -- a standing up, ie a resurrection, araising up...... a standing up, ie a resurrection, a
raising up, rising. Part of Speech: Noun, Feminine
Transliteration: anastasis Phonetic Spelling: (an-as'-tas-is) Short
...450. anistemi -- to raise up, to rise
... Usage arise (4), arises (2), arose (4), get (15), getting (1), got (24), raise
(7), raised (4), raised...up again (1), raised up again (1),raising (1), rise (...
387. anastatoo -- to stir up, unsettle
... 387 (literally, "change from going "; see the root, 450 ) -- properly, turn something
over (up to down), ie to (-set),raising part up which results in...
369. anantirretos -- without contradiction
... Word Origin adverb from anantirretos Definition without contradiction NASB Word
Usage without...raising any objection (2). without objection....
4160. poieo -- to make, do
... lay wait, + lighten the ship, make, X mean, + none of these things move me, observe,
ordain, perform, provide, + have purged, purpose, put, +raising up, X...
1999. episustasis -- conspiracy
... conspiracy From the middle voice of a compound of epi and sunistao; a conspiracy,
ie Concourse (riotous or friendly) -- that which cometh upon, +raising up....
714. arkeo -- to assist, suffice
... Apparently a primary verb (but probably akin to airo through the idea ofraising
a barrier); properly, to ward off, ie (by implication) to avail (figuratively...
365. ananeoo -- to renew
... Here believers are reminded of God's continuous offer to bring new strides in their
sanctification through "sanctified reasoning" --raising the meaning to and...
5500. cheirotoneo -- to vote by stretching out the hand, to...
... From a comparative of cheir and teino (to stretch); to be a hand-reacher or voter
(byraising the hand), ie (generally) to select or appoint -- choose, ordain....
Strong's Hebrew
4864. maseth -- an uprising, utterance, burden, portion... From nasa'; properly, (abstractly) a
raising (as of the hands in prayer), or rising
(of flame); figuratively, an utterance; concretely, a beacon (as raised); a
...6965. qum -- to arise, stand up, stand
... good (1), obliging* (1), observed (2), opponent (1), pass (1), passes (1), posted
(1), prepared (1), raise (29), raised (12), raises (3),raising (1), remained...
4607. moal -- a lifting
... Word Origin from alah Definition a lifting NASB Word Usage lifting (1). lifting
up. From alah; araising (of the hands) -- lifting up. see HEBREW alah....
5895. ayir -- a male donkey
... From uwr in the sense ofraising (ie Bearing a burden); properly, a young ass (as
just broken to a load); hence an ass-colt -- (ass) colt, foal, young ass....
471. Elyaqim -- "God sets up," three Israelites
... NASB Word Usage Eliakim (12). Eliakim. From 'el and quwm; God ofraising; Eljakim,
the name of four Israelites -- Eliakim. see HEBREW 'el. see HEBREW quwm....
Library
TheRaising of the Dead.
... CHAPTER VI. THE MIRACLES OF CHRIST CONSIDERED IN REGARD TO SUPERNATURAL AGENCY.
III. TheRaising of the Dead. Section 106. Different Views on these Miracles....
The Death and theRaising of Lazarus - the Question of Miracles...
... THE DEATH AND THERAISING OF LAZARUS - THE QUESTION OF MIRACLES AND OF THIS MIRACLE
OF MIRACLES - VIEWS OF NEGATIVE CRITICISM ON THIS HISTORY - JEWISH BURYING...
Raising of the Cross.
... CHAPTER XXXIX.Raising of the Cross. When the executioners had finished
the crucifixion of our Lord, they tied ropes to the trunk...
TheRaising of the Young Man of Nain - the Meeting of Life and...
... OF TRANSFIGURATION. CHAPTER XX. THERAISING OF THE YOUNG MAN OF NAIN -
THE MEETING OF LIFE AND DEATH. (Luke 7:11-17.) THAT early...
That theRaising up of Christ into Heaven is not to be Ascribed to...
... Book VII. Chapter XXII. That theraising up of Christ into heaven is not
to be ascribed to the Spirit alone. But you add this also...
Christ, byRaising the Dead, Attested in a Practical Way the...
... Chapter XXXVIII."Christ, byRaising the Dead, Attested in a Practical
Way the Doctrine of the Resurrection of the Flesh. After...
Raising of Jairus's Daughter. --And of the Widow's Son at Nain.
... CHAPTER VII. CHRIST'S FIRST GENERAL MINISTRY IN GALILEE. Section 134.Raising
of Jairus's Daughter."And of the Widow's Son at Nain....
The Pelagians Maintain thatRaising Questions About Original Sin...
... Book II. On Original Sin. Chapter 26 [XXIII.]"The Pelagians Maintain thatRaising
Questions About Original Sin Does Not Endanger the Faith....
TheRaising of Lazarus.
... NEAR JERUSALEM"THE PLOT TO KILL HIM. THERAISING OF LAZARUS. Now a certain man was
sick, Lazarus of Bethany, of the village of Mary and her sister Martha....
TheRaising of the Dead.
... VIII. THERAISING OF THE DEAD.... Theraising of the dead and the feeding of the
living are both and equally divine"therefore in utter harmony....
Thesaurus
Raising (29 Occurrences)... 3. (n.) Specifically, the operation or work of setting up the frame of a building;
as, to help at a
raising.
... Multi-Version Concordance
Raising (29 Occurrences).
...Raise (175 Occurrences)
... raz: "To raise" in the Old Testament is most frequently the translation of the Hiphil
form of qum, "to cause to arise," egraising up seed (Genesis 38:8), a...
Nain (1 Occurrence)
... This was the first miracle ofraising the dead our Lord had wrought, and
it excited great awe and astonishment among the people. Int....
Lift (283 Occurrences)
... esp. cattle); as, to lift a drove of cattle. 7. (vi) To try to raise something;
to exert the strength forraising or bearing. 8. (vi...
Taxation (1 Occurrence)
... of imposing taxes, as on the subjects of a state, by government, or on the members
of a corporation or company, by the proper authority; theraising of revenue...
Martha (12 Occurrences)
... Martha is first mentioned by John-the only other Gospel writer who refers to
Martha-in his account of theraising of Lazarus from the dead at Bethany (John 11:...
Chicken
... Pliny gave many rules forraising chickens, proving that much was known
of their habits in his time. Yet so credulous was he and...
Shaft (13 Occurrences)
... 15. (n.) A well-like excavation in the earth, perpendicular or nearly so, made
for reaching andraising ore, forraising water, etc. 16....
James (40 Occurrences)
... With John and Peter he was present at the transfiguration (Matthew 17:1; Mark
9:2), at theraising of Jairus's daughter (Mark 5:37-43), and in the garden with...
Siege (63 Occurrences)
... of Circumvallation (3) Mound, or Earthworks (4) Battering-Rams (5) Storming of Walls
and Rushing of Breach 5. Siege Operations: Defense 6.Raising of Siege 7...
Resources
What is the meaning of the phrase raising Cain? | GotQuestions.orgShould a church participate in fund-raising? | GotQuestions.orgIs raising the dead still possible today? | GotQuestions.orgRaising: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.comBible Concordance •
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