Topical Encyclopedia
The act of reading in the biblical context is a significant practice, deeply rooted in the traditions of the Jewish and Christian faiths. Reading, particularly of the Scriptures, is portrayed as a means of understanding God's will, gaining wisdom, and fostering spiritual growth.
Old Testament ContextIn the Old Testament, the importance of reading is evident in the practice of public reading of the Law. Moses, after receiving the Law from God, read it to the people of Israel to ensure they understood the covenant they were entering into (
Exodus 24:7). The practice of reading the Law was institutionalized in the life of Israel, as seen in
Deuteronomy 31:11-12, where it is commanded that the Law be read aloud to all Israel every seven years during the Feast of Tabernacles: "when all Israel comes to appear before the LORD your God at the place He will choose, you shall read this law before them in their hearing."
The reading of the Scriptures was not only a communal activity but also a personal one. In
Joshua 1:8, God instructs Joshua, "This Book of the Law must not depart from your mouth; you are to meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. For then you will prosper and succeed in all you do." This highlights the importance of personal engagement with the Word of God through reading and meditation.
New Testament ContextIn the New Testament, the practice of reading continues to hold significant importance. Jesus Himself read from the Scriptures in the synagogue, as recorded in
Luke 4:16-17: "He went to Nazareth, where He had been brought up. As was His custom, He entered the synagogue on the Sabbath. And when He stood up to read, the scroll of the prophet Isaiah was handed to Him."
The early church also emphasized the public reading of Scripture. Paul, in his letters, often instructed the churches to read his epistles aloud to the congregation. In
1 Thessalonians 5:27, he writes, "I charge you before the Lord to have this letter read to all the brothers." Similarly, in
Colossians 4:16, he instructs, "After this letter has been read among you, see that it is also read in the church of the Laodiceans, and that you in turn read the letter from Laodicea."
Theological SignificanceReading the Scriptures is seen as a means of receiving divine revelation and instruction. The Bible is considered the inspired Word of God, and reading it is a way to hear God's voice and understand His will. In
2 Timothy 3:16-17, Paul writes, "All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for instruction, for conviction, for correction, and for training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be complete, fully equipped for every good work."
The act of reading is also associated with the concept of spiritual nourishment. Jesus, in
Matthew 4:4, quotes
Deuteronomy 8:3, saying, "It is written: 'Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.'" This underscores the belief that reading and internalizing Scripture is essential for spiritual life and growth.
Practical ApplicationFor believers, reading the Bible is a foundational spiritual discipline. It is encouraged as a daily practice to grow in faith and knowledge of God. The Berean Standard Bible, like other translations, serves as a tool for believers to engage with the Scriptures in a language that is accessible and understandable.
In summary, the act of reading, particularly the reading of Scripture, is a vital practice in the Judeo-Christian tradition. It serves as a means of understanding God's will, receiving instruction, and growing in spiritual maturity.
Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary
1. (
n.) Rennet. See Reed.
2. (imp. & p. p.) of Read.
3. (v. t.) To advise; to counsel.
4. (v. t.) To interpret; to explain; as, to read a riddle.
5. (v. t.) To tell; to declare; to recite.
6. (v. t.) To go over, as characters or words, and utter aloud, or recite to one's self inaudibly; to take in the sense of, as of language, by interpreting the characters with which it is expressed; to peruse; as, to read a discourse; to read the letters of an alphabet; to read figures; to read the notes of music, or to read music; to read a book.
7. (v. t.) Hence, to know fully; to comprehend.
8. (v. t.) To discover or understand by characters, marks, features, etc.; to learn by observation.
9. (v. t.) To make a special study of, as by perusing textbooks; as, to read theology or law.
10. (v. i.) To give advice or counsel.
11. (v. i.) To tell; to declare.
12. (v. i.) To perform the act of reading; to peruse, or to go over and utter aloud, the words of a book or other like document.
13. (v. i.) To study by reading; as, he read for the bar.
14. (v. i.) To learn by reading.
15. (v. i.) To appear in writing or print; to be expressed by, or consist of, certain words or characters; as, the passage reads thus in the early manuscripts.
16. (v. i.) To produce a certain effect when read; as, that sentence reads queerly.
17. (v. t.) Saying; sentence; maxim; hence, word; advice; counsel. See Rede.
18. (v.) Reading.
19. (v.) imp. & p. p. of Read, v. t. & i.
20. (a.) Instructed or knowing by reading; versed in books; learned.
Greek
314. anaginosko -- to know certainly, know again,read... to know certainly, know again,
read. Part of Speech: Verb Transliteration: anaginosko
Phonetic Spelling: (an-ag-in-oce'-ko) Short Definition: I
read Definition
...11. Abraam -- Abraham, the Heb. patriarch
... Abraham. Of Hebrew origin ('Abraham); Abraham, the Hebrew patriarch -- Abraham.
(In Acts 7:16 the text should probablyread Jacob.). see HEBREW 'Abraham....
1924. epigrapho -- to write upon
... Word Origin from epi and grapho Definition to write upon NASB Word Usage inscription
(1),read (1), write (2), written (1). inscription, write in....
5273. hupokrites -- one who answers, an actor, a hypocrite
... above-board. They should be themselves. Their lives should be like an open
book, easilyread" (K. Wuest,, 50,51).]. Word Origin from...
1125. grapho -- to write
... Word Origin a prim. verb Definition to write NASB Word Usageread (1), sent this
letter (1), write (37), writes (1), writing (14), written (117), wrote (20)....
Strong's Hebrew
7123. qera -- to call,read out or aloud... 7122, 7123. qera. 7124 . to call,
read out or aloud. Transliteration:
qera Phonetic Spelling: (ker-aw') Short Definition:
read.
...7121. qara -- to call, proclaim,read
... 7120, 7121. qara. 7122 . to call, proclaim,read. Transliteration: qara Phonetic
Spelling: (kaw-raw') Short Definition: call. Word Origin a prim....
3045. yada -- to know
... notice (2), observe (2), perceive (1), perceived (1), possibly know (1), predict
(1), professional mourners (1), provided (1), raped (1),read* (1), realize (1...
5612. sepher -- a missive, document, writing, book
... books (2), certificate (3), deed (6), deeds (3), illiterate* (1), indictment (1),
letter (14), letters (15), literate* (1), literature (2),read* (1), scroll (6...
Library
Books to beRead.
... LETTERS OF DIONYSIUS THE AREOPAGITE. BOOKS TO BEREAD. 1st. "The doctrine of the
Lord, through the Twelve Apostles, to the Gentiles." Spence, Nisbet. 2nd....
Brief Directions How toRead the Holy Scriptures once Every Year...
... THE PRACTICE OF PIETY. BRIEF DIRECTIONS HOW TOREAD THE HOLY SCRIPTURES
ONCE EVERY YEAR OVER, WITH EASE, PROFIT, AND REVERENCE....
As, when weRead in the Gospel, "Thou Hast Received a Blow in The....
... Section 27. As, when weread in the Gospel, "Thou hast received a blow
in the? 27. As, when weread in the Gospel, "Thou hast...
The Gospels are to beRead on the Sabbath I. ...
... Canon XVI. The Gospels are to beread on the Sabbath i.? The Gospels are to beread
on the Sabbath [ie Saturday], with the other Scriptures. Notes....
And as weRead that He Used Food Also...
... Book VII. 45 And as weread that he used food also? [4990] And as weread
that he used food also, by which bodily existence is...
Our Scriptures were PubliclyRead and Expounded in the Religious...
... PART I. SECTION V. Our Scriptures were publiclyread and expounded in the
religious assemblies of the early Christians.? Our Scriptures...
Whether Every one Will be Able toRead all that is in Another's...
... TREATISE ON THE LAST THINGS (QQ -99)OF THE KNOWLEDGE WHICH, AFTER RISING AGAIN,
MEN WILL HAVE AT THE JUDGMENT Whether every one will be able toread all that...
I Think when IRead that Sweet Story of Old
... III. SACRAMENTS AND RITES Catechism 350. I think when Iread that sweet story of
old. 11.8.12.9... Jemima Luke, 1841. I think when Iread that sweet story of old,....
Being Able toRead, Petilianus, I haveRead Your Letter...
... Book III. Chapter 1. " 1. Being able toread, Petilianus, I haveread
your letter? "1. Being able toread, Petilianus, I have...
How Constantine Received Instruction, andRead the Sacred...
... Book I. Chapter XXXII."How Constantine received Instruction, andread the Sacred
Scriptures. These things were done shortly afterwards....
Thesaurus
Read (681 Occurrences)... 2. (imp. & pp) of
Read. 3. (vt) To advise; to counsel. 4. (vt) To interpret; to
explain; as, to
read a riddle. 5. (vt) To tell; to declare; to recite.
...Inscription (18 Occurrences)
... John 19:20 Therefore many of the Jewsread this title, for the place where Jesus
was crucified was near the city; and it was written in Hebrew, in Latin, and...
Shaphan (26 Occurrences)
... It was from Shaphan's lips that Josiah heard the Lawread.... Shaphanread therein
before the king. (WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)....
Secretary (34 Occurrences)
... the high priest said to Shaphan the scribe, "I have found the book of the law in
the house of Yahweh." Hilkiah delivered the book to Shaphan, and heread it....
Companions (58 Occurrences)
... Matthew 12:3 But he said to them, "Haven't youread what David did, when
he was hungry, and those who were with him; (See NAS NIV)....
Chariot (102 Occurrences)
... he was able to oppress the children of Israel twenty years (Judges 4:3). The
Philistines of the low country and the maritime plain, of whom weread in Judges...
Zebul (5 Occurrences)
... of Abimelech. This verse is a little difficult, but if weread "served"
for "serve ye," it becomes fairly clear in meaning. With...
Eunice (1 Occurrence)
... u-ni'-se, u'-nis (Eunike, is the correct reading, and not Euneike, which isread
by the Textus Receptus of the New Testament of Stephen, three syllables: Eu-ni...
Educated (6 Occurrences)
... Isaiah 29:11 All vision has become to you like the words of a book that is sealed,
which men deliver to one who is educated, saying, "Read this, please;" and...
Distinctly (8 Occurrences)
... dis-tinkt'-li: Only Nehemiah 8:8, "Theyread in the book, in the law of God,
distinctly." Probably the better rendering is the Revised Version, margin "with...
Resources
What is the Easy-to-Read Version (ERV)? | GotQuestions.orgShould we stand when the Bible is read? | GotQuestions.orgWhy should we read the Bible / study the Bible? | GotQuestions.orgRead: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.comBible Concordance •
Bible Dictionary •
Bible Encyclopedia •
Topical Bible •
Bible Thesuarus
