Topical Encyclopedia
The concept of "start" in the Bible often signifies the beginning of a journey, task, or new phase in life, both physically and spiritually. It is a theme that underscores the importance of beginnings and the divine guidance that accompanies them.
Creation and New BeginningsThe Bible opens with the ultimate "start" in
Genesis 1:1, "In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth." This verse marks the commencement of time and the universe, highlighting God's sovereignty and creative power. The creation narrative sets the stage for all subsequent beginnings, emphasizing that God is the author of all starts.
The Call of AbrahamA significant "start" in the biblical narrative is the call of Abraham. In
Genesis 12:1, God commands Abram, "Go forth from your country, your people, and your father’s household to the land I will show you." This marks the beginning of a covenant relationship between God and Abraham, initiating the journey of faith that would lead to the formation of the nation of Israel.
The ExodusThe Exodus represents a pivotal start for the Israelites as they leave Egypt and begin their journey to the Promised Land. In
Exodus 12:2, God instructs Moses and Aaron, "This month is to be for you the first month, the first month of your year." This new calendar marks a fresh start for the Israelites, symbolizing liberation and the beginning of a new identity as God's chosen people.
The Ministry of JesusThe start of Jesus' public ministry is another critical moment in the biblical narrative. In
Matthew 4:17, Jesus begins His ministry with the proclamation, "Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is near." This marks the inauguration of His mission to bring salvation and the establishment of God's kingdom on earth.
Personal Renewal and TransformationThe theme of starting anew is also evident in the personal transformation of individuals. In
2 Corinthians 5:17, Paul writes, "Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come!" This verse encapsulates the spiritual rebirth and fresh start available to believers through faith in Christ.
The Role of FaithFaith is often the catalyst for new beginnings in the Bible.
Hebrews 11:8 highlights Abraham's faith as he started his journey: "By faith Abraham, when called to go to a place he would later receive as his inheritance, obeyed and went, even though he did not know where he was going." This underscores the importance of trust in God when embarking on new ventures.
Guidance and AssuranceThroughout Scripture, God provides guidance and assurance for those starting new journeys. In
Joshua 1:9, God encourages Joshua as he begins leading Israel into the Promised Land: "Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the LORD your God will be with you wherever you go." This promise of divine presence and support is a recurring theme for those embarking on new paths.
ConclusionThe Bible presents "start" as a significant theme, illustrating the importance of beginnings in God's plan. Whether it is the creation of the world, the call of a patriarch, the liberation of a nation, or the transformation of an individual, each start is marked by divine purpose and guidance.
Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary
1. (
v. i.) To leap; to jump.
2. (v. i.) To move suddenly, as with a spring or leap, from surprise, pain, or other sudden feeling or emotion, or by a voluntary act.
3. (v. i.) To set out; to commence a course, as a race or journey; to begin; as, to start business.
4. (v. i.) To become somewhat displaced or loosened; as, a rivet or a seam may start under strain or pressure.
5. (v. t.) To cause to move suddenly; to disturb suddenly; to startle; to alarm; to rouse; to cause to flee or fly; as, the hounds started a fox.
6. (v. t.) To bring onto being or into view; to originate; to invent.
7. (v. t.) To cause to move or act; to set going, running, or flowing; as, to start a railway train; to start a mill; to start a stream of water; to start a rumor; to start a business.
8. (v. t.) To move suddenly from its place or position; to displace or loosen; to dislocate; as, to start a bone; the storm started the bolts in the vessel.
9. (v. t.) To pour out; to empty; to tap and begin drawing from; as, to start a water cask.
10. (n.) The act of starting; a sudden spring, leap, or motion, caused by surprise, fear, pain, or the like; any sudden motion, or beginning of motion.
11. (n.) A convulsive motion, twitch, or spasm; a spasmodic effort.
12. (n.) A sudden, unexpected movement; a sudden and capricious impulse; a sally; as, starts of fancy.
13. (n.) The beginning, as of a journey or a course of action; first motion from a place; act of setting out; the outset; -- opposed to finish.
14. (n.) A tail, or anything projecting like a tail.
15. (n.) The handle, or tail, of a plow; also, any long handle.
16. (n.) The curved or inclined front and bottom of a water-wheel bucket.
17. (n.) The arm, or level, of a gin, drawn around by a horse.
Greek
4399. prophthano -- to anticipate... anticipate, prevent. From pro and phthano; to get an earlier
start of, ie Anticipate --
prevent. see GREEK pro. see GREEK phthano. (proephthasen) -- 1 Occurrence
...3729. hormao -- to set in motion, to hasten on
... run violently, rush. From horme; tostart, spur or urge on, ie (reflexively)
to dash or plunge -- run (violently), rush. see GREEK horme....
1816. exanatello -- to spring up
... spring up. From ek and anatello; tostart up out of the ground, ie Germinate --
spring up. see GREEK ek. see GREEK anatello. (exaneteilen) -- 2 Occurrences....
874. aphorme -- a starting point, ie fig. an occasion
... Feminine Transliteration: aphorme Phonetic Spelling: (af-or-may') Short Definition:
an occasion, opportunity Definition: (a) a starting, astart, (b) cause...
Strong's Hebrew
7925. shakam -- tostart or rise early... 7924, 7925. shakam. 7926 . to
start or rise early. Transliteration: shakam
Phonetic Spelling: (shaw-kam') Short Definition: early. Word Origin a prim.
...5425a. nathar -- to spring orstart up
... to spring orstart up. Transliteration: nathar Short Definition: jump.... root Definition
to spring orstart up NASB Word Usage jump (1), leaps (1), startled (1)....
5425. nathar -- to spring orstart up
... 5424, 5425. nathar. 5425a . to spring orstart up. Transliteration: nathar
Phonetic Spelling: (naw-thar') Short Definition: asunder....
5265. nasa -- to pull out or up, set out, journey
... A primitive root; properly, to pull up, especially the tent-pins, ieStart on a
journey -- cause to blow, bring, get, (make to) go (away, forth, forward, onward...
2648. chaphaz -- to be in trepidation, hurry or alarm
... make haste away, tremble. A primitive root; properly, tostart up suddenly, ie
(by implication) to hasten away, to fear -- (make) haste (away), tremble....
2490c. chalal -- to pollute, defile, profane
... 2), defiled (3), desecrate (1), enjoy (1), first (1), pollute (1), polluted (1),
profane (21), profaned (29), profanes (3), profaning (5),start (1), started (2...
Library
The Jordan: the DecisiveStart. Matthew 3:13-17. Mark 1:9-1Luke
... III. The Great Experiences of Jesus' Life. 1. The Jordan: The DecisiveStart. Matthew
3:13-17. Mark 1:9-11. Luke.... Greeks, John 12:28. the decisivestart....
How the Eternal Love of God Prevents Our Hearts with his...
... can never take flight again of their own power, because having no use of their legs
or feet, they have therefore no power to move andstart themselves into the...
The Relation of the Will of God to Sanctification
... It answered its purpose"so far. For God takes strange ways tostart a man's religion....
It may be adversity in business that gives us a freshstart....
The Acceptance of the Christian Conception of Life Will Emancipate...
... The position of the bees on the branch is temporary, and must inevitably be
changed. They muststart off and find themselves a habitation....
Our Brother.
... The Jordan: The DecisiveStart Our Brother.... It was clear evidence at thestart
that He was the true Messiah, the King. He was their Brother....
The Right to Run Things
... What do you do? How do youstart in?... As soon as things get going in the city,
we muststart outstations in strategic market towns as well....
Quiet Talks about Jesus
... The Jordan: The DecisiveStart. The Anvil of Experience. Our Brother.... The Great
Experiences of Jesus' Life. 1. The Jordan: The DecisiveStart. Matthew 3:13-17....
The Maniac
... answer to it. But I think this book may wellstart where our argument
started"in the neighbourhood of the mad-house. Modern masters...
An Appeal to the Outsider; Or, the Claims of Christianity
... with a man's views. We want a man's life. We do not want his opinion. We
do notstart a man with a creed. We believe that the man...
Final Considerations to Induce to Exomologesis.
... The haughtiest [8527] mountainsstart asunder in the birth-throes of their
inly-gendered fire; and"which proves to us the perpetuity of the judgment"though...
Thesaurus
Start (50 Occurrences)... 3. (vi) To set out; to commence a course, as a race or journey; to begin;
as, to
start business. 4. (vi) To become somewhat displaced
...Grain-cutting (19 Occurrences)
... Exodus 23:16 And the feast of the grain-cutting, the first-fruits of your planted
fields: and the feast at thestart of the year, when you have got in all the...
Bolt (5 Occurrences)
... (vt) To cause tostart or spring forth; to dislodge, as conies, rabbits, etc.... (n.)
A sudden spring orstart; a sudden spring aside; as, the horse made a bolt....
Started (51 Occurrences)
... Noah Webster's Dictionary (imp. & pp) ofStart. Multi-Version Concordance... So they
made astart with the old men who were before the house. (See NAS)....
Kindle (25 Occurrences)
... 2. (vt) To set on fire; to cause to burn with flame; to ignite; to cause to begin
burning; tostart; to light; as, to kindle a match, or shavings....
Launch (3 Occurrences)
... 4. (vi) To send out; tostart (one) on a career; to set going; to give astart to
(something); to put in operation; as, to launch a son in the world; to launch...
Redemption (46 Occurrences)
... in Scriptural Idea of Redeemer 6. Uniqueness of Son of God as Redeemer LITERATURE
The idea of redemption in the Old Testament takes itsstart from the thought...
Redeemer (42 Occurrences)
... in Scriptural Idea of Redeemer 6. Uniqueness of Son of God as Redeemer LITERATURE
The idea of redemption in the Old Testament takes itsstart from the thought...
Rouse (25 Occurrences)
... 4. (v.) To cause tostart from a covert or lurking place; as, to rouse a deer or
other animal of the chase.... 9. (vi) To get orstart up; to rise. 10....
Shy (2 Occurrences)
... 4. (v.) Tostart suddenly aside through fright or suspicion; -- said especially
of horses.... 6. (n.) A suddenstart aside, as by a horse....
Resources
Where is a good place to start reading the Bible? | GotQuestions.orgWhen did the church begin/start? | GotQuestions.orgI am in the process of getting a divorce. Can I start dating, or do I have to wait until the divorce is final? | GotQuestions.orgStart: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.comBible Concordance •
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