Topical Encyclopedia
Definition and ConceptSatisfaction, in a biblical context, refers to the fulfillment and contentment that comes from aligning one's life with God's will and experiencing His provision and presence. It is both a spiritual and emotional state where one's desires are met in accordance with divine purpose and grace.
Biblical ReferencesThe Bible speaks extensively about satisfaction, often linking it to God's provision and the believer's relationship with Him. In
Psalm 107:9, it is written, "For He satisfies the thirsty soul and fills the hungry soul with good things." This verse highlights God's role in providing for the deepest needs of His people, both physically and spiritually.
Proverbs 19:23 states, "The fear of the LORD leads to life, that one may rest content, untouched by trouble." Here, satisfaction is associated with a life lived in reverence to God, resulting in peace and contentment.
Spiritual SatisfactionTrue satisfaction is found in God alone.
Psalm 16:11 declares, "You make known to me the path of life; in Your presence is fullness of joy; at Your right hand are pleasures forevermore." This verse emphasizes that ultimate joy and satisfaction are found in God's presence, surpassing any earthly pleasure.
Jesus Christ, in the New Testament, offers Himself as the source of spiritual satisfaction. In
John 6:35, He says, "I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to Me will never hunger, and whoever believes in Me will never thirst." This metaphor illustrates that Christ fulfills the deepest spiritual needs, offering eternal satisfaction.
Material and Temporal SatisfactionWhile the Bible acknowledges material needs, it warns against seeking satisfaction solely in earthly possessions.
Ecclesiastes 5:10 notes, "Whoever loves money never has enough; whoever loves wealth is never satisfied with their income. This too is meaningless." The pursuit of wealth and material gain, apart from God, leads to emptiness.
The Apostle Paul provides a model of contentment in
Philippians 4:11-12, where he writes, "I have learned to be content regardless of my circumstances. I know how to live humbly, and I know how to abound. I am accustomed to any and every situation—to being filled and being hungry, to having plenty and having need." Paul's contentment is rooted in his relationship with Christ, not in his material circumstances.
Satisfaction in God's ProvisionGod's provision is a recurring theme in Scripture, assuring believers that He will meet their needs. In
Matthew 6:31-33, Jesus instructs, "Therefore do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For the pagans strive after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things will be added unto you." This passage encourages believers to prioritize their relationship with God, trusting Him to provide for their needs.
Eternal SatisfactionThe Bible promises eternal satisfaction for those who trust in God.
Revelation 7:16-17 offers a vision of the future, stating, "Never again will they hunger, and never will they thirst; nor will the sun beat down upon them, nor any scorching heat. For the Lamb in the center of the throne will be their shepherd. He will lead them to springs of living water, and God will wipe away every tear from their eyes." This assurance of eternal satisfaction underscores the hope and fulfillment found in God's eternal kingdom.
ConclusionThe biblical concept of satisfaction is deeply intertwined with a life centered on God. It transcends material wealth and circumstances, offering a profound sense of fulfillment through a relationship with the Creator.
Topical Bible Verses
Proverbs 27:20Hell and destruction are never full; so the eyes of man are never satisfied.
Topicalbible.orgEcclesiastes 5:10, 6:7
He that loves silver shall not be satisfied with silver; nor he that loves abundance with increase: this is also vanity.
Topicalbible.org
Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary
1. (
n.) The act of satisfying, or the state of being satisfied; gratification of desire; contentment in possession and enjoyment; repose of mind resulting from compliance with its desires or demands.
2. (n.) Settlement of a claim, due, or demand; payment; indemnification; adequate compensation.
3. (n.) That which satisfies or gratifies; atonement.
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia
SATISFACTIONsat-is-fak'-shun: Occurs twice in the King James Version (Numbers 35:31, 32) as a rendering of the Hebrew kopher (the Revised Version (British and American) "ransom"). It means a price paid as compensation for a life, and the passage cited is a prohibition against accepting such, in case of murder, or for the return of the manslayer. Such compensation was permitted in ancient justice among many peoples. Compare poine, which Liddell and Scott define as "properly quit-money for blood spilt, the fine paid by the slayer to the kinsman of the slain, as a ransom from all consequences." The same custom prevailed among Teutonic peoples, as seen in the German Wergeld and Old English wergild. The Hebrew lairs of the Old Testament permit it only in the case of a man or woman gored to death by an ox (Exodus 21:30-32).
Benjamin Reno Downer
Greek
841. autarkeia -- self-satisfaction, ie self-sufficiency... self-
satisfaction, ie self-sufficiency. Part of Speech: Noun, Feminine Transliteration:
autarkeia Phonetic Spelling: (ow-tar'-ki-ah) Short Definition: self
...4140. plesmone -- a filling up
... a filling up. Part of Speech: Noun, Feminine Transliteration: plesmone Phonetic
Spelling: (place-mon-ay') Short Definition:satisfaction, indulgence Definition...
2107. eudokia -- good pleasure
... good-will, favor Definition: (a) good-will (good-pleasure), favor, feeling of
complacency of God to man, (b) good-pleasure,satisfaction, happiness, delight of...
4913. sunedomai -- to rejoice together
... delight. Middle voice from sun and the base of hedone; to rejoice in with oneself,
ie Feelsatisfaction concerning -- delight. see GREEK sun. see GREEK hedone....
2433. hilaskomai -- to be propitious, make propitiation for
... Cognate: 2433 (akin to 2434 , "propitiation, appeasement/satisfaction of divine
wrath on sin") -- properly, to extend , showing mercy by satisfying (literally...
2237. hedone -- pleasure
... to the () . 2237 ("satisfaction of physical appetite") has a strong , generally
referring to pleasure that is made an . That is, the...
1070. gelao -- to laugh
... laugh. Of uncertain affinity; to laugh (as a sign of joy orsatisfaction) -- laugh.
(gelasete) -- 1 Occurrence. (gelontes) -- 1 Occurrence. 1069, 1070....
2436. hileos -- propitious
... an adjective, used back in Attic Greek about ) -- properly, , describing God's
covenant-mercy which rescues the believer by His (bringing divinesatisfaction)....
Strong's Hebrew
3724. kopher -- the price of a life, ransom... Definition: bribe. bribe, pitch, ransom,
satisfaction, sum of money, village
From kaphar; properly, a cover, ie (literally) a village
...7310. revayah -- saturation
... runneth over, wealthy. From ravah;satisfaction -- runneth over, wealthy. see
HEBREW ravah. 7309, 7310. revayah. 7311 . Strong's Numbers.
7207. raavah -- behold
... Word Origin the same as raah, qv. behold From ra'ah; sight, ieSatisfaction -- behold.
see HEBREW ra'ah. 7206, 7207. raavah. 7208 . Strong's Numbers.
5116. naveh -- abode of shepherd or flocks, habitation
... Or (feminine) navah {naw-vaw'}; from navah; (adjectively) at home; hence (by
implication ofsatisfaction) lovely; also (noun) a home, of God (temple), men...
7646. saba -- to be sated, satisfied or surfeited
... Or sabeay {saw-bay'-ah}; a primitive root; to sate, ie Fill tosatisfaction (literally
or figuratively) -- have enough, fill (full, self, with), be (to the...
4599. mayan -- a spring
... yaw-naw'}; from ayin (as a denominative in the sense of a spring); a fountain (also
collectively), figuratively, a source (ofsatisfaction) -- fountain, spring...
7648. soba -- satiety, abundance
... fill, fullness, satisfying, be satisfied. From saba';satisfaction (of food or
(figuratively) joy) -- fill, full(-ness), satisfying, be satisfied....
5606. saphaq -- to slap, clap
... 2:6) {saw-fak'}; a primitive root; to clap the hands (in token of compact, derision,
grief, indignation, or punishment); by implication ofsatisfaction, to be...
8378. taavah -- a desire
... From 'avah (abbreviated); a longing; by implication, a delight (subjectively,
satisfaction, objectively, a charm) -- dainty, desire, X exceedingly, X greedily...
Library
Thirst andSatisfaction
... VOLUME II: PSALMS LI to CXLV THIRST ANDSATISFACTION. 'My soul thirsteth
for Thee....5. My soul shall be satisfied....8. My soul...
WhetherSatisfaction is an Act of Justice?
... OFSATISFACTION, AS TO ITS NATURE (THREE ARTICLES) Whethersatisfaction is an
act of justice? Objection 1: It would seem thatsatisfaction...
WhetherSatisfaction is a virtue or an Act of virtue?
... OFSATISFACTION, AS TO ITS NATURE (THREE ARTICLES) Whethersatisfaction
is a virtue or an act of virtue? Objection 1: It would seem...
Whether the Definition ofSatisfaction Given in the Text is...
... OFSATISFACTION, AS TO ITS NATURE (THREE ARTICLES) Whether the definition
ofsatisfaction given in the text is suitable? Objection...
Whether the Works ofSatisfaction are Suitably Enumerated?
... OF THE MEANS OF MAKINGSATISFACTION (THREE ARTICLES) Whether the works ofsatisfaction
are suitably enumerated?... For a work ofsatisfaction should be penal....
WhetherSatisfaction must be Made by Means of Penal Works?
... OF THE MEANS OF MAKINGSATISFACTION (THREE ARTICLES) Whethersatisfaction
must be made by means of penal works? Objection 1: It...
Whether Works ofSatisfaction Should be Enjoined on Sinners that...
... OF THOSE WHO RECEIVE BAPTISM (TWELVE ARTICLES) Whether works ofsatisfaction
should be enjoined on sinners that have been baptized?...
Of the Modes of SupplementingSatisfaction --viz. Indulgences and...
... CHAPTER 5. OF THE MODES OF SUPPLEMENTINGSATISFACTION"VIZ. INDULGENCES AND
PURGATORY. OF THE MODES OF SUPPLEMENTINGSATISFACTION"VIZ....
Of the Possibility ofSatisfaction (Two Articles)
... OF THE POSSIBILITY OFSATISFACTION (TWO ARTICLES). We must now consider the possibility
ofsatisfaction, under which head there are two points of inquiry:...
Of the Marks ofSatisfaction, and the Removal of Past Sins.
... The Conferences of John Cassian. Chapter XI. Of the marks ofsatisfaction,
and the removal of past sins. But we know, as we have...
Thesaurus
Satisfaction (15 Occurrences)... Int. Standard Bible Encyclopedia.
SATISFACTION. sat
... Benjamin Reno Downer.
Multi-Version Concordance
Satisfaction (15 Occurrences). Romans
...Atonement (112 Occurrences)
... is also used to denote that by which this reconciliation is brought about, viz.,
the death of Christ itself; and when so used it meanssatisfaction, and in...
Lust (42 Occurrences)
... It probably meant at first a strong desire, a craving, abnormal appetite,
not only for physical but for spiritualsatisfaction....
Enjoy (68 Occurrences)
... 1. (vt) To take pleasure orsatisfaction in the possession or experience of; to
feel or perceive with pleasure; to be delighted with; as, to enjoy the dainties...
Content (30 Occurrences)
... 7. (n.) Rest or quietness of the mind in one's present condition; freedom from
discontent;satisfaction; contentment; moderate happiness....
Contentment (4 Occurrences)
... 2. (n.) The act or process of contenting or satisfying; as, the contentment of avarice
is impossible. 3. (vt) Gratification; pleasure;satisfaction. Int....
Enjoyment (11 Occurrences)
... 1. (n.) The condition of enjoying anything; pleasure orsatisfaction, as in the
possession or occupancy of anything; possession and use; as, the enjoyment of...
Expiation (9 Occurrences)
... It is that by which reconciliation is effected. Sin is thus said to be "covered"
by vicarioussatisfaction. The cover or lid of the ark is termed in the LXX....
Pay (212 Occurrences)
... 7. (vi) To give a recompense; to make payment, requital, orsatisfaction;
to discharge a debt.... 9. (n.)Satisfaction; content. 10....
Complacency (2 Occurrences)
... 1. (n.) Calm contentment;satisfaction; gratification.... 3. (n.) The manifestation
of contentment orsatisfaction; good nature; kindness; civility; affability....
Resources
What does the Bible say about finding satisfaction in life? | GotQuestions.orgWhat is the meaning of Christus Victor? | GotQuestions.orgWhat is Christian hedonism? | GotQuestions.orgSatisfaction: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.comBible Concordance •
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