Topical Encyclopedia
Definition and ConceptSecurity, in a biblical context, refers to the state of being free from danger or threat, often associated with divine protection and assurance. It encompasses both physical safety and spiritual assurance, rooted in faith and trust in God. The Bible presents security as a multifaceted concept, involving God's provision, protection, and the believer's trust in His promises.
Old Testament InsightsIn the Old Testament, security is frequently linked to God's covenant with His people. The Israelites' security was contingent upon their obedience to God's laws and commands. In
Deuteronomy 33:12, Moses blesses the tribe of Benjamin, saying, "The beloved of the LORD rests securely beside Him; He shields him all day long, and he rests between His shoulders." This verse highlights the intimate protection and security provided by God to those who are faithful.
The Psalms often reflect a deep sense of security in God's presence.
Psalm 4:8 states, "I will lie down and sleep in peace, for You alone, O LORD, make me dwell in safety." Here, security is portrayed as a result of trust in God's protective care, allowing the believer to rest without fear.
New Testament PerspectivesIn the New Testament, security is closely tied to the person and work of Jesus Christ. Believers find ultimate security in their relationship with Him. In
John 10:28-29, Jesus assures His followers, "I give them eternal life, and they will never perish. No one can snatch them out of My hand. My Father who has given them to Me is greater than all. No one can snatch them out of My Father’s hand." This passage emphasizes the eternal security of believers, safeguarded by both the Son and the Father.
The Apostle Paul also speaks of security in terms of God's love and the believer's salvation. In
Romans 8:38-39, he writes, "For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor principalities, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord." This assurance of God's unbreakable love provides profound spiritual security.
Practical ImplicationsFor Christians, security is not merely a physical or temporal concern but a spiritual reality grounded in faith. It involves trusting in God's sovereignty and His promises, even amidst life's uncertainties.
Proverbs 3:5-6 advises, "Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make your paths straight." This trust leads to a sense of security that transcends circumstances.
Moreover, believers are called to seek security in God's wisdom and guidance rather than in worldly possessions or achievements. In
Matthew 6:19-21, Jesus instructs, "Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also." This teaching encourages Christians to prioritize spiritual security over material wealth.
ConclusionWhile the Bible acknowledges the human desire for security, it redirects this longing towards a reliance on God. True security is found in a relationship with Him, characterized by faith, obedience, and the assurance of His eternal promises.
Topical Bible Verses
Job 24:23Though it be given him to be in safety, where on he rests; yet his eyes are on their ways.
Topicalbible.orgProverbs 22:26, 20:16
Be not you one of them that strike hands, or of them that are sureties for debts.
Topicalbible.org
Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary
1. (
n.) The condition or quality of being secure; secureness.
2. (n.) Freedom from apprehension, anxiety, or care; confidence of power of safety; hence, assurance; certainty.
3. (n.) Hence, carelessness; negligence; heedlessness.
4. (n.) Freedom from risk; safety.
5. (n.) That which secures or makes safe; protection; guard; defense.
6. (n.) Something given, deposited, or pledged, to make certain the fulfillment of an obligation, the performance of a contract, the payment of a debt, or the like; surety; pledge.
7. (n.) One who becomes surety for another, or engages himself for the performance of another's obligation.
8. (n.) An evidence of debt or of property, as a bond, a certificate of stock, etc.; as, government securities.
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia
SECURE; SECURITYse-kur', se-ku'-ri-ti: The word baTach and its derivatives in Hebrew point to security, either real or imaginary. Thus we read of a host that "was secure" (Judges 8:11) and of those "that provoke God (and) are secure" (Job 12:6); but also of a security that rests in hope and is safe (Job 11:18). The New Testament words (poieo amerimnous), used inMatthew 28:14 (the King James Version "secure you"), guarantee the safety of the soldiers, who witnessed against themselves, in the telling of the story of the disappearance of the body of Christ.
Securely is used in the sense of "trustful," "not anticipating danger" (Proverbs 3:29Micah 2:8; Ecclesiasticus 4:15).
The word (hikanon, translated security (Acts 17:9), may stand either for a guaranty of good behavior exacted from, or for some form of punishment inflicted on, Jason and his followers by the rulers of Thessalonica.
Henry E. Dosker
Greek
803. asphaleia -- certainty,security... certainty,
security. Part of Speech: Noun, Feminine Transliteration: asphaleia Phonetic
Spelling: (as-fal'-i-ah) Short Definition: safety,
security, reliability
...1450. egguos -- under goodsecurity (adjective), guarantee (noun)
... under goodsecurity (adjective), guarantee (noun). Part of Speech: Adjective
Transliteration: egguos Phonetic Spelling: (eng'-goo-os) Short Definition: a surety...
728. arrabon -- an earnest (a part payment in advance forsecurity...
... an earnest (a part payment in advance forsecurity). Part of Speech: Noun, Masculine
Transliteration: arrabon Phonetic Spelling: (ar-hrab-ohn') Short Definition...
2425. hikanos -- sufficient, fit
... season), ie Ample (in amount) or fit (in character) -- able, + content, enough,
good, great, large, long (while), many, meet, much,security, sore, sufficient...
4972. sphragizo -- to seal
... From sphragis; to stamp (with a signet or private mark) forsecurity or preservation
(literally or figuratively); by implication, to keep secret, to attest...
949. bebaios -- firm, secure
... 949 (an adjective, derived from , "to walk where it is solid") -- properly, solid
(sure) enough to walk on; hence, , ; (figuratively) , giving (security, surety...
Strong's Hebrew
8667. tesumeth -- a pledge,security... 8666, 8667. tesumeth. 8668 . a pledge,
security. Transliteration: tesumeth
Phonetic Spelling: (tes-oo-meth') Short Definition:
security.
...983. betach --security
... 982, 983. betach. 984 .security. Transliteration: betach Phonetic Spelling:
(beh'takh) Short Definition: securely. Word Origin...
987. battuchoth --security, safety
...security, safety. Transliteration: battuchoth Phonetic Spelling: (bat-too-khoth')
Short Definition: secure.... Feminine plural from batach;security -- secure....
6148. arab -- to take on pledge, give in pledge, exchange
... surety (2), dare to risk (1), deal (1), dealers (1), guarantor (1), intermingled
(1), make a bargain (2), mingled (1), mortgaging (1),security (1), share (1...
4009. mibtach -- confidence
... Word Origin from batach Definition confidence NASB Word Usage confidence (5), secure
(1),security (1), trust (5), which they trust (1), who are the trust (1...
7962. shalvah -- quietness, ease
... abundance, peaceably, prosperity, quietness. From shalah;security (genuine or false) --
abundance, peace(-ably), prosperity, quietness. see HEBREW shalah....
6161. arubbah -- a thing exchanged, pledge, token
... Feminine passive participle of Anammelek in the sense of a bargain or exchange;
something given assecurity, ie (literally) a token (of safety) or...
6162. erabon -- a pledge
... pledge. From arab (in the sense of exchange); a pawn (given assecurity) -- pledge.
see HEBREW arab. 6161, 6162. erabon. 6163 . Strong's Numbers.
2258. chabol -- a pledge
... pledge. Or (feminine) chabolah {khab-o-law'}; from chabal; a pawn (assecurity for
debt) -- pledge. see HEBREW chabal. 2257, 2258. chabol. 2259 ....
530. emunah -- firmness, steadfastness, fidelity
... or (shortened) >emunah {em-oo-naw'} feminine of 'emuwn; literally firmness;
figurativelysecurity; morally fidelity -- faith(-ful, -ly, -ness, (man)), set...
Library
TheSecurity of the Church
... TheSecurity of the Church. A Sermon (No.161). Delivered on Sabbath Morning, November
1, 1857, by the. REV. CH SPURGEON. at the Music Hall, Royal Surrey Gardens...
WhetherSecurity Belongs to Magnanimity?
... OF MAGNANIMITY* (EIGHT ARTICLES) [*Not in the ordinary restricted sense but as
explained by the author] Whethersecurity belongs to magnanimity?...
Security of Christians.
... XVI.SECURITY OF CHRISTIANS. Christians, were you awake, here would be
matter of wonder to you, to see a man assaulted with all...
TheSecurity of Saints Amidst the Destruction of Sinners.
... ORIGINAL HYMNS HYMN CCXXXV. TheSecurity of Saints amidst the Destruction of Sinners.
8.7.8.7.7.7... TheSecurity of Saints amidst the Destruction of Sinners....
Self-Security. May 24.
... Self-Security. May 24. Strange it is how mortal man, "who cometh up and
is cut down like the flower," can harden himself into a...
TheSecurity of Contemplatives Lies in their not Ascending to High...
... Chapter XXII. TheSecurity of Contemplatives Lies in Their Not Ascending
to High Things if Our Lord Does Not Raise Them. The Sacred...
Ninth Sunday after Trinity CarnalSecurity and Its vices.
... Ninth Sunday After Trinity CARNALSECURITY AND ITS VICES. Text: 1 Corinthians
10, 6-13. 6 Now... it. CARNALSECURITY AND ITS VICES. 1...
That There is noSecurity against Temptation in this Life
... THE THIRD BOOK. ON INWARD CONSOLATION CHAPTER XXXV That there is nosecurity
against temptation in this life. "My Son, thou art never...
The Thirty-Fifth Chapter: There is noSecurity from Temptation in...
... BOOK THREE. INTERNAL CONSOLATION The Thirty-Fifth Chapter: There is No
Security from Temptation in This Life. The Voice of Christ...
Perfection of Righteousness and FullSecurity was not Even in Paul...
... Book III. Chapter 18."Perfection of Righteousness and FullSecurity Was
Not Even in Paul in This Life. But how impudent I do not...
Thesaurus
Security (41 Occurrences)... Standard Bible Encyclopedia. SECURE;
SECURITY. se-kur', se-ku'-ri-ti: The word baTach
and its derivatives in Hebrew point to
security, either real or imaginary.
...Surety (21 Occurrences)
... Solomon warns against incautiously becomingsecurity for another (Proverbs
6:1-5; 11:15; 17:18; 20:16). Noah Webster's Dictionary....
Pledge (55 Occurrences)
... 1. (n.) The transfer of possession of personal property from a debtor to a creditor
assecurity for a debt or engagement; also, the contract created between...
Jason (5 Occurrences)
... Jason of treason in receiving into his house those who said "There is another king,
one Jesus." The magistrates, being troubled, tooksecurity from them, and...
Fence (12 Occurrences)
... Amos 5:19). Noah Webster's Dictionary. 1. (n.) That which fends off attack or
danger; a defense; a protection; a cover;security; shield....
Mortgage
... 1. (n.) A conveyance of property, upon condition, assecurity for the payment of
a debt or the performance of a duty, and to become void upon payment or...
Secure (78 Occurrences)
... Standard Bible Encyclopedia. SECURE;SECURITY. se-kur', se-ku'-ri-ti: The word baTach
and its derivatives in Hebrew point tosecurity, either real or imaginary....
Seal (47 Occurrences)
... stamp, used for marking an impression in wax or other soft substance, to be attached
to a document, or otherwise used by way of authentication orsecurity....
Laws (184 Occurrences)
... But money is rarely to be had without interest andsecurity, and in early communities
the rates of interest were very high indeed, while the onlysecurity the...
Wall (227 Occurrences)
... of stone, some of those in the temple being of great size (1 Kings 6:7; 7:9-12;
20:30; Mark 13:1, 2). The term is used metaphorically ofsecurity and safety...
Resources
What is conditional security? | GotQuestions.orgShould a Christian pay into Social Security and/or accept Social Security payments? | GotQuestions.orgEternal security - is it biblical? | GotQuestions.orgSecurity: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.comBible Concordance •
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