Topical Encyclopedia
In biblical literature, the concept of a "step" often symbolizes progress, movement, or the journey of faith. The term can be both literal and metaphorical, representing physical movement or spiritual advancement. The Bible frequently uses the imagery of steps to convey guidance, direction, and the path one should follow in life.
Literal StepsIn a literal sense, steps are mentioned in the context of physical movement or architectural structures. For example, in the construction of the temple, steps were an integral part of the design. In
1 Kings 10:19, the throne of Solomon is described: "The throne had six steps, and its back had a rounded top. There were armrests on both sides of the seat, with a lion standing beside each armrest." This description highlights the grandeur and majesty associated with steps in royal and sacred settings.
Metaphorical StepsMetaphorically, steps often represent the journey of faith and obedience to God's commandments.
Psalm 37:23 states, "The steps of a man are ordered by the LORD who takes delight in his journey." This verse emphasizes the belief that God guides the faithful, directing their paths and ensuring their steps align with His divine will.
Similarly,
Proverbs 16:9 declares, "A man’s heart plans his course, but the LORD determines his steps." This proverb underscores the sovereignty of God in the lives of believers, suggesting that while humans may make plans, it is ultimately God who directs their steps.
Spiritual GuidanceThe concept of steps is also used to illustrate spiritual guidance and moral integrity. In
Psalm 119:133, the psalmist prays, "Order my steps in Your word; let no sin rule over me." Here, the request is for divine guidance through adherence to God's Word, highlighting the importance of Scripture in directing one's life.
Jesus and the Path of RighteousnessIn the New Testament, the idea of following in the steps of Jesus is a central theme.
1 Peter 2:21 encourages believers to emulate Christ: "For to this you were called, because Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example, that you should follow in His footsteps." This passage calls Christians to live a life of righteousness and suffering for the sake of the Gospel, following the example set by Jesus.
ConclusionThroughout the Bible, the imagery of steps serves as a powerful metaphor for the journey of faith, divine guidance, and the pursuit of righteousness. Whether referring to physical steps or the spiritual path, the concept underscores the importance of aligning one's life with God's will and following the example of Christ.
Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary
1. (
v.) To move the foot in walking; to advance or recede by raising and moving one of the feet to another resting place, or by moving both feet in succession.
2. (v.) To walk; to go on foot; esp., to walk a little distance; as, to step to one of the neighbors.
3. (v.) To walk slowly, gravely, or resolutely.
4. (a.) Fig.: To move mentally; to go in imagination.
5. (v. t.) To set, as the foot.
6. (v. t.) To fix the foot of (a mast) in its step; to erect.
7. (n.) An advance or movement made by one removal of the foot; a pace.
8. (n.) A rest, or one of a set of rests, for the foot in ascending or descending, as a stair, or a round of a ladder.
9. (n.) The space passed over by one movement of the foot in walking or running; as, one step is generally about three feet, but may be more or less. Used also figuratively of any kind of progress; as, he improved step by step, or by steps.
10. (n.) A small space or distance; as, it is but a step.
11. (n.) A print of the foot; a footstep; a footprint; track.
12. (v. i.) Gait; manner of walking; as, the approach of a man is often known by his step.
13. (v. i.) Proceeding; measure; action; an act.
14. (v. i.) Walk; passage.
15. (n.) A portable framework of stairs, much used indoors in reaching to a high position.
16. (v. i.) In general, a framing in wood or iron which is intended to receive an upright shaft; specif., a block of wood, or a solid platform upon the keelson, supporting the heel of the mast.
17. (n.) One of a series of offsets, or parts, resembling the steps of stairs, as one of the series of parts of a cone pulley on which the belt runs.
18. (n.) A bearing in which the lower extremity of a spindle or a vertical shaft revolves.
19. (n.) The interval between two contiguous degrees of the scale.
20. (n.) A change of position effected by a motion of translation.
Greek
898. bathmos -- astep, degree... a
step, degree. Part of Speech: Noun, Masculine Transliteration: bathmos Phonetic
Spelling: (bath-mos') Short Definition: a
step, a stage, a position Definition
...968. bema -- astep, raised place, by impl. a tribunal
... 967, 968. bema. 969 . astep, raised place, by impl.... Word Origin from
the same as basis Definition astep, raised place, by impl....
1684. embaino -- to walk on, tostep into, ie embark
... to walk on, tostep into, ie embark. Part of Speech: Verb Transliteration: embaino
Phonetic Spelling: (em-ba'-hee-no) Short Definition: I embark Definition: I...
1224. diabaino -- tostep across
... tostep across. Part of Speech: Verb Transliteration: diabaino Phonetic Spelling:
(dee-ab-ah'-ee-no) Short Definition: I cross, pass through Definition: I cross...
3900. paraptoma -- a falsestep, a trespass
... a falsestep, a trespass. Part of Speech: Noun, Neuter Transliteration: paraptoma
Phonetic Spelling: (par-ap'-to-mah) Short Definition: a falling away, sin...
5233. huperbaino -- tostep over, transgress
... tostep over, transgress. Part of Speech: Verb Transliteration: huperbaino Phonetic
Spelling: (hoop-er-bah'-ee-no) Short Definition: I transgress, go beyond...
576. apobaino -- tostep off, disembark
... tostep off, disembark. Part of Speech: Verb Transliteration: apobaino Phonetic
Spelling: (ap-ob-ah'-ee-no) Short Definition: I go or come out of, disembark...
304. anabathmos -- a going up, an ascent
... a going up, an ascent. Part of Speech: Noun, Masculine Transliteration: anabathmos
Phonetic Spelling: (an-ab-ath-mos') Short Definition: astep, a flight of...
4748. stoicheo -- to be in rows, fig. to walk by rule
... walk by. 4748 (from , "a , , or ") -- properly, walk , in strict accordance
to a particular pace ("stride");, "keep instep.". Word...
1910. epibaino -- to go aboard, to go up to
... to go aboard, to go up to. Part of Speech: Verb Transliteration: epibaino Phonetic
Spelling: (ep-ee-bah'-ee-no) Short Definition: Istep on, mount, board...
Strong's Hebrew
838. ashshur --step, going... 837, 838. ashshur. 839 .
step, going. Transliteration: ashshur Phonetic
Spelling: (aw-shoor') Short Definition:
step. Word Origin
...6587. pesa -- astep
... astep. Transliteration: pesa Phonetic Spelling: (peh'-sah) Short Definition:step.
Word Origin from pasa Definition astep NASB Word Usagestep (1).step....
1978. halik -- astep
... astep. Transliteration: halik Phonetic Spelling: (haw-leek') Short Definition:
steps. Word Origin from halak Definition astep NASB Word Usage steps (1).step....
4703. mitsad -- astep
... 4702, 4703. mitsad. 4704 . astep. Transliteration: mitsad Phonetic Spelling:
(mits-awd') Short Definition: steps. Word... going,step. From...
6806. tsaad -- astep, pace
... 6805, 6806. tsaad. 6807 . astep, pace. Transliteration: tsaad Phonetic
Spelling: (tsah'-ad) Short Definition: steps.... pace,step....
6585. pasa -- tostep, march
... pasa. 6586 . tostep, march. Transliteration: pasa Phonetic Spelling: (paw-sah')
Short Definition:step.... root Definition tostep, march NASB Word Usagestep (1...
6805. tsaad -- tostep, march
... 6804, 6805. tsaad. 6806 . tostep, march. Transliteration: tsaad Phonetic Spelling:
(tsaw-ad') Short Definition: marched. Word Origin a prim....
4609b. maalah -- astep, stair
... 4609a, 4609b. maalah. 4610 . astep, stair. Transliteration: maalah
Short Definition: steps. Word Origin from alah Definition a...
804a. ashur --step, going
...step, going. Transliteration: ashur Short Definition: steps. Word Origin from ashar
Definitionstep, going NASB Word Usage footsteps (1), path (1), steps (5)....
804. Ashshuwr --step, going
... 803, 804. Ashshuwr. 804a .step, going. Transliteration: Ashshuwr Phonetic
Spelling: (ash-shoor') Short Definition: Asshur. Asshur, Assur, Assyria, Assyrians...
Library
"KeepStep. "
... The Church "KeepStep.". The Church is organized Christendom.... It simply, said,
"Processions in crossing this bridge must breakstep." That was all....
InStep with Jesus.
... (Matthew xi. 25-30; Luke x:1, 17, 21-24.) InStep with Jesus. Then please mark keenly
that this surrender is for surrendered service. No free-lancing here....
A DownwardStep.
... A DOWNWARDSTEP.... Thus the evil habit of taking what doesn't belong to us becomes
a part of our nature, andstep bystep we fall into greater sin....
Ere AnotherStep I Take
... Ere anotherstep I take. 7,7,7,7 "I commune with mine own heart." " Psalm
77:6. Ere anotherstep I take. In my wilful wandering way,....
An AdvanceStep in the Royal Programme
... V."AN ADVANCESTEP IN THE ROYAL PROGRAMME. (Revelation, Chapters iv.... It suggests
that our Lord Jesus is taking the next directstep in His broader plan....
But Let us Now Go Back to Consider the ThirdStep Here Mentioned.....
... Book 2 Chapter 12. But let us now go back to consider the thirdstep here
mentioned? 12. But let us now go back to consider the...
Of the Truth and Its Steps, and of God.
... For when the eyes are darkened by the brightness of the truth, they who are
unable to maintain a firmstep fall back to the level ground....
Steps to Wisdom: First, Fear; Second, Piety; Third, Knowledge...
... 10. After these two steps of fear and piety, we come to the thirdstep,
knowledge, of which I have now undertaken to treat. For...
Going Forth
... The ultimate goal was clear, and the firststep towards it was plain, but how that
firststep was related to the goal was not plain, and all the steps between...
How Charity Contains in it the Gifts of the Holy Ghost.
... For, as we mount the firststep, Fear makes us forsake evil; on the second, Piety
excites us to will to do good; upon the third, Knowledge makes us discern the...
Thesaurus
Step (41 Occurrences)... 2. (v.) To walk; to go on foot; esp., to walk a little distance; as, to
step to
one of the neighbors. 3. (v.) To walk slowly, gravely, or resolutely.
...Degree (19 Occurrences)
... 1. (n.) Astep, stair, or staircase.... 3. (n.) The point orstep of progression to
which a person has arrived; rank or station in life; position....
Tread (60 Occurrences)
... 1. (vi) To set the foot; tostep. 2. (vi) To walk or go; especially, to walk with
a stately or a cautiousstep.... the males. 4. (vt) Tostep or walk on....
Pace (3 Occurrences)
... Noah Webster's Dictionary 1. (n.) A single movement from one foot to the other in
walking; astep.... 6. (n.) Any single movement,step, or procedure....
Go (17871 Occurrences)
... figuratively applied. 3. (vi) To move upon the feet, orstep bystep; to
walk; also, to walkstep bystep, or leisurely. 4. (vi) To...
Trip (4 Occurrences)
... 3. (ni) To take a quickstep, as when in danger of losing one's balance; hence,
to make a false; to catch the foot; to lose footing; to stumble....
Stride (2 Occurrences)
... 3. (vt) To pass over at astep; tostep over.... 5. (n.) The act of striding; a long
step; the space measured by a longstep; as, a masculine stride....
Sharp (115 Occurrences)
... or tone. 5. (superl.) Raised a semitone in pitch; as, C sharp (C/), which
is a halfstep, or semitone, higher than C. 6. (superl...
Stepped (16 Occurrences)
... 1. (imp. & pp) ofStep. 2. (a.) Provided with astep or steps; having a series of
offsets or parts resembling the steps of stairs; as, a stepped key....
Writing (194 Occurrences)
... The next or mnemonicstep was taken when the simplest characteristic part was exchanged
for a pebble, a twig, a notched stick, a knot, or any other object or...
Resources
In what ways should Christians be prepared to step outside their comfort zone? | GotQuestions.orgI am a new Christian. What is the next step? | GotQuestions.orgWhat does the Bible say about stepparenting / step-parenting? | GotQuestions.orgStep: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.comBible Concordance •
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