Topical Encyclopedia
The term "their" is a possessive pronoun used throughout the Bible to denote ownership or association with a group of people or entities. It is often used to describe the relationship between individuals and their possessions, attributes, or actions. In the context of Scripture, "their" can refer to the people of God, nations, tribes, families, or even spiritual beings.
Old Testament UsageIn the Old Testament, "their" frequently appears in narratives, laws, and prophecies. It is used to describe the possessions and responsibilities of the Israelites, as well as their relationship with God. For example, in
Genesis 17:8, God promises Abraham, "To you and your descendants I will give the land of Canaan as an everlasting possession; and I will be their God." Here, "their" signifies the covenant relationship between God and Abraham's descendants.
The term is also used in the context of the laws given to the Israelites. In
Leviticus 26:12, God declares, "I will walk among you and be your God, and you will be My people." The use of "their" in this context emphasizes the communal identity and collective responsibility of the Israelites to uphold God's commandments.
New Testament UsageIn the New Testament, "their" continues to denote possession and association, often in the context of the early Christian community and its relationship with Christ. In
John 10:27-28, Jesus says, "My sheep listen to My voice; I know them, and they follow Me. I give them eternal life, and they will never perish. No one can snatch them out of My hand." Here, "their" underscores the intimate relationship between Jesus and His followers, highlighting their security and belonging in Him.
The term is also used in the epistles to describe the collective identity of believers. In
1 Peter 2:9, the apostle Peter writes, "But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for God's own possession, to proclaim the virtues of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light." The use of "their" in this passage emphasizes the communal calling and purpose of the Church.
Theological ImplicationsThe use of "their" in Scripture often reflects the covenantal and communal nature of God's relationship with His people. It signifies not only possession but also identity and responsibility. In the Old Testament, "their" frequently relates to the Israelites' identity as God's chosen people and their obligation to live according to His laws. In the New Testament, it underscores the unity and shared mission of the body of Christ.
Theologically, "their" can also point to the inheritance and promises given to God's people. In
Ephesians 1:18, Paul prays that the eyes of believers' hearts may be enlightened to know "the hope of His calling, the riches of His glorious inheritance in the saints." Here, "their" signifies the collective inheritance and hope shared by all who are in Christ.
ConclusionThe term "their" serves as a reminder of the collective identity and shared responsibilities of God's people throughout biblical history. Whether referring to the Israelites or the early Church, it highlights the communal aspects of faith and the enduring promises of God to His people.
Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary
(
pron. & a.) The possessive case of the personal pronoun they; as, their houses; their country.
Greek
848. hautou -- her own, his own,their own, themselves, they.... 847, 848. hautou. 849 . her own, his own,
their own, themselves, they.
Transliteration
... 1). her own, his own,
their own, themselves, they.
...2474. Israel -- Israel, the name of the Jewish people andtheir...
... Israel, the name of the Jewish people andtheir land. Part of Speech: Proper Noun,
Indeclinable Transliteration: Israel Phonetic Spelling: (is-rah-ale') Short...
2816. kleronomeo -- to inherit
... 2816 ("to assign inheritance by lot-casting") is used in relation to believers
claimingtheir assigned (alloted) by the Lord. [The...
2603. katabrabeuo -- to give judgment against
... 2603 (from 2596 , ", according to," which intensifies 1018 , "acting as an umpire") --
properly, a judge () making the , someone oftheir rightful prize and...
5388. philoteknos -- loving one's children
... Word Origin from philos and teknon Definition loving one's children NASB
Word Usage lovetheir children (1). lovetheir children....
5362. philandros -- loving men, (of a wife) loving her husband
... Word Origin from philos and aner Definition loving men, (of a wife) loving her husband
NASB Word Usage lovetheir husbands (1). lovetheir husband....
4198. poreuomai -- to go
... passage) Definition to go NASB Word Usage accompany* (1), am on my way (1), depart
(1), departed (1), departure (1), following (3), go (69), go ontheir way (1...
217. halas and hala -- salt
... 217 -- ; (figuratively) God and a believer as they grow, ie in loving the Lord with
alltheir heart, soul, mind, strength and in alltheir relationships (cf....
3794. ochuroma -- a stronghold, fortress
... In its use here there may lie a reminiscence of the rock-forts on the coast of Paul's
native Cilicia, which were pulled down by the Romans intheir attacks on...
543. apeitheia -- disobedience
... 543 (from 1 "not" and 3982 , "persuaded") -- properly, someone , referring
totheir , ie the to be convinced by God's voice. This...
Strong's Hebrew
6316. Put -- a son of Ham, also his desc. andtheir land... a son of Ham, also his desc. and
their land. Transliteration: Put Phonetic Spelling:
(poot) Short Definition: put.
... and
their land NASB Word Usage put (8).
...3120. Yavan -- a son of Japheth, also his desc. andtheir land
... andtheir land. Transliteration: Yavan Phonetic Spelling: (yaw-vawn') Short Definition:
Javan.... andtheir land NASB Word Usage Greece (4), Javan (7). Javan....
4074. Maday -- a son of Japheth, also his desc. andtheir land
... 4073, 4074. Maday. 4075 . a son of Japheth, also his desc. andtheir land.
Transliteration: Maday Phonetic Spelling: (maw-dah'-ee) Short Definition: Media....
5867. Eylam -- a son of Shem, also his desc. andtheir country
... 5866, 5867. Eylam. 5867a . a son of Shem, also his desc. andtheir country.
Transliteration: Eylam Phonetic Spelling: (ay-lawm') Short Definition: Elam. Elam...
8422. Tubal -- a son of Japheth, also his desc. andtheir land
... andtheir land. Transliteration: Tubal or Tubal Phonetic Spelling: (too-bal') Short
Definition: Tubal.... andtheir land NASB Word Usage Tubal (8)....
3732. Kaphtori -- descendant of Mizraim, alsotheir land
... 3731, 3732. Kaphtori. 3733 . descendant of Mizraim, alsotheir land.
Transliteration: Kaphtori Phonetic Spelling: (kaf-to-ree') Short Definition: Caphtorim...
4076. Maday -- descendant of Japheth, alsotheir land
... 4075, 4076. Maday. 4077 . descendant of Japheth, alsotheir land. Transliteration:
Maday Phonetic Spelling: (maw-dah'-ee) Short Definition: Medes....
3865. Lud -- a son of Shem, also his desc. andtheir land
... a son of Shem, also his desc. andtheir land. Transliteration: Lud Phonetic Spelling:
(lood) Short Definition: Lud.... andtheir land NASB Word Usage Lud (5)....
1835. Dan -- "judge," a son of Jacob, also his desc. andtheir...
... desc. andtheir territory, also a place in Northern Israel. Transliteration:
Dan Phonetic Spelling: (dawn) Short Definition: Dan....
5434. Seba -- son of Cush, also his desc. andtheir land
... son of Cush, also his desc. andtheir land. Transliteration: Seba Phonetic Spelling:
(seb-aw') Short Definition: Seba.... andtheir land NASB Word Usage Seba (4)....
Library
Oftheir Images.
... XVII."OfTheir Images. A few wicked and empty poets delude you; while
they seek with difficulty to procuretheir living, they...
The Hymns of Methodism intheir Literary Relations
The Hymns of Methodism intheir Literary Relations. <. The Hymns of Methodism
intheir Literary Relations Charles H. Kelly. Table of Contents....
Their Rock and Our Rock
... THE BOOK OF DEUTERONOMYTHEIR ROCK AND OUR ROCK. 'Their rock is not as our Rock,
even our enemies themselves being Judges.' Deuteronomy 32:31....
Recommendation to the Bishops, ontheir Departure, to Preserve...
... Book III. Chapter XXI."Recommendation to the Bishops, ontheir Departure,
to Preserve Harmony. And now, when the council was on...
The Sheep andtheir Shepherd
... The Sheep andTheir Shepherd. A Sermon (No.995). Delivered by. CH SPURGEON,.
At the Metropolitan Tabernacle, Newington. "My sheep hear...
Of the Cause of Habits, as totheir Formation (Four Articles)
... OF THE CAUSE OF HABITS, AS TOTHEIR FORMATION (FOUR ARTICLES). We must next
consider the cause of habits: and firstly, as totheir...
Of the Jews; oftheir Attempt at Building, and of the Heaven-Sent...
... Book III. Chapter XV."Of the Jews; oftheir attempt at building, and of
the heaven-sent plagues that befel them. Julian, who had...
Methodists andtheir Wealth
... Chapter 13. Wesley in Scotland Again; Methodist's Wealth; "No Law for Methodists";
Exhausting Days; Whitefield Methodists andTheir Wealth....
Lamentations of the Soldiery andtheir Officers.
... Book IV. Chapter LXV."Lamentations of the Soldiery andtheir Officers.
Immediately the assembled spearmen and body-guard rent...
Exultation of the Disciples ontheir Return. --The Overthrow of...
... Section 205. Exultation of the Disciples ontheir Return."The Overthrow of Satan's
Kingdom."Christ warns the Disciples against Vanity. (Luke, x., 17-20.)....
Thesaurus
Their (44002 Occurrences)... (pron. & a.) The possessive case of the personal pronoun they; as,
their houses;
their country. Multi-Version Concordance
Their (44002 Occurrences).
...Their's (5 Occurrences)
...Their's (5 Occurrences).... 2 Timothy 3:9 But they shall proceed no further: fortheir
folly shall be manifest unto all men, astheir's also was. (KJV)....
Specified (9 Occurrences)
... Numbers 29:18 andtheir meal offering andtheir drink offerings for the bulls, for
the rams, and for the lambs, according totheir number, after the ordinance...
Kohathite (18 Occurrences)
... Numbers 4:2 Take the sum of the sons of Kohath from among the sons of Levi,
bytheir families, bytheir fathers' houses, (See NIV)....
Snakes (25 Occurrences)
... shall do them no harm whatever. They shall laytheir hands on the sick,
and the sick shall recover." (WEY BBE NIV). Luke 3:7 So he...
Smash (8 Occurrences)
... Smash (8 Occurrences). Exodus 34:13 but you shall break downtheir altars, and dash
in piecestheir pillars, and you shall cut downtheir Asherim; (See NAS NIV)...
Vanish (21 Occurrences)
... When it is hot, they are consumed out oftheir place.... (DBY). Job 36:20 Don't desire
the night, when people are cut off intheir place. (See NAS)....
Vanished (13 Occurrences)
... Luke 24:31Their eyes were opened, and they recognized him, and he vanished out
oftheir sight.... Every mountain and island were moved out oftheir places....
Spears (25 Occurrences)
... Multi-Version Concordance Spears (25 Occurrences). John 19:37 And again another
verse says, They will see him who was wounded bytheir spears. (BBE)....
Kohathites (18 Occurrences)
... the journeyings of the Israelites they had the charge of the most holy portion of
the vessels of the tabernacle, including the ark (Numbers 4).Their place in...
Resources
What does it mean that you will know them by their fruit in Matthew 7:16? | GotQuestions.orgWhat does it mean that husbands are to love their wives? | GotQuestions.orgHow should Christians view Men Going Their Own Way (MGTOW)? | GotQuestions.orgTheir: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.comBible Concordance •
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