Topical Encyclopedia
The term "young" in the Bible often refers to individuals who are in the early stages of life, encompassing children, adolescents, and young adults. The Scriptures provide numerous references to the young, highlighting their roles, responsibilities, and the expectations placed upon them within the community of faith.
Biblical References and Context1.
Youth as a Time of Learning and Growth: The Bible frequently emphasizes the importance of teaching and guiding the young.
Proverbs 22:6 states, "Train up a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not depart from it." This verse underscores the responsibility of parents and elders to instill godly principles in the young, ensuring a foundation of faith that endures throughout their lives.
2.
Examples of Young Leaders: Several young individuals in the Bible are depicted as leaders and examples of faith. David, chosen by God while still a shepherd boy, exemplifies courage and reliance on God when he confronts Goliath (1 Samuel 17). Similarly, Josiah became king of Judah at the age of eight and later led significant religious reforms (2 Kings 22-23).
3.
Youth and Wisdom: While youth is often associated with inexperience, the Bible also acknowledges the potential for wisdom among the young. In
1 Timothy 4:12 , Paul advises Timothy, "Let no one despise your youth, but set an example for the believers in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith, and in purity." This exhortation highlights the capacity of young believers to lead and inspire others through their conduct and faith.
4.
Warnings and Challenges: The Bible also addresses the challenges and temptations faced by the young.
Ecclesiastes 11:9 advises, "Rejoice, O young man, in your youth, and let your heart cheer you in the days of your youth. Walk in the ways of your heart and in the sight of your eyes, but know that for all these things God will bring you to judgment." This passage serves as a reminder of the accountability that accompanies youthful freedom and the importance of living a life pleasing to God.
5.
The Role of the Community: The community of faith plays a crucial role in nurturing and supporting the young.
Titus 2:6-7 encourages older men to "urge the younger men to be self-controlled. In everything, set them an example by doing what is good." This mentorship and example-setting are vital for the spiritual development of young believers.
Theological ImplicationsThe biblical portrayal of the young emphasizes the value and potential inherent in youth. It calls for intentional discipleship and mentorship, recognizing that the young are not only the future of the faith community but also active participants in its present. The Scriptures encourage the young to pursue wisdom, righteousness, and a deep relationship with God, while also reminding the community of its responsibility to guide and support them in their spiritual journey.
Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary
1. (
superl.) Not long born; still in the first part of life; not yet arrived at adolescence, maturity, or age; not old; juvenile; -- said of animals; as, a young child; a young man; a young fawn.
2. (superl.) Being in the first part, pr period, of growth; as, a young plant; a young tree.
3. (superl.) Having little experience; inexperienced; unpracticed; ignorant; weak.
4. (n.) The offspring of animals, either a single animal or offspring collectively.
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia
YOUNG; MEN, YOUNG WOMENyung, (bachur, na`ar; neanias, neaniskos): "Young man" is generally in the Old Testament the translation of bachur, from bachar, "to prove," "to choose," and of na`ar (literally, "boy," but used sometimes also of a girl). The former term denotes a young man, no longer a mere youth, but liable to military service (Deuteronomy 32:25Judges 14:101 Samuel 8:162 Kings 8:12, etc.). InNumbers 11:28, the King James Version "Joshua.... the servant of Moses, one of his young men" (bechurim), the Revised Version (British and American) renders "one of his chosen men," margin "from his youth." Na`ar is frequently used (singular and plural) of soldiers (1 Samuel 14:1, 6;1 Samuel 21:4;1 Samuel 25:5, 8, 92 Samuel 1:5, 6, 15, etc.). Abraham's "young men" (ne`arim) were "trained servants," "trained men," warriors (Genesis 14:24; compare 14:14 the Revised Version (British and American)). The word is often in the Old Testament translated "servant": thus in the Revised Version (British and American) for the King James Version "young man," "young men" (Genesis 18:72 Kings 4:221 Kings 20:14, the Revised Version margin). In the New Testament, the ordinary words for "young man" are neanias (Acts 7:58;Acts 20:9;Acts 23:17, 18, 22) and neaniskos (Matthew 19:20, 22Mark 14:51, etc.). "Young men" inActs 5:6 is neoteroi, comparative of neos, "young," recent; the feminine of the latter word is "young women" inTitus 2:4, and neoterai is "younger women" (the Revised Version (British and American) "widows") in1 Timothy 5:14. In both the Old Testament and the New Testament young men are earnestly exhorted to wisdom and sober-mindedness (Proverbs 1:8, 9Ecclesiastes 11:9;Ecclesiastes 12:1, 13, 14Titus 2:6, "discreet"; compare The Wisdom of Solomon 9:11), etc.
W. L. Walker
Greek
3495. neaniskos -- ayoung man, a youth... a
young man, a youth. Part of Speech: Noun, Masculine Transliteration: neaniskos
Phonetic Spelling: (neh-an-is'-kos) Short Definition: a
young man Definition: a
...3502. neossos --young.
... 3501b, 3502. neossos. 3503 .young. Part of Speech: Noun, Masculine
Transliteration: neossos Phonetic Spelling: (neh-os-sos') Short...
3494. neanias -- ayoung man
... ayoung man. Part of Speech: Noun, Masculine Transliteration: neanias Phonetic Spelling:
(neh-an-ee'-as) Short Definition: ayoung man, youth Definition: a...
3565. numphe -- a bride, ayoung woman
... a bride, ayoung woman. Part of Speech: Noun, Feminine Transliteration: numphe Phonetic
Spelling: (noom-fay') Short Definition: a bride, daughter-in-law...
3448. moschos -- ayoung shoot, a calf
... ayoung shoot, a calf. Part of Speech: Noun, Masculine Transliteration: moschos
Phonetic Spelling: (mos'-khos) Short Definition: a calf Definition: a calf...
3501b. neos, neoteros --young, new
neos, neoteros. 3501a, 3501b. neos, neoteros. 3502 .young, new. Transliteration:
neos, neoteros Short Definition: new. Word Origin a prim....
3813. paidion -- ayoung child
... ayoung child. Part of Speech: Noun, Neuter Transliteration: paidion Phonetic Spelling:
(pahee-dee'-on) Short Definition: a little child, an infant Definition...
2161. Eutuchos -- "well-fated," Eutychus, ayoung man restored to...
... "well-fated," Eutychus, ayoung man restored to... Eutychus. From eu and a derivative
of tugchano; well- fated, ie Fortunate; Eutychus, ayoung man -- Eutychus....
3555. nossia -- a brood ofyoung birds
... a brood ofyoung birds. Part of Speech: Noun, Feminine Transliteration: nossia Phonetic
Spelling: (nos-see-ah') Short Definition: a brood ofyoung birds...
3556b. nossos -- ayoung bird
... ayoung bird. Transliteration: nossos Short Definition:young. Word Origin shortened
from of neossos Definition ayoung bird NASB Word Usageyoung (1)....
Strong's Hebrew
3715. kephir --young lion... 3714, 3715. kephir. 3716 .
young lion. Transliteration: kephir Phonetic
Spelling: (kef-eer') Short Definition: lions. Word Origin
...1423. gedi -- a kid (ayoung goat)
... 1422, 1423. gedi. 1424 . a kid (ayoung goat). Transliteration: gedi
Phonetic Spelling: (ghed-ee') Short Definition: goat. Word...
1469. gozal --young birds
... 1468, 1469. gozal. 1470 .young birds. Transliteration: gozal Phonetic
Spelling: (go-zawl') Short Definition:young. Word Origin...
970. bachur -- ayoung man
... 969b, 970. bachur. 971 . ayoung man. Transliteration: bachur Phonetic Spelling:
(baw-khoor') Short Definition: men. Word Origin pass. part....
667. ephroach -- ayoung one
... 666, 667. ephroach. 668 . ayoung one. Transliteration: ephroach Phonetic
Spelling: (ef-ro'-akh) Short Definition:young. Word Origin...
6499. par --young bull, steer
... 6498, 6499. par. 6500 .young bull, steer. Transliteration: par Phonetic
Spelling: (par) Short Definition: bull. Word Origin from...
6082. opher -- ayoung hart, stag
... 6081, 6082. opher. 6083 . ayoung hart, stag. Transliteration: opher Phonetic
Spelling: (o'-fer) Short Definition:young. Word Origin...
1072. bikrah -- ayoung camel, dromedary
... 1071, 1072. bikrah. 1073 . ayoung camel, dromedary. Transliteration:
bikrah Phonetic Spelling: (bik-raw') Short Definition: camel....
3127. yoneqeth -- ayoung shoot, twig
... yoneqeth. 3128 . ayoung shoot, twig. Transliteration: yoneqeth Phonetic Spelling:
(yo-neh'-keth) Short Definition: shoots.... tender branch,young twig....
3242. yeniqah -- ayoung shoot, twig
... 3241, 3242. yeniqah. 3243 . ayoung shoot, twig. Transliteration: yeniqah Phonetic
Spelling: (yen-ee-kaw') Short Definition: twigs....young twig....
Library
Food for the Lambs; or, Helps forYoung Christians
Food for the Lambs; or, Helps forYoung Christians. <. Food for the
Lambs; or, Helps forYoung Christians Charles Ebert Orr....
The Life of Jesus Christ for theYoung
The Life of Jesus Christ for theYoung. <. The Life of Jesus
Christ for theYoung Richard Newton. Produced by Juliet...
Serious Hours of aYoung Lady
Serious Hours of aYoung Lady. <. Serious Hours of aYoung Lady
Charles Sainte-Foi. Produced by Naomi Parkhurst, Charles...
Young's Night Thoughts
Young's Night Thoughts. <.Young's Night Thoughts EdwardYoung. Table of Contents.
Title Page. ON THE LIFE AND POETIC GENIUS OF EDWARDYOUNG....
A Practical Directory forYoung Christian Females
A Practical Directory forYoung Christian Females. <. A Practical
Directory forYoung Christian Females Harvey Newcomb....
TheYoung Martyr
... THEYOUNG MARTYR. On the afternoon of August 9, 1853, a little Norwegian
boy, named Kund Iverson, who lived in the city of Chicago...
Young Man! a Prayer for You
...Young Man! A Prayer for You.... THISYOUNG MAN waited upon a prophet: he could not have
had a more instructive occupation; yet his eyes needed to be opened....
TheYoung Knight: a Parable
... THEYOUNG KNIGHT: A PARABLE. A gayyoung knight in Burley stood, Beside
him pawed his steed so good, His hands he wrung as he were...
Letter to aYoung Widow.
... letter to ayoung widow. 1. That you have sustained a severe blow, and
that the weapon directed from above has been planted in a...
Death of theYoung.
... MOURNING AND CONSOLATION. 589. " Death of theYoung. 589. CM Mrs. Hemans. Death
of theYoung. 1 Calm on the bosom of thy God,Young spirit, rest thee now!...
Thesaurus
Young (3454 Occurrences)... Not long born; still in the first part of life; not yet arrived at adolescence,
maturity, or age; not old; juvenile; -- said of animals; as, a
young child; a
...Yearling (48 Occurrences)
... 12:6 And when the days of her cleansing are fulfilled, for a son or for a daughter,
she shall bring a yearling lamb for a burnt-offering, and ayoung pigeon or...
Cow (32 Occurrences)
... kou, kin (baqar (compare Arabic baqar, "cow"); `eghlath baqar (Isaiah 7:21); parah
(compare Arabic furar, "young of a sheep, goat, or cow"); paroth `aloth (1...
Virgins (33 Occurrences)
... Judges 21:12 They found among the inhabitants of Jabesh Gilead four hundredyoung
virgins, who had not known man by lying with him; and they brought them to...
Youths (28 Occurrences)
... 1 John 2:13 I write to you, fathers, because ye have known him who 'is' from the
beginning; I write to you,young men, because ye have overcome the evil....
She-lion (8 Occurrences)
... (BBE). Job 4:11 The old lion comes to his end for need of food, and theyoung
of the she-lion go wandering in all directions. (BBE)....
Suck (22 Occurrences)
... from by the action of the mouth; as, to suck an orange; specifically, to draw milk
from (the mother, the breast, etc.) with the mouth; as, theyoung of an...
Virginity (12 Occurrences)
... maid" (Judges 19:24, etc.), but the American Standard Revised Version has used
"virgin" throughout, despite the awkwardness of such a phrase as "young men and...
Cubs (11 Occurrences)
... folly. (WEB NAS RSV NIV). Jeremiah 51:38 They shall roar together likeyoung
lions; they shall growl as lions' cubs. (WEB NAS NIV)....
Afford (12 Occurrences)
... Leviticus 5:7 "'If he can't afford a lamb, then he shall bring his trespass offering
for that in which he has sinned, two turtledoves, or twoyoung pigeons, to...
Resources
Who was Brigham Young? | GotQuestions.orgI'm young. How can I live the Christian life? | GotQuestions.orgWhat is young earth creationism? | GotQuestions.orgYoung: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.comBible Concordance •
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