Category: Bible Terms

Definitions to key words found in the Bible and words that relate to faith and Bible reading.

Bible Term: Obedience

Post author By Peter DeHaan
Post date February 3, 2014

In a spiritual sense, obedience is the act of doing what God commands and what we know to please to him. We don’t obey to earn our salvation, but rather in response to it.

We can find out what God wants us to do by studying the Bible and through the leading of his Holy Spirit.

Key verse about Obedience: If you do whatever I command you and walk in obedience to me and do what is right in my eyes by obeying my decrees and commands, as David my servant did, I will be with you. I will build you a dynasty as enduring as the one I built for David and will give Israel to you (1 Kings 11:38, NIV)

A lifelong student of the Bible, Peter DeHaan, PhD, wrote the 1,000-page website ABibleADay.com to encourage people to explore the Bible. His main blog and many books urge Christians to push past the status quo and reconsider how they practice their faith in every area of their lives.

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Bible Terms

Bible Term: Northern Kingdom

Post author By Peter DeHaan
Post date February 3, 2014

The Northern Kingdom, also known as the Northern Tribes or the Ten Tribes of Israel, were one of two nations that resulted when Israel was split due to the unwise leadership of King Rehoboam (2 Chronicles 10). The other nation was Judah (the Southern Kingdom).

The Northern Kingdom would eventually be conquered by the nation of Assyria, which deported the Israelites, forcibly dispersing them to many different areas.

There is no biblical mention of these people ever returning in any significant numbers, and as a result they are therefore sometimes called the Lost Tribes of Israel.

Key verse about Northern Kingdom: I am about to summon all the peoples of the northern kingdoms,” declares the Lord. “Their kings will come and set up their thrones in the entrance of the gates of Jerusalem; they will come against all her surrounding walls and against all the towns of Judah (Jeremiah 1:15, NIV)

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Bible Terms

Bible Term: New Testament

Post author By Peter DeHaan
Post date February 3, 2014

The Bible is a book of books, 66 books* altogether, written over a period of hundreds of years by many different authors;. These 66 books are divided into two parts, the Old Testament and the New Testament.

The New Testament contains 27 books and cover Jesus’s life and the work of his followers.

It starts with four Gospels (biographies of Jesus from various perspectives).

Next, comes Acts, a record of the formation and functioning of the early church.

Then is a series of letters, called epistles, written by key leaders to various churches or people. These letters comprise the bulk of the books in the New Testament.

The concluding book is Revelation.

Here is a list of the books in the New Testament.

* see Apocrypha

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Bible Terms

Bible Term: Nephilim

Post author By Peter DeHaan
Post date February 3, 2014

A people called the Nephilim are mentioned twice in the Bible (Genesis 6:4 and Numbers 13:33). From a biblical standpoint, there isn’t much known about them.

What we do know from these two verses is that they are the descendants of a man named Anak, a powerful people. Depending on the version consulted, the Nephilim are also referred to as giants or children of supernatural beings. They were mighty and famous.

As a result of this brief information and cryptic description, much mystery and speculation surround their true identity and actual characteristics.

Key verse about Nephilim: We saw the Nephilim there (the descendants of Anak come from the Nephilim). We seemed like grasshoppers in our own eyes, and we looked the same to them” (Numbers 13:33, NIV)

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Bible Terms

Bible Term: Mystery

Post author By Peter DeHaan
Post date February 3, 2014

There are things about God, following Jesus, and accepting his salvation that the Bible simply describes as a mystery, that is, as hidden truths or a mystic secret. This drives some people crazy; they want to understand all and be able to fully explain everything. Anything less causes frustration.

Other people relish the realization that some things of God are but a mystery. That draws them to him; it’s an allure. Daily, they strive to unravel his mystery and know him more fully. This is as it should be.

To explore this mystery motif more fully, consider the following verses that evoke the mystery explanation:

The word mystery is used in other contexts in Daniel 2:18-47, 4:9, 1 Corinthians 13:2, 14:2, and Revelation 1:20, 17:5, 7.

Key verse about Mystery: No, we declare God’s wisdom, a mystery that has been hidden and that God destined for our glory before time began (1 Corinthians 2:7, NIV)

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Bible Terms

Bible Term: Miracle

Post author By Peter DeHaan
Post date February 3, 2014

A miracle is an occurrence that is not explicable in human terms or is impossible according to the laws of nature. A miracle can only be explained as supernatural, at the volition of God.

The Bible records many miracles.

Key verse about Miracle: You are the God who performs miracles; you display your power among the peoples (Psalm 77:14, NIV)

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Bible Terms

Bible Term: Minor Prophets

Post author By Peter DeHaan
Post date February 3, 2014

A prophet can mean the same thing as a preacher. It can also refer to someone who has insight into the future or predicts future events, which is called a prophecy.

Many books in the Old Testament were written by or about prophets and contained their messages for repentance or predictions for future events. Many of these prophetic predictions anticipated Jesus, though some had a more current focus, while a few looked at the end times.

Minor Prophets are not unimportant, but merely those who wrote shorter books! (Compare to Major Prophets.) The books of the Minor Prophets are:

(See our Bible resources page for sites with more information on this topic.)

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Bible Terms

Bible Term: Messiah

Post author By Peter DeHaan
Post date February 3, 2014

Messiah is another name for Christ, which literally means messiah. Both Christ and Messiah are titles for Jesus; as such they are often used interchangeably to refer to him.

[Read Bible verses about Jesus, the Messiah.]

Key verse about Messiah: Simon Peter answered, “You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God” (Matthew 16:16, NVI).

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Bible Terms

Bible Term: Mercy

Post author By Peter DeHaan
Post date February 3, 2014

Mercy is not getting the bad things we deserve.

Not being punished for doing wrong is an act of mercy. Sometimes criminals ask a judge for mercy; occasionally them receive it. When the police officer gives you a warning, instead of a speeding ticket, it’s an act of mercy.

For all those who follow Jesus, his mercy means we won’t be held accountable for all we’ve done wrong.

Compare and contrast mercy to grace.

Key verse about Mercy: And may God Almighty grant you mercy before the man so that he will let your other brother and Benjamin come back with you. As for me, if I am bereaved, I am bereaved” (Genesis 43:14, NVI)

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Bible Terms

Bible Term: Melchizedek

Post author By Peter DeHaan
Post date February 3, 2014

Melchizedek is first mentioned in Genesis after Abraham returns from battle (Genesis 14:17-20). Melchizedek is a priest (before the priesthood was instituted) and Abraham gave him a tenth (tithe) of the goods he recovered.

Melchizedek is either literally Jesus (remember that Jesus, as God, is eternal, existing before the world was created), or Melchizedek a metaphor for Jesus.

Melchizedek is again mentioned in Psalm 110:4, with prominent references in Hebrews 5, 6, and 7), where he is called a high priest.

Key verse about Melchizedek: For it is declared: “You are a priest forever, in the order of Melchizedek” (Hebrews 7:17, NIV)

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