Bible Dictionary

Over 100 essential biblical terms defined with scripture references. A comprehensive reference for students, teachers, and anyone studying the Bible.

101

Terms Defined

Letters Covered

A B C D E F G H I J K L M O P R S T W Y Z

Abba — An Aramaic word meaning 'Father,' used as an intimate address for God, expressing the close relationship believers have with the Creator. (Romans 8:15)

Adonai — A Hebrew name for God meaning 'Lord' or 'Master,' often used in place of the sacred name YHWH out of reverence. (Psalm 8:1)

Agape — The highest form of love in the Greek language, describing God's unconditional, selfless love for humanity. (1 John 4:8)

Amen — A Hebrew word meaning 'so be it' or 'truly,' used to affirm prayers, statements of faith, and declarations of truth. (Revelation 22:20)

Angel — A spiritual being created by God to serve as a messenger and minister, active throughout biblical history. (Hebrews 1:14)

Anoint — To consecrate or set apart someone for a sacred purpose by applying oil, symbolizing the Holy Spirit's empowerment. (1 Samuel 16:13)

Apostle — One of the twelve original followers of Jesus commissioned to spread the Gospel, or more broadly, one sent on a mission. (Luke 6:13)

Atonement — The reconciliation between God and humanity accomplished through sacrifice, ultimately fulfilled in Christ's death on the cross. (Romans 5:11)

Baptism — A rite of immersion in water symbolizing spiritual cleansing, identification with Christ's death and resurrection, and entrance into the community of faith. (Matthew 28:19)

Beatitudes — The eight blessings pronounced by Jesus at the beginning of the Sermon on the Mount, describing the character of kingdom citizens. (Matthew 5:3-12)

Blasphemy — Speaking irreverently about God or sacred things, or claiming divine attributes for oneself. (Mark 3:29)

Blessed — A state of divine favor and spiritual well-being that transcends earthly circumstances. (Psalm 1:1)

Calvary — The Latin name for Golgotha, the hill outside Jerusalem where Jesus was crucified. (Luke 23:33)

Canon — The officially recognized collection of books that compose the Bible, accepted as authoritative Scripture. (2 Timothy 3:16)

Christ — The Greek equivalent of the Hebrew 'Messiah,' meaning 'Anointed One,' the title given to Jesus as the promised Savior. (John 1:41)

Circumcision — The physical sign of God's covenant with Abraham, later understood spiritually as a circumcision of the heart. (Genesis 17:10)

Communion — The sacrament of sharing bread and wine in remembrance of Christ's body and blood, also called the Lord's Supper or Eucharist. (1 Corinthians 11:24-25)

Conversion — The spiritual turning from sin to God, involving repentance and faith, marking the beginning of new life in Christ. (Acts 3:19)

Covenant — A solemn agreement between God and his people, establishing a binding relationship with promises and obligations. (Genesis 9:13)

Creation — God's act of bringing the universe and all living things into existence, as recorded in Genesis. (Genesis 1:1)

Cross — The instrument of Jesus's crucifixion that became the central symbol of Christianity and God's redemptive plan. (Galatians 6:14)

Crucifixion — The Roman method of execution by which Jesus was put to death, involving nailing to a wooden cross. (Mark 15:24)

Deacon — A servant-leader in the church, originally appointed to handle practical ministries so the apostles could focus on prayer and teaching. (Acts 6:3)

Disciple — A learner or follower, particularly one of the followers of Jesus who committed to learning and living his teachings. (Matthew 28:19)

Doctrine — A set of beliefs or teachings held and taught by the church, drawn from Scripture. (Titus 2:1)

Eden — The garden God planted as the original home for humanity, a place of perfect communion between God and people. (Genesis 2:8)

Elder — A mature spiritual leader in the church, responsible for teaching, shepherding, and governance of the congregation. (1 Timothy 5:17)

Emmanuel — A Hebrew name meaning 'God with us,' prophesied by Isaiah and fulfilled in Jesus Christ. (Isaiah 7:14)

Epistle — A letter, especially one of the letters written by apostles included in the New Testament. (2 Peter 3:1)

Eternal — Without beginning or end, describing God's nature and the life promised to believers through faith. (John 3:16)

Eucharist — The Christian sacrament of thanksgiving celebrating the Lord's Supper, from the Greek word for giving thanks. (Luke 22:19)

Evangelist — One who proclaims the good news of Jesus Christ, either as a specific calling or as a general Christian responsibility. (Ephesians 4:11)

Exodus — The departure of the Israelites from Egypt under Moses's leadership, a defining event in Israel's history. (Exodus 12:41)

Faith — Confident trust in God and his promises, the foundation of the believer's relationship with God. (Hebrews 11:1)

Fasting — Voluntarily abstaining from food for spiritual purposes such as prayer, repentance, or seeking God's guidance. (Matthew 6:16)

Fellowship — The shared life and mutual encouragement of believers in Christian community. (Acts 2:42)

Forgiveness — The act of releasing someone from the debt of their offense, modeled by God's cancellation of our sin-debt through Christ. (Ephesians 4:32)

Gentile — A non-Jewish person; in the New Testament, the Gospel's extension to Gentiles demonstrates God's love for all nations. (Acts 10:45)

Glory — The visible manifestation of God's greatness, majesty, and holiness, and the praise due to him. (Psalm 19:1)

Gospel — The 'good news' of salvation through Jesus Christ's life, death, and resurrection. (Mark 1:1)

Grace — God's unmerited favor and love freely given to humanity, the foundation of salvation. (Ephesians 2:8)

Heaven — The dwelling place of God and the eternal home promised to believers, described as a place of perfect joy and communion. (Revelation 21:4)

Hebrew — A member of the ancient Semitic people descended from Abraham, or the language of the Old Testament. (Philippians 3:5)

Holiness — The quality of being set apart for God's purposes, reflecting moral purity and dedication to God. (1 Peter 1:16)

Holy Spirit — The third person of the Trinity, who indwells believers, empowers for service, and guides into truth. (John 14:26)

Hosanna — A Hebrew exclamation meaning 'save us,' used as a shout of praise, especially during Jesus's triumphal entry. (Matthew 21:9)

Hymn — A song of praise to God, used in both private and corporate worship throughout biblical history. (Colossians 3:16)

Idol — Any object, person, or concept that takes the place of God in a person's devotion and loyalty. (Exodus 20:4)

Incarnation — The Christian doctrine that God became human in the person of Jesus Christ, taking on flesh while remaining fully divine. (John 1:14)

Israel — The name given to Jacob and subsequently to the nation descended from him, central to God's redemptive plan. (Genesis 32:28)

Jerusalem — The holy city central to Jewish, Christian, and Islamic faith, site of the Temple and Jesus's crucifixion and resurrection. (Psalm 122:6)

Justification — God's act of declaring a sinner righteous through faith in Jesus Christ, a legal term describing our new standing before God. (Romans 3:24)

Kingdom — The reign of God over all creation, present now in the hearts of believers and to be fully realized in the future. (Matthew 6:33)

Lamb — A sacrificial animal in the Old Testament, and a title for Jesus as the ultimate sacrifice who takes away the sin of the world. (John 1:29)

Law — The body of commandments given by God through Moses, including the Ten Commandments and detailed instructions for living. (Psalm 19:7)

Lord — A title of supreme authority and deity applied to God and to Jesus Christ. (Philippians 2:11)

Manna — The miraculous bread-like food God provided daily for the Israelites during their forty years in the wilderness. (Exodus 16:15)

Martyr — One who suffers death for their faith, from the Greek word for 'witness.' (Acts 7:59)

Mercy — God's compassionate withholding of deserved punishment and his tender care for those in need. (Lamentations 3:22-23)

Messiah — The Hebrew title meaning 'Anointed One,' referring to the promised deliverer of Israel, fulfilled in Jesus. (Daniel 9:25)

Miracle — An extraordinary event attributed to divine intervention that transcends natural laws. (John 2:11)

Offering — A gift presented to God as an act of worship, gratitude, or atonement. (Romans 12:1)

Parable — A short story used by Jesus to illustrate a spiritual or moral lesson through everyday imagery. (Matthew 13:34)

Passover — The annual Jewish festival commemorating God's deliverance of Israel from slavery in Egypt. (Exodus 12:27)

Pastor — A spiritual shepherd who cares for and leads a congregation, from the Latin word for shepherd. (Ephesians 4:11)

Patriarch — A founding father of the Hebrew people, specifically Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. (Acts 7:8)

Pentecost — The Jewish harvest festival on which the Holy Spirit was poured out on the early church, fifty days after Easter. (Acts 2:1)

Pharisee — A member of an ancient Jewish sect known for strict observance of traditional and written law. (Matthew 23:2)

Prayer — Communication with God involving praise, confession, thanksgiving, and supplication. (Philippians 4:6)

Priest — One who mediates between God and people, offering sacrifices and interceding on their behalf. (Hebrews 4:14)

Prophet — One who speaks God's message to the people, often involving both forth-telling (truth) and foretelling (prediction). (Deuteronomy 18:18)

Psalm — A sacred song or hymn, especially one of the 150 collected in the book of Psalms. (Psalm 150:1)

Redemption — The act of buying back or freeing from captivity, describing God's rescue of humanity from sin through Christ. (Ephesians 1:7)

Repentance — A genuine turning away from sin and turning toward God, involving both sorrow for wrongdoing and commitment to change. (Acts 2:38)

Resurrection — Rising from the dead, specifically Jesus's bodily resurrection on the third day, and the future resurrection of all believers. (1 Corinthians 15:20)

Revelation — God's disclosure of himself and his will to humanity, both through general creation and special Scripture. (Revelation 1:1)

Righteousness — The quality of being morally right and just, imputed to believers through faith in Christ. (Romans 3:22)

Sabbath — The seventh day of the week set apart for rest and worship, established by God at creation. (Genesis 2:3)

Sacrament — A sacred rite recognized as having particular spiritual significance, such as baptism and communion. (Matthew 28:19)

Sacrifice — An offering made to God, ultimately fulfilled in Christ's once-for-all sacrifice on the cross. (Hebrews 10:10)

Sadducee — A member of an ancient Jewish party that rejected the oral law and did not believe in resurrection. (Acts 23:8)

Saint — A holy one, used in the New Testament to describe all believers set apart by God for his purposes. (Ephesians 1:1)

Salvation — Deliverance from sin and its consequences through God's grace, received by faith in Jesus Christ. (Acts 4:12)

Sanctification — The ongoing process by which believers are made holy and conformed to the image of Christ. (1 Thessalonians 4:3)

Scripture — The sacred writings of the Bible, inspired by God and authoritative for faith and practice. (2 Timothy 3:16)

Sermon — A religious discourse delivered for instruction and exhortation, such as Jesus's Sermon on the Mount. (Matthew 5:1)

Sin — Any thought, word, or deed that violates God's law or falls short of his perfect standard. (Romans 3:23)

Soul — The immaterial essence of a person, including mind, will, and emotions, which survives physical death. (Matthew 16:26)

Spirit — The non-physical dimension of human existence, or the Holy Spirit as the third person of the Trinity. (John 4:24)

Stewardship — The responsible management of resources, abilities, and opportunities entrusted to us by God. (1 Peter 4:10)

Synagogue — A Jewish place of worship and community gathering, where Scripture was read and taught. (Luke 4:16)

Tabernacle — The portable tent sanctuary used by the Israelites during their wilderness journey as God's dwelling place among them. (Exodus 25:9)

Temple — The permanent sanctuary in Jerusalem built by Solomon and later rebuilt, where God's presence dwelt and sacrifices were offered. (1 Kings 6:1)

Testament — A covenant or agreement; the Bible is divided into the Old Testament (before Christ) and New Testament (after Christ). (Hebrews 9:15)

Tithe — A tenth of one's income or produce given to God as an act of worship and support for religious work. (Malachi 3:10)

Torah — The first five books of the Bible (Genesis through Deuteronomy), also called the Law of Moses or Pentateuch. (Joshua 1:8)

Trinity — The Christian doctrine that God exists as three persons — Father, Son, and Holy Spirit — in one divine being. (Matthew 28:19)

Wisdom — The ability to apply knowledge and understanding in ways that honor God and benefit others. (Proverbs 4:7)

Worship — The reverent love and devotion given to God through praise, prayer, service, and obedient living. (John 4:24)

Yahweh — The personal name of God revealed to Moses, sometimes rendered as Jehovah, meaning 'I AM WHO I AM.' (Exodus 3:14)

Zion — A hill in Jerusalem that became synonymous with the city itself and God's dwelling place among his people. (Psalm 48:2)