Bible Dictionary: Begin

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Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary

1. (v. i.) To have or commence an independent or first existence; to take rise; to commence.

2. (v. i.) To do the first act or the first part of an action; to enter upon or commence something new, as a new form or state of being, or course of action; to take the first step; to start.

3. (v. t.) To enter on; to commence.

4. (v. t.) To trace or lay the foundation of; to make or place a beginning of.

5. (n.) Beginning.

International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

BEGIN

be-gin': To make the first movement toward a given end (chalal; archomai). Those who interpret it in many passages pleonastically mean by this, that in such passages as "began to teach" or "began to speak," nothing more is intended than to express vividly and graphically the thought of the dependent infinitive. Matthew 4:17 Luke 3:23 Acts 1:1 are so understood. For contrary opinion, see Thayer's Lexicon and Winer's Grammar of New Testament Greek.

The noun, arche, "beginning," in the writings of John, is used sometimes in an abstract sense, to designate a previous stage (John 1:1, 2; John 8:25 1 John 1:1; 1 John 3:8) and, sometimes, the Source or First Cause (Revelation 3:14; Revelation 21:6; Revelation 22:13). Often used also, not for the absolute beginning, but, relatively, for the starting-point of some important movement (1 John 2:7, 24 Acts 11:15 Philippians 4:15).

H. E. Jacobs

Greek

4278. proenarchomai -- to begin before
... to begin before. Part of Speech: Verb Transliteration: proenarchomai Phonetic Spelling:
(pro-en-ar'-khom-ahee) Short Definition: I begin before Definition: I ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/4278.htm - 6k

5225. huparcho -- to begin, to be ready or at hand, to be
... to begin, to be ready or at hand, to be. Part of Speech: Verb Transliteration: huparcho
Phonetic Spelling: (hoop-ar'-kho) Short Definition: I am, exist, am in ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/5225.htm - 8k

1728. enarchomai -- to begin, to make a beginning
... to begin, to make a beginning. Part of Speech: Verb Transliteration: enarchomai
Phonetic Spelling: (en-ar'-khom-ahee) Short Definition: I begin Definition: I ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/1728.htm - 6k

757. archo -- to rule, to begin
... to rule, to begin. Part of Speech: Verb Transliteration: archo Phonetic Spelling:
(ar'-kho) Short Definition: I reign, rule Definition: I reign, rule. ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/757.htm - 6k

2020. epiphosko -- to let shine, ie to dawn
... commencing. Word Origin from epi and phos Definition to let shine, ie to dawn
NASB Word Usage about to begin (1), dawn (1). begin, dawn. A ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/2020.htm - 6k

756. archomai -- commence, rule
... archomai. 757 . commence, rule. Part of Speech: Verb Transliteration: archomai
Phonetic Spelling: (ar'-khom-ahee) Short Definition: I begin Definition: I begin ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/756.htm - 7k

1036. buthizo -- to sink, to cause to sink
... begin to sink, drown. From buthos; to sink; by implication, to drown -- begin to
sink, drown. see GREEK buthos. (buthizesthai) -- 1 Occurrence. ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/1036.htm - 6k

611. apokrinomai -- to answer
... answer. From apo and krino; to conclude for oneself, ie (by implication) to respond;
by Hebraism (compare anah) to begin to speak (where an address is expected ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/611.htm - 8k

3195. mello -- to be about to
... almost), (that which is, things, + which was for) to come, intend, was to (be),
mean, mind, be at the point, (be) ready, + return, shall (begin), (which, that ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/3195.htm - 9k

1. alpha -- alpha
... not forgive" (). "judge" () however does not begin in Greek with the letter
"a" so is formed by using the prefix (). Word Origin ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/1.htm - 7k

Strong's Hebrew

2490. chalal -- to bore, pierce
... to bore, pierce. Transliteration: chalal Phonetic Spelling: (khaw-lal') Short
Definition: pierce. begin men began, defile, break, defile, eat as common things ...
/hebrew/2490.htm - 6k

1129. banah -- to build
... begin to builder, obtain children, make, repair, set up, surely. A primitive
root; to build (literally and figuratively) -- (begin ...
/hebrew/1129.htm - 6k

6751. tsalal -- to be or grow dark
... dark. Word Origin a prim. root Definition to be or grow dark NASB Word Usage
grew dark (1), shade (1). begin to be dark, shadowing. A ...
/hebrew/6751.htm - 6k

2974. yaal -- to show willingness, be pleased, determine ...
... undertook (1), ventured (2), willing (5). assay, begin, be content, please,
take upon, willingly, would. A primitive root (probably rather ...
/hebrew/2974.htm - 6k

8271. shera -- to loosen, abide
... 1), solve (1), solving (1), went slack (1). begin, dissolve, dwell, loose.
(Aramaic) a root corresponding to that of sheruwth; to ...
/hebrew/8271.htm - 6k

4427. malak -- to be or become king or queen, to reign
... consult, indeed, be make, set a, set up king, be make queen, begin to,
make to reigning, A primitive root; to reign; inceptively ...
/hebrew/4427.htm - 5k

2490c. chalal -- to pollute, defile, profane
... root Definition to pollute, defile, profane NASB Word Usage became* (1), began
(30), begin (10), begin to use its fruit (2), beginning (3), begun (7), begun to ...
/hebrew/2490c.htm - 6k

8462. techillah -- a beginning
... Tachmonite. From chalal in the sense of opening; a commencement; rel. Original
(adverb, -ly) -- begin(-ning), first (time). see HEBREW chalal. 8461, 8462. ...
/hebrew/8462.htm - 6k

6030. anah -- to answer, respond
... To begin to speak; specifically to sing, shout, testify, announce -- give account,
afflict (by mistake for anah), (cause to, give) answer, bring low (by ...
/hebrew/6030.htm - 6k

5927. alah -- to go up, ascend, climb
... mount up, offer, make to pay, + perfect, prefer, put (on), raise, recover, restore,
(make to) rise (up), scale, set (up), shoot forth (up), (begin to) spring ...
/hebrew/5927.htm - 8k

Library

For, to Begin with what is Important, what Advantage is it to the ...
... Book II. 38 For, to begin with what is important, what advantage is it
to the world that� For, to begin with what is important ...
/.../the seven books of arnobius against the heathen/38 for to begin with.htm

In Thee Will I Begin to Speak, Thou Head that Didst Begin all ...
... Hymn X. In Thee will I begin to speak, Thou Head that didst begin all created
things. In Thee will I begin to speak, Thou Head that ...
/.../ephraim/hymns and homilies of ephraim the syrian/hymn x in thee will.htm

Here Begin the Miracles of the Blessed Hermit Richard.
... HERE BEGIN THE MIRACLES OF THE BLESSED HERMIT RICHARD. To be read during the Octave
of the Feast (The following extracts are from the Sunday Lesson.). ...
//christianbookshelf.org/rolle/the fire of love/here begin the miracles of.htm

How a Private Man must Begin the Morning with Piety.
... THE PRACTICE OF PIETY. HOW A PRIVATE MAN MUST BEGIN THE MORNING WITH PIETY.
As soon as ever thou awakest in the morning, keep the ...
//christianbookshelf.org/bayly/the practice of piety/how a private man must.htm

But as I do not Begin to Doubt About the Necessity...
... Address 47: But as I do not begin to doubt about the necessity� But as I
do not begin to doubt about the necessity, the truth, and ...
/.../address 47 0 0 but as i.htm

Now as no Animal could Begin to Respire, or Unite with the Breath ...
... Address 13: Now as no animal could begin to respire, or unite with the
breath of this� Now as no animal could begin to respire ...
/.../address 13 0 now as no.htm

Before we Begin Our Reply, we have to Remark that the Endeavour to ...
... Chapter XLII. Before we begin our reply, we have to remark that the endeavour
to show� Before we begin our reply, we have to remark ...
/.../origen/origen against celsus/chapter xlii before we begin.htm

To Begin with the Real Ground of the Military Crown...
... Chapter XI. To begin with the real ground of the military crown� To begin
with the real ground of the military crown, I think ...
/.../tertullian/the chaplet or de corona/chapter xi to begin with.htm

We Will Now Begin a Careful Consideration of Each Several Point...
... II. We will now begin a careful consideration of each several point� We
will now begin a careful consideration of each several ...
/.../boethius/the trinity is one god not three gods/ii we will now begin.htm

To Prevent Ambiguity, we must Begin with Clear Definition.
... Chapter IV."To Prevent Ambiguity, We Must Begin with Clear Definition. ... For we
must begin with the knowledge of the questions to be discussed. ...
/.../clement/the stromata or miscellanies/chapter iv to prevent ambiguity we.htm

Thesaurus

Begin (56 Occurrences)
... Standard Bible Encyclopedia. BEGIN. be-gin': To make the first movement toward a
given end (chalal; archomai). ... Multi-Version Concordance Begin (56 Occurrences). ...
/b/begin.htm - 26k

Attack (221 Occurrences)
... 2. (vt) To assail with unfriendly speech or writing; to begin a controversy with;
to attempt to overthrow or bring into disrepute, by criticism or satire; to ...
/a/attack.htm - 37k

Kindle (25 Occurrences)
... 2. (vt) To set on fire; to cause to burn with flame; to ignite; to cause to begin
burning; to start; to light; as, to kindle a match, or shavings. ...
/k/kindle.htm - 15k

Dawn (70 Occurrences)
... Noah Webster's Dictionary 1. (vi) To begin to grow light in the morning; to grow
light; to break, or begin to appear; as, the day dawns; the morning dawns. ...
/d/dawn.htm - 28k

Proceed (47 Occurrences)
... 4. (vi) To go on in an orderly or regulated manner; to begin and carry on a series
of acts or measures; to act by method; to prosecute a design. ...
/p/proceed.htm - 21k

Conceive (23 Occurrences)
... purpose, plan, hope. 2. (vt) To receive into the womb and begin to breed; to
begin the formation of the embryo of. 3. (vt) To apprehend ...
/c/conceive.htm - 14k

Occupy (25 Occurrences)
... Luke 14:9 and he who did call thee and him having come shall say to thee, Give to
this one place, and then thou mayest begin with shame to occupy the last place ...
/o/occupy.htm - 16k

Lamentations (6 Occurrences)
... alphabet. The third has sixty-six verses, in which each three successive verses
begin with the same letter. The fifth is not acrostic. ...
/l/lamentations.htm - 20k

Wilt (324 Occurrences)
... 2. (vi) To begin to wither; to lose freshness and become flaccid, as a plant when
exposed when exposed to drought, or to great heat in a dry day, or when ...
/w/wilt.htm - 36k

Reject (56 Occurrences)
... 1 Peter 4:17 For the time has come for judgement to begin, and to begin at the house
of God; and if it begins with us, what will be the end of those who reject ...
/r/reject.htm - 21k

Bible Concordance

Begin (56 Occurrences)

Matthew 20:8 When evening had come, the lord of the vineyard said to his manager,'Call the laborers and pay them their wages, beginning from the last to the first.'
(Root in WEB KJV WEY ASV DBY WBS NAS RSV NIV)

Matthew 24:6 and ye shall begin to hear of wars, and reports of wars; see, be not troubled, for it behoveth all 'these' to come to pass, but the end is not yet.
(YLT)

Matthew 24:49 and begins to beat his fellow servants, and eat and drink with the drunkards,
(Root in WEB KJV WEY ASV DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)

Luke 3:8 Bring forth therefore fruits worthy of repentance, and don't begin to say among yourselves,'We have Abraham for our father;' for I tell you that God is able to raise up children to Abraham from these stones!
(WEB KJV WEY ASV DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)

Luke 12:45 But if that servant says in his heart,'My lord delays his coming,' and begins to beat the menservants and the maidservants, and to eat and drink, and to be drunken,
(Root in WEB KJV WEY ASV DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)

Luke 13:25 When once the master of the house has risen up, and has shut the door, and you begin to stand outside, and to knock at the door, saying,'Lord, Lord, open to us!' then he will answer and tell you,'I don't know you or where you come from.'
(WEB KJV ASV DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV)

Luke 13:26 Then you will begin to say,'We ate and drank in your presence, and you taught in our streets.'
(WEB KJV ASV DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV)

Luke 14:9 and he who invited both of you would come and tell you,'Make room for this person.' Then you would begin, with shame, to take the lowest place.
(WEB KJV ASV DBY WBS YLT RSV)

Luke 14:29 Or perhaps, when he has laid a foundation, and is not able to finish, everyone who sees begins to mock him,
(Root in WEB KJV WEY ASV DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV)

Luke 21:28 But when these things begin to happen, look up, and lift up your heads, because your redemption is near."
(WEB KJV WEY ASV DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)

Luke 23:30 Then they will begin to tell the mountains,'Fall on us!' and tell the hills,'Cover us.'
(WEB KJV WEY ASV DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV)

Luke 23:54 It was the day of the Preparation, and the Sabbath was drawing near.
(See NAS RSV NIV)

John 7:14 But when it was now the midst of the feast, Jesus went up into the temple and taught.
(See NIV)

Acts 18:14 But, when Paul was about to begin his defence, Gallio said to the Jews, "If it had been some wrongful act or piece of cunning knavery I might reasonably have listened to you Jews.
(WEY)

Romans 3:2 Much in every way! Because first of all, they were entrusted with the oracles of God.
(See RSV)

1 Corinthians 7:5 Do not refuse one another, unless perhaps it is just for a time and by mutual consent, so that you may devote yourselves to prayer and may then associate again; lest the Adversary begin to tempt you because of your deficiency in self-control.
(WEY)

2 Corinthians 3:1 Are we beginning again to commend ourselves? Or do we need, as do some, letters of commendation to you or from you?
(Root in WEB KJV ASV DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)

2 Corinthians 8:6 So we urged Titus, that as he made a beginning before, so he would also complete in you this grace.
(Root in WEB ASV YLT NAS RSV NIV)

2 Corinthians 8:10 And herein I give 'my' judgment: for this is expedient for you, who were the first to make a beginning a year ago, not only to do, but also to will.
(Root in ASV YLT NAS)

Philippians 1:6 having been confident of this very thing, that He who did begin in you a good work, will perform 'it' till a day of Jesus Christ,
(YLT)

1 Timothy 5:11 But the younger widows you must not enrol; for as soon as they begin to chafe against the yoke of Christ, they want to marry,
(WEY)

James 4:2 You covet things and yet cannot get them; you commit murder; you have passionate desires and yet cannot gain your end; you begin to fight and make war. You have not, because you do not pray;
(WEY)

1 Peter 4:17 For the time has come for judgment to begin with the household of God. If it begins first with us, what will happen to those who don't obey the Good News of God?
(WEB KJV WEY ASV DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)

Jude 1:3 Dear friends, since I am eager to begin a letter to you on the subject of our common salvation, I find myself constrained to write and cheer you on to the vigorous defense of the faith delivered once for all to God's people.
(WEY)

Revelation 10:7 But in the days of the voice of the seventh angel, when he shall begin to sound, the mystery of God should be finished, as he hath declared to his servants the prophets.
(KJV WEY WBS)

Genesis 11:6 Yahweh said, "Behold, they are one people, and they have all one language, and this is what they begin to do. Now nothing will be withheld from them, which they intend to do.
(WEB KJV JPS ASV WBS RSV)

Genesis 41:54 and the seven years of famine begin to come, as Joseph said, and famine is in all the lands, but in all the land of Egypt hath been bread;
(YLT)

Numbers 25:1 And Israel dwelleth in Shittim, and the people begin to go a-whoring unto daughters of Moab,
(YLT)

Numbers 34:3 then your south quarter shall be from the wilderness of Zin along by the side of Edom, and your south border shall be from the end of the Salt Sea eastward;
(See JPS)

Deuteronomy 2:24 "Rise up, take your journey, and pass over the valley of the Arnon: behold, I have given into your hand Sihon the Amorite, king of Heshbon, and his land; begin to possess it, and contend with him in battle.
(WEB KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)

Deuteronomy 2:25 This day will I begin to put the dread of you and the fear of you on the peoples who are under the whole sky, who shall hear the report of you, and shall tremble, and be in anguish because of you."
(WEB KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)

Deuteronomy 2:31 Yahweh said to me, "Behold, I have begun to deliver up Sihon and his land before you: begin to possess, that you may inherit his land."
(WEB KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)

Deuteronomy 16:9 You shall count for yourselves seven weeks: from the time you begin to put the sickle to the standing grain you shall begin to number seven weeks.
(WEB KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)

Deuteronomy 20:6 What man is there who has planted a vineyard, and has not used its fruit? Let him go and return to his house, lest he die in the battle, and another man use its fruit.
(See NAS)

Deuteronomy 28:30 You shall betroth a wife, and another man shall lie with her: you shall build a house, and you shall not dwell therein: you shall plant a vineyard, and shall not use its fruit.
(See NIV)

Joshua 3:7 Yahweh said to Joshua, "Today I will begin to magnify you in the sight of all Israel, that they may know that as I was with Moses, so I will be with you.
(WEB KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)

Joshua 18:3 Joshua said to the children of Israel, "How long will you neglect to go in to possess the land, which Yahweh, the God of your fathers, has given you?
(See NIV)

Judges 10:18 The people, the princes of Gilead, said one to another, "What man is he who will begin to fight against the children of Ammon? He shall be head over all the inhabitants of Gilead."
(WEB KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV)

Judges 13:5 for, behold, you shall conceive, and bear a son; and no razor shall come on his head; for the child shall be a Nazirite to God from the womb: and he shall begin to save Israel out of the hand of the Philistines."
(WEB KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)

Judges 20:31 And the sons of Benjamin come out to meet the people; they have been drawn away out of the city, and begin to smite 'some' of the people -- wounded as time by time, in the highways (of which one is going up to Beth-El, and the other to Gibeah in the field), 'are' about thirty men of Israel.
(YLT)

1 Samuel 3:12 In that day I will perform against Eli all that I have spoken concerning his house, from the beginning even to the end.
(Root in WEB KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)

1 Samuel 9:13 As soon as you have come into the city, you shall immediately find him, before he goes up to the high place to eat; for the people will not eat until he come, because he blesses the sacrifice. Afterwards those who are invited eat. Now therefore go up; for at this time you shall find him."
(See NIV)

1 Samuel 22:15 Did I then begin to inquire of God for him? be it far from me: let not the king impute any thing unto his servant, nor to all the house of my father: for thy servant knew nothing of all this, less or more.
(KJV WBS NAS)

2 Samuel 7:29 And now, begin and bless the house of Thy servant, to be unto the age before Thee, for Thou, Lord Jehovah, hast spoken, and by Thy blessing is the house of Thy servant blessed -- to the age.'
(YLT)

1 Kings 20:14 Ahab said, "By whom?" He said, "Thus says Yahweh,'By the young men of the princes of the provinces.'" Then he said, "Who shall begin the battle?" He answered, "You."
(WEB JPS ASV DBY NAS RSV)

2 Kings 8:25 In the twelfth year of Joram the son of Ahab king of Israel did Ahaziah the son of Jehoram king of Judah begin to reign.
(WEB KJV JPS ASV WBS)

1 Chronicles 22:16 of the gold, the silver, and the brass, and the iron, there is no number. Arise and be doing, and Yahweh be with you.
(See NIV)

1 Chronicles 22:19 Now set your heart and your soul to seek after Yahweh your God; arise therefore, and build the sanctuary of Yahweh God, to bring the ark of the covenant of Yahweh, and the holy vessels of God, into the house that is to be built to the name of Yahweh.
(See NIV)

2 Chronicles 29:17 And they begin on the first of the first month to sanctify, and on the eighth day of the month they have come to the porch of Jehovah, and they sanctify the house of Jehovah in eight days, and on the sixteenth day of the first month they have finished.
(YLT)

Nehemiah 11:17 and Mattaniah the son of Mica, the son of Zabdi, the son of Asaph, who was the chief to begin the thanksgiving in prayer, and Bakbukiah, the second among his brothers; and Abda the son of Shammua, the son of Galal, the son of Jeduthun.
(WEB KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS NAS RSV)

Jeremiah 25:29 For, behold, I begin to work evil at the city which is called by my name; and should you be utterly unpunished? You shall not be unpunished; for I will call for a sword on all the inhabitants of the earth, says Yahweh of Armies.
(WEB KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)

Lamentations 2:19 Arise, cry out in the night, at the beginning of the watches; Pour out your heart like water before the face of the Lord: Lift up your hands toward him for the life of your young children, that faint for hunger at the head of every street.
(Root in WEB KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)

Ezekiel 9:6 kill utterly the old man, the young man and the virgin, and little children and women; but don't come near any man on whom is the mark: and begin at my sanctuary. Then they began at the old men that were before the house.
(WEB KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS YLT RSV NIV)

Ezekiel 9:7 And they begin among the aged men who 'are' before the house, and He saith unto them, 'Defile the house, and fill the courts with the wounded, go forth.' And they have gone forth and have smitten in the city.
(YLT)

Ezekiel 39:14 They shall set apart men of continual employment, who shall pass through the land, and, with those who pass through, those who bury those who remain on the surface of the land, to cleanse it: after the end of seven months shall they search.
(See NIV)

Hosea 8:10 But although they sold themselves among the nations, I will now gather them; and they begin to waste away because of the oppression of the king of mighty ones.
(WEB JPS ASV DBY NAS NIV)

Subtopics

Begin

Related Terms

Attack (221 Occurrences)

Kindle (25 Occurrences)

Dawn (70 Occurrences)

Proceed (47 Occurrences)

Conceive (23 Occurrences)

Occupy (25 Occurrences)

Lamentations (6 Occurrences)

Wilt (324 Occurrences)

Reject (56 Occurrences)