Bible Dictionary: Liberal

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Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary

1. (a.) Free by birth; hence, befitting a freeman or gentleman; refined; noble; independent; free; not servile or mean; as, a liberal ancestry; a liberal spirit; liberal arts or studies.

2. (a.) Bestowing in a large and noble way, as a freeman; generous; bounteous; open-handed; as, a liberal giver.

3. (a.) Bestowed in a large way; hence, more than sufficient; abundant; bountiful; ample; profuse; as, a liberal gift; a liberal discharge of matter or of water.

4. (a.) Not strict or rigorous; not confined or restricted to the literal sense; free; as, a liberal translation of a classic, or a liberal construction of law or of language.

5. (a.) Not narrow or contracted in mind; not selfish; enlarged in spirit; catholic.

6. (a.) Free to excess; regardless of law or moral restraint; licentious.

7. (a.) Not bound by orthodox tenets or established forms in political or religious philosophy; independent in opinion; not conservative; friendly to great freedom in the constitution or administration of government; having tendency toward democratic or republican, as distinguished from monarchical or aristocratic, forms; as, liberal thinkers; liberal Christians; the Liberal party.

8. (n.) One who favors greater freedom in political or religious matters; an opponent of the established systems; a reformer; in English politics, a member of the Liberal party, so called. Cf. Whig.

International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

LIBERAL; LIBERALITY; LIBERALLY

lib'-er-al, lib-er-al'-i-ti, lib'-er-al-i: The different forms of the word all refer to one who is generous, bountiful, willing and ready to give and to help. Both the Hebrew words of the Old Testament and the Greek words of the New Testament translated into the English word "liberal" have a deeper and nobler meaning than is generally conveyed by the English word. In Proverbs 11:25, the liberal soul (nephesh berakhah) means a soul that carries a blessing. In Isaiah 32:5, the American Standard Revised Version has "bountiful" where the King James Version has "liberal," and in Isaiah 32:8 "noble" takes the place of "liberal" (nadhibh). The principal Greek words are haplotes literally, "simplicity," "sincerity," and charis, "grace," "favor." In 1 Corinthians 16:3, "bounty" substitutes "liberality." It is well to bear in mind that a Biblical liberality can spring only out of a noble soul, and is Godlike in its genesis and spirit.

G. H. Gerberding

Greek

2130. eumetadotos -- ready to impart
... 2130 (from 2095 , "well, good" and 3330 , "give over, impart") -- properly,
give from a liberal () attitude that is (reach out). ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/2130.htm - 7k

4650. skorpizo -- to scatter
... Apparently from the same as skorpios (through the idea of penetrating); to dissipate,
ie (figuratively) put to flight, waste, be liberal -- disperse abroad ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/4650.htm - 6k

2843. koinonikos -- ready to impart
... willing to communicate, generous. From koinonos; communicative, ie (pecuniarily)
liberal -- willing to communicate. see GREEK koinonos. ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/2843.htm - 6k

572. haplotes -- singleness, hence simplicity
... ie (subjectively) sincerity (without dissimulation or self-seeking), or (objectively)
generosity (copious bestowal) -- bountifulness, liberal(-ity), simplicity ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/572.htm - 7k

Strong's Hebrew

1293. berakah -- a blessing
... blessing, liberal, pool, present. From barak; benediction; by implication prosperity --
blessing, liberal, pool, present. see HEBREW barak. 1292, 1293. ...
/hebrew/1293.htm - 6k

5081. nadib -- inclined, generous, noble
... man (1). free, liberal things, noble, prince, willing hearted. From nadab;
properly, voluntary, ie Generous; hence, magnanimous; as ...
/hebrew/5081.htm - 6k

7771. showa' -- independent, noble (in station)
... From shava' in the original sense of freedom; a noble, ie Liberal, opulent; also
(as noun in the derived sense) a halloo -- bountiful, crying, rich. ...
/hebrew/7771.htm - 5k

5069. nedab -- to volunteer, offer freely
... be minded of. (Aramaic) corresponding to nadab; be (or give) liberal(-ly) -- (be
minded of...own) freewill (offering), offer freely (willingly). ...
/hebrew/5069.htm - 6k

4367. Maknadbay -- an Israelite
... Machnadebai. From mah and nadab with a particle interposed; what (is) like (a) liberal
(man)?; Maknadbai, an Israelite -- Machnadebai. see HEBREW mah. ...
/hebrew/4367.htm - 6k

4982. Mattenay -- an Israelite priest, also two Israelites
... NASB Word Usage Mattenai (3). Mattenai. From mattan; liberal; Mattenai, the name
of three Israelites -- Mattenai. see HEBREW mattan. 4981, 4982. ...
/hebrew/4982.htm - 6k

54. Ebyathar -- "the great one is father," an Israelite priest
... Abiathar. Contracted from 'ab and yathar; father of abundance (ie Liberal); Ebjathar,
an Israelite -- Abiathar. see HEBREW 'ab. see HEBREW yathar. 53, 54. ...
/hebrew/54.htm - 6k

5070. Nadab -- an Israelite name
... name NASB Word Usage Nadab (20). Nadab. From nadab; liberal; Nadab, the name of
four Israelites -- Nadab. see HEBREW nadab. 5069, 5070. Nadab. 5071 . ...
/hebrew/5070.htm - 6k

41. Abinadab -- "my father is noble," three Israelites
... Abinadab. From 'ab and nadab; father of generosity (ie Liberal); Abinadab, the name
of four Israelites -- Abinadab. see HEBREW 'ab. see HEBREW nadab. 40, 41. ...
/hebrew/41.htm - 6k

5993. ammi nadib -- Amminadib
... Word Origin from am, qv and nadib, qv. Amminadib From am and nadiyb; my people
(is) liberal; Ammi-Nadib, probably an Israelite -- Amminadib. see HEBREW am. ...
/hebrew/5993.htm - 6k

Library

Whether it Belongs to a Liberal Man Chiefly to Give?
... OF LIBERALITY (SIX ARTICLES) Whether it belongs to a liberal man chiefly
to give? Objection 1: It seems that it does not belong ...
//christianbookshelf.org/aquinas/summa theologica/whether it belongs to a.htm

A Liberal Church
... Lesson 32 A Liberal Church. In his first letter to the church at Corinth,
Paul gave the believers instruction regarding the general ...
/.../white/the acts of the apostles/lesson 32 a liberal church.htm

The Conservative Reaction, and the Liberal victory --
... Section 35. The Conservative Reaction, and the Liberal Victory". Peter and Paul
at Antioch. ... [473] They no doubt returned to their more liberal practice. ...
/.../section 35 the conservative reaction.htm

Psalm 112 the Blessings of the Liberal Man.
... THE PSALMS OF DAVID PSALM 112 The blessings of the liberal man. 8,8,8,8,8,8 The
blessings of the liberal man. PAUSE. That man is blest who stands in awe. ...
/.../watts/the psalms and hymns of isaac watts/psalm 112 the blessings of.htm

He Very Easily Understood the Liberal Arts and the Categories of ...
... Book IV. Chapter XVI."He Very Easily Understood the Liberal Arts and
the Categories of Aristotle, But Without True Fruit. 28. ...
/.../the confessions and letters of st/chapter xvi he very easily understood.htm

A Liberal Education: and Where to Find It.
... III. A LIBERAL EDUCATION: AND WHERE TO FIND IT. The business which the South
London Working Men's College has undertaken is a great ...
/.../huxley/lay sermons addresses and reviews/iii a liberal education and.htm

Of the Method to be Pursued in Catechising those who have had a ...
... Chapter 8."Of the Method to Be Pursued in Catechising Those Who Have Had
a Liberal Education. 12. But there is another case which ...
/.../augustine/on the catechising of the uninstructed/chapter 8 of the method to.htm

Now all this Circle of Science and Arts, Whether Liberal or ...
... [Way-2-16] Now all this circle of science and arts, whether liberal or
mechanic� Now all this circle of science and arts, whether ...
/.../law/the way to divine knowledge/way-2-16 now all this circle.htm

Psalm 112:1. As the 113Th Psalm. The Blessings of the Liberal Man.
... THE Psalms of David, In Metre. Psalm 112:1. As the 113th Psalm. The blessings
of the liberal man. 1 That man is blest who stands ...
/.../christianbookshelf.org/watts/the psalms of david/psalm 112 1 0 as the 113th.htm

Faustus was Indeed an Elegant Speaker, but Knew Nothing of the ...
... Book V. Chapter VI."Faustus Was Indeed an Elegant Speaker, But Knew Nothing
of the Liberal Sciences. 10. And for nearly the whole ...
/.../the confessions and letters of st/chapter vi faustus was indeed an.htm

Thesaurus

Liberal (11 Occurrences)
... 1. (a.) Free by birth; hence, befitting a freeman or gentleman; refined; noble;
independent; free; not servile or mean; as, a liberal ancestry; a liberal spirit ...
/l/liberal.htm - 12k

Liberality (7 Occurrences)
... 1. (n.) The quality or state of being liberal; liberal disposition or practice;
freedom from narrowness or prejudice; generosity; candor; charity. ...
/l/liberality.htm - 10k

Liberally (4 Occurrences)
... Noah Webster's Dictionary (adv.) In a liberal manner. Int. Standard Bible
Encyclopedia. LIBERAL; LIBERALITY; LIBERALLY. lib'-er-al ...
/l/liberally.htm - 8k

Libertines (1 Occurrence)
... the English word. In Proverbs 11:25, the liberal soul (nephesh berakhah)
means a soul that carries a blessing. In Isaiah 32:5, the ...
/l/libertines.htm - 11k

Expensive (6 Occurrences)
... Noah Webster's Dictionary 1. (a.) Occasioning expense; calling for liberal outlay;
costly; dear; liberal; as, expensive dress; an expensive house or family. ...
/e/expensive.htm - 8k

Deviseth (12 Occurrences)
... (KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS). Isaiah 32:8 But the liberal deviseth liberal things;
and by liberal things shall he stand. (KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS). ...
/d/deviseth.htm - 9k

Noble (61 Occurrences)
... 2:16; Nehemiah 6:17, etc.); of 'addir, "begirded," "mighty," "illustrious" or "noble"
(Judges 5:13 2 Chronicles 23:20, etc.); of nadhibh, "liberal," "a noble ...
/n/noble.htm - 27k

Nobleman (5 Occurrences)
... 2:16; Nehemiah 6:17, etc.); of 'addir, "begirded," "mighty," "illustrious" or "noble"
(Judges 5:13 2 Chronicles 23:20, etc.); of nadhibh, "liberal," "a noble ...
/n/nobleman.htm - 12k

Nobles (71 Occurrences)
... 2:16; Nehemiah 6:17, etc.); of 'addir, "begirded," "mighty," "illustrious" or "noble"
(Judges 5:13 2 Chronicles 23:20, etc.); of nadhibh, "liberal," "a noble ...
/n/nobles.htm - 33k

Open-handed (2 Occurrences)
... Noah Webster's Dictionary (a.) Generous; liberal; munificent. ... 1 Timothy 6:18 They
must be beneficent, rich in noble deeds, open-handed and liberal; (WEY). ...
/o/open-handed.htm - 7k

Bible Concordance

Liberal (11 Occurrences)

Acts 10:2 He was religious and God-fearing--and so was every member of his household. He was also liberal in his charities to the people, and continually offered prayer to God.
(WEY RSV)

Romans 12:8 or he who exhorts, to his exhorting: he who gives, let him do it with liberality; he who rules, with diligence; he who shows mercy, with cheerfulness.
(Root in WEB WEY ASV NAS RSV)

2 Corinthians 8:7 Yes, just as you are already very rich in faith, readiness of speech, knowledge, unwearied zeal, and in the love that is in you, implanted by us, see to it that this grace of liberal giving also flourishes in you.
(WEY)

2 Corinthians 8:20 For against one thing we are on our guard--I mean against blame being thrown upon us in respect to these large and liberal contributions which are under our charge.
(WEY RSV NIV)

2 Corinthians 9:13 seeing that through the proof given by this service, they glorify God for the obedience of your confession to the Good News of Christ, and for the liberality of your contribution to them and to all;
(Root in WEB KJV WEY ASV DBY WBS YLT NAS)

1 Timothy 6:18 They must be beneficent, rich in noble deeds, open-handed and liberal;
(WEY DBY RSV)

Hebrews 13:16 And do not forget to be kind and liberal; for with sacrifices of that sort God is greatly pleased.
(WEY)

Proverbs 11:25 The liberal soul shall be made fat. He who waters shall be watered also himself.
(WEB KJV ASV DBY WBS YLT RSV)

Proverbs 19:6 Many will entreat the favor of the liberal man; And every man is a friend to him that giveth gifts.
(ASV JPS)

Isaiah 32:5 The vile person shall be no more called liberal, nor the churl said to be bountiful.
(KJV JPS WBS)

Isaiah 32:8 But the liberal deviseth liberal things; and by liberal things shall he stand.
(KJV JPS WBS)

Subtopics

Liberal

Related Terms

Liberality (7 Occurrences)

Liberally (4 Occurrences)

Libertines (1 Occurrence)