Topical Bible: Bidden

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Topical Encyclopedia

The term "bidden" is derived from the Old English word "biddan," meaning to ask, command, or invite. In the context of the Bible, "bidden" typically refers to being invited or commanded to do something, often by God or a figure of authority. This concept is significant in understanding the nature of divine calling and human response throughout the Scriptures.

Old Testament Context

In the Old Testament, the idea of being bidden is often associated with God's commands to His people. For instance, the Israelites were frequently bidden by God to follow His laws and commandments. In Exodus 19:10, the Lord instructs Moses to prepare the people for His coming: "And the LORD said to Moses, 'Go to the people and consecrate them today and tomorrow. Have them wash their clothes.'" Here, the people are bidden to prepare themselves for a divine encounter.

The prophets were also bidden by God to deliver His messages to the people. In Isaiah 6:8, the prophet responds to God's call: "Then I heard the voice of the Lord saying, 'Whom shall I send? Who will go for Us?' And I said, 'Here am I. Send me!'" Isaiah is bidden to take on the role of a prophet, illustrating the concept of divine invitation and human willingness.

New Testament Context

In the New Testament, the concept of being bidden is often seen in the context of Jesus' teachings and parables. One notable example is the Parable of the Great Banquet in Luke 14:16-24. In this parable, a man prepares a great feast and sends his servant to tell those who were bidden to come, for everything is now ready. However, those initially invited make excuses and do not attend, leading the master to invite others: "Then the master told his servant, 'Go out to the highways and hedges and compel them to come in, so that my house will be full.'" This parable illustrates the invitation to God's kingdom and the varied responses of those who are bidden.

Jesus Himself often bidden individuals to follow Him, as seen in Matthew 4:19: "And He said to them, 'Follow Me, and I will make you fishers of men.'" This call to the disciples is a direct invitation to partake in His ministry and mission.

Theological Implications

The concept of being bidden in the Bible underscores the importance of obedience and responsiveness to God's call. It highlights the relationship between divine sovereignty and human agency. Those who are bidden by God are given the opportunity to participate in His divine plan, whether through obedience to His commandments, acceptance of His invitations, or engagement in His mission.

In the broader theological context, being bidden can also be seen as a reflection of God's grace and initiative. God extends His invitation to humanity, calling individuals to repentance, faith, and service. The response to being bidden is a testament to one's faith and commitment to God's will.

Practical Application

For believers today, the concept of being bidden serves as a reminder of the importance of listening for and responding to God's call in their lives. Whether through prayer, Scripture, or the prompting of the Holy Spirit, Christians are encouraged to be attentive to the ways in which God may be bidding them to act, serve, or grow in their faith. The willingness to respond to God's invitation is a crucial aspect of living a faithful and obedient Christian life.

Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary

1. (p. p.) of Bid.

2. (p. p) of Bid.

International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

BIDDEN

bid'-n: "Called," "invited" (1 Samuel 9:13).

Strong's Hebrew

7121. qara -- to call, proclaim, read
... summoning (1), summons (2). bewray self, that are bidden, call for, forth,
self, upon, cry unto, be famous,. A primitive root (rather ...
/hebrew/7121.htm - 7k

Library

Whether it is Fitting that those who Fast Should be Bidden to ...
... OF FASTING (EIGHT ARTICLES) Whether it is fitting that those who fast should
be bidden to abstain from flesh meat, eggs, and milk foods? ...
/.../aquinas/summa theologica/whether it is fitting that 2.htm

And He Spake a Parable unto those which were Bidden There...
... The Text of the Diatessaron. Section XXX. And he spake a parable unto
those which were bidden there? [1] [2054] And he spake a ...
/.../hogg/the diatessaron of tatian/section xxx and he spake.htm

On the Words of the Gospel, John ii. 2, "And Jesus Also was Bidden ...
... Sermon LXXIII. On the words of the Gospel, John ii. 2, "and Jesus also was
bidden, and his disciples, to the marriage.". [CXXIII. Ben.] ...
/.../sermons on selected lessons of the new testament/sermon lxxiii on the words.htm

The Chief Places at the Feast.
... And he spake a parable unto those that were bidden, when he marked how they chose
out the chief seats; saying unto them, "When thou art bidden of any man to a ...
//christianbookshelf.org/barton/his life/the chief places at the.htm

Dining with a Pharisee. Sabbath Healing and Three Lessons ...
... Though silenced, the Pharisees relented not, either as to their bigotry or their
hatred.] 7 And he spake a parable unto those that were bidden, when he marked ...
/.../mcgarvey/the four-fold gospel/xc dining with a pharisee.htm

The Lessons of a Feast
... 6. And they could not answer Him again to these things.7. And He put forth a parable
to those which were bidden, when He marked how they chose out the chief ...
/.../maclaren/expositions of holy scripture e/the lessons of a feast.htm

B. The Second Stages. Chs. 13:22 to 17:10
... 7 And he spake a parable unto those that were bidden, when he marked how they chose
out the chief seats; saying unto them, 8 When thou art bidden of any man to ...
/.../erdman/the gospel of luke an exposition/b the second stages chs.htm

Of the Hidden and Holy People of the Almighty Christ, the Living ...
... the holy people be longed for; and, indeed, let it be unknown by us where it abides,
acting by nine of the tribes and a half...; and he has bidden to live by ...
/.../commodianus/the instructions of commodianus/xlii of the hidden and holy.htm

Matt. xxii. 1-14.
... The kingdom of Heaven is like unto a certain king, which made a marriage [2584]
for his son; and sent forth his servants to call them which were bidden to the ...
/.../homilies on the gospel of saint matthew/homily lxix matt xxii 1-14.htm

In Reply to the Questions as to his Authority, Jesus Gives the ...
... The kingdom of heaven is likened unto a certain king, who made a marriage feast
for his son, 3 and sent forth his servants to call them that were bidden to the ...
/.../mcgarvey/the four-fold gospel/cviii in reply to the 4.htm

Thesaurus

Bidden (25 Occurrences)
... 2. (p. p) of Bid. Int. Standard Bible Encyclopedia. BIDDEN. bid'-n: "Called," "invited"
(1 Samuel 9:13). Multi-Version Concordance Bidden (25 Occurrences). ...
/b/bidden.htm - 14k

Wedding (24 Occurrences)
... Matthew 22:3 And sent forth his servants to call them that were bidden to
the wedding: and they would not come. (KJV WEY DBY WBS NAS). ...
/w/wedding.htm - 13k

Room (174 Occurrences)
... Luke 14:8 When thou art bidden of any man to a wedding, sit not down in the highest
room; lest a more honourable man than thou be bidden of him; (KJV WBS). ...
/r/room.htm - 39k

Haply (26 Occurrences)
... Luke 14:8 When thou art bidden of any man to a marriage feast, sit not down in the
chief seat; lest haply a more honorable man than thou be bidden of him, (ASV ...
/h/haply.htm - 17k

Lest (282 Occurrences)
... Luke 14:8 When thou art bidden of any man to a wedding, sit not down in the highest
room; lest a more honourable man than thou be bidden of him; (KJV WEY ASV ...
/l/lest.htm - 37k

Honourable (72 Occurrences)
... Luke 14:8 When thou art bidden of any man to a wedding, sit not down in the highest
room; lest a more honourable man than thou be bidden of him; (KJV DBY YLT). ...
/h/honourable.htm - 28k

Spake (704 Occurrences)
... Luke 7:39 Now when the Pharisee which had bidden him saw it, he spake within himself,
saying, This man, if he were a prophet, would have known who and what ...
/s/spake.htm - 33k

Chief (696 Occurrences)
... (KJV BBE WBS YLT). Luke 14:7 And he put forth a parable to those which were bidden,
when he marked how they chose out the chief rooms; saying unto them. ...
/c/chief.htm - 45k

Forth (1639 Occurrences)
... (WEB KJV ASV WBS YLT). Matthew 22:3 And sent forth his servants to call them that
were bidden to the wedding: and they would not come. (KJV ASV YLT). ...
/f/forth.htm - 36k

Bid (35 Occurrences)

/b/bid.htm - 18k

Resources

Bidden: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.com

Bible Concordance • Bible Dictionary • Bible Encyclopedia • Topical Bible • Bible Thesuarus

Concordance

Bidden (25 Occurrences)

Matthew 1:24
Then Joseph being raised from sleep did as the angel of the Lord had bidden him, and took unto him his wife:
(KJV WBS)

Matthew 22:3
And sent forth his servants to call them that were bidden to the wedding: and they would not come.
(KJV ASV)

Matthew 22:4
Again, he sent forth other servants, saying, Tell them which are bidden, Behold, I have prepared my dinner: my oxen and my fatlings are killed, and all things are ready: come unto the marriage.
(KJV ASV)

Matthew 22:8
Then saith he to his servants, The wedding is ready, but they which were bidden were not worthy.
(KJV ASV)

Mark 11:6
But on their giving the answer that Jesus had bidden them give, they let them take it.
(WEY)

Luke 7:39
Now when the Pharisee which had bidden him saw it, he spake within himself, saying, This man, if he were a prophet, would have known who and what manner of woman this is that toucheth him: for she is a sinner.
(KJV ASV)

Luke 14:7
And he put forth a parable to those which were bidden, when he marked how they chose out the chief rooms; saying unto them.
(KJV ASV)

Luke 14:8
When thou art bidden of any man to a wedding, sit not down in the highest room; lest a more honourable man than thou be bidden of him;
(KJV ASV)

Luke 14:10
But when thou art bidden, go and sit down in the lowest room; that when he that bade thee cometh, he may say unto thee, Friend, go up higher: then shalt thou have worship in the presence of them that sit at meat with thee.
(KJV ASV)

Luke 14:12
And he said to him also that had bidden him, When thou makest a dinner or a supper, call not thy friends, nor thy brethren, nor thy kinsmen, nor rich neighbors; lest haply they also bid thee again, and a recompense be made thee.
(ASV)

Luke 14:17
And sent his servant at supper time to say to them that were bidden, Come; for all things are now ready.
(KJV ASV)

Luke 14:24
For I say unto you, That none of those men which were bidden shall taste of my supper.
(KJV ASV)

John 2:2
and Jesus also was bidden, and his disciples, to the marriage.
(ASV)

John 5:30
"I can of my own self do nothing. As I am bidden, so I judge; and mine is a just judgement, because it is not my own will that guides me, but the will of Him who sent me.
(WEY)

John 12:50
And I know that His command is the Life of the Ages. What therefore I speak, I speak just as the Father has bidden me."
(WEY RSV)

Revelation 6:11
And there was given to each of them a long white robe, and they were bidden to wait patiently for a short time longer, until the full number of their fellow bondservants should also complete--namely of their brethren who were soon to be killed just as they had been.
(WEY)

Revelation 19:9
And he saith unto me, Write, Blessed are they that are bidden to the marriage supper of the Lamb. And he saith unto me, These are true words of God.
(ASV)

Numbers 23:20
Behold, I have received commandment to bless: And he hath blessed, and I cannot reverse it.
(See JPS)

Joshua 4:12
The children of Reuben, and the children of Gad, and the half-tribe of Manasseh, passed over armed before the children of Israel, as Moses spoke to them.
(See RSV)

Joshua 8:8
It shall be, when you have seized on the city, that you shall set the city on fire. You shall do this according to the word of Yahweh. Behold, I have commanded you."
(See RSV)

Ruth 3:6
And she went down to the floor, and did according to all that her mother-in-law had bidden her.
(DBY)

1 Samuel 9:13
As soon as ye be come into the city, ye shall straightway find him, before he go up to the high place to eat: for the people will not eat until he come, because he doth bless the sacrifice; and afterwards they eat that be bidden. Now therefore get you up; for about this time ye shall find him.
(KJV JPS ASV)

1 Samuel 9:22
And Samuel took Saul and his servant, and brought them into the parlor, and made them sit in the chiefest place among them that were bidden, which were about thirty persons.
(KJV JPS ASV)

2 Samuel 16:11
And David said to Abishai, and to all his servants, Behold, my son, which came forth of my bowels, seeketh my life: how much more now may this Benjamite do it? let him alone, and let him curse; for the LORD hath bidden him.
(KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS RSV)

2 Kings 5:13
And his servants drew near, and spoke to him and said, My father, if the prophet had bidden thee do some great thing, wouldest thou not have done it? how much rather then, when he says to thee, Wash and be clean?
(DBY)

Subtopics

Bidden

Related Terms

Bidding (13 Occurrences)

Bidden (25 Occurrences)

Partaker (10 Occurrences)

Bit (46 Occurrences)

Speed (22 Occurrences)

Deeds (309 Occurrences)