Topical Bible: Hoping

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Topical Encyclopedia

Definition and Nature:
Hoping, in the biblical context, is a confident expectation and trust in the promises and character of God. It is not merely wishful thinking but a firm assurance based on the faithfulness of God. Biblical hope is rooted in the belief that God is sovereign and His plans are for the ultimate good of His people.

Old Testament Understanding:
In the Old Testament, hope is often associated with waiting patiently for God's deliverance and intervention. The Hebrew word "yachal" is frequently used, which means to wait or to expect. For instance, in Psalm 130:5, the psalmist declares, "I wait for the LORD; my soul does wait, and in His word I put my hope" . This verse illustrates the intertwining of hope with faith in God's word and timing.

The prophets also spoke of hope in the context of future restoration and salvation. Jeremiah 29:11 is a well-known verse where God assures His people, "For I know the plans I have for you, declares the LORD, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, to give you a future and a hope" . Here, hope is linked to God's promises of a future filled with His blessings.

New Testament Perspective:
In the New Testament, hope takes on a more defined shape with the coming of Jesus Christ. The Greek word "elpis" is used to describe this hope, which is centered on the person and work of Christ. Romans 5:5 states, "And hope does not disappoint us, because God’s love has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit, who has been given to us" . This hope is not only for the present but also for the future, as believers anticipate the return of Christ and the fulfillment of God's kingdom.

The Apostle Paul frequently emphasizes hope as a key component of the Christian life. In Titus 2:13, he writes, "while we await the blessed hope and glorious appearance of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ" . This hope is both a present reality and a future expectation, motivating believers to live godly lives.

Theological Significance:
Hope is a vital aspect of the Christian faith, intertwined with faith and love. In 1 Corinthians 13:13, Paul writes, "And now these three remain: faith, hope, and love; but the greatest of these is love" . While love is the greatest, hope is essential as it sustains believers through trials and challenges, providing assurance of God's ultimate victory and eternal life.

Hope is also a source of joy and strength. In Romans 12:12, Paul exhorts believers to "Rejoice in hope, be patient in affliction, be persistent in prayer" . This joy is not dependent on circumstances but is anchored in the certainty of God's promises.

Practical Implications:
For Christians, hoping involves actively trusting in God's promises and His character. It requires a steadfast focus on Christ and His redemptive work. Believers are called to be "prepared to give a defense to everyone who asks you the reason for the hope that is in you" (1 Peter 3:15). This hope should be evident in the way Christians live, providing a testimony to the world of the transformative power of the Gospel.

In summary, biblical hope is a confident expectation rooted in the faithfulness of God, sustained by the Holy Spirit, and centered on the person of Jesus Christ. It is both a present assurance and a future anticipation, shaping the lives and actions of believers as they await the fulfillment of God's promises.

Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary

(p. pr. & vb. n.) of Hope.

Greek

780. asmenos -- gladly
... delight, gladly. 780 (akin to , " pleasure, delight") -- properly, "euphoric
wishing, hoping for a change" (), looking for a . Word ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/780.htm - 6k

1797. enupniazomai -- to dream
... dreaming. This hoping (desiring) opposes God's kingdom -- and then expects
such personal aspirations to be granted by Him! This ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/1797.htm - 7k

1679. elpizo -- to expect, to hope (for)
... Definition to expect, to hope (for) NASB Word Usage expect (1), expected (1),
fix...hope (2), fixed...hope (2), hope (13), hoped (3), hopes (1), hoping (4), set ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/1679.htm - 8k

Strong's Hebrew

6960a. qavah -- to wait for
... root Definition to wait for NASB Word Usage eagerly waits (1), expect (1), expected
(3), hope (3), hoped (1), hopefully wait (1), hoping (1), look (1), look ...
/hebrew/6960a.htm - 5k

Library

Hoping for a Revival
... II. ORDINANCES. Hymn 52 Hoping for a revival. John Newton 8,8,8,8. Hoping
for a revival. My harp untuned, and laid aside,. (To ...
//christianbookshelf.org/newton/olney hymns/hymn 52 hoping for a.htm

Songs of the Cross the Quiet Hoping Heart.
... Songs of the Cross The quiet hoping Heart. XI. The quiet hoping Heart.
Written for the comfort of a Sick Friend, who set it to ...
/.../lyra germanica second series the christian life/songs of the cross the 5.htm

How Love is Practised in Hope.
... And indeed, Theotimus, between hoping and aspiring (esperer et aspirer) there is
but this difference, that we hope for those things which we expect to get by ...
/.../francis/treatise on the love of god/chapter xvi how love is.htm

Five Books in Reply to Marcion.
... 40 Seduced injecting his own counselling. And hoping in his folly (alas!) to find. ...
Nakedly to speak evil of the Lord,. Hoping by secret ingenuity. ...
/.../fathers of the third century tertullian appendix/5 five books in reply.htm

Mr. Moody and Rev. Marcus Rainsford.
... (1) Believing on Christ: that is, taking Him at His Word. (2) Hoping in Christ:
that is, expecting help from Him, according to His Word. ...
//christianbookshelf.org/moody/sovereign grace/i mr moody and rev marcus.htm

Fourth Sunday after Trinity Redemption of the Creatures.
... of the wicked in their shameful abuse of creation, but they submit to it for the
sake of him who has subjected them to vanity, at the same time hoping for a ...
/.../luther/epistle sermons vol iii/fourth sunday after trinity redemption.htm

Faithful unto Death.
... The next day the evil spirit came upon Saul in the house, and David played on his
harp to quiet him, but Saul hurled a spear at David, hoping to fasten him to ...
/.../lathbury/childs story of the bible/chapter xxi faithful unto death.htm

A Means to Discern this Imperfect Love.
... to thank God for it, for this feeling is good as far as it goes: still we are to
keep ourselves with humility between confidence and diffidence, hoping that by ...
/.../francis/treatise on the love of god/chapter xi a means to.htm

How the Sea was Divided Asunder for the Hebrews, when they were ...
... that they were going a great way without any harm, and that no obstacle or difficulty
fell in their journey, they made haste to pursue them, hoping that the ...
/.../josephus/the antiquities of the jews/chapter 16 how the sea.htm

Whether the Theological virtues Observe the Mean?
... virtue is by comparison with us: for although we cannot be borne towards God as
much as we ought, yet we should approach to Him by believing, hoping and loving ...
/.../aquinas/summa theologica/whether the theological virtues observe.htm

Thesaurus

Hoping (36 Occurrences)
...Hoping (36 Occurrences). Luke 6:34 And if you let those have the use of your money,
from whom you are hoping to get it back, what credit is it to you? ...
/h/hoping.htm - 17k

Saviour (157 Occurrences)
... the man of God's selection. (BBE). Luke 24:21 But we were hoping that he
would be the Saviour of Israel. In addition to all this ...
/s/saviour.htm - 39k

Quickly (254 Occurrences)
... Philippians 2:23 Him then I am hoping to send as quickly as possible, when I
am able to see how things will go for me: (BBE). Philippians ...
/q/quickly.htm - 35k

Talk (164 Occurrences)
... 2 John 1:12 Having much to say to you, it is not my purpose to put it all down with
paper and ink: but I am hoping to come to you, and to have talk with you ...
/t/talk.htm - 36k

Hophra (1 Occurrence)

/h/hophra.htm - 11k

Worthless (103 Occurrences)
... in it a very special vine; and he put up a watchtower in the middle of it, hollowing
out in the rock a place for the grape-crushing; and he was hoping that it ...
/w/worthless.htm - 35k

Yesterday (13 Occurrences)
... Multi-Version Concordance Yesterday (13 Occurrences). Luke 24:21 But we
were hoping that it was He who was about to ransom Israel. ...
/y/yesterday.htm - 10k

Nothing (769 Occurrences)
... like"; for "lacked nothing" (1 Kings 4:27), "let nothing be lacking," for "nothing
doubting" (Acts 11:12), "making no distinction"; for "hoping for nothing ...
/n/nothing.htm - 40k

Nevertheless (153 Occurrences)
... the net. (KJV WBS). Luke 6:35 Nevertheless love your enemies, be beneficent;
and lend without hoping for any repayment. Then your ...
/n/nevertheless.htm - 37k

Ungrateful (2 Occurrences)
... Multi-Version Concordance Ungrateful (2 Occurrences). Luke 6:35 Nevertheless love
your enemies, be beneficent; and lend without hoping for any repayment. ...
/u/ungrateful.htm - 7k

Resources

What does the Bible say about rescuing people from the consequences of their sins? | GotQuestions.org

What does the Bible say about snitching / being a snitch? | GotQuestions.org

What does it mean that love always hopes (1 Corinthians 13:7)? | GotQuestions.org

Hoping: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.com

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

Concordance

Hoping (36 Occurrences)

Luke 6:34
And if you let those have the use of your money, from whom you are hoping to get it back, what credit is it to you? even sinners do so to sinners, hoping to get back as much as they gave.
(BBE)

Luke 6:35
But love ye your enemies, and do good, and lend, hoping for nothing again; and your reward shall be great, and ye shall be the children of the Highest: for he is kind unto the unthankful and to the evil.
(KJV WEY DBY WBS YLT)

Luke 23:8
Now when Herod saw Jesus he was very glad, having for a long time had a desire to see him, for he had had accounts of him, and was hoping to see some wonders done by him.
(BBE YLT NAS RSV)

Luke 24:21
But we were hoping that it was he who would redeem Israel. Yes, and besides all this, it is now the third day since these things happened.
(WEB WEY BBE YLT NAS)

Acts 3:5
And he gave attention to them, hoping to get something from them.
(BBE)

Acts 7:25
And he was hoping that his brothers would see that God had sent him to be their saviour; but they did not see.
(BBE)

Acts 24:15
Hoping in God for that which they themselves are looking for, that there will be a coming back from the dead for upright men and wrongdoers.
(BBE)

Acts 24:26
For he was hoping that Paul would give him money: so he sent for him more frequently and had talk with him.
(BBE DBY YLT NAS NIV)

Acts 26:7
to which our twelve tribes, intently night and day serving, do hope to come, concerning which hope I am accused, king Agrippa, by the Jews;
(See NIV)

Acts 27:12
Because the haven was not suitable to winter in, the majority advised going to sea from there, if by any means they could reach Phoenix, and winter there, which is a port of Crete, looking northeast and southeast.
(See NIV)

Romans 2:3
But you who are judging another for doing what you do yourself, are you hoping that God's decision will not take effect against you?
(BBE)

Romans 4:18
Who without reason for hope, in faith went on hoping, so that he became the father of a number of nations, as it had been said, So will your seed be.
(BBE)

Romans 8:24
For our salvation is by hope: but hope which is seen is not hope: for who is hoping for what he sees?
(BBE)

1 Corinthians 13:7
Love has the power of undergoing all things, having faith in all things, hoping all things.
(BBE)

Philippians 2:19
But I am hoping in the Lord Jesus to send Timothy to you before long, so that I may be comforted when I have news of you.
(BBE)

Philippians 2:23
Him then I am hoping to send as quickly as possible, when I am able to see how things will go for me:
(BBE)

1 Timothy 3:14
These things I write to you, hoping to come to you shortly;
(WEB KJV WEY ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS)

Philemon 1:22
And make a room ready for me; for I am hoping that through your prayers I will be given to you.
(BBE RSV)

1 Peter 1:13
So make your minds ready, and keep on the watch, hoping with all your power for the grace which is to come to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ;
(BBE)

2 John 1:12
Having much to say to you, it is not my purpose to put it all down with paper and ink: but I am hoping to come to you, and to have talk with you face to face, so that your joy may be full.
(BBE)

3 John 1:14
But I am hoping to see you in a short time, and to have talk with you face to face. May you have peace. Your friends here send you their love. Give my love to our friends by name.
(BBE)

Revelation 9:6
And in those days men will be hoping for death, and it will not come to them; and they will have a great desire for death, and death will go in flight from them.
(BBE)

2 Samuel 14:20
This he did, hoping that the face of this business might be changed: and my lord is wise, with the wisdom of the angel of God, having knowledge of everything on earth.
(BBE)

Nehemiah 6:6
And in it these words were recorded: It is said among the nations, and Geshem says so, that you and the Jews are hoping to make yourselves free from the king's authority; and that this is why you are building the wall: and they say that it is your purpose to be their king;
(BBE)

Nehemiah 6:9
For they were hoping to put fear in us, saying, Their hands will become feeble and give up the work so that it may not get done. But now, O God, make my hands strong.
(BBE)

Esther 9:1
Now on the thirteenth day of the twelfth month, which is the month Adar, when the time came for the king's order to be put into effect, on the very day when the haters of the Jews had been hoping to have rule over them; though the opposite had come about, and the Jews had rule over their haters;
(BBE)

Job 20:10
His children are hoping that the poor will be kind to them, and his hands give back his wealth.
(BBE)

Psalms 71:14
But I will go on ever hoping, and increasing in all your praise.
(BBE)

Isaiah 5:2
And after working the earth of it with a spade, he took away its stones, and put in it a very special vine; and he put up a watchtower in the middle of it, hollowing out in the rock a place for the grape-crushing; and he was hoping that it would give the best grapes, but it gave common grapes.
(BBE)

Isaiah 5:4
Is there anything which might have been done for my vine-garden which I have not done? why then, when I was hoping for the best grapes did it give me common grapes?
(BBE)

Jeremiah 13:16
Give glory to Yahweh your God, before he causes darkness, and before your feet stumble on the dark mountains, and, while you look for light, he turns it into the shadow of death, and makes it gross darkness.
(See NAS)

Jeremiah 17:16
As for me, I have not said; Let the day of trouble come to them quickly; and I have not been hoping for the death-giving day; you have knowledge of what came from my lips; it was open before you.
(BBE)

Jeremiah 44:14
So that not one of the rest of Judah, who have gone into the land of Egypt and are living there, will get away or keep his life, to come back to the land of Judah where they are hoping to come back and be living again: for not one will come back, but only those who are able to get away.
(BBE)

Lamentations 3:26
It is good to go on hoping and quietly waiting for the salvation of the Lord.
(BBE)

Ezekiel 13:6
They have seen visions without substance and made use of secret arts, who say, The Lord has said; and the Lord has not sent them: hoping that the word would have effect.
(BBE)

Daniel 2:9
But if you don't make known to me the dream, there is but one law for you; for you have prepared lying and corrupt words to speak before me, until the time be changed: therefore tell me the dream, and I shall know that you can show me its interpretation.
(See NIV)

Subtopics

Hoping

Related Terms

Grasshopper (12 Occurrences)

Feed (117 Occurrences)

Damsel (43 Occurrences)

Millstone (9 Occurrences)

Hoping (36 Occurrences)

Shoe (13 Occurrences)

Hopping (2 Occurrences)

Mill (9 Occurrences)