Definition and Context:
Industry, in a biblical context, refers to diligent and productive labor, often associated with agriculture, craftsmanship, and trade. The Bible emphasizes the virtues of hard work, stewardship, and the ethical conduct of business. Industry is seen as a means to provide for oneself, one's family, and to contribute to the community.

Biblical References:

1. Diligence and Hard Work:
The Bible frequently extols the virtues of diligence and hard work. Proverbs 12:24 states, "The hand of the diligent will rule, but laziness ends in forced labor." This verse highlights the rewards of industriousness, contrasting it with the consequences of sloth.

2. Stewardship and Responsibility:
The parable of the talents in Matthew 25:14-30 illustrates the importance of using one's skills and resources wisely. The servants who invested their talents were praised, while the one who buried his talent was reprimanded. This parable underscores the biblical principle of responsible stewardship in industry.

3. Agriculture and Farming:
Agriculture is a prominent industry in biblical times. Genesis 2:15 describes God's command to Adam to "work and keep" the Garden of Eden, establishing the divine mandate for human labor in cultivating the earth. Proverbs 28:19 further advises, "He who works his land will have plenty of food, but whoever chases fantasies will have his fill of poverty."

4. Craftsmanship and Trade:
The construction of the Tabernacle and the Temple involved skilled craftsmen. Exodus 31:3-5 speaks of Bezalel, whom God filled "with the Spirit of God, with wisdom, understanding, and ability in all kinds of craftsmanship." This passage highlights the value of skill and artistry in industry.

5. Ethical Conduct in Business:
The Bible calls for integrity and fairness in business dealings. Leviticus 19:35-36 commands, "You must not use dishonest measures of length, weight, or volume. You shall maintain just balances, just weights, a just ephah, and a just hin." This directive emphasizes the importance of honesty and justice in industry.

6. Provision and Generosity:
Industry is not solely for personal gain but also for the benefit of others. Ephesians 4:28 encourages, "He who has been stealing must steal no longer, but must work, doing good with his own hands, that he may have something to share with the one in need." This verse highlights the role of industry in fostering generosity and community support.

Theological Implications:
Industry, as portrayed in the Bible, is a reflection of God's creative and sustaining work. Human labor is seen as a participation in God's ongoing creation, with an emphasis on diligence, stewardship, and ethical conduct. The biblical perspective on industry encourages believers to work not only for personal benefit but also for the glory of God and the welfare of others.1. (n.) Habitual diligence in any employment or pursuit, either bodily or mental; steady attention to business; assiduity; -- opposed to sloth and idleness; as, industry pays debts, while idleness or despair will increase them.

2. (n.) Any department or branch of art, occupation, or business; especially, one which employs much labor and capital and is a distinct branch of trade; as, the sugar industry; the iron industry; the cotton industry.

3. (n.) Human exertion of any kind employed for the creation of value, and regarded by some as a species of capital or wealth; labor.

"Nothing is Impossible to Industry, "Said one of the Seven Sages ...
... Chapter VI "Nothing is impossible to industry, "said one of the seven sages
of Greece.? "Nothing is impossible to industry, "said ...
/.../bounds/purpose in prayer/chapter vi nothing is impossible.htm

1870-1871. Workers' Meetings at Home of Industry --Training Home ...
... Workers' meetings at home of industry"Training home at Hampton opened"Personal
experiences"Welcome in Western Canada"Help for a Glasgow home"Scottish ...
/.../lowe/gods answers/chapter iii 1870-1871 workers meetings.htm

We Ought not to Allow the Idea of Profit to Get Hold of Us. ...
... Is industry to be made a crime? Or diligence to be blamed? Or foresight to be abused? ...
Why dost thou use the industry of nature and make a cheat of it? ...
/.../ambrose/works and letters of st ambrose/chapter vi we ought not.htm

Commentaries were Anciently Written Upon the Scriptures; Harmonies ...
... in which these books were holden by the ancient Christians, or of the sense then
entertained of their value and importance, than the industry bestowed upon them ...
/.../paley/evidences of christianity/section vi commentaries were anciently.htm

How the Will Variously Governs the Powers of the Soul.
... he have servants and slaves, he rules them by force which they have no power to
contradict; his horses, oxen and mules he manages by industry, binding, bridling ...
/.../francis/treatise on the love of god/chapter ii how the will.htm

The Mother of Xerxes.
... the greater their ambition, their selfishness, and their pride, the stronger will
this interest be; for, just in proportion as order, industry, and internal ...
//christianbookshelf.org/abbott/xerxes/chapter i the mother of.htm

Civilized Barbarism (Preached for the Bishop of London's Fund, at ...
... Were they not the exceptions, then not merely the society of London, and the industry
of London, and the wealth of London, but the very buildings of London ...
/.../the water of life and other sermons/sermon xix civilized barbarism preached.htm

A Loyal Tribute
... already, and I need not add my poor voice to them, about material progress and
commercial prosperity and the growth of manufacturing industry and inventions ...
/.../maclaren/expositions of holy scripture the acts/a loyal tribute.htm

Family Habits.
... The same may he said of the habits of industry, of study, of frugality,
yea, of all the moral and religious acts of the Christian. ...
/.../philips/the christian home/chapter xvii family habits.htm

1875-1877. Mrs. Way's Sewing --Class for Jewesses --Bible Flower ...
... cheer from Canada. The Home of Industry has been already likened to the
Pool of Bethesda with its fine porches. Many sights there ...
//christianbookshelf.org/lowe/gods answers/chapter vi 1875-1877 mrs ways.htm

Industry (5 Occurrences)
... in any employment or pursuit, either bodily or mental; steady attention to business;
assiduity; -- opposed to sloth and idleness; as, industry pays debts ...
/i/industry.htm - 8k

Industrious (2 Occurrences)
... 1. (a.) Given to industry; characterized by diligence; constantly, regularly, or
habitually occupied; busy; assiduous; not slothful or idle; -- commonly ...
/i/industrious.htm - 7k

Tubalcain (1 Occurrence)
... abhi. This would make Tubal-cain the founder of the metal industry, and
place him in a class similar to that of his brothers. The ...
/t/tubalcain.htm - 8k

Tubal-cain (1 Occurrence)
... abhi. This would make Tubal-cain the founder of the metal industry, and
place him in a class similar to that of his brothers. The ...
/t/tubal-cain.htm - 8k

Mantle (35 Occurrences)
... Such classical writers as Pliny and Martial speak of the weaving of embroidered
stuffs as a famous industry of Babylonia. Many tablets ...
/m/mantle.htm - 21k

Babylonish (1 Occurrence)
... Such classical writers as Pliny and Martial speak of the weaving of embroidered
stuffs as a famous industry of Babylonia. Many tablets ...
/b/babylonish.htm - 8k

Proverbs (11 Occurrences)
... however, where the antithesis prevails, are the great elemental distinctions of
life, wisdom and folly, righteousness and wickedness, industry and laziness ...
/p/proverbs.htm - 43k

Needy (83 Occurrences)
... Ephesians 4:28 He who has been a thief must steal no more, but, instead of that,
should work with his own hands in honest industry, so that he may have ...
/n/needy.htm - 30k

Over-quick (3 Occurrences)
... (BBE). Proverbs 21:5 The purposes of the man of industry have their outcome only
in wealth; but one who is over-quick in acting will only come to be in need. ...
/o/over-quick.htm - 7k

Outcome (26 Occurrences)
... (BBE). Proverbs 21:5 The purposes of the man of industry have their outcome only
in wealth; but one who is over-quick in acting will only come to be in need. ...
/o/outcome.htm - 13k

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