The term "lively" in the context of the Bible often conveys a sense of vibrancy, vitality, and active life. It is used to describe both physical and spiritual states, reflecting the dynamic and life-giving nature of God's creation and His work in the lives of believers.

Old Testament Usage

In the Old Testament, the concept of being lively is often associated with physical vitality and the flourishing of life. For example, in Exodus 1:19, the Hebrew midwives describe the Hebrew women as "lively" in childbirth, indicating their strength and vigor: "The midwives answered Pharaoh, 'The Hebrew women are not like the Egyptian women; they are vigorous and give birth before the midwife arrives.'" This usage underscores the robust and resilient nature of the Hebrew people, even under oppression.

New Testament Usage

In the New Testament, the term takes on a more spiritual dimension. The Apostle Peter uses the term "lively" in 1 Peter 2:5 to describe believers as "living stones" being built into a spiritual house: "you also, like living stones, are being built into a spiritual house to be a holy priesthood, offering spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ." Here, "lively" or "living" signifies the active and dynamic role of believers in the spiritual community, animated by the Holy Spirit.

Spiritual Implications

The lively nature of believers is further emphasized in the transformative power of the Holy Spirit. In Romans 8:11, Paul writes about the Spirit giving life to mortal bodies: "And if the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead is living in you, He who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through His Spirit, who lives in you." This passage highlights the life-giving power of the Spirit, which not only enlivens believers spiritually but also promises future resurrection.

Lively Hope

The concept of a "lively hope" is also central to the Christian faith. In 1 Peter 1:3, Peter speaks of a "living hope" through the resurrection of Jesus Christ: "Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! By His great mercy He has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead." This lively hope is characterized by its active and enduring nature, providing believers with assurance and motivation in their spiritual journey.

Conclusion

The term "lively" in the Bible encapsulates both physical vitality and spiritual vibrancy. It reflects the dynamic and life-giving work of God in creation and in the lives of His people, emphasizing the active role of believers in the spiritual community and the transformative power of the Holy Spirit. Through the resurrection of Jesus Christ, believers are endowed with a lively hope that sustains and energizes their faith.1. (superl.) Endowed with or manifesting life; living.

2. (superl.) Brisk; vivacious; active; as, a lively youth.

3. (superl.) Gay; airy; animated; spirited.

4. (superl.) Representing life; lifelike.

5. (superl.) Bright; vivid; glowing; strong; vigorous.

6. (adv.) In a brisk, active, or animated manner; briskly; vigorously.

7. (adv.) With strong resemblance of life.

LIVELY; LIVING

liv'-li, liv'-ing (chay; zao): "Living," sometimes "lively," is the translation of chay (often also translated "life"); it denotes all beings possessed of life (Genesis 1:21, 24; Genesis 2:7, 19 Exodus 21:35, "live"); we have frequently the phrase, "the land of the living" (as contrasted with she'ol, the abode of the dead), e.g. Job 28:13 Psalm 27:13; Psalm 52:5 Isaiah 38:11; the characteristically Biblical expression, "the living God," also frequently occurs (Joshua 3:10 1 Samuel 17:26, 36 2 Kings 19:4 Psalm 84:2); also frequently in the New Testament as the translation of zao (Matthew 16:16; Matthew 26:63 John 6:57, "the living Father"; Acts 14:15); "lively" in Exodus 1:19 (chayeh) and Psalm 38:19 denotes fullness of life, vigor; chayyah, "a living being," is mostly confined to Ezekiel, translated "living creatures" (1:5, 13, 14, etc.), also Genesis 1:28; Genesis 8:17, "living thing"; "living" is sometimes applied figuratively to that which is not actually alive; thus we have the phrase "living waters" (Jeremiah 2:13; Jeremiah 17:13 Zechariah 14:8, "Living waters shall go out from Jerusalem") in contrast with stagnant waters-waters that can give life; so John 4:10, 11 (bubbling up from the spring at bottom of the well); 7:38; Revelation 7:17 the King James Version; "living bread" (John 6:51); a new and living way (Hebrews 10:20), perhaps equivalent to "ever-living" in Christ; "living stones" (1 Peter 2:4, 5) are those made alive in Christ; a "living hope" (a hope full of life), 1 Peter 1:3; "living" (zao)is sometimes also "manner of life" (Luke 15:13 Colossians 2:20); diago, "to lead or go through," is also so translated (Titus 3:3); bios is "means of life," translated "living" (Mark 12:44 Luke 8:43); "living," in this sense, occurs in Apocrypha as the translation of zoe, "Defraud not the poor of his living" (Ecclesiasticus 4:1).

The Revised Version (British and American) has "living" for "alive" (Leviticus 14:4), for "the lively" (Acts 7:38), for "quick" (Hebrews 4:12), for "lively" (1 Peter 1:3; 1 Peter 2:5), for "conversation" (1 Peter 1:15 2 Peter 3:11); "living creatures" for "beasts" (Revelation 4:6; Revelation 5:6, etc.); "every living thing" for "all the substance" (Deuteronomy 11:6); "living things" for "beasts" (Leviticus 11:2, 47 twice); for "living" (Psalm 58:9), "the green" (thorns under the pots), margin "Wrath shall take them away while living as with a whirlwind"; for "the book of the living" (Psalm 69:28), "the book of life"; for "(I am) he that liveth" (Revelation 1:18), "the Living one"; for "living fountains of waters" (Revelation 7:17), "fountains of waters of life"; for "trade" (Revelation 18:17), "gain their living," margin "work the sea"; for "Son of the living God" (John 6:69), "the Holy One of God" (emended text).

W. L. Walker

2198. zao -- to live
... lifetime, alive, lively. A primary verb; to live (literally or figuratively) --
life(-time), (a-)live(-ly), quick. (ezesa) -- 1 Occurrence. ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/2198.htm - 9k2422b. chayeh -- having the vigor of life, lively
... 2422a, 2422b. chayeh. 2423 . having the vigor of life, lively.
Transliteration: chayeh Short Definition: vigorous. Word Origin from ...
/hebrew/2422b.htm - 5k

2422. chayeh -- community
... community. Transliteration: chayeh Phonetic Spelling: (khaw-yeh') Short Definition:
lively. lively From chayah; vigorous -- lively. see HEBREW chayah. ...
/hebrew/2422.htm - 5k

2416. chay -- alive, living
... khah'-ee) Short Definition: age. age, alive, appetite, wild beast, company,
congregation, lifetime, lively, From chayah; alive; hence ...
/hebrew/2416.htm - 6k

Lively Hope, and Gracious Fear.
... IV. COMFORT. Hymn 51 Lively hope, and gracious fear. William Cowper 8,6,8,6. Lively
hope, and gracious fear. I was a groveling creature once,. ...
//christianbookshelf.org/newton/olney hymns/hymn 51 lively hope and.htm

The Lively Stones. Rev. W. Morley Punshon.
... THE LIVELY STONES. REV. W. MORLEY PUNSHON. ... Take the first thought, spirituality.
They are lively or living stones, built up into a spiritual house. ...
/.../king/the wesleyan methodist pulpit in malvern/the lively stones rev w.htm

The Adventures of Saint Denis of France.
... Thus, with agreeable and lively conversation, ample justice was done to the feast,
which was composed of the lightest and most delicate viands, such as the ...
/.../kingston/the seven champions of christendom/chapter five the adventures of.htm

Acts vii. 35
... is he, that was in the Church in the wilderness with the Angel which spake to him
in the mount Sina, and with our fathers: who received the lively oracles to ...
/.../chrysostom/homilies on acts and romans/homily xvii acts vii 35.htm

Peter and the Gospel of Hope.
... This future glorious manifestation is so certain that it is already anticipated
here in blessed joy by a lively hope which stimulates to a holy life of ...
/.../schaff/history of the christian church volume i/section 70 ii peter and.htm

How to Make Use of Christ as the Life, when the Believer is So ...
... that little or no difference will be observed betwixt him and others that are yet
in nature; and be not only unable to go actively and lively about commanded ...
/.../brown/christ the way the truth and the life/chapter xxi how to make.htm

How Christ is to be Made Use of as Our Life, in Case of ...
... 1. The sense of a strong, active, lively, and continually stirring body of death,
and that notwithstanding of means used to bear it down and kill it. ...
/.../brown/christ the way the truth and the life/chapter xxii how christ is.htm

Some General Uses.
... For such gifts of knowledge and utterance may be, where the lively operations of
the grace of Christ are not, and consequently where Christ is not, as the Life ...
/.../brown/christ the way the truth and the life/chapter xx some general uses.htm

The Life of Mr. James Mitchel.
... the Lady Houston and some country gentlemen at Bagles, the Spirit of prayer and
supplication was poured upon him, in such a powerful and lively manner, two ...
/.../howie/biographia scoticana scots worthies/the life of mr james.htm

Obedience
... Obedience without fervency, is like a sacrifice without fire. Why should not our
obedience be lively and fervent? ... Lively affections make golden services. ...
//christianbookshelf.org/watson/the ten commandments/1 1 obedience.htm

Lively (5 Occurrences)
... 1. (superl.) Endowed with or manifesting life; living. 2. (superl.) Brisk; vivacious;
active; as, a lively youth. ... Standard Bible Encyclopedia. LIVELY; LIVING. ...
/l/lively.htm - 13k

Living (3112 Occurrences)
... WL Walker. LIVELY; LIVING. liv'-li, liv'-ing (chay; zao): "Living," sometimes
"lively," is the translation of chay (often also translated ...
/l/living.htm - 18k

Bright (85 Occurrences)
... 6. (a.) Sparkling with wit; lively; vivacious; shedding cheerfulness and joy around;
cheerful; cheery. ... 9. (a.) of brilliant color; of lively hue or appearance. ...
/b/bright.htm - 32k

Alive (166 Occurrences)
... 4. (a.) Sprightly; lively; brisk. 5. (a.) Having susceptibility; easily impressed;
having lively feelings, as opposed to apathy; sensitive. ...
/a/alive.htm - 38k

Smart (2 Occurrences)
... 1. (vi) To feel a lively, pungent local pain; -- said of some part of the body as
the seat of irritation; as, my finger smarts; these wounds smart. ...
/s/smart.htm - 8k

Liver (16 Occurrences)

/l/liver.htm - 16k

Quicken (16 Occurrences)
... 2. (v.) To make lively, active, or sprightly; to impart additional energy to; to
stimulate; to make quick or rapid; to hasten; to accelerate; as, to quicken ...
/q/quicken.htm - 13k

Vermilion (2 Occurrences)
... in printing, etc. 2. (n.) Hence, a red color like the pigment; a lively and
brilliant red; as, cheeks of vermilion. 3. (vt) To color ...
/v/vermilion.htm - 7k

Laugh (23 Occurrences)
... in laughter. 2. (vi) Fig.: To be or appear gay, cheerful, pleasant, mirthful,
lively, or brilliant; to sparkle; to sport. 3. (vt ...
/l/laugh.htm - 13k

Livelihood (3 Occurrences)

/l/livelihood.htm - 7k

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