The term "occupied" in the biblical context often refers to the act of engaging in work, business, or fulfilling a particular role or duty. It can also imply the possession or control of a territory or space. The concept of being occupied is woven throughout Scripture, illustrating both physical and spiritual dimensions of life.

Old Testament Context

In the Old Testament, the idea of being occupied is frequently associated with the stewardship of land and resources. For instance, God commanded Adam to "work and keep" the Garden of Eden (Genesis 2:15), indicating an occupation with the care and management of creation. The Israelites were also instructed to occupy the Promised Land, a task that involved both physical conquest and spiritual obedience. In Deuteronomy 1:8, God says, "See, I have set the land before you. Go in and take possession of the land that the LORD swore to your fathers."

The concept of occupation extends to the roles and duties assigned to individuals. The Levites, for example, were occupied with the service of the tabernacle, as described in Numbers 3:7-8. Their occupation was not merely a job but a divine calling to serve God and the community.

New Testament Context

In the New Testament, the term "occupied" often relates to the use of one's time and talents in service to God and others. Jesus' parable of the ten minas in Luke 19:13 illustrates this principle. The master instructs his servants, "Engage in business until I come," emphasizing the importance of being industrious and faithful with what has been entrusted to them.

The Apostle Paul frequently speaks of being occupied with the work of the ministry. In Acts 18:5, it is noted that "Paul was occupied with preaching the word, testifying to the Jews that Jesus is the Christ." This highlights the dedication and focus required in fulfilling one's divine mission.

Spiritual Implications

Spiritually, being occupied can also refer to the state of one's heart and mind. Believers are called to be occupied with the things of God, setting their minds on things above (Colossians 3:2). This spiritual occupation involves a commitment to prayer, study of Scripture, and living a life that reflects the character of Christ.

The Bible warns against being occupied with worldly concerns to the detriment of one's spiritual health. In Matthew 6:31-33, Jesus advises, "Therefore do not be anxious, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’... But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you."

Conclusion

The biblical concept of being occupied encompasses a wide range of activities and responsibilities, both physical and spiritual. It calls for faithful stewardship, diligent work, and a focus on God's kingdom. Whether through the management of resources, the fulfillment of roles, or the dedication of one's life to God's service, being occupied is a central theme in the life of a believer.(imp. & p. p.) of Occupy.4043. peripateo -- to walk
... walk NASB Word Usage behave (2), conduct ourselves (1), conduct yourselves (1),
leading...life (1), leads...life (1), prowls around (1), so occupied (1), walk ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/4043.htm - 9k

4134. pleres -- full
... Adjective Transliteration: pleres Phonetic Spelling: (play'-race) Short Definition:
full Definition: full, abounding in, complete, completely occupied with. ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/4134.htm - 7k

1281. diapragmateuomai -- to examine thoroughly, to gain by ...
... trading). 1281 (from 1223 , "thoroughly" and 4231 , "occupied in business,
trading") -- properly, (used only in Lk 19:15). 1281 ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/1281.htm - 7k

1073. gemo -- to be full
... 1073 -- , especially with the sense "fully occupied with (by)," ie filled
("loaded") ; () totally characterized by" (in every sense). ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/1073.htm - 7k

1704. emperipateo -- to walk about in or among
... walk about. From en and peripateo; to perambulate on a place, ie (figuratively)
to be occupied among persons -- walk in. see GREEK en. see GREEK peripateo. ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/1704.htm - 6k

3508. Nephthalim -- Naphtali, a tribe of Isr.
... Nephthalim Phonetic Spelling: (nef-thal-ime') Short Definition: Naphtali Definition:
Naphtali, son of Jacob, founder of a tribe which occupied territory. ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/3508.htm - 6k

4232. praitorion -- Praetorium (official residence of a governor) ...
... Phonetic Spelling: (prahee-to'-ree-on) Short Definition: the official residence
of the procurator Definition: the palace at Jerusalem occupied by the Roman ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/4232.htm - 7k

6030b. anah -- to be occupied, busied
... 6030a, 6030b. anah. 6031 . to be occupied, busied. Transliteration: anah
Short Definition: afflicted. Word Origin a prim. root Definition ...
/hebrew/6030b.htm - 5k

6213. asah -- do, make
... grant, great, + hinder, hold ((a feast)), X indeed, + be industrious, + journey,
keep, labour, maintain, make, be meet, observe, be occupied, offer, + officer ...
/hebrew/6213.htm - 6k

3427. yashab -- to sit, remain, dwell
... inhabits (1), left (1), live (118), lived (137), lives (7), living (44), lurking
(1), makes (1), married (6), marrying (1), occupants (1), occupied (1), passed ...
/hebrew/3427.htm - 7k

804. Ashshuwr -- step, going
... ash-shoor'}; apparently from 'ashar (in the sense of successful); Ashshur, the second
son of Shem; also his descendants and the country occupied by them (ie ...
/hebrew/804.htm - 5k

5454. Sabta -- a son of Cush, also the territory settled by his ...
... Or Cabtah {sab-taw'}; probably of foreign derivation; Sabta or Sabtah, the name
of a son of Cush, and the country occupied by his posterity -- Sabta, Sabtah. ...
/hebrew/5454.htm - 6k

3425. yerushshah -- possession, inheritance
... heritage, inheritance, possession. From yarash; something occupied; a conquest;
also a patrimony -- heritage, inheritance, possession. see HEBREW yarash. ...
/hebrew/3425.htm - 6k

123. edom -- the name of a condiment
... 25:25); Edom, the elder twin-brother of Jacob; hence the region (Idumaea) occupied
by him -- Edom, Edomites, Idumea. see HEBREW 'adom. 122, 123. edom. 124 ...
/hebrew/123.htm - 6k

7879. siach -- complaint, musing
... Word Origin from an unused word Definition complaint, musing NASB Word Usage
complaining (1), complaint (8), concern (1), meditation (1), occupied (1), talk ( ...
/hebrew/7879.htm - 6k

The Time Occupied by the Reckoning.
... Book XIV. 9. The Time Occupied by the Reckoning. And these things will take
place whenever that happens which is written in Daniel ...
/.../origen/origens commentary on the gospel of matthew/9 the time occupied by.htm

June the Third the Safety of the Occupied Heart
... JUNE The Third THE SAFETY OF THE OCCUPIED HEART. GALATIANS v.16-25. ... We must meet
it with an occupied heart. We must have no loose and trailing affections. ...
/.../jowett/my daily meditation for the circling year/june the third the safety.htm

Chap. xxxvii. While Occupied in this Plan, He Received Letters ...
... Chap. XXXVII. While occupied in this plan, he received letters from Constantine
which deterred him from proceeding? While occupied ...
/.../of the manner in which the persecutors died/chap xxxvii while occupied in.htm

As Ambrose was Occupied with Business and Study, Augustin could ...
... Book VI. Chapter III."As Ambrose Was Occupied with Business and Study, Augustin
Could Seldom Consult Him Concerning the Holy Scriptures. ...
/.../the confessions and letters of st/chapter iii as ambrose was occupied.htm

So Great Blindness, Moreover, Hath Occupied Men's Minds...
... Section 43. So great blindness, moreover, hath occupied men's minds? 43.
So great blindness, moreover, hath occupied men's minds ...
//christianbookshelf.org/augustine/on lying/section 43 so great blindness.htm

Because the Inevitable Tendency of the Partial-Rapture Theory is ...
... Seven The Beneficiaries of the Redeemer's Return 7. Because the inevitable tendency
of the partial-rapture theory is to get believers occupied with themselves ...
/.../pink/the redeemers return/7 because the inevitable tendency.htm

Of Three Means in the which a Contemplative Prentice Should be ...
... HERE BEGINNETH THE FIVE AND THIRTIETH CHAPTER Of three means in the which a
contemplative Prentice should be occupied, in reading, thinking, and praying. ...
/.../anonymous/the cloud of unknowing/here beginneth the five and 2.htm

While These Things were Doing, Joseph was Occupied with his Work.. ...
... Chapter 10. While these things were doing, Joseph was occupied with his
work? While these things were doing, Joseph was occupied ...
/.../unknown/the gospel of pseudo-matthew/chapter 10 while these things.htm

Lection ii one Day, Therefore, While He was Occupied with the ...
... HERE BEGIN THE MIRACLES OF THE BLESSED HERMIT RICHARD. LECTION II One day, therefore,
while he was occupied with the aforesaid work of piety? ...
/...//christianbookshelf.org/rolle/the fire of love/lection ii one day therefore.htm

The Lateness of the Revelation of Marcion's God the Question of ...
... Marcion. Chapter XV."The Lateness of the Revelation of Marcion's God
The Question of the Place Occupied by the Rival Deities. ...
/.../tertullian/the five books against marcion/chapter xv the lateness of the.htm

Occupied (32 Occurrences)
... (imp. & pp) of Occupy. Multi-Version Concordance Occupied (32 Occurrences). ... did ye
not know that I ought to be occupied in my Father's business? (DBY). ...
/o/occupied.htm - 16k

Dora
... It was occupied in the earliest times by the Canaanites and probably belonged
to Phoenicia, tradition saying that it was a Sidonian colony. ...
/d/dora.htm - 9k

Dor (7 Occurrences)
... It was occupied in the earliest times by the Canaanites and probably belonged
to Phoenicia, tradition saying that it was a Sidonian colony. ...
/d/dor.htm - 13k

Jabneh (1 Occurrence)
... We have no mention of its being captured by Joshua or occupied by Judah until the
reign of Uzziah who captured it and demolished its wall, in connection with ...
/j/jabneh.htm - 10k

Jabneel (2 Occurrences)
... We have no mention of its being captured by Joshua or occupied by Judah until the
reign of Uzziah who captured it and demolished its wall, in connection with ...
/j/jabneel.htm - 11k

Gerasa
... The sultan of Damascus is said to have fortified it; but there is nothing
to show that the Moslems occupied it for any length of time. ...
/g/gerasa.htm - 10k

Fairs (6 Occurrences)
... Ezekiel 27:16 Syria was thy merchant by reason of the multitude of the wares of
thy making: they occupied in thy fairs with emeralds, purple, and broidered work ...
/f/fairs.htm - 9k

Gerasenes (3 Occurrences)
... The sultan of Damascus is said to have fortified it; but there is nothing
to show that the Moslems occupied it for any length of time. ...
/g/gerasenes.htm - 11k

Seir (38 Occurrences)
... Easton's Bible Dictionary Rough; hairy. (1.) A Horite; one of the "dukes" of Edom
(Genesis 36:20-30). (2.) The name of a mountainous region occupied by the ...
/s/seir.htm - 21k

Ephraim (168 Occurrences)
... The central mountainous district of Palestine occupied by the tribe of Ephraim
(Joshua 17:15; 19:50; 20:7), extending from Bethel to the plain of Jezreel. ...
/e/ephraim.htm - 56k

Should Israel be building settlements in the occupied territories, i.e., the West Bank and East Jerusalem? | GotQuestions.org

What is the difference between Israel and Palestine? | GotQuestions.org

What is the significance of Edom in the Bible? | GotQuestions.org

Occupied: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.com

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