The concept of "relieve" in the Bible is closely associated with providing comfort, aid, and support to those in distress or need. This theme is woven throughout Scripture, reflecting God's compassion and the call for His people to emulate His care for others.

Old Testament Context

In the Old Testament, the idea of relieving the oppressed and needy is a significant aspect of the Law and the Prophets. The Mosaic Law includes numerous provisions for the relief of the poor, widows, orphans, and foreigners. For instance, Deuteronomy 15:11 states, "For there will never cease to be poor in the land. Therefore I command you to open wide your hand to your brother, to the needy and poor in your land." This command underscores the importance of generosity and support for those in need.

The Psalms frequently express a desire for God's relief in times of trouble. Psalm 18:6 declares, "In my distress I called upon the LORD; I cried to my God for help. From His temple He heard my voice, and my cry for His help reached His ears." Here, the psalmist acknowledges God's role as a reliever of distress, emphasizing His responsiveness to the cries of His people.

The prophets also highlight the need for social justice and the relief of the oppressed. Isaiah 1:17 exhorts, "Learn to do right; seek justice and correct the oppressor. Defend the fatherless and plead the case of the widow." This call to action reflects God's heart for justice and His desire for His people to be agents of relief and righteousness.

New Testament Context

In the New Testament, Jesus Christ embodies the ultimate source of relief. His ministry is marked by acts of healing, compassion, and deliverance. In Matthew 11:28 , Jesus invites the weary and burdened, saying, "Come to Me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest." This invitation highlights Jesus as the divine reliever, offering spiritual and physical rest to those who seek Him.

The early church continued this mission of relief, as seen in the Acts of the Apostles. Acts 4:34-35 describes the communal sharing among believers: "There were no needy ones among them, because those who owned lands or houses would sell their property, bring the proceeds from the sales, and lay them at the apostles’ feet for distribution to anyone as he had need." This practice reflects the church's commitment to relieving the needs of its members.

The apostle Paul also emphasizes the importance of relieving others, particularly within the body of Christ. In Galatians 6:2 , he instructs, "Carry one another’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ." This directive underscores the communal responsibility to support and relieve one another in times of difficulty.

Theological Implications

Theologically, the concept of relief is rooted in the character of God as compassionate and merciful. God's provision of relief is not only physical but also spiritual, offering salvation and eternal rest through Jesus Christ. Believers are called to reflect God's character by actively seeking to relieve the suffering and burdens of others, thereby demonstrating the love and grace of God in tangible ways.

Practical Application

In practical terms, the call to relieve others can be expressed through acts of charity, advocacy for justice, and personal support for those in need. Christians are encouraged to be attentive to the needs around them and to respond with generosity and compassion, following the example of Christ and the early church.1. (v. t.) To lift up; to raise again, as one who has fallen; to cause to rise.

2. (v. t.) To cause to seem to rise; to put in relief; to give prominence or conspicuousness to; to set off by contrast.

3. (v. t.) To raise up something in; to introduce a contrast or variety into; to remove the monotony or sameness of.

4. (v. t.) To raise or remove, as anything which depresses, weighs down, or crushes; to render less burdensome or afflicting; to alleviate; to abate; to mitigate; to lessen; as, to relieve pain; to relieve the wants of the poor.

5. (v. t.) To free, wholly or partly, from any burden, trial, evil, distress, or the like; to give ease, comfort, or consolation to; to give aid, help, or succor to; to support, strengthen, or deliver; as, to relieve a besieged town.

6. (v. t.) To release from a post, station, or duty; to put another in place of, or to take the place of, in the bearing of any burden, or discharge of any duty.

7. (v. t.) To ease of any imposition, burden, wrong, or oppression, by judicial or legislative interposition, as by the removal of a grievance, by indemnification for losses, or the like; to right.

1884. eparkeo -- accursed
... accursed. Part of Speech: Verb Transliteration: eparkeo Phonetic Spelling:
(ep-ar-keh'-o) Short Definition: I aid, relieve, do service, render help Definition ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/1884.htm - 6k

997. boetheo -- to come to the aid of
... aid, help. From boethos; to aid or relieve -- help, succor. see GREEK boethos.
(boethei) -- 2 Occurrences. (boetheite) -- 1 Occurrence. (boethesai) -- 1 Occurrence ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/997.htm - 7k

1980. episkeptomai -- to inspect, by ext. to go to see
... Middle voice from epi and the base of skopos; to inspect, ie (by implication) to
select; by extension, to go to see, relieve -- look out, visit. see GREEK epi. ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/1980.htm - 6k

630. apoluo -- to set free, release
... From apo and luo; to free fully, ie (literally) relieve, release, dismiss (reflexively,
depart), or (figuratively) let die, pardon or (specially) divorce ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/630.htm - 10k

3008. leitourgeo -- to serve the state, ie by anal. to perform ...
... minister. From leitourgos; to be a public servant, ie (by analogy) to perform religious
or charitable functions (worship, obey, relieve) -- minister. ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/3008.htm - 7k

4379. prospsauo -- to touch
... touch. From pros and psauo (to touch); to impinge, ie Lay a finger on (in order
to relieve) -- touch. see GREEK pros. (prospsauete) -- 1 Occurrence. ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/4379.htm - 6k

404. anapsucho -- to refresh
... refresh. From ana and psucho; properly, to cool off, ie (figuratively) relieve --
refresh. see GREEK ana. see GREEK psucho. (anepsuxen) -- 1 Occurrence. ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/404.htm - 7k

2323. therapeuo -- to serve, cure
... From the same as therapon; to wait upon menially, ie (figuratively) to adore (God),
or (specially) to relieve (of disease) -- cure, heal, worship. ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/2323.htm - 9k

833. ashar -- to go straight, go on, advance
... call, be blessed, happy, go, guide, lead, relieve. Or rasher {aw-share'};
a primitive root; to be straight (used in the widest sense ...
/hebrew/833.htm - 6k

5749. uwd -- to return, go about, repeat, do again
... admonish, charge, earnestly, lift up, protest, call take to record, relieve,
rob, A primitive root; to duplicate or repeat; by implication ...
/hebrew/5749.htm - 5k

7272. regel -- foot
... 60), footstep* (1), footsteps (1), footstool* (6), four-footed* (1), haunt (1),
heels (1), hoof* (1), journey (1), legs (5), pace (2), relieve* (1), relieving ...
/hebrew/7272.htm - 6k

7725. shub -- to turn back, return
... hinder, let, (see) more, X needs, be past, X pay, pervert, pull in again, put (again,
up again), recall, recompense, recover, refresh, relieve, render (again ...
/hebrew/7725.htm - 9k

5526a. sakak -- to overshadow, screen, cover
... to overshadow, screen, cover NASB Word Usage cover (2), covered (4), covering (3),
covers (1), incite (1), made a covering (1), relieve* (1), relieving* (1 ...
/hebrew/5526a.htm - 5k

Upon Compassion. Preached the First Sunday in Lent.
... those affections lead him to a certain determinate course of action suitable to
those circumstances; as (for instance) compassion to relieve the distressed. ...
/.../butler/human nature/sermon vi upon compassion preached.htm

1 Timothy v. 15-Nov
... "If any man or woman that believeth have widows, let them relieve them, and let
not the Church be charged, that it may relieve them that are widows indeed.". ...
/.../homily xv 1 timothy v.htm

Whether Almsgiving is a Matter of Precept?
... Because each one must first of all look after himself and then after those over
whom he has charge, and afterwards with what remains relieve the needs of others ...
/.../aquinas/summa theologica/whether almsgiving is a matter.htm

On visiting the Sick
... suppose the Judge of all the earth speaks right, those, and those only, that feed
the hungry, give drink to the thirsty, clothe the naked, relieve the stranger ...
/.../wesley/sermons on several occasions/sermon 98 on visiting the.htm

Whether the Different Kinds of Almsdeeds are Suitably Enumerated?
... enumerated. Objection 2: Further, as stated above [2606](A[1]), the purpose
of giving alms is to relieve our neighbor's need. Now ...
/.../aquinas/summa theologica/whether the different kinds of.htm

Regeneration
... Therefore, when Isaiah, 1, 16.18, preaches repentance: Cease to do evil; learn to
do well; seek judgment, relieve the oppressed, judge the fatherless, plead ...
/.../melanchthon/the apology of the augsburg confession/part 8 regeneration.htm

The Great Duty of Charity Recommended
... concern and pity for the misery and distress of our fellow-creatures, but yet we
seldom commiserate their condition so much as to relieve them according to our ...
/.../whitefield/selected sermons of george whitefield/the great duty of charity.htm

Evans -- the Fall and Recovery of Man
... The graves yawn to swallow them, and they must all perish. There is no balm to relieve,
no physician there. Such is the condition of man as a sinner. ...
/.../kleiser/the worlds great sermons volume 3/evans the fall and.htm

Relation 1. Sent to St. Peter of Alcantara in 1560 from the ...
... The distress thus occasioned is so intense that, if our Lord did not relieve it
by throwing it into a trance, whereby all is made calm, and the soul rests in ...
/.../teresa/the life of st teresa of jesus/relation 1 sent to st.htm

Prayer Born of Compassion
... That which excites and develops compassion and puts it to work, is the sight of
multitudes in want and distress, and helpless to relieve themselves. ...
/.../bounds/the essentials of prayer/x prayer born of compassion.htm

Relieve (14 Occurrences)
... which depresses, weighs down, or crushes; to render less burdensome or afflicting;
to alleviate; to abate; to mitigate; to lessen; as, to relieve pain; to ...
/r/relieve.htm - 11k

Discharge (30 Occurrences)
... Noah Webster's Dictionary 1. (vt) To relieve of a charge, load, or burden; to empty
of a load or cargo; to unburden; to unload; as, to discharge a vessel. ...
/d/discharge.htm - 18k

Widows (33 Occurrences)
... 1 Timothy 5:16 If any man or woman who believes has widows, let them relieve them,
and don't let the assembly be burdened; that it might relieve those who are ...
/w/widows.htm - 17k

Redress (4 Occurrences)
... 2. (vt) To dress again. 3. (vt) To set right, as a wrong; to repair, as
an injury; to make amends for; to remedy; to relieve from. ...
/r/redress.htm - 8k

Relatives (132 Occurrences)
... 1 Timothy 5:16 If any believing man or believing woman have widows, let them relieve
them, and let not the assembly be burdened, that those really widows it ...
/r/relatives.htm - 33k

Relieved (8 Occurrences)
... Noah Webster's Dictionary (imp. & pp) of Relieve. Multi-Version Concordance
Relieved (8 Occurrences). Mark 5:26 And had suffered ...
/r/relieved.htm - 8k

Relax (5 Occurrences)
... 3. (n.) Hence, to relieve from attention or effort; to ease; to recreate;
to divert; as, amusement relaxes the mind. 4. (n.) To ...
/r/relax.htm - 9k

Dependent (35 Occurrences)
... 1 Timothy 5:16 If a believing woman has widows dependent on her, she should relieve
their wants, and save the Church from being burdened--so that the Church ...
/d/dependent.htm - 17k

Mat (17 Occurrences)
... 1 Timothy 5:16 If any woman that believeth hath widows, let her relieve them, and
let not the church be burdened; that it mat relieve them that are widows ...
/m/mat.htm - 12k

Believer (15 Occurrences)
... 1 Timothy 5:16 If any believing man or believing woman have widows, let them relieve
them, and let not the assembly be burdened, that those really widows it ...
/b/believer.htm - 11k

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