Topical Encyclopedia
The term "took" is frequently used in the Bible to describe the act of taking possession, receiving, or seizing something or someone. It is a verb that appears in various contexts, illustrating both physical actions and metaphorical or spiritual implications. The word "took" is integral to many biblical narratives, highlighting moments of divine intervention, human decision-making, and covenantal actions.
Old Testament UsageIn the Old Testament, "took" often signifies God's direct involvement in the lives of His people. For instance, in
Genesis 2:15, "The LORD God took the man and placed him in the Garden of Eden to work it and keep it." Here, the act of taking signifies God's sovereign placement of Adam in a specific location for a divine purpose.
The term is also used in the context of covenants and promises. In
Genesis 15:5, God "took" Abram outside and promised him descendants as numerous as the stars. This act of taking Abram outside symbolizes a divine revelation and the establishment of a covenant relationship.
In the narrative of the Exodus, "took" is used to describe the Israelites' departure from Egypt.
Exodus 12:34 states, "So the people took their dough before it was leavened, carrying it on their shoulders in kneading bowls wrapped in clothing." This act of taking signifies the haste and urgency of their departure, as well as their obedience to God's command.
New Testament UsageIn the New Testament, "took" often relates to the actions of Jesus Christ and His interactions with people. In
Matthew 14:19, during the feeding of the five thousand, "He directed the crowds to sit down on the grass. Taking the five loaves and the two fish and looking up to heaven, He blessed them." Here, the act of taking the loaves and fish precedes a miraculous provision, demonstrating Jesus' divine authority and compassion.
The term also appears in the context of the Last Supper. In
Matthew 26:26, "While they were eating, Jesus took bread, spoke a blessing and broke it, and gave it to the disciples, saying, 'Take and eat; this is My body.'" This act of taking bread is foundational to the Christian practice of Communion, symbolizing Jesus' sacrificial offering.
Spiritual and Theological ImplicationsTheologically, the act of taking can symbolize acceptance and reception of God's gifts and promises. In
John 1:12, "But to all who did receive Him, to those who believed in His name, He gave the right to become children of God." The concept of receiving, akin to taking, is central to the Christian understanding of faith and salvation.
Moreover, "took" can imply a response to divine calling or command. In the Great Commission, Jesus instructs His disciples to "go and make disciples of all nations" (
Matthew 28:19). The disciples' subsequent actions, as they took the gospel to the ends of the earth, reflect obedience and commitment to Christ's mandate.
ConclusionThe word "took" in the Bible encompasses a range of actions and meanings, from physical taking to spiritual reception. It underscores moments of divine-human interaction, covenantal relationships, and the fulfillment of God's purposes throughout biblical history.
Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary
1. (
imp.) of Take.
2. (v.) imp. of Take.
Greek
3880. paralambano -- to receive from ... and lambano Definition to receive from NASB Word Usage receive (3), received (12),
take (5), taken (5), takes (1), takes along (1), taking (1),
took (16),
took ... //strongsnumbers.com/greek2/3880.htm - 8k142. airo -- to raise, take up, lift
... removed (3), suspense* (1), take (13), take away (5), take...away (4), taken (3),
taken...away (1), taken away (12), takes away (7), taking (1), took (2), took ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/142.htm - 9k
2902. krateo -- to be strong, rule
... 1), observe (1), observing (1), prevented (1), retain (1), retained (1), seize
(8), seized (7), take custody (1), take hold (2), taking (2), took (3), took ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/2902.htm - 9k
1949. epilambanomai -- to lay hold of
... Definition to lay hold of NASB Word Usage catch (2), give help (1), gives help
(1), seized (2), take hold (2), taking (1), taking hold (1), took (4), took hold ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/1949.htm - 8k
353. analambano -- to take up, raise
... from ana and lambano Definition to take up, raise NASB Word Usage pick (1), received
(1), take (1), take...on board (1), taken (5), taking (1), took (2), took ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/353.htm - 7k
520. apago -- to lead away
... and ago Definition to lead away NASB Word Usage bringing (1), lead (1), lead...away
(2), leads (2), led astray (1), led away (1), led...away (6), took (1), took ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/520.htm - 7k
1001. bolizo -- to heave the lead
... sound. Word Origin from bolis Definition to heave the lead NASB Word Usage
took soundings (1), took...sounding (1). to take soundings. ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/1001.htm - 6k
4355. proslambano -- to take in addition
... Origin from pros and lambano Definition to take in addition NASB Word Usage accept
(3), accepted (2), received (1), taken (1), taking along (1), took (1), took ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/4355.htm - 7k
337. anaireo -- to take up, take away, make an end
... away (1), executed (1), kill (4), killed (2), put...to death (8), put to death
(3), slain (1), slay (3), slaying (1), slew (1), takes away (1), took...away (1 ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/337.htm - 7k
2686. katasophizomai -- to deal craftily with
... Word Origin from kata and sophizo Definition to deal craftily with NASB Word
Usage took shrewd advantage (1). be crafty against, circumvent. ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/2686.htm - 6k
Strong's Hebrew
28. Abida -- "my father took knowledge," a son of Midian... 27, 28. Abida. 29 . "my father
took knowledge," a son of Midian. Transliteration:
Abida Phonetic Spelling: (ab-ee-daw') Short Definition: Abida.
... /hebrew/28.htm - 6k 7617. shabah -- to take captive
... 1), keep (1), led them captive (1), led captive (1), take (3), take them away captive
(1), take them captive (1), taken (8), taken captive (5), took (2), took ...
/hebrew/7617.htm - 6k
2388. chazaq -- to be or grow firm or strong, strengthen
... courage (6), take courage and be courageous (1), take hold (7), taken (2), taken
hold (1), takes (1), takes hold (2), tie your securely (1), took (2), took ...
/hebrew/2388.htm - 8k
5493. sur -- to turn aside
... 1), retract (1), return (1), separated (1), strip away (1), swerve (1), take (2),
take away (7), take off (1), taken away (14), takes away (1), took (3), took ...
/hebrew/5493.htm - 7k
962. bazaz -- to spoil, plunder
... 2), seize (4), seize the plunder (1), seize their as plunder (1), take (3), take
as booty (1), take spoil (1), taken booty (1), taking (1), took (3), took as ...
/hebrew/962.htm - 6k
3381. yarad -- to come or go down, descend
... run down (5), sank down (1), shed (2), stepped down (1), take it down (1), take
down (1), taken him down (1), taken down (2), thrust down (1), took his down (1 ...
/hebrew/3381.htm - 7k
8500. tukkiyyim -- peacocks
... 8499, 8500. tukkiyyim. 8501 . peacocks. Transliteration: tukkiyyim Phonetic
Spelling: (took-kee') Short Definition: peacocks. Word ...
/hebrew/8500.htm - 6k
1491. gazah -- to cut
... to cut. Transliteration: gazah Phonetic Spelling: (gaw-zaw') Short Definition: took.
Word Origin a prim. root Definition to cut NASB Word Usage took (1). take. ...
/hebrew/1491.htm - 5k
3320. yatsab -- to set or station oneself, take one's stand
... 1), sets (1), stand (14), stand forth (1), standing (1), station (2), stood (7),
take his stand (1), take their stand (2), take your stand (5), took his stand ...
/hebrew/3320.htm - 6k
3947. laqach -- to take
... 3), receiving (1), seize (3), seized (2), select (1), selected (1), sent (1), supply
(1), take (355), taken (74), takes (15), taking (2), took (352), took away ...
/hebrew/3947.htm - 6k
Library
This is He who Took a Bodily Form in the virgin
... Remains of the Second and Third Centuries. [Translated by the Rev. BP Pratten.]
V. This is He who took a bodily form in the Virgin. ...
//christianbookshelf.org/unknown/the decretals/v this is he who.htm
How the King of Babylon Took Jerusalem and Burnt the Temple and ...
... CHAPTER 8. How The King Of Babylon Took Jerusalem And Burnt The Temple And
Removed The People Of Jerusalem And Zedekiah To Babylon. ...
/.../josephus/the antiquities of the jews/chapter 8 how the king.htm
How the Romans Took the Second Wall Twice, and Got all Ready for ...
... CHAPTER 8. How The Romans Took The Second Wall Twice, And Got All Ready
For Taking The Third Wall. 1. Now Caesar took this wall ...
/.../chapter 8 how the romans.htm
Of the Persecution which Took Place at Edessa, and of Eulogius and ...
... Book IV. Chapter XV."Of the persecution which took place at Edessa, and
of Eulogius and Protogenes, presbyters of Edessa. Now ...
/.../the ecclesiastical history of theodoret/chapter xv of the persecution which.htm
Whether the Union of the Incarnate Word Took Place in the Nature?
... OF THE MODE OF UNION OF THE WORD INCARNATE (TWELVE ARTICLES) Whether the Union
of the Incarnate Word took place in the nature? Objection ...
//christianbookshelf.org/aquinas/summa theologica/whether the union of the.htm
How Jonathan Took the Government after his Brother Judas; And
... From The Death Of Judas Maccabeus To The Death Of Queen Alexandra. CHAPTER 1.
How Jonathan Took The Government After His Brother Judas; And. ...
/.../josephus/the antiquities of the jews/chapter 1 how jonathan took.htm
Whether the Union of the Incarnate Word Took Place in the Person?
... OF THE MODE OF UNION OF THE WORD INCARNATE (TWELVE ARTICLES) Whether the union
of the Incarnate Word took place in the Person? Objection ...
/...//christianbookshelf.org/aquinas/summa theologica/whether the union of the 2.htm
The Famine which Took Place in the Reign of Claudius.
... Book II. Chapter VIII."The Famine which took Place in the Reign of Claudius.
1. Caius had held the power not quite four years, [325 ...
/.../pamphilius/church history/chapter viii the famine which took.htm
The Events which Took Place in Jerusalem During the Reign of Nero.
... Book II. Chapter XX."The Events which took Place in Jerusalem during the
Reign of Nero. 1. Josephus again, in the twentieth book ...
/.../pamphilius/church history/chapter xx the events which took.htm
Whether the Union of the Incarnation Took Place by Grace?
... OF THE MODE OF UNION OF THE WORD INCARNATE (TWELVE ARTICLES) Whether the
union of the Incarnation took place by grace? Objection ...
/...//christianbookshelf.org/aquinas/summa theologica/whether the union of the 6.htm
Thesaurus
Took (8314 Occurrences)... Multi-Version Concordance
Took (8314 Occurrences).
Took is used 8314 times in 12
translations. You can narrow your search using the Advanced Bible Search.
.../t/took.htm - 6kShields (44 Occurrences)
... 2 Samuel 8:7 David took the shields of gold that were on the servants of Hadadezer,
and brought them to Jerusalem. (WEB KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV). ...
/s/shields.htm - 19k
Stored (55 Occurrences)
... John 8:20 Jesus said these words in the place where the offerings were stored, while
he was teaching in the Temple: but no man took him because his time was ...
/s/stored.htm - 23k
Started (51 Occurrences)
... Matthew 15:36 and he took the seven loaves and the fish. ... (WEY). Mark 8:6 He commanded
the multitude to sit down on the ground, and he took the seven loaves. ...
/s/started.htm - 21k
Aside (416 Occurrences)
... (YLT). Matthew 16:22 Peter took him aside, and began to rebuke him, saying, "Far
be it from you, Lord! This will never be done to you." (WEB WEY YLT NAS NIV). ...
/a/aside.htm - 37k
Store-house (23 Occurrences)
... 2 Kings 14:14 And he took all the gold and silver and all the vessels which were
in the house of the Lord and in the store-house of the king, together with ...
/s/store-house.htm - 13k
Knife (10 Occurrences)
... (WEY). Genesis 22:6 Abraham took the wood of the burnt offering and laid it
on Isaac his son. He took in his hand the fire and the knife. ...
/k/knife.htm - 13k
Settlements (27 Occurrences)
... (See NIV). Numbers 21:25 Israel took all these cities: and Israel lived in all the
cities of the Amorites, in Heshbon, and in all its towns. (See NIV). ...
/s/settlements.htm - 13k
Seating (10 Occurrences)
... John 19:13 So when these words came to Pilate's ear, he took Jesus out, seating
himself in the judge's seat in a place named in Hebrew, Gabbatha, or the Stone ...
/s/seating.htm - 10k
Survivor (18 Occurrences)
... Deuteronomy 2:34 We took all his cities at that time, and utterly destroyed every
inhabited city, with the women and the little ones; we left none remaining ...
/s/survivor.htm - 12k
Resources
What does it mean that Jesus took our place? | GotQuestions.orgWhat did Jesus mean when He said, “This is my body, broken for you”? | GotQuestions.orgWho is the king of the South in Daniel 11? | GotQuestions.orgTook: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.comBible Concordance •
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