Bible Encyclopedia: Living

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International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

CREATURE, LIVING

(chayyah; zoon): "Living creature" (chayyah) is the designation of each of the composite figures in Ezekiel's visions (Ezekiel 1:5, 13; Ezekiel 3:13; Ezekiel 10:15, 17, 20) and, the Revised Version (British and American), of the similar beings in the visions of the Apocalypse, instead of the extremely unfortunate translation of zoon in the King James Version by "beasts" (Revelation 4:6; Revelation 5:6; 6:1; 7:11; 14:03; 15:07; 19:4), which, however, went back to Wycliff, in whose time the word had not the low meaning which "beast," "beastly" have with us; hence, he translates 1 Corinthians 15:44, "It is sowen beestli body," meaning simply animal (see Trench's Select Glossary); in Re "the beasts of the earth," the "beasts" that came up, the notable "beast" that men worshipped, represent the Greek therion, "a wild beast."

The "living creatures" in Ezekiel's vision (Ezekiel 1:5) were four in number, "with the general appearance of a man, but each with four faces and four wings, and straight legs with the feet of an ox. Under their wings are human hands, and these wings are so joined that they never require to turn. The front face is that of a man; right and left of this are the faces of a lion and (of) an ox, and behind, that of an eagle. out of the midst of them gleam fire, torches, lightnings, and connected with them are four wheels that can turn in every direction, called whirling wheels (Ezekiel 10:12, 13). Like the creatures, these are alive, covered with eyes, the sign of intelligence; the spirit of the living creatures is in them. They are afterward discovered by the prophet to be cherubim" (Schultz, Old Testament Theology, II, 233). See CHERUBIM. In Ezekiel's vision they seem to be the bearers of the throne and glory of God; the bearers of His presence and of His revelation (Ezekiel 9:3; Ezekiel 10:3). They also sound forth His praise (Ezekiel 3:12; Ezekiel 10:2). (See Schultz as above.)

The four living creatures in Revelation 4:6 are not under the throne but "in the midst of the throne" (the American Revised Version, margin "before"; see Revelation 7:17; compare Revelation 5:6) and "round about the throne." They are also cherubim, and seem to represent the four beings that stand at the head of the four divisions of the creation; among the untamed animals the lion; among cattle the calf or ox; among birds the eagle; among all created beings the man. It gives "a perfect picture of true service, which should be as brave as the lion, patient as the ox, aspiring as the eagle, intelligent as man" (Milligan in the place cited.). They represent the powers of Nature-of the creation, "full of eyes" as denoting its permeation with the Divine Reason, the wings signifying its constant, ready service, and the unceasing praise the constant doing of God's will. The imagery is founded on Ezekiel as that had been modified in apocalyptic writings and as it was exalted in the mind of the Seer of Patmos.

W. L. Walker

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

LIVING CREATURE

liv'-ing kre'-tur:

(1) (nephesh chayyah, or nephesh hachayyah (nephesh, "breath" or "living things"; chayyah, "living"; compare Arabic nefs, "breath," chaiy, "living")): In the account of the creation this term is used of aquatic animals (Genesis 1:21), of mammals (Genesis 1:24) and of any animals whatsoever (Genesis 2:19).

(2) ([chayyoth], plural of chayyah): The name of the "living creatures" of Ezekiel 1:5-25, which had wings and the faces of a man, a lion, an ox, and an eagle; compare Ezekiel 10:1-22.

(3) (zoon, "living thing," "animal"): The four "living creatures" (the King James Version "beasts") of Revelation 4:6, etc., the first like a lion, the second like a calf, the third having a face as of a man, and the fourth like an eagle, having each six wings.

See CREATURE, LIVING.

Alfred Ely Day

Greek

2226. zoon -- a living creature
... a living creature. Part of Speech: Noun, Neuter Transliteration: zoon Phonetic Spelling:
(dzo'-on) Short Definition: an animal Definition: an animal, living ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/2226.htm - 7k

979. bios -- life, living
... life, living. Part of Speech: Noun, Masculine Transliteration: bios Phonetic Spelling:
(bee'-os) Short Definition: life, manner of life, livelihood Definition ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/979.htm - 7k

3993. penes -- one who works for his living
... one who works for his living. Part of Speech: Noun, Masculine Transliteration: penes
Phonetic Spelling: (pen'-ace) Short Definition: poor Definition: one who ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/3993.htm - 6k

66. agrios -- living in the fields, wild, savage, fierce
... living in the fields, wild, savage, fierce. Part of Speech: Adjective Transliteration:
agrios Phonetic Spelling: (ag'-ree-os) Short Definition: wild, fierce ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/66.htm - 6k

5171. truphao -- to live luxuriously
... indulgently. Cognate: 5171 (from 5172 , "breakdown of character from living
in luxury") -- to live indulgently (luxuriously). See 5172 (). ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/5171.htm - 7k

5172. truphe -- softness, daintiness, luxuriousness
... Feminine Transliteration: truphe Phonetic Spelling: (troo-fay') Short Definition:
effeminate luxury Definition: effeminate luxury, softness, indulgent living. ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/5172.htm - 7k

811. asotos -- wastefully
... Part of Speech: Adverb Transliteration: asotos Phonetic Spelling: (as-o'-toce) Short
Definition: prodigally, with prodigal living Definition: prodigally, with ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/811.htm - 6k

1168. deiliao -- to be cowardly
... Cognate: 1168 -- to be timid (fearful), living in dread (paralyzing fear of
consequences). 1168 ("living in fearful dread") is used only in Jn 14:27. ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/1168.htm - 6k

2198. zao -- to live
... roots ze- and zo- Definition to live NASB Word Usage alive (15), get their living
(1), holding (1), life (6), life* (1), live (53), lived (3), lives (19 ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/2198.htm - 9k

1724. enalios -- in or of the sea, ie marine creatures
... in or of the sea, ie marine creatures. Part of Speech: Adjective Transliteration:
enalios Phonetic Spelling: (en-al'-ee-os) Short Definition: living in the sea ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/1724.htm - 6k

Strong's Hebrew

2416a. chay -- alive, living
... 2416, 2416a. chay. 2416b . alive, living. Transliteration: chay Short
Definition: living. Word Origin from chayah Definition alive ...
/hebrew/2416a.htm - 5k

2417. chay -- living
... 2416b, 2417. chay. 2418 . living. Transliteration: chay Phonetic Spelling:
(khah'-ee) Short Definition: living. Word Origin (Aramaic ...
/hebrew/2417.htm - 6k

2424. chayyuth -- living
... 2423, 2424. chayyuth. 2425 . living. Transliteration: chayyuth Phonetic
Spelling: (khah-yooth') Short Definition: living. Word Origin ...
/hebrew/2424.htm - 6k

2421b. chayyah -- living thing, animal
... 2421a, 2421b. chayyah. 2422 . living thing, animal. Transliteration: chayyah
Short Definition: beasts. Word Origin from chayah Definition ...
/hebrew/2421b.htm - 5k

883. Beer Lachay Roi -- "well of the living One that sees me," a ...
Beer Lachay Roi. 882, 883. Beer Lachay Roi. 884 . "well of the living One that
sees me," a place in the desert. Transliteration: Beer Lachay Roi Phonetic ...
/hebrew/883.htm - 6k

5315. nephesh -- a soul, living being, life, self, person, desire ...
... a soul, living being, life, self, person, desire, passion, appetite, emotion.
Transliteration: nephesh Phonetic Spelling: (neh'-fesh) Short Definition: soul. ...
/hebrew/5315.htm - 7k

2416. chay -- alive, living
... 2415, 2416. chay. 2416a . alive, living. Transliteration: chay Phonetic Spelling:
(khah'-ee) Short Definition: age. age, alive, appetite ...
/hebrew/2416.htm - 6k

5983. Ammon -- a people living East of the Jordan
... 5982, 5983. Ammon. 5984 . a people living East of the Jordan. Transliteration:
Ammon Phonetic Spelling: (am-mone') Short Definition: Ammon. ...
/hebrew/5983.htm - 6k

3351. yequm -- substance, existence
... thing. Word Origin from qum Definition substance, existence NASB Word Usage
living thing (3). living substance. From quwm; properly ...
/hebrew/3351.htm - 6k

1753. dur -- to dwell
... Word Origin (Aramaic) corresponding to dur Definition to dwell NASB Word Usage dwell
(1), dwelt (2), inhabitants (2), live (1), living (1). dwell. ...
/hebrew/1753.htm - 6k

Library

The Form of Perfect Living and Other Prose Treatises
The Form of Perfect Living and Other Prose Treatises. <. The Form of Perfect
Living and Other Prose Treatises Richard Rolle of Hampole. ...
/.../rolle/the form of perfect living and other prose treatises/

The Living One
... THE LIVING ONE. "I am He that liveth, and was dead" (i.18). (.. ho zon),
THE LIVING ONE. Like the previous title, it is used ...
//christianbookshelf.org/bullinger/commentary on revelation/the living one.htm

The God of the Living.
... THE GOD OF THE LIVING. He is not a God of the dead, but of the living:
for all live unto him."ST Luke 20:38. It is a recurring ...
//christianbookshelf.org/macdonald/unspoken sermons/the god of the living.htm

Godly Living.
... GODLY LIVING. When some one is spoken of as living a worldly life, it is meant that
he lives in a worldly manner, or in a manner like the world. ...
//christianbookshelf.org/orr/how to live a holy life/godly living.htm

Living Martyrs.
... II The Wooing Lover (John i. 1-18.) Living Martyrs. ... The bulk of business shrinks.
The thermometer is run down below the living point. We kill men by frost now. ...
//christianbookshelf.org/gordon/quiet talks on johns gospel/living martyrs.htm

The Living Dead
... VOLUME II: ST. LUKE Chaps. XIII to XXIV THE LIVING DEAD. 'Why seek ye the living
among the dead! 6. He is not here, but is risen.'"Luke 24:5,6. ...
/.../maclaren/expositions of holy scripture e/the living dead.htm

A Living Sacrifice.
... Money: The Golden Channel of Service. (Luke xvi:1-18.) A Living Sacrifice.
There ... Voice. That is the one law of giving, as of all living. ...
//christianbookshelf.org/gordon/quiet talks on service/a living sacrifice.htm

Living Water
... Living Water. The fountain in its source, No drought of summer fears; The farther
it pursues its course,. The nobler it appears. But shallow cisterns yield. ...
/.../translations from the french of madame de la mothe guion/living water.htm

Living Messages of Jesus.
... The Need Living Messages of Jesus. Now, what is it that these people need, and
that we can give to them? ... He is a living power in a man's life. ...
/.../gordon/quiet talks with world winners/living messages of jesus.htm

Living as Dead
... XLI LIVING AS DEAD. Revelation iii.1. ... There are plenty of such churches
still,"churches which have a name that they are living, but are dead. ...
/.../peabody/mornings in the college chapel/xli living as dead.htm

Easton's Bible Dictionary

Living creatures

As represented by Ezekiel (1-10) and John (Revelation 4, etc.), are the cherubim. They are distinguished from angels (Revelation 15:7); they join the elders in the "new song" (5:8, 9); they warn of danger from divine justice (Isaiah 6:3-5), and deliver the commission to those who execute it (Ezek. 10:2, 7); they associate with the elders in their sympathy with the hundred and forty-four thousand who sing the new song (Revelation 14:3), and with the Church in the overthrow of her enemies (19:4).

They are supposed to represent mercy, as distinguished from justice, mercy in its various instrumentalities, and especially as connected with the throne of God, the "throne of grace."

Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary

1. (p. pr. & vb. n.) of Live.

2. (n.) The state of one who, or that which, lives; lives; life; existence.

3. (n.) Manner of life; as, riotous living; penurious living; earnest living.

4. (n.) Means of subsistence; sustenance; estate.

5. (n.) Power of continuing life; the act of living, or living comfortably.

6. (n.) The benefice of a clergyman; an ecclesiastical charge which a minister receives.

Thesaurus

Living (3112 Occurrences)
... Easton's Bible Dictionary Living creatures. As represented ... existence. 3. (n.) Manner
of life; as, riotous living; penurious living; earnest living. 4 ...
/l/living.htm - 18k

Living-places (17 Occurrences)
Living-places. Living-place, Living-places. Living-space . Multi-Version
Concordance Living-places (17 Occurrences). Leviticus 23 ...
/l/living-places.htm - 12k

Ever-living (20 Occurrences)
Ever-living. Everliving, Ever-living. Evermore . Multi-Version
Concordance Ever-living (20 Occurrences). Matthew 16:16 ...
/e/ever-living.htm - 12k

Living-space (1 Occurrence)
Living-space. Living-places, Living-space. Lizard . Multi-Version
Concordance Living-space (1 Occurrence). Isaiah 5:8 ...
/l/living-space.htm - 6k

Well-living (1 Occurrence)
Well-living. Well-leading, Well-living. Well-loved . Multi-Version
Concordance Well-living (1 Occurrence). Acts 19:25 ...
/w/well-living.htm - 6k

Living-place (83 Occurrences)
Living-place. Living, Living-place. Living-places . Multi-Version Concordance
Living-place (83 Occurrences). Matthew 4:13 And going ...
/l/living-place.htm - 32k

Beings (42 Occurrences)
... Revelation 4:6 And before the throne there was a sea of glass like crystal: And
in the midst of the throne, and around the throne, were four living beings full ...
/b/beings.htm - 18k

Cedar-wood (22 Occurrences)
... Leviticus 14:4 then shall the priest command to take for him that is to be cleansed
two clean living birds, and cedar-wood, and scarlet, and hyssop. ...
/c/cedar-wood.htm - 12k

Creepeth (17 Occurrences)
... Genesis 1:21 And God created the great sea-monsters, and every living creature that
moveth, wherewith the waters swarmed, after their kind, and every winged ...
/c/creepeth.htm - 12k

Creeping (43 Occurrences)
... Genesis 1:21 And God prepareth the great monsters, and every living creature that
is creeping, which the waters have teemed with, after their kind, and every ...
/c/creeping.htm - 21k

Bible Concordance

Living (3112 Occurrences)

Living is used 3112 times in 12 translations.

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Subtopics

Cohabitating

Living

Living a Christian Life

Living Alone

Living by the Ten Commandments

Living Creature

Living for Today