970. bia

Lexicon

bia: Force, violence

Original Word: βία
Part of Speech: Noun, Feminine
Transliteration: bia
Pronunciation: bee'-ah
Phonetic Spelling: (bee'-ah)
Definition: Force, violence
Meaning: force, violence, strength.

Strong's Exhaustive Concordance

violence.

Probably akin to bia (through the idea of vital activity); force -- violence.

see GREEK bia

NAS Exhaustive Concordance

Word Origin
a prim. word
Definition
strength, force
NASB Translation
force (1), violence (3).

Thayer's Greek Lexicon

STRONGS NT 970: βία

βία, βίας, ἡ;

1. strength, whether of body or of mind: Homer and subsequent writers.

2. strength in violent action, force: μετά βίας by the use of force, with violence, Acts 5:26; Acts 24:7 (Rec.); shock τῶν κυμάτων, Acts 27:41 (R G, but Tr text brackets; others omit τῶν κυμάτων); διά τήν βίαν τοῦ ὄχλου, the crowd pressing on so violently, Acts 21:35. (Synonym: see δύναμις, at the end.)

Topical Lexicon

Word Origin: Derived from the root βίη (bie), which is related to the concept of force or strength.

Corresponding Greek / Hebrew Entries: The concept of force or violence in the Hebrew Bible is often represented by words such as חָמָס (chamas, Strong's H2555), which denotes violence or wrongdoing, and עָשַׁק (ashaq, Strong's H6231), meaning to oppress or exploit. These terms capture similar themes of coercion and forceful actions found in the Greek βία.

Usage: In the New Testament, βία is used to describe acts of violence or forceful actions. It appears in contexts where physical or metaphorical force is exerted.

Context: The Greek word βία (bia) is a noun that conveys the idea of force or violence. It is used in the New Testament to describe situations where physical strength or coercion is applied. The term can also extend to metaphorical uses, indicating a forceful or compelling influence.

In the Berean Standard Bible, βία is found in passages that highlight the exertion of force or the experience of violence. For example, in Matthew 11:12, Jesus speaks of the kingdom of heaven suffering violence, and violent men taking it by force: "From the days of John the Baptist until now, the kingdom of heaven has been subject to violence, and the violent lay claim to it." This passage illustrates the spiritual struggle and the forceful opposition faced by those who seek the kingdom.

The concept of βία is significant in understanding the challenges and opposition encountered by early Christians. It reflects the reality of persecution and the need for spiritual resilience. The use of βία in the New Testament underscores the tension between the kingdom of God and the forces that oppose it.

In a broader biblical context, βία can be seen as a contrast to the peace and justice that God desires for His creation. While human history is often marked by violence and coercion, the biblical narrative points towards a future where God's kingdom will be established in peace and righteousness.

Forms and Transliterations

βία βιαν βίαν βιας βίας bian bían bias bías

Englishman's Concordance

Acts 5:26 N-GFS
GRK: οὐ μετὰ βίας ἐφοβοῦντο γὰρ
NAS: them [back] without violence (for they were afraid
KJV: them without violence: for they feared
INT: not with force they feared indeed

Acts 21:35 N-AFS
GRK: διὰ τὴν βίαν τοῦ ὄχλου
NAS: because of the violence of the mob;
KJV: for the violence of the people.
INT: because of the violence of the crowd

Acts 24:7 Noun-GFS
GRK: μετὰ πολλῆς βίας ἐκ τῶν
KJV: great violence took [him] away
INT: with great force out of the

Acts 27:41 N-GFS
GRK: ὑπὸ τῆς βίας τῶν κυμάτων
NAS: [began] to be broken up by the force [of the waves].
KJV: with the violence of the waves.
INT: by the violence of the waves

Strong's Greek 970
4 Occurrences

βίαν — 1 Occ.
βίας — 3 Occ.