The term "abound" in the biblical context often refers to an abundance or plentifulness, whether in material, spiritual, or moral aspects. It is used to describe the overflowing nature of God's blessings, grace, and love, as well as the expected response of believers in their faith and actions.

Old Testament Usage:

In the Old Testament, the concept of abounding is frequently associated with God's provision and blessings. For example, in Deuteronomy 28:11, the abundance of God's blessings is promised to the Israelites if they obey His commandments: "The LORD will make you abound in prosperity, in the fruit of your womb, the offspring of your livestock, and the produce of your land, in the land that the LORD swore to your fathers to give you."

New Testament Usage:

The New Testament expands on the idea of abounding, particularly in the context of spiritual growth and the Christian life. The Apostle Paul often uses the term to encourage believers to grow in love, faith, and good works. In Philippians 1:9, Paul writes, "And this is my prayer: that your love may abound more and more in knowledge and depth of insight."

In Romans 5:20, Paul speaks of the superabundance of grace: "But where sin increased, grace abounded all the more." This highlights the overwhelming nature of God's grace in overcoming sin.

Abounding in Love and Good Works:

Believers are called to abound in love and good works as a reflection of their faith. In 1 Thessalonians 3:12, Paul exhorts, "May the Lord cause you to increase and overflow with love for one another and for everyone else, just as our love for you overflows." Similarly, in 2 Corinthians 9:8, Paul assures the Corinthians of God's provision for every good work: "And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that in all things, at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work."

Abounding in Hope:

The concept of abounding is also linked to hope. In Romans 15:13, Paul prays for the believers, "May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in Him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit."

Abounding in Thanksgiving:

Thanksgiving is another area where believers are encouraged to abound. Colossians 2:7 urges believers to be "rooted and built up in Him, established in the faith as you were taught, and overflowing with thankfulness."

Moral and Ethical Implications:

The call to abound is not merely about receiving but also about giving and living out one's faith. In 1 Corinthians 15:58, Paul encourages steadfastness and abundant work in the Lord: "Therefore, my beloved brothers, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your labor in the Lord is not in vain."

The biblical concept of abounding encompasses a life marked by the overflow of God's grace, love, and provision, which in turn inspires believers to live abundantly in faith, hope, love, and good works.1. (v. i.) To be in great plenty; to be very prevalent; to be plentiful.

2. (v. i.) To be copiously supplied; -- followed by in or with.

ABOUND; ABUNDANCE; ABUNDANT; ABUNDANTLY

a-bound', a-bun'-dans, a-bun'-dant, a-bun'-dant-li: These words represent in the English Versions of the Bible a considerable variety of different words in the Hebrew and Greek original. In the Old Testament they most frequently stand for some form of the stem rabh, signifying "to cast together," "to increase." In Proverbs 8:24 the primary idea is "to be heavy" (root: kabhadh); in Deuteronomy 33:19 and Job 22:11 it is "to overflow" shapha`; in Job 36:31 it is "to plait together," "to augment," "to multiply" (makhbir from ka-bhar); in Isaiah 47:9 it is "strength" `otsmah; in 1 Kings 18:41 it is "tumult," "crowd" hamon; in Ecclesiastes 5:12 it is "to fill to satiety" (Revised Version (British and American) "fulness"); in Isaiah 15:7 it is "excellence" yithrah and in Isaiah 66:11 "a full breast" ziz; in Jeremiah 33:6 it is "copiousness" (`athereth from `athar). In several passages (e.g. Ezekiel 16:49 Psalm 105:30 Isaiah 56:12) the Revised Version (British and American) gives other and better renderings than the King James Version. In the New Testament perissos, perisseuo, perisseia, etc., are the usual words for "abundant," "abound," "abundance," etc. (the adjective signifies "exceeding some number or measure"). A slight formal difference of conception may be noted in pleonazo, which suggests that the abundance has resulted from augmentation. In Romans 5:20 the two words stand in the closest connection: `Where sin abounded (by its increase) grace abounded more exceedingly (was rich beyond measure).' In Mark 12:44 Luke 21:4 2 Corinthians 8:20; 2 Corinthians 12:7; Revelation 18:3 the Revised Version (British and American) gives improved renderings instead of "abundance," and in Titus 3:6 and 2 Peter 1:11 instead of "abundantly."

J. R. Van Pelt

4052. perisseuo -- to be over and above, to abound
... to be over and above, to abound. Part of Speech: Verb Transliteration: perisseuo
Phonetic Spelling: (per-is-syoo'-o) Short Definition: I exceed, am left over ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/4052.htm - 9k

5248. huperperisseuo -- to abound more exceedingly
... to abound more exceedingly. Part of Speech: Verb Transliteration: huperperisseuo
Phonetic Spelling: (hoop-er-per-is-syoo'-o) Short Definition: I abound ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/5248.htm - 7k

4121. pleonazo -- to superabound, to make to abound
... to superabound, to make to abound. Part of Speech: Verb Transliteration: pleonazo
Phonetic Spelling: (pleh-on-ad'-zo) Short Definition: I abound, increase ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/4121.htm - 7k

5250. huperpleonazo -- to abound exceedingly
... to abound exceedingly. Part of Speech: Verb Transliteration: huperpleonazo Phonetic
Spelling: (hoop-er-pleh-on-ad'-zo) Short Definition: I am exceedingly ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/5250.htm - 7k

4102. pistis -- faith, faithfulness
... God" (). 7" But just as you abound in everything, in (4102). ... we inspired in
you, see that you abound in this gracious work also". (). ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/4102.htm - 18k

4149. ploutos -- wealth
... Word Origin probably from pleo in an early sense of to flow, abound Definition
wealth NASB Word Usage riches (18), wealth (4). riches. ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/4149.htm - 7k

4129. plethuno -- to increase, to be increased
... multiply. From another form of plethos; to increase (transitively or intransitively) --
abound, multiply. see GREEK plethos. (eplethuneto) -- 3 Occurrences. ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/4129.htm - 7k

4148. ploutizo -- to make rich
... of Speech: Verb Transliteration: ploutizo Phonetic Spelling: (ploo-tid'-zo) Short
Definition: I make rich Definition: I make rich, cause to abound in, enrich. ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/4148.htm - 7k

4147. plouteo -- to be rich
... Part of Speech: Verb Transliteration: plouteo Phonetic Spelling: (ploo-teh'-o) Short
Definition: I become rich Definition: I become rich, am rich, abound in. ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/4147.htm - 7k

7680. sega -- to grow great
... 7679, 7680. sega. 7681 . to grow great. Transliteration: sega Phonetic
Spelling: (seg-aw') Short Definition: abound. Word Origin ...
/hebrew/7680.htm - 6k

3498. yathar -- to remain over
... root Definition to remain over NASB Word Usage abound (1), had some left (1), had
left (1), have preeminence (1), leave (3), leave a remnant (1), leave of it ...
/hebrew/3498.htm - 6k

7227. rab -- much, many, great
... By contracted from rabab; abundant (in quantity, size, age, number, rank, quality) --
(in) abound(-undance, -ant, -antly), captain, elder, enough, exceedingly ...
/hebrew/7227.htm - 6k

8317. sharats -- to swarm, teem
... A primitive root; to wriggle, ie (by implication) swarm or abound -- breed (bring
forth, increase) abundantly (in abundance), creep, move. 8316, 8317. ...
/hebrew/8317.htm - 6k

7231. rabab -- to be or become many or much
... root Definition to be or become many or much NASB Word Usage abound (1),
become...numerous (1), been many (1), great (1), increase (1), increased (1), long ( ...
/hebrew/7231.htm - 6k

8228. shepha -- abundance
... abundance (1). abundance. From an unused root meaning to abound; resources --
abundance. 8227b, 8228. shepha. 8229 . Strong's Numbers.
/hebrew/8228.htm - 5k

7227a. rab -- much, many, great
... Word Origin from rabab Definition much, many, great NASB Word Usage abound (1),
abounding (4), abounds (1), abundance (1), abundant (15), abundantly (2), broad ...
/hebrew/7227a.htm - 6k

Introductory. Heresies must Exist, and Even Abound; they are a ...
... The Prescription Against Heretics. Chapter I."Introductory. Heresies Must Exist,
and Even Abound; They are a Probation to Faith. [1850] ...
/.../chapter i introductory heresies must exist.htm

Abounding Grace for Abounding Work
... XIV Abounding Grace for Abounding Work. And God is able to make all grace abound
unto you, that ye may abound unto every good work.'"2:Cor.9:8 ...
/.../murray/working for god/xiv abounding grace for abounding.htm

Through the Law Sin Has Abounded.
... one, expressly mentioning Adam as the former, and Christ as the latter; and then
says that "the law, however, entered, that the offence might abound: but where ...
/.../augustine/anti-pelagian writings/chapter 9 vi through the law.htm

The New Covenant: a Covenant of Grace
... Of the New Covenant, grace is the great characteristic: "The law came in, that the
offence might abound; but where sin abounded, grace did abound more ...
/.../murray/the two covenants/chapter xiv the new covenant .htm

What virtues Ought to Exist in Him whom we Consult. ...
... [508]. 91. Paul knew, too, how to abound, for he had a rich soul, though
he possessed not the treasure of a rich man. He knew how ...
/.../ambrose/works and letters of st ambrose/chapter xvii what virtues ought.htm

Love and Discernment.
... IX. LOVE AND DISCERNMENT. "And this I pray, that your love may abound yet more and
more in knowledge and all judgment: that ye may approve things that are ...
/.../thomas/the prayers of st paul/ix love and discernment.htm

Christ's Kingdom among the Gentiles. 1 Jesus Shall Reign Where'er ...
... 4 Blessings abound where'er he reigns; The joyful prisoner bursts his chains;
The weary find eternal rest, And all the sons of want are blest. ...
/.../adams/hymns for christian devotion/284 christs kingdom among.htm

Prayerless Christians
... ability of God to do for us is thus expressed by Paul in one of his most comprehensive
statements, "And God is able to make all grace abound toward you," he ...
/...//christianbookshelf.org/bounds/the weapon of prayer/v prayerless christians.htm

Twenty-Fifth Day. Holy and Blameless.
... witnesses, and God also, how holily and justly and unblameably we behaved ourselves
among you that believe."The Lord make you to increase and abound in love ...
/.../murray/holy in christ/twenty-fifth day holy and blameless.htm

2 Cor. viii. 7
... 2 Cor. viii. 7. 2 1 Corinthians 8:7 Therefore that [814] ye abound [815] in every
thing; in faith and utterance, and knowledge, and in all earnestness. ...
/.../homilies on the epistles of paul to the corinthians/homily xvii 2 cor viii.htm

Abound (36 Occurrences)
... Int. Standard Bible Encyclopedia. ABOUND; ABUNDANCE; ABUNDANT; ABUNDANTLY.
a ... Multi-Version Concordance Abound (36 Occurrences). Matthew ...
/a/abound.htm - 19k

Overflow (43 Occurrences)
... 3. (vi) To run over the bounds. 4. (vi) To be superabundant; to abound. 5.
(n.) A flowing over, as of water or other fluid; an inundation. ...
/o/overflow.htm - 19k

Excel (12 Occurrences)
... 2 Corinthians 8:7 But as you abound in everything, in faith, utterance, knowledge,
all earnestness, and in your love to us, see that you also abound in this ...
/e/excel.htm - 10k

Abundance (194 Occurrences)
... Int. Standard Bible Encyclopedia. ABOUND; ABUNDANCE; ABUNDANT; ABUNDANTLY. ... ABUNDANCE;
ABUNDANT. a-bun'-dans, a-bun'-dant. See ABOUND. Multi-Version Concordance ...
/a/abundance.htm - 41k

Gracious (106 Occurrences)
... 2 Corinthians 8:7 but even as in every thing ye do abound, in faith, and word, and
knowledge, and all diligence, and in your love to us, that also in this ...
/g/gracious.htm - 37k

Abundant (124 Occurrences)
... Int. Standard Bible Encyclopedia. ABOUND; ABUNDANCE; ABUNDANT; ABUNDANTLY. ... ABUNDANCE;
ABUNDANT. a-bun'-dans, a-bun'-dant. See ABOUND. Multi-Version Concordance ...
/a/abundant.htm - 38k

Abundantly (73 Occurrences)
...ABOUND; ABUNDANCE; ABUNDANT; ABUNDANTLY. ... 2 Corinthians 1:5 For as the sufferings
of Christ abound to us, even so our comfort also abounds through Christ. ...
/a/abundantly.htm - 31k

Instructed (80 Occurrences)
... Philippians 4:12 I know both how to be abased, and I know how to abound: every where
and in all things I am instructed both to be full and to be hungry, both ...
/i/instructed.htm - 29k

Learned (70 Occurrences)
... (WEB KJV ASV WBS NAS RSV NIV). Philippians 4:12 I know how to be humbled,
and I know also how to abound. In everything and in all ...
/l/learned.htm - 26k

Towards (416 Occurrences)
... (DBY YLT). 2 Corinthians 1:5 Because, even as the sufferings of the Christ abound
towards us, so through the Christ does our encouragement also abound. (DBY). ...
/t/towards.htm - 35k

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