In the biblical context, the term "boy" often refers to a young male child or adolescent. The Bible provides various narratives and teachings that involve boys, highlighting their roles, experiences, and the spiritual lessons they embody.

Old Testament References

1. Ishmael: Ishmael, the son of Abraham and Hagar, is one of the earliest boys mentioned in the Bible. In Genesis 21:17-18 , God hears the cries of Ishmael in the wilderness and reassures Hagar, "Do not be afraid, for God has heard the voice of the boy where he lies. Get up, lift up the boy and take him by the hand, for I will make him into a great nation." This passage underscores God's care and future promise for Ishmael, even as a boy.

2. Isaac: Isaac, the son of Abraham and Sarah, is another significant boy in the Old Testament. His near-sacrifice by Abraham is a pivotal event (Genesis 22). As a boy, Isaac's obedience and trust in his father are evident, reflecting themes of faith and submission to God's will.

3. Joseph: Joseph, the favored son of Jacob, is introduced as a boy with dreams that foreshadow his future prominence (Genesis 37). His early life is marked by sibling rivalry and betrayal, yet his account illustrates God's providence and the fulfillment of divine promises.

4. Samuel: The boy Samuel serves in the temple under Eli the priest. His calling by God is a significant event, as recorded in 1 Samuel 3:10 : "Then the LORD came and stood there, calling as at the other times, 'Samuel! Samuel!' Then Samuel said, 'Speak, for Your servant is listening.'" Samuel's responsiveness to God's voice as a boy sets the stage for his future role as a prophet and judge in Israel.

New Testament References

1. Jesus in the Temple: At the age of twelve, Jesus is found in the temple, engaging with the teachers and astonishing them with His understanding (Luke 2:46-47). This account highlights Jesus' early wisdom and His awareness of His divine mission, even as a boy.

2. The Boy with the Loaves and Fishes: In John 6:9 , a boy provides five barley loaves and two small fish, which Jesus uses to feed a multitude. "Here is a boy with five barley loaves and two small fish, but what difference will these make among so many?" This account illustrates how God can use the humble offerings of a boy to accomplish great miracles.

3. Timothy: Although not a boy during his ministry, Timothy's early instruction in the Scriptures by his mother and grandmother is noted by Paul in 2 Timothy 3:15 : "And from infancy you have known the Holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus." Timothy's upbringing emphasizes the importance of spiritual education from a young age.

Themes and Lessons

The biblical accounts of boys often emphasize themes of faith, obedience, and divine purpose. Boys in the Bible are depicted as recipients of God's promises and as active participants in His plans. Their accounts encourage believers to recognize the potential and value of young lives in God's kingdom. The nurturing of faith from a young age, as seen in the lives of Samuel and Timothy, is a recurring theme, underscoring the importance of spiritual guidance and instruction for boys.3807. paidagogos -- a trainer of boys, ie a tutor
... of boys, ie a tutor. Part of Speech: Noun, Masculine Transliteration: paidagogos
Phonetic Spelling: (pahee-dag-o-gos') Short Definition: a boy's guardian or ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/3807.htm - 7k

3813. paidion -- a young child
... Word Origin dim. of pais Definition a young child NASB Word Usage boy's (1), Child
(10), child (21), child's (2), children (17), children's (1). ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/3813.htm - 7k

5288. naar -- a boy, lad, youth, retainer
... 5287, 5288. naar. 5289 . a boy, lad, youth, retainer. Transliteration:
naar Phonetic Spelling: (nah'-ar) Short Definition: men. ...
/hebrew/5288.htm - 6k

How Jesus Healed a Boy's Foot.
... Latin Form. Chapter VIII."How Jesus Healed a Boy's Foot. And a few days thereafter,
a boy in that town was splitting wood, and struck his foot. ...
/.../unknown/the gospel of thomas/chapter viii how jesus healed a.htm

Building up the Boy's Spiritual Life
The Boy and the Sunday School. <. ... XVIII BUILDING UP THE BOY'S
SPIRITUAL LIFE. The business of the Sunday school is the ...
/.../alexander/the boy and the sunday school/xviii building up the boys.htm

A Little Boy's Experience.
... A Little Boy's Experience. ... He had not run far until the last was thrown at him,
and he was struck in the back. The boy stopped and began to cry. ...
/.../moody/moodys anecdotes and illustrations/a little boys experience.htm

A Boy's Mistake --A Sad Reconciliation.
... A Boy's Mistake"A Sad Reconciliation. There ... This boy became very headstrong,
and very often he and his father had trouble. One ...
/.../moody/moodys anecdotes and illustrations/a boys mistakea sad reconciliation.htm

The Church and the Boy
The Boy and the Sunday School. <. ... III THE CHURCH AND THE BOY. If
the foregoing facts considering the home and school life ...
/.../alexander/the boy and the sunday school/iii the church and the.htm

The Home and the Boy
The Boy and the Sunday School. <. ... I THE HOME AND THE BOY. The greatest
of the three institutions affecting boy life, from ...
/.../alexander/the boy and the sunday school/i the home and the.htm

She Died for Him
... When he had made some money, he wrote home to his wife: "Come out to me here; I
send the money for your passage; I want to see you and my boy." The wife took ...
/.../shaw/touching incidents and remarkable answers to prayer/she died for him.htm

Bible Study for Boys
The Boy and the Sunday School. ... At one time, not so very far distant, all Scripture
was supposed to be good for a boy's moral and spiritual character-building. ...
/.../alexander/the boy and the sunday school/ix bible study for boys.htm

The Boy and the Sunday School
The Boy and the Sunday School. <. ... V THE BOY AND THE SUNDAY SCHOOL.
There are two factors in the above subject"the factor ...
/.../alexander/the boy and the sunday school/v the boy and the.htm

The Teen Boy and Missions
The Boy and the Sunday School. <. ... XVI THE TEEN BOY AND MISSIONS.
No more difficult subject faces the Sunday school today ...
/.../alexander/the boy and the sunday school/xvi the teen boy and.htm

Boy's (10 Occurrences)
...Boy's (10 Occurrences). ... Genesis 21:17 And the boy's cry came to the ears of God;
and the angel of God said to Hagar from heaven, Hagar, why are you weeping? ...
/b/boy's.htm - 9k

Boys (15 Occurrences)
... Joel 3:3 And they have put the fate of my people to the decision of chance: giving
a boy for the price of a loose woman and a girl for a drink of wine. ...
/b/boys.htm - 10k

Mano'ah (14 Occurrences)
... the LORD, and said, "O, LORD, I pray thee, let the man of God whom thou didst send
come again to us, and teach us what we are to do with the boy that will be ...
/m/mano'ah.htm - 10k

Bozcath (1 Occurrence)

/b/bozcath.htm - 6k

Break (257 Occurrences)
... Also, to change in tone, as a boy's voice at puberty. 27. (vi) To fall out; to
terminate friendship. 28. (n.) An opening made by fracture or disruption. 29. ...
/b/break.htm - 46k

Children
... In the fourth year, in Palestine, on the second day of the Passover occurred the
ceremony of the first cutting of the boy's hair, the friends sharing the ...
/c/children.htm - 62k

Child's (16 Occurrences)
... (BBE). Genesis 21:17 And the boy's cry came to the ears of God; and the angel
of God said to Hagar from heaven, Hagar, why are you weeping? ...
/c/child's.htm - 11k

Closely (38 Occurrences)
... Genesis 44:30 Now therefore when I come to your servant my father, and the boy is
not with us; seeing that his life is bound up in the boy's life; (See NIV). ...
/c/closely.htm - 17k

Child (355 Occurrences)
... In the fourth year, in Palestine, on the second day of the Passover occurred the
ceremony of the first cutting of the boy's hair, the friends sharing the ...
/c/child.htm - 51k

Boy (94 Occurrences)
... 2. (vt) To act as a boy; -- in allusion to the former practice of boys acting women's
parts on the stage. Int. Standard Bible Encyclopedia. BOY. ...
/b/boy.htm - 35k

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