The term "commend" in the biblical context often refers to the act of entrusting, praising, or recommending someone or something to another. It is a concept that appears in various forms throughout the Scriptures, highlighting the importance of trust, approval, and the acknowledgment of virtue or responsibility.

Old Testament Usage

In the Old Testament, the idea of commendation is often implicit in the relationships between individuals and God, as well as among people. While the specific term "commend" may not frequently appear, the concept is evident in the way individuals are entrusted with responsibilities or praised for their faithfulness. For example, in Genesis, Joseph is commended by Pharaoh for his wisdom and ability to interpret dreams, leading to his elevation to a position of great authority in Egypt (Genesis 41:39-41).

New Testament Usage

In the New Testament, the term "commend" is more explicitly used. One notable instance is found in the Apostle Paul's writings. In 2 Corinthians 10:18, Paul states, "For it is not the one who commends himself who is approved, but the one whom the Lord commends." This highlights the principle that true commendation comes from God rather than self-promotion or human approval.

Another significant passage is Romans 5:8, where Paul writes, "But God proves His love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us." The Berean Standard Bible uses the term "commend" in this context to describe how God demonstrates His love through the sacrificial death of Jesus Christ. This act of commendation underscores the depth of God's love and the assurance of salvation for believers.

Commendation in Christian Living

The concept of commendation is also relevant to Christian living and the relationships within the body of Christ. Believers are encouraged to commend one another for their faith and good works. In Philippians 2:29, Paul instructs the church to "welcome him in the Lord with great joy, and honor men like him," referring to Epaphroditus, who had risked his life for the work of Christ. This serves as an example of how Christians are to recognize and affirm the contributions and sacrifices of fellow believers.

Furthermore, in 1 Peter 2:12, believers are urged to "conduct yourselves with such honor among the Gentiles that, though they slander you as evildoers, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day He visits us." Here, commendation is linked to living a life that reflects God's glory, leading others to acknowledge and praise God.

Commendation and Stewardship

The parable of the talents in Matthew 25:14-30 illustrates the principle of commendation in the context of stewardship. The master commends the faithful servants, saying, "Well done, good and faithful servant!" (Matthew 25:21). This commendation is a reward for their diligence and responsible management of the resources entrusted to them. It serves as a reminder of the accountability believers have before God and the commendation that awaits those who faithfully serve Him.

In summary, the biblical concept of commendation encompasses trust, approval, and the recognition of faithfulness and virtue. It is a theme that encourages believers to seek God's approval above all and to live lives worthy of commendation in the eyes of both God and others.1. (v. t.) To commit, entrust, or give in charge for care or preservation.

2. (v. t.) To recommend as worthy of confidence or regard; to present as worthy of notice or favorable attention.

3. (v. t.) To mention with approbation; to praise; as, to commend a person or an act.

4. (v. t.) To mention by way of courtesy, implying remembrance and good will.

5. (n.) Commendation; praise.

6. (n.) Compliments; greetings.

COMMEND

ko-mend':

(1) For paratithemi (Luke 23:46), translating the Hebrew paqadh (Psalm 31:5), in the dying words of Jesus: "Into thy hands I commend my Spirit." the King James Version in Psalms has the more general word "commit." The use of the Greek word in the sense of "deposit what belongs to one into the hands of another" is not uncommon in the classics. So also the derivatives paratheke (2 Timothy 1:12) and parakatatheke (1 Timothy 6:20 2 Timothy 1:14). See DEPOSIT. This sense of the English, while slightly archaic, corresponds to the first meaning of the Latin, whence it comes, "to commit for preservation," especially of the dying; to commend children, parents, etc., to the care of others (for examples, see Harper's Latin Dictionary).

(2) For sunistiemi, "to stand together," and then, by standing together, to establish, prove, exhibit, as "righteousness" and "love of God" (Romans 3:5; Romans 5:8), and thus to attest (2 Corinthians 3:1; 2 Corinthians 4:2), and, finally, to certify or to recommend a stranger (Romans 16:1 2 Corinthians 6:4). The use of paristemi in 1 Corinthians 8:8 is equivalent.

(3) "To praise," epaineo (Luke 16:8), and sunistemi in 2 Corinthians 10:12, 18; for the Old Testament, Hebrew hillel, in Genesis 12:15 the King James Version; Proverbs 12:8.

H. E. Jacobs

4921. sunistemi and sunistano -- to commend, establish, stand near ...
... to commend, establish, stand near, consist. Part of Speech: Verb Transliteration:
sunistemi and sunistano Phonetic Spelling: (soon-is-tah'-o) Short Definition ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/4921.htm - 8k

1867. epaineo -- to praise
... to praise. Part of Speech: Verb Transliteration: epaineo Phonetic Spelling:
(ep-ahee-neh'-o) Short Definition: I praise, commend Definition: I praise, commend ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/1867.htm - 7k

3908. paratithemi -- to place beside, to set before
... Word Origin from para and tithemi Definition to place beside, to set before NASB
Word Usage commend (1), commended (1), commit (1), entrust (3), entrusted (1 ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/3908.htm - 8k

3936. paristemi -- to place beside, to present, stand by, appear
... Word Origin from para and histemi Definition to place beside, to present, stand
by, appear NASB Word Usage bystanders (5), come (1), commend (1), help (1 ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/3936.htm - 9k

3860. paradidomi -- to hand over, to give or deliver over, to ...
... par-ad-id'-o-mee) Short Definition: I hand over, deliver, betray Definition: I hand
over, pledge, hand down, deliver, commit, commend, betray, abandon. ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/3860.htm - 11k

7623. shabach -- to soothe, still
... to soothe, still. Transliteration: shabach Phonetic Spelling: (shaw-bakh') Short
Definition: commend. commend, glory, keep in, praise, still, triumph ...
/hebrew/7623.htm - 5k

1984. halal -- to shine
... make boast self, celebrate, commend, deal, make, foolish glory, give light,
be make, A primitive root; to be clear (orig. Of sound ...
/hebrew/1984.htm - 5k

My God, to Thee I Now Commend
... VII. My God, to Thee I now commend. 8,6,8,6 Mein Gott in deine H??nde. ... by Catherine
Winkworth, 1855. My God, to Thee I now commend. My soul; for Thou, O Lord,. ...
/.../winkworth/lyra germanica the christian year/vii my god to thee.htm

Behold Now I Commend My Soul to God who is Most Faithful and For.. ...
... Section 56. Behold now I commend my soul to God who is most faithful and
for? 56. Behold now I commend my soul to God who is most ...
/.../patrick/the confession of st patrick/section 56 behold now i.htm

These Three Petitions, in which we Specially Commend Ourselves and ...
... Of Prayer. John Calvin Chapter 47 These three petitions, in which we
specially commend ourselves and all that we have to? These ...
/.../of prayer--a perpetual exercise of faith/chapter 47 these three petitions.htm

2 Cor. Iii. 1
... 2 1 Corinthians 3:1 Are we beginning, again to commend ourselves? or need we, as
do some, epistles of commendation to you or letters of commendation from you? ...
/.../homilies on the epistles of paul to the corinthians/homily vi 2 cor iii.htm

The Hands of the Father.
... "Father, into thy hand I commend my spirit.""St Luke 23:46. ... Then the cry meant, It
is finished; the cry meant, Father, into thy hands I commend my spirit. ...
//christianbookshelf.org/macdonald/unspoken sermons/the hands of the father.htm

God's Love Commended to Us.
... WHAT is meant here by "commend?" To recommend to set forth in a clear and strong
light. Towards whom is this love exercised? ... How does He commend this love? ...
/.../finney/sermons on gospel themes/xviii gods love commended to.htm

The Prayer of Jabez
... have only time to take one clause of it"indeed, that one clause may be said to
comprehend the rest: "Oh that thou wouldest bless me indeed!" I commend it as ...
/.../spurgeon/spurgeons sermons volume 17 1871/the prayer of jabez.htm

The Armies Thus Approaching Each Other, Seemed on the Eve of a ...
... "Supreme God, we beseech Thee; Holy God, we beseech Thee; unto Thee we commend all
right; unto Thee we commend our safety; unto Thee we commend our empire. ...
/.../of the manner in which the persecutors died/chap xlvi the armies thus.htm

Thirty-First Day. Calmness in Death.
... CALMNESS IN DEATH. "Father, into Thy hands I commend My spirit.""Luke, xxiii.46. ...
into Thy hands I commend my spirit." FATHER! It is going HOME! ...
/.../macduff/the mind of jesus/thirty-first day calmness in death.htm

Acts xx. 32
... Homily XLV. Acts XX. 32. Acts XX.32 "And now, brethren, I commend you to God, and
to the word of His grace, which is able to build you up, and to give you an ...
/.../chrysostom/homilies on acts and romans/homily xlv acts xx 32.htm

Commend (22 Occurrences)
... 3. (vt) To mention with approbation; to praise; as, to commend a person or an act. ...
6. (n.) Compliments; greetings. Int. Standard Bible Encyclopedia. COMMEND. ...
/c/commend.htm - 15k

Recommend (2 Occurrences)
... 1. (vt) To commend to the favorable notice of another; to commit to another's care,
confidence, or acceptance, with favoring representations; to put in a ...
/r/recommend.htm - 7k

Deposit (19 Occurrences)
... margin, paraphrased in both the King James Version and the Revised Version (British
and American) into "that which is committed" (see COMMEND)): The noun was ...
/d/deposit.htm - 15k

Commendatory (1 Occurrence)
... 1. (a.) Serving to commend; containing praise or commendation; commending; praising. ...
2 Corinthians 3:1 Do we begin again to commend ourselves? ...
/c/commendatory.htm - 7k

Deaconess (1 Occurrence)
... Paul says, "I commend unto you Phoebe our sister, who is a servant (the Revised
Version, margin "or, deaconess") of the church that is at Cenchrea" (Romans 16:1 ...
/d/deaconess.htm - 12k

Ourselves (129 Occurrences)
... (WEB WEY ASV YLT NAS NIV). 2 Corinthians 3:1 Are we beginning again to commend
ourselves? Or do we need, as do some, letters of commendation to you or from you? ...
/o/ourselves.htm - 38k

Commending (4 Occurrences)
... & vb. n.) of Commend. Multi-Version Concordance ... 2 Corinthians 10:18 for not he who
is commending himself is approved, but he whom the Lord doth commend. (YLT). ...
/c/commending.htm - 7k

Vengeance (63 Occurrences)
... (KJV WBS). Romans 3:5 But if our unrighteousness commend the righteousness of
God, what shall we say? Is God unrighteous who taketh vengeance? ...
/v/vengeance.htm - 26k

Victuals (32 Occurrences)
... (YLT). 1 Corinthians 8:8 But victuals do not commend us to God, for neither if we
may eat are we in advance; nor if we may not eat, are we behind; (YLT). ...
/v/victuals.htm - 17k

Letters (51 Occurrences)
... 2 Corinthians 3:1 Are we beginning again to commend ourselves? Or do we need,
as do some, letters of commendation to you or from you? ...
/l/letters.htm - 23k

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