In biblical literature, the term "darling" is often used to convey a sense of deep affection and cherished value. It appears in various contexts, primarily in the poetic and wisdom literature of the Old Testament. The term is typically associated with expressions of love, endearment, and the preciousness of a beloved individual or entity.

Old Testament Usage

The word "darling" is notably found in the Psalms, where it is used to express a profound sense of personal value and protection. In Psalm 22:20 , the psalmist cries out, "Deliver my soul from the sword, my precious life from the power of the dogs." Here, "my precious life" is often translated as "my darling" in other versions, emphasizing the psalmist's plea for divine rescue and the intrinsic worth of his life in the eyes of God.

Similarly, in Psalm 35:17 , the psalmist implores, "How long, O Lord, will You look on? Rescue my soul from their ravages, my precious life from these lions." Again, the term "my precious life" is rendered as "my darling" in some translations, underscoring the urgency and intensity of the psalmist's request for deliverance from his adversaries.

Theological Significance

The use of "darling" in these contexts highlights the intimate relationship between the believer and God. It reflects the deep-seated belief in God's protective and nurturing nature towards those He loves. The term conveys not only the psalmist's personal sense of vulnerability but also his trust in God's ability to safeguard what is most precious to him.

In a broader theological sense, the concept of "darling" can be seen as a reflection of God's covenantal love for His people. Just as the psalmist views his life as precious and worthy of divine protection, so too does God regard His covenant people as cherished and beloved. This is consistent with the biblical theme of God's steadfast love and faithfulness towards Israel and, by extension, to all who are grafted into the covenant through faith.

Cultural and Literary Context

In the ancient Near Eastern context, the language of endearment and protection was common in both secular and religious texts. The use of terms like "darling" would resonate with contemporary audiences, who understood the significance of such expressions in familial and divine relationships. The biblical authors employed this language to communicate the depth of God's love and the value He places on human life.

Conclusion

The term "darling" in the Bible serves as a poignant reminder of the personal and relational nature of God's love. It encapsulates the idea that each individual is precious in the sight of the Lord, deserving of His care and protection. Through the use of this term, the biblical text invites believers to trust in God's unwavering commitment to their well-being and to find solace in His enduring love.(Psalm 22:20; 35:17 ) means an "only one." 1. (n.) One dearly beloved; a favorite.

2. (a.) Dearly beloved; regarded with especial kindness and tenderness; favorite.

DARLING

dar'-ling (yachidh, "only," the King James Version margin, "only one"; the American Revised Version, margin, "dear life"): Used poetically for the life or soul (Psalm 22:20; Psalm 35:17).

3173. yachid -- only, only one, solitary
... son (4). darling, desolate, only child, son, solitary. From yachad; properly,
united, ie Sole; by implication, beloved; also lonely ...
/hebrew/3173.htm - 6k

7474. rayah -- a companion
... 7473, 7474. rayah. 7475 . a companion. Transliteration: rayah Phonetic
Spelling: (rah-yaw') Short Definition: darling. Word Origin ...
/hebrew/7474.htm - 6k

3033. yediduth -- love
... dearly beloved. From ydiyd; properly, affection; concretely, a darling object --
dearly beloved. see HEBREW ydiyd. 3032, 3033. yediduth. 3034 . ...
/hebrew/3033.htm - 6k

My Darling Sister
... LETTERS OF SOEUR TH??R??SE THE LITTLE FLOWER OF JESUS: LETTERS OF SOEUR
TH??R??SE TO HER SISTER C??LINE XIII MY DARLING SISTER. MY ...
//christianbookshelf.org/therese/story of a soul/xiii my darling sister.htm

Were not Love the Darling of God
... THE FOURTH CENTURY 67 Were not Love the darling of God. Were not Love the
darling of God; this would be a rash and a bold sally. ...
/.../traherne/centuries of meditations/67 were not love the.htm

The House of Offense
... "The Darling of Mankind rode so meditatively, so dejectedly, that I knew by his
attitude, he said: 'Alack, it galls me to go against this goodly city!'. ...
//christianbookshelf.org/miller/the city of delight/chapter xi the house of.htm

Consecration.
... day. When once more the loving mother held her darling child in her arms,
the tears that could not flow for weeks streamed freely. ...
/.../byrum/the value of a praying mother/chapter v consecration.htm

Little Jennie's Sickness and Death
... you?". Kittie answered, "Little darling, you have never been cross to me. ...
you?". "Darling sister," she said, "that is all right.". ...
/.../little jennies sickness and death.htm

The Image of God.
... The Plan for Jesus' Coming The Image of God. Man is God's darling"the
king and crown of creation. The whole creation was made ...
//christianbookshelf.org/gordon/quiet talks about jesus/the image of god.htm

On Pleasing all Men
... suggest? I mean, the late Lord Chesterfield; the general darling of all
the Irish, as well as the English nation. 5. The means of ...
/.../wesley/sermons on several occasions/sermon 100 on pleasing all.htm

The Exaltation of Christ
... in the mean time; he had dreaded alike the effects of victory and defeat; but have
you not noticed how his mind in one moment returned to the darling object of ...
/.../spurgeon/spurgeons sermons volume 2 1856/the exaltation of christ.htm

The Faith of Little Children.
... The only child of a young married couple, living in this city, their pride, their
hope and joy, and the darling of the whole family, was seized with severe ...
/.../various/the wonders of prayer/the faith of little children.htm

St. James ii. 10
... Thus they would willingly retain a darling Sin; and compound for this, by serving
God, and obeying his Law, in other Instances, in which they did not find so ...
/.../sermon vi st james ii.htm

Darling (13 Occurrences)
... Int. Standard Bible Encyclopedia. DARLING. ...Darling (13 Occurrences). Psalms 22:20
Deliver my soul from the sword; my darling from the power of the dog. ...
/d/darling.htm - 10k

Darnel (9 Occurrences)

/d/darnel.htm - 9k

Yearns (8 Occurrences)
... of the world learn righteousness. (See RSV NIV). Jeremiah 31:20 Is Ephraim
my dear son? is he a darling child? for as often as I ...
/y/yearns.htm - 8k

Life (6001 Occurrences)
... 14. (n.) Something dear to one as one's existence; a darling; -- used as a term
of endearment. Int. Standard Bible Encyclopedia. BOOK OF LIFE. ...
/l/life.htm - 51k

White (756 Occurrences)
... and the like; fortunate; happy; favorable. 6. (superl.) Regarded with especial
favor; favorite; darling. 7. (n.) The color of pure ...
/w/white.htm - 9k

Destructions (4 Occurrences)
... (KJV DBY WBS YLT). Psalms 35:17 Lord, how long wilt thou look on? rescue my soul
from their destructions, my darling from the lions. (KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS). ...
/d/destructions.htm - 7k

Darkon (2 Occurrences)

/d/darkon.htm - 7k

Sweet (147 Occurrences)
... 13. (n.) One who is dear to another; a darling; -- a term of endearment. 14. (adv.)
Sweetly. 15. (vt) To sweeten. Int. Standard Bible Encyclopedia. SWEET CANE. ...
/s/sweet.htm - 40k

Angel (209 Occurrences)
... 5. (n.) Attendant spirit; genius; demon. 6. (n.) An appellation given to a person
supposed to be of angelic goodness or loveliness; a darling. ...
/a/angel.htm - 78k

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