Topical Bible: Finding

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Definition and Context:
In biblical terms, "finding" often refers to the act of discovering or coming upon something, whether it be physical, spiritual, or metaphorical. The concept of finding is deeply embedded in the narrative of Scripture, illustrating both the human pursuit of God and the divine revelation to humanity. It encompasses themes of seeking, discovery, and the joy or consequences that follow.

Old Testament References:
The Old Testament frequently addresses the theme of finding in the context of seeking wisdom, understanding, and God Himself. Proverbs 8:35 states, "For whoever finds me finds life and obtains favor from the LORD." Here, wisdom is personified, and finding it is equated with finding life and divine favor. This reflects the broader biblical principle that true wisdom and understanding are gifts from God, available to those who earnestly seek them.

In the narrative of the Israelites, finding often involves the discovery of God's will and provision. For example, in Exodus 16, the Israelites find manna provided by God in the wilderness, symbolizing God's provision and care for His people.

New Testament References:
The New Testament continues the theme of finding, particularly in the teachings of Jesus. In Matthew 7:7-8, Jesus encourages His followers, "Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives; he who seeks finds; and to him who knocks, the door will be opened." This passage emphasizes the active pursuit of God and His kingdom, promising that those who earnestly seek will indeed find.

The parables of Jesus often illustrate the joy of finding. In Luke 15, the parables of the lost sheep, the lost coin, and the prodigal son all highlight the joy and celebration that accompany the finding of what was lost. These accounts underscore the value God places on each individual and His desire for their return to Him.

Spiritual Implications:
Finding in a spiritual sense involves the discovery of truth, purpose, and relationship with God. It is often associated with the journey of faith, where believers are called to seek God with all their heart. Jeremiah 29:13 promises, "You will seek Me and find Me when you search for Me with all your heart." This assurance is central to the Christian faith, emphasizing that God is not distant but accessible to those who earnestly seek Him.

Practical Application:
For believers, the concept of finding is a call to actively pursue a deeper relationship with God through prayer, study of Scripture, and obedience to His commands. It is an encouragement to seek God's guidance in all aspects of life, trusting that He will reveal His will and provide for their needs. The act of finding is not merely a one-time event but a continual process of growth and discovery in the Christian walk.

Conclusion:
The biblical theme of finding is rich with meaning and application, inviting believers to engage in a lifelong journey of seeking and discovering the fullness of life in Christ. Through the narratives and teachings of Scripture, finding is portrayed as both a divine gift and a human responsibility, culminating in the ultimate discovery of God's love and purpose for each individual.

Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary

1. (p. pr. & vb. n.) of Find.

2. (n.) That which is found, come upon, or provided; esp. (pl.), that which a journeyman artisan finds or provides for himself; as tools, trimmings, etc.

3. (n.) Support; maintenance; that which is provided for one; expense; provision.

4. (n.) The result of a judicial examination or inquiry, especially into some matter of fact; a verdict; as, the finding of a jury.

Greek

421. anexichniastos -- that cannot be traced out
... prefix) and exichniazo (to track out) Definition that cannot be traced out NASB
Word Usage unfathomable (2). past finding out; unsearchable. ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/421.htm - 7k

3201. memphomai -- to blame, find fault
... commission. Word Origin a prim. verb Definition to blame, find fault NASB
Word Usage find fault (1), finding fault (1). find fault. ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/3201.htm - 6k

5197. hubristes -- a violent, insolent man
... spirit. This kind of individual is insolent (delights in wrong-doing) --
finding pleasure in hurting others (GR Berry). See 5195 (). ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/5197.htm - 7k

1349. dike -- right (as self-evident), justice (the principle, a ...
... Cognate: 1349 -- properly, , especially a which declares someone approved or
disapproved; a judgment (just finding) that regards someone (something) as "guilty ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/1349.htm - 7k

3202. mempsimoiros -- complaining of one's fate
... Word Origin from memphomai and moira (fate) Definition complaining of
one's fate NASB Word Usage finding fault (1). complainer. ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/3202.htm - 7k

2147. heurisko -- to find
... Word Origin a prim. verb Definition to find NASB Word Usage find (48), finding
(9), finds (10), found (104), get (1), obtained (1), proved (1), regarded (1). ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/2147.htm - 10k

Strong's Hebrew

2714. cheqer -- a searching, a thing (to be) searched out
... finding out, number, unsearchable,. From chaqar; examination, enumeration, deliberation
-- finding out, number, (un-)search(-able, -ed, out, -ing). ...
/hebrew/2714.htm - 6k

4672. matsa -- to attain to, find
... 1), came (2), caught (5), come (6), comes (1), delivered (2), discover (8), discovered
(4), discovery (1), enough (1), fall (1), find (109), finding (2), finds ...
/hebrew/4672.htm - 6k

Library

The Finding of the Cross.
... Chapter III Writings. 7. The Finding of the Cross. It is said in a certain
"tolerably authentic chronicle," according to Voragine ...
/.../pamphilius/the life of constantine/7 the finding of the.htm

The Finding
... The Finding. Heinrich Suso Deuteronomy 32:10. Now have I seen Thee and found Thee,.
For Thou hast found Thy sheep; I fled, but Thy love would follow". ...
/.../bevan/hymns of ter steegen suso and others/the finding.htm

The Finding of Moses.
... THE FINDING OF MOSES. Pharoah, becoming alarmed at the increasing ... was mighty
in words and deeds.". [Illustration: THE FINDING OF MOSES.]. ...
/.../anonymous/mother stories from the old testament/the finding of moses.htm

Finding God
... IV Finding God. 'Ye shall seek Me ... not come. It is when the heart is set
upon finding God that realizing faith makes". The clouds ...
/...//christianbookshelf.org/howard/standards of life and service/iv finding god.htm

Of Chusing or Finding the Psalm.
... Of chusing or finding the Psalm. By consulting the Index at the end, any
one may find hymns very proper for many occasions of the ...
/...//christianbookshelf.org/watts/the psalms of david/of chusing or finding the.htm

Jessie Finding Jesus
... JESSIE FINDING JESUS. A little girl in a wretched tenement in New York stood by
her mother's death-bed, and heard her last words: "Jessie, find Jesus." ...
/.../touching incidents and remarkable answers to prayer/jessie finding jesus.htm

Seeking and Finding
... CHAPTER 11 SEEKING AND FINDING. SEEKING AND FINDING ". . . ... " He was evidently
speaking about finding the possessions of our heavenly Father. ...
/.../anderson/prayer availeth much/chapter 11 seeking and finding.htm

One Has Succeeded in Finding Definite Truth, when He Believes ...
... Chapter X."One Has Succeeded in Finding Definite Truth, When He Believes Heretical
Wits are Always Offering Many Things for Vain Discussion, But We are Not ...
/.../tertullian/the prescription against heretics/chapter x one has succeeded in.htm

Asking, Seeking, Finding. --Matt. vii. 7, 8
... ORIGINAL HYMNS HYMN LXVII. Asking, Seeking, Finding."Matt. vii. 7, 8. ... James Montgomery.
Asking, Seeking, Finding."Matthew 7:7, 8. Ask, and ye shall receive; ...
/.../montgomery/sacred poems and hymns/hymn lxvii asking seeking finding matt.htm

May the Thirtieth Finding the Deep Things
... MAY The Thirtieth FINDING THE DEEP THINGS. "The Spirit searcheth all things,
yea, the deep things of God." "1 Corinthians 2:7-12. ...
/.../my daily meditation for the circling year/may the thirtieth finding the.htm

Thesaurus

Finding (57 Occurrences)
... 4. (n.) The result of a judicial examination or inquiry, especially into some matter
of fact; a verdict; as, the finding of a jury. ...Finding (57 Occurrences). ...
/f/finding.htm - 23k

Fault-finding (1 Occurrence)
Fault-finding. Faultfinding, Fault-finding. Faultless . Noah Webster's Dictionary
(n.) The act of finding fault or blaming; -- used derogatively. ...
/f/fault-finding.htm - 6k

Inquisition (5 Occurrences)
... 2. (n.) Judicial inquiry; official examination; inquest. 3. (n.) The finding
of a jury, especially such a finding under a writ of inquiry. ...
/i/inquisition.htm - 9k

Josiah (51 Occurrences)
... TRAITS OF HIS REIGN 1. Situation at the Beginning 2. Finding of the Law 3. The Great
Reform 4. Disaster at Megiddo The name given 6 years before the death of ...
/j/josiah.htm - 42k

Lowered (14 Occurrences)
... Mark 2:4 Finding themselves unable, however, to bring him to Jesus because of the
crowd, they untiled the roof just over His head, and after clearing an ...
/l/lowered.htm - 10k

Felix (11 Occurrences)
... But Lysias, finding that Paul was a Roman citizen, and that therefore the secret
plots against the life of his captive might entail serious consequences upon ...
/f/felix.htm - 15k

Festus (14 Occurrences)
... and his sister Bernice, and not finding in him anything worthy of death or of bonds,
would have set him free had he not appealed unto Caesar (Acts 25:11, 12). ...
/f/festus.htm - 15k

Porcius (1 Occurrence)
... and his sister Bernice, and not finding in him anything worthy of death or of bonds,
would have set him free had he not appealed unto Caesar (Acts 25:11, 12). ...
/p/porcius.htm - 11k

Bloodguilt (9 Occurrences)
... 26 Now therefore, my lord, as the LORD liveth, and as thy soul liveth, seeing the
LORD hath withholden thee from bloodguiltiness, and from finding redress for ...
/b/bloodguilt.htm - 9k

Conviction (10 Occurrences)
... Noah Webster's Dictionary 1. (n.) The act of convicting; the act of proving,
finding, or adjudging, guilty of an offense. 2. (n.) A ...
/c/conviction.htm - 12k

Resources

Why are there times in my life when finding God is so difficult? | GotQuestions.org

Why is finding true love so difficult? | GotQuestions.org

How can I stay encouraged when finding a good job seems impossible? | GotQuestions.org

Finding: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.com

Bible Concordance • Bible Dictionary • Bible Encyclopedia • Topical Bible • Bible Thesuarus

Concordance

Finding (57 Occurrences)

Matthew 2:16
Then Herod, finding that the Magi had trifled with him, was furious, and sent and massacred all the boys under two years of age, in Bethlehem and all its neighbourhood, according to the date he had so carefully ascertained from the Magi.
(WEY)

Matthew 7:14
how strait 'is' the gate, and compressed the way that is leading to the life, and few are those finding it!
(YLT)

Matthew 12:43
"No sooner however has the foul spirit gone out of the man, then he roams about in places where there is no water, seeking rest but finding none.
(WEY)

Matthew 13:46
He finds one most costly pearl; he goes away; and though it costs all he has, he buys it.
(See NAS RSV)

Matthew 18:13
And if he succeeds in finding it, in solemn truth I tell you that he rejoices over it more than he does over the ninety-nine that have not gone astray.
(WEY)

Mark 2:4
Finding themselves unable, however, to bring him to Jesus because of the crowd, they untiled the roof just over His head, and after clearing an opening they lowered the mat on which the paralytic was lying.
(WEY)

Mark 14:1
It was now two days before the Passover and the feast of Unleavened Bread, and the High Priests and Scribes were bent on finding how to seize Him by stratagem and put Him to death.
(WEY)

Mark 14:55
And the chief priests and all the sanhedrim were seeking against Jesus testimony -- to put him to death, and they were not finding,
(YLT NAS)

Luke 5:19
Not finding a way to bring him in because of the multitude, they went up to the housetop, and let him down through the tiles with his cot into the midst before Jesus.
(WEB ASV DBY NAS RSV)

Luke 11:24
The unclean spirit, when he has gone out of the man, passes through dry places, seeking rest, and finding none, he says,'I will turn back to my house from which I came out.'
(WEB KJV ASV DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV)

Luke 13:7
and he said unto the vine-dresser, Lo, three years I come seeking fruit in this fig-tree, and do not find, cut it off, why also the ground doth it render useless?
(See NAS)

Luke 19:48
and they were not finding what they shall do, for all the people were hanging on him, hearing him.
(YLT)

Luke 24:23
and, finding that His body was not there, they came and declared to us that they had also seen a vision of angels who said that He was alive.
(WEY)

John 1:43
On the morrow, he willed to go forth to Galilee, and he findeth Philip, and saith to him, 'Be following me.'
(See NIV)

John 9:35
Jesus heard that they had thrown him out, and finding him, he said, "Do you believe in the Son of God?"
(WEB ASV NAS)

John 12:14
Jesus, having found a young donkey, sat on it. As it is written,
(See NAS)

Acts 4:21
When they had further threatened them, they let them go, finding no way to punish them, because of the people; for everyone glorified God for that which was done.
(WEB KJV ASV DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV)

Acts 5:10
She fell down immediately at his feet, and died. The young men came in and found her dead, and they carried her out and buried her by her husband.
(See NIV)

Acts 7:11
And there came a dearth upon all the land of Egypt and Canaan, and great tribulation, and our fathers were not finding sustenance,
(YLT)

Acts 12:3
Finding that this gratified the Jews, he proceeded to seize Peter also; these being the days of Unleavened Bread.
(WEY)

Acts 18:2
and finding a certain Jew by name Aquila, of Pontus by race, just come from Italy, and Priscilla his wife, (because Claudius had ordered all the Jews to leave Rome,) came to them,
(DBY)

Acts 19:1
And it came to pass, that, while Apollos was at Corinth, Paul having passed through the upper coasts came to Ephesus: and finding certain disciples,
(KJV DBY WBS)

Acts 21:2
And finding a ship sailing over unto Phenicia, we went aboard, and set forth.
(KJV WEY WBS)

Acts 21:4
And finding disciples, we tarried there seven days: who said to Paul through the Spirit, that he should not go up to Jerusalem.
(KJV WBS NIV)

Acts 24:5
For finding this man a pest, and moving sedition among all the Jews throughout the world, and a leader of the sect of the Nazaraeans;
(DBY)

Acts 26:14
We all fell to the ground; and I heard a voice which said to me in Hebrew, "'Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting Me? You are finding it painful to kick against the ox-goad.'
(WEY)

Romans 7:8
But sin, finding occasion through the commandment, produced in me all kinds of coveting. For apart from the law, sin is dead.
(WEB ASV RSV)

Romans 7:11
for sin, finding occasion through the commandment, deceived me, and through it killed me.
(WEB ASV RSV)

Romans 11:33
O the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! how unsearchable are his judgments, and his ways past finding out!
(KJV WBS)

2 Corinthians 2:13
I had no rest in my spirit at not finding Titus my brother; but bidding them adieu, I came away to Macedonia.
(DBY YLT NAS)

Philippians 1:4
always when offering any prayer on behalf of you all, finding a joy in offering it.
(WEY)

Hebrews 8:8
For finding fault with them, he said, "Behold, the days come," says the Lord, "that I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah;
(WEB KJV ASV DBY WBS YLT NAS)

James 1:5
But if any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach; and it will be given to him.
(See NIV)

1 Peter 4:12
Dear friends, do not be surprised at finding that that scorching flame of persecution is raging among you to put you to the test--as though some surprising thing were accidentally happening to you.
(WEY)

Jude 1:16
These are murmurers and complainers, walking after their lusts (and their mouth speaks proud things), showing respect of persons to gain advantage.
(See NAS)

Genesis 4:14
lo, Thou hast driven me to-day from off the face of the ground, and from Thy face I am hid; and I have been a wanderer, even a trembling one, in the earth, and it hath been -- every one finding me doth slay me.'
(YLT)

Genesis 4:15
Yahweh said to him, "Therefore whoever slays Cain, vengeance will be taken on him sevenfold." Yahweh appointed a sign for Cain, lest any finding him should strike him.
(WEB KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS YLT NAS)

Genesis 32:19
And he commandeth also the second, also the third, also all who are going after the droves, saying, 'According to this manner do ye speak unto Esau in your finding him,
(YLT)

Exodus 15:22
Moses led Israel onward from the Red Sea, and they went out into the wilderness of Shur; and they went three days in the wilderness, and found no water.
(See NIV)

Numbers 15:33
and those finding him gathering wood bring him near unto Moses, and unto Aaron, and unto all the company,
(YLT)

Joshua 2:22
They went, and came to the mountain, and stayed there three days, until the pursuers had returned. The pursuers sought them throughout all the way, but didn't find them.
(See NIV)

Judges 5:30
Are they not finding and dividing the spoil? #NAME? #NAME? #NAME? maiden or two for every man; spoil of dyed stuffs for Sis'era, spoil of dyed stuffs embroidered, two pieces of dyed work embroidered for my neck as spoil?'
(DBY JPS NAS RSV NIV)

1 Samuel 25:26
Now therefore, my lord, as Jehovah liveth, and as thy soul liveth, seeing Jehovah hath withholden thee from bloodguiltiness, and from avenging thyself with thine own hand, now therefore let thine enemies, and them that seek evil to my lord, be as Nabal.
(See JPS)

1 Samuel 25:33
and blessed be thy discretion, and blessed be thou, that hast kept me this day from bloodguiltiness, and from avenging myself with mine own hand.
(See JPS)

Job 9:10
He does great things past finding out; yes, marvelous things without number.
(WEB KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS)

Job 34:24
He breaks in pieces mighty men in ways past finding out, and sets others in their place.
(WEB ASV)

Job 36:26
Behold, God is great, and we don't know him. The number of his years is unsearchable.
(See NIV)

Psalms 107:4
They wandered in the wilderness in a desert way. They found no city to live in.
(See RSV NIV)

Psalms 119:162
I do rejoice concerning Thy saying, As one finding abundant spoil.
(YLT)

Proverbs 4:22
For life they 'are' to those finding them, And to all their flesh healing.
(YLT)

Proverbs 8:9
All of them 'are' plain to the intelligent, And upright to those finding knowledge.
(YLT)

Proverbs 8:35
For whoso is finding me, hath found life, And bringeth out good-will from Jehovah.
(YLT)

Ecclesiastes 7:26
And I am finding more bitter than death, the woman whose heart 'is' nets and snares, her hands 'are' bands; the good before God escapeth from her, but the sinner is captured by her.
(YLT)

Ecclesiastes 7:28
Which yet my soul seeketh, but I find not: one man among a thousand have I found; but a woman among all those have I not found.
(See NIV)

Song of Songs 8:10
I 'am' a wall, and my breasts as towers, Then I have been in his eyes as one finding peace.
(YLT)

Isaiah 58:13
"If you turn away your foot from the Sabbath, from doing your pleasure on my holy day; and call the Sabbath a delight, and the holy of Yahweh honorable; and shall honor it, not doing your own ways, nor finding your own pleasure, nor speaking your own words:
(WEB KJV ASV DBY WBS YLT)

Jeremiah 50:7
All finding them have devoured them, And their adversaries have said: We are not guilty, Because that they sinned against Jehovah, The habitation of righteousness, And the hope of their fathers -- Jehovah.
(YLT)

Subtopics

Finding

Finding a Church

Finding a Good Husband

Finding a Job

Finding a Mate

Finding Hope

Finding Lifes Meaning

Finding Love

Related Terms

Fault-finding (1 Occurrence)

Inquisition (5 Occurrences)