Topical Bible: Fortunes

◄ Fortunes ►

Jump to: Concordance • Thesaurus • Greek • Hebrew • Library • Subtopics • Terms

Topical Encyclopedia

In the context of the Bible, the concept of "fortunes" often relates to the material wealth, prosperity, and blessings that individuals or nations experience. The Bible presents a nuanced view of fortunes, emphasizing that true prosperity is found in a right relationship with God rather than in material wealth alone.

Old Testament Context

In the Old Testament, fortunes are frequently associated with God's blessings upon His people. For instance, the patriarchs Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob were blessed with significant wealth, which was seen as a sign of God's favor. Genesis 13:2 notes, "And Abram had become extremely wealthy in livestock and silver and gold." This wealth was not merely for personal gain but was intended to fulfill God's covenantal promises and purposes.

The Law given to Israel also addresses the concept of fortunes. Deuteronomy 8:18 reminds the Israelites, "But remember that it is the LORD your God who gives you the power to gain wealth, in order to confirm His covenant that He swore to your fathers, as it is this day." Here, wealth is depicted as a divine gift, meant to be used in accordance with God's will.

However, the Old Testament also warns against the dangers of relying on material wealth. Proverbs 11:28 states, "He who trusts in his riches will fall, but the righteous will thrive like a green leaf." This highlights the transient nature of earthly fortunes and the importance of placing trust in God rather than in material possessions.

Prophetic Literature

The prophets often spoke of the restoration of fortunes as a sign of God's mercy and redemption. For example, in Jeremiah 29:14 , God promises, "I will be found by you, declares the LORD, and I will restore you from captivity and gather you from all the nations and places to which I have banished you, declares the LORD. I will restore you to the place from which I sent you into exile." Here, the restoration of fortunes is linked to the return from exile and the renewal of the covenant relationship with God.

New Testament Perspective

In the New Testament, the focus shifts from material wealth to spiritual riches. Jesus teaches about the dangers of wealth and the importance of storing up treasures in heaven. In Matthew 6:19-21 , He instructs, "Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also."

The early church also grappled with the concept of fortunes. In Acts 4:32-35 , the believers shared their possessions, ensuring that "there was no needy one among them." This communal approach to wealth reflects the New Testament emphasis on generosity and the use of resources for the common good.

Spiritual Fortunes

The Bible ultimately points to spiritual fortunes as the true measure of prosperity. Ephesians 1:3 declares, "Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly realms." These spiritual blessings include redemption, forgiveness, and the hope of eternal life, which far surpass any earthly wealth.

In summary, while the Bible acknowledges the reality and potential benefits of material fortunes, it consistently emphasizes that true prosperity is found in a life aligned with God's purposes, characterized by spiritual riches and eternal blessings.

Greek

1142. daimon -- a demon
... demon, evil spirit. From daio (to distribute fortunes); ad?Mon or supernatural spirit
(of a bad nature) -- devil. (daimones) -- 1 Occurrence. 1141, 1142. ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/1142.htm - 7k

Strong's Hebrew

7622. shebuth -- captivity, captives
... 7621, 7622. shebuth or shebith. 7623 . captivity, captives. Transliteration:
shebuth or shebith Phonetic Spelling: (sheb-ooth') Short Definition: fortunes. ...
/hebrew/7622.htm - 6k

Library

Fragment xvii. On the Fortunes of Hyrcanus and Antigonus, and on ...
... Fragment XVII. On the Fortunes of Hyrcanus and Antigonus, and on Herod?
On the Fortunes of Hyrcanus and Antigonus, and on Herod ...
/.../africanus/the writings of julius africanus/fragment xvii on the fortunes.htm

Of the Fortunes of the World at the Last Time, and of the Things ...
... The Divine Institutes. Book VII. Of a Happy Life. Chap. XVIII."Of the Fortunes of
the World at the Last Time, and of the Things Foretold by the Soothsayers. ...
/.../lactantius/the divine institutes/chap xviii of the fortunes of.htm

Time Changes Nations' Dresses --And Fortunes.
... Chapter I."Time Changes Nations' Dresses"and Fortunes. [1] Men of Carthage,
ever princes of Africa, ennobled by ancient memories ...
/.../tertullian/on the pallium/chapter i time changes nations dressesand.htm

Already the Judgment of God Approached Him, and that Season Ensued ...
... Chap. XXIV. Already the judgment of God approached him, and that season
ensued in which his fortunes? Already the judgment of ...
/.../of the manner in which the persecutors died/chap xxiv already the judgment.htm

Of the Advent of Jesus; of the Fortunes of the Jews, and their ...
... Book IV. Of True Wisdom and Religion. Chap. X."Of the Advent of Jesus; Of the Fortunes
of the Jews, and Their Government, Until the Passion of the Lord. ...
/.../lactantius/the divine institutes/chap x of the advent of.htm

What is Meant under the Name of Fate.
... In a word, the assertors of fate attribute both men's good and evil doings and fortunes
to fate; but God in the ill fortunes of men follows up their merits ...
/.../augustine/anti-pelagian writings/chapter 12 what is meant under.htm

Jeremiah, a Lesson for the Disappointed.
... As the time approached for the coming of the true Prophet of the Church, the Son
of God, they resembled Him in their earthly fortunes more and more; and as He ...
/.../newman/parochial and plain sermons vol viii/sermon ix jeremiah a lesson.htm

Editorial Note
... He was a man whose fortunes had risen to the highest pitch possible under the Roman
Empire; who had himself experienced the utter collapse of those fortunes ...
/.../boethius/the consolation of philosophy/editorial note.htm

Period ii. The Church from the Permanent Division of the Empire ...
... Church under the Christian Empire, the Church, although existing in two divisions
of the Empire and experiencing very different political fortunes, may still ...
/.../ayer/a source book for ancient church history/period ii the church from.htm

Josiah, a Pattern for the Ignorant.
... Both the character and the fortunes of Josiah are described in the text, his character,
in its saying that his "heart was tender," and that he feared God; and ...
/.../newman/parochial and plain sermons vol viii/sermon vii josiah a pattern.htm

Thesaurus

Fortunes (30 Occurrences)
... Multi-Version Concordance Fortunes (30 Occurrences). ... When Yahweh restores the fortunes
of his people, then Jacob shall rejoice, and Israel shall be glad. ...
/f/fortunes.htm - 15k

Pharisees (86 Occurrences)
... Josephus-New Testament-Talmud I. HISTORY OF THE SECT 1. Associated at First with
Hasmoneans, but Later Abandon Them 2. Change of Name 3. Later Fortunes of the ...
/p/pharisees.htm - 66k

Fortune (7 Occurrences)

/f/fortune.htm - 9k

Tobit
... Jewish families, living, one at Nineveh, the other at Ecbatana, both of which had
fallen into great trouble, but at length recovered their fortunes and became ...
/t/tobit.htm - 34k

Benhadad (24 Occurrences)
... The fortunes of Israel had fallen low in the days of Jehoahaz, and Hazael and Benhadad
III were the instruments of Yahweh's displeasure with the nation. ...
/b/benhadad.htm - 28k

Numbers (136 Occurrences)
... 1. Title: Styled in the Hebrew Bible bemidhbar, "in the wilderness," from the 5th
word in Numbers 1:1, probably because of recording the fortunes of Israel in ...
/n/numbers.htm - 71k

Kingdom (409 Occurrences)
... Under his son and successor Jehoahaz the fortunes of Israel continued to decline,
until Hazael imposed upon it the most humiliating conditions (Amos 1:3-5 2 ...
/k/kingdom.htm - 101k

Son (25967 Occurrences)
... Consciousness of Being the Messiah 2. Half Concealed, Yet Half Revealed His Secret
3. Expressive of Identification with Men in Sympathy, Fortunes and Destiny 4 ...
/s/son.htm - 48k

Restore (122 Occurrences)
... You have restored the fortunes of Jacob. (Root in WEB NAS RSV NIV). ... Psalms 126:4
Restore our fortunes again, Yahweh, like the streams in the Negev. ...
/r/restore.htm - 39k

Owners (19 Occurrences)
... were on our way to the place of prayer, a slave girl met us who claimed to be inspired
and was accustomed to bring her owners large profits by telling fortunes...
/o/owners.htm - 12k

Resources

What does the Bible say about ancestor worship? | GotQuestions.org

What does the Bible say about magic, magicians, illusionists? | GotQuestions.org

What does the Bible say about palm reading? | GotQuestions.org

Fortunes: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.com

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

Concordance

Fortunes (30 Occurrences)

Acts 16:16
One day, as we were on our way to the place of prayer, a slave girl met us who claimed to be inspired and was accustomed to bring her owners large profits by telling fortunes.
(WEY)

Deuteronomy 30:3
David came to Saul, and stood before him. He loved him greatly; and he became his armor bearer.
(See RSV NIV)

Job 42:10
And the LORD changed the fortune of Job, when he prayed for his friends; and the LORD gave Job twice as much as he had before.
(See NAS RSV)

Psalms 14:7
Oh that the salvation of Israel would come out of Zion! When Yahweh restores the fortunes of his people, then Jacob shall rejoice, and Israel shall be glad.
(WEB RSV NIV)

Psalms 53:6
Oh that the salvation of Israel would come out of Zion! When God brings back his people from captivity, then Jacob shall rejoice, and Israel shall be glad.
(See RSV NIV)

Psalms 85:1
For the Chief Musician. A Psalm by the sons of Korah. Yahweh, you have been favorable to your land. You have restored the fortunes of Jacob.
(WEB RSV NIV)

Psalms 126:1
<A Song of the going up.> When the Lord made a change in Zion's fate, we were like men in a dream.
(See RSV)

Psalms 126:4
Restore our fortunes again, Yahweh, like the streams in the Negev.
(WEB RSV NIV)

Jeremiah 29:14
I will be found by you, says Yahweh, and I will turn again your captivity, and I will gather you from all the nations, and from all the places where I have driven you, says Yahweh; and I will bring you again to the place from where I caused you to be carried away captive.
(See NAS RSV)

Jeremiah 30:3
For, lo, days are coming -- an affirmation of Jehovah -- and I have turned back 'to' the captivity of My people Israel and Judah, said Jehovah, and I have caused them to turn back unto the land that I gave to their fathers, and they do possess it.'
(See NAS RSV)

Jeremiah 30:18
Thus says Yahweh: Behold, I will turn again the captivity of Jacob's tents, and have compassion on his dwelling places; and the city shall be built on its own hill, and the palace shall be inhabited after its own manner.
(See NAS RSV NIV)

Jeremiah 31:23
Thus says Yahweh of Armies, the God of Israel, Yet again shall they use this speech in the land of Judah and in its cities, when I shall bring again their captivity: Yahweh bless you, habitation of righteousness, mountain of holiness.
(See NAS RSV)

Jeremiah 32:44
Fields with money they buy, so as to write in a book, and to seal, and to cause witnesses to testify, in the land of Benjamin, and in suburbs of Jerusalem, and in cities of Judah, and in cities of the hill-country, and in cities of the low country, and in cities of the south, for I turn back their captivity -- an affirmation of Jehovah.'
(See NAS RSV NIV)

Jeremiah 33:7
I will cause the captivity of Judah and the captivity of Israel to return, and will build them, as at the first.
(See NAS RSV)

Jeremiah 33:11
Is a voice of joy and a voice of gladness, Voice of bridegroom, and voice of bride, The voice of those saying, Thank Jehovah of Hosts, for Jehovah 'is' good, For His kindness 'is' to the age, Who are bringing in thanksgiving to the house of Jehovah, For I turn back the captivity of the land, As at the first, said Jehovah.
(See NAS RSV NIV)

Jeremiah 33:26
Also the seed of Jacob, and David My servant, I reject, Against taking from his seed rulers For the seed of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, For I turn back 'to' their captivity, and have pitied them.'
(See NAS RSV NIV)

Jeremiah 48:47
Yet will I bring back the captivity of Moab in the latter days, says Yahweh. Thus far is the judgment of Moab.
(See NAS RSV NIV)

Jeremiah 49:6
But afterward I will bring back the captivity of the children of Ammon, says Yahweh.
(See NAS RSV NIV)

Jeremiah 49:39
But it shall happen in the latter days, that I will bring back the captivity of Elam, says Yahweh.
(See NAS RSV NIV)

Lamentations 2:14
Thy prophets have seen for thee a false and insipid thing, And have not revealed concerning thine iniquity, To turn back thy captivity, And they see for thee false burdens and causes of expulsion.
(See RSV)

Ezekiel 16:53
I will turn again their captivity, the captivity of Sodom and her daughters, and the captivity of Samaria and her daughters, and the captivity of your captives in the midst of them;
(See RSV NIV)

Ezekiel 29:14
and I will bring back the captivity of Egypt, and will cause them to return into the land of Pathros, into the land of their birth; and they shall be there a base kingdom.
(See NAS RSV)

Ezekiel 39:25
Therefore, thus said the Lord Jehovah: Now do I bring back the captivity of Jacob, And I have pitied all the house of Israel, And have been zealous for My holy name.
(See NAS RSV)

Hosea 6:11
"Also, Judah, there is a harvest appointed for you, when I restore the fortunes of my people.
(WEB NAS RSV)

Hosea 7:1
When I give healing to Israel, Then revealed is the iniquity of Ephraim, And the wickedness of Samaria, For they have wrought falsehood, And a thief doth come in, Stript off hath a troop in the street,
(See NIV)

Joel 3:1
"For, behold, in those days, and in that time, when I restore the fortunes of Judah and Jerusalem,
(WEB NAS RSV NIV)

Amos 9:14
And I will let the fate of my people Israel be changed, and they will be building up again the waste towns and living in them; they will again be planting vine-gardens and taking the wine for their drink; and they will make gardens and get the fruit of them.
(See RSV)

Micah 3:11
Her leaders judge for bribes, and her priests teach for a price, and her prophets of it tell fortunes for money: yet they lean on Yahweh, and say, "Isn't Yahweh in the midst of us? No disaster will come on us."
(WEB NIV)

Zephaniah 2:7
And the coast hath been for the remnant of the house of Judah, By them they have pleasure, In houses of Ashkelon at even they lie down, For inspect them doth Jehovah their God, And He hath turned back 'to' their captivity.
(See RSV NIV)

Zephaniah 3:20
At that time will I bring you in, and at that time will I gather you; for I will give you honor and praise among all the peoples of the earth, when I restore your fortunes before your eyes, says Yahweh.
(WEB NAS RSV NIV)

Subtopics

Fortunes

Related Terms

Fortunes (30 Occurrences)

Fortune-telling (1 Occurrence)

Seer (21 Occurrences)

Segub (3 Occurrences)