The concept of intimacy in the Bible is multifaceted, encompassing the deep, personal relationships between individuals and the profound connection between God and His people. Intimacy is often portrayed through the language of love, knowledge, and unity, reflecting both human relationships and the divine-human relationship.

Divine Intimacy

The Bible frequently speaks of God's desire for an intimate relationship with His people. This is evident from the very beginning, as God walked with Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden (Genesis 3:8). This intimate fellowship was disrupted by sin, yet God's pursuit of intimacy with humanity continued throughout Scripture.

In the Old Testament, God's intimate relationship with Israel is depicted through the covenant. God chose Israel as His treasured possession, calling them to be a holy nation (Exodus 19:5-6). The prophets often used the metaphor of marriage to describe this relationship, emphasizing faithfulness and love (Hosea 2:19-20).

In the New Testament, the incarnation of Jesus Christ is the ultimate expression of divine intimacy. God became flesh and dwelt among us (John 1:14), bridging the gap between the divine and human. Jesus' life and ministry exemplified intimate relationships, as He called His disciples friends (John 15:15) and invited them into a close fellowship with Him.

Human Intimacy

The Bible also addresses intimacy in human relationships, particularly in the context of marriage. Genesis 2:24 describes the union of husband and wife as becoming "one flesh," highlighting the deep, personal connection intended in marriage. The Song of Solomon celebrates the beauty and passion of marital love, serving as a metaphor for God's love for His people.

Intimacy extends beyond marriage to friendships and community. David and Jonathan's relationship is a notable example of deep friendship, characterized by loyalty and love (1 Samuel 18:1-3). The early church exemplified intimate community life, as believers shared their lives and possessions with one another (Acts 2:44-47).

Intimacy with God

Believers are called to cultivate an intimate relationship with God through prayer, worship, and obedience. The Psalms often express a longing for God's presence, as seen in Psalm 42:1-2: "As the deer pants for streams of water, so my soul longs after You, O God. My soul thirsts for God, the living God." Jesus taught His followers to abide in Him, promising that those who do will bear much fruit (John 15:4-5).

The Apostle Paul speaks of knowing Christ intimately, considering everything else as loss compared to the surpassing worth of knowing Jesus (Philippians 3:8-10). This knowledge is not merely intellectual but experiential, involving a personal relationship with the Savior.

Conclusion

Intimacy in the Bible is a profound theme that encompasses the relationship between God and humanity, as well as human relationships. It is characterized by love, knowledge, and unity, reflecting the heart of God for His people and His desire for them to live in close fellowship with Him and one another.(adv.) In an intimate manner.4357. prosmeno -- to wait longer
... adhere to. 4357 (from 4314 , "interactively " and 3306 , "abide, remain") --
properly, (directly, intimately); ", ,. Word Origin ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/4357.htm - 7k

2853. kollao -- to glue, unite
... 2853 (from , "glue") -- to bond (cleave), adhere to (literally, " together"); to ,
join to; (figuratively) intimately connected in a soul-knit friendship. ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/2853.htm - 7k

3640. oligopistos -- little faith
... Jn 10:3,4,27). "Little-faith" (3640 ) describes someone dull to hearing the
Lord's voice, or disinterested in walking intimately with Him. ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/3640.htm - 7k

4874. sunanamignumi -- to mix up together, hence to associate with
... 4874 (from 4862 , "identified "; 303 , ", finishing a process"; and 3396 , "mix") --
properly, mix-closely-together to , "associate intimately with" (Souter). ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/4874.htm - 7k

4837. sumparakaleo -- to exhort together, pass. to be strengthened ...
... 4837 (from 4862 , "together " and 3870 , "to (exhort) -- properly, affirm together,
as people who are intimately joined heartily agree (used only in Ro 1:12). ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/4837.htm - 7k

4904. mishkab -- place of lying, a couch, act of lying
... from shakab Definition place of lying, a couch, act of lying NASB Word Usage bed
(25), bedroom* (3), beds (6), couch (1), health* (1), intimately* (3), lain* (1 ...
/hebrew/4904.htm - 6k

2713. chaqar -- to search
... A primitive root; properly, to penetrate; hence, to examine intimately -- find out,
(make) search (out), seek (out), sound, try. 2712, 2713. chaqar. 2714 . ...
/hebrew/2713.htm - 6k

5532a. sakan -- to be of use or service, benefit
... root Definition to be of use or service, benefit NASB Word Usage advantage (1),
ever been accustomed (1), intimately acquainted (1), nurse (2), profits (1 ...
/hebrew/5532a.htm - 5k

2145. zakar -- male
... Word Origin from zakar Definition male NASB Word Usage boy (2), intimately*
(3), male (56), males (19), man (4). him, male, manchild,. ...
/hebrew/2145.htm - 6k

Our Creation and God's Incarnation Most Intimately Connected. As ...
... On the Incarnation of the Word. Section 4. Our creation and God's Incarnation
most intimately connected. As by the Word man was ...
/.../select works and letters or athanasius/section 4 our creation and.htm

We Often Need More Teaching as to what is Most Intimately Ours ...
... Book IV. Chapter 7 [VI.]"We Often Need More Teaching as to What is Most
Intimately Ours Than as to What is Further from Us. But ...
/.../augustine/anti-pelagian writings/chapter 7 vi we often need.htm

The Church Tested
... Fortunately there was one already identified with the church for many years, who
had come to it as a boy, had been very intimately associated with Mr. Beecher ...
/.../griswold/sixty years with plymouth church/the church tested.htm

Importance in Luke's History of the Story of the Birth of Christ
... Some facts intimately concerning Elizabeth are mentioned in 1:24 and 41; and the
narrative carefully explains how these facts became known to Mary, 1:36 and 41 ...
/.../ramsay/was christ born in bethlehem/chapter 4 importance in lukes.htm

Ignorance of Evil.
... And being thus intimately present with the very springs of thought, and the first
elements of all being, being the sustaining cause of all spirits, whether ...
/.../newman/parochial and plain sermons vol viii/sermon xviii ignorance of evil.htm

The Central Solitude
... A very near friend of Dr. Brooks's once heard of a man who said that he knew Dr.
Brooks intimately; and this friend said: "No man ought to say that. ...
/.../peabody/mornings in the college chapel/lxxii the central solitude.htm

Christ all and in All.
... having been once introduced to them, you know them very slightly; other again you
know by having been acquainted with them for years, you know them intimately. ...
/.../moody/the way to god and how to find it/chapter viii christ all and.htm

Meditation and Reflection.
... of material things increases by the frequency of our relations with them"for instance
we know persons better with whom we are intimately acquainted than ...
/.../serious hours of a young lady/chapter xviii meditation and reflection.htm

In Our Last Chapter we Sought to Show that in Rev. . .
... In our last chapter we sought to show that in Rev.17 "the great Whore," and "Babylon
the great," though intimately connected, are yet distinct; the former ...
//christianbookshelf.org/pink/the antichrist/in our last chapter we.htm

Arrival at Benares.
... occupied. From Mr. and Mrs. Lyon, both of whom I had known intimately for
years in our own land, I received a hearty welcome. At ...
/.../chapter iii arrival at benares.htm

Intimately (6 Occurrences)
...Intimately (6 Occurrences). 2 Timothy 3:10 But you have intimately known my teaching,
life, aims, faith, patience, love, resignation, (WEY). ...
/i/intimately.htm - 7k

Near (3455 Occurrences)
... 3. (adv.) Closely; intimately. ... 6. (adv.) Close to one's interests, affection, etc.;
touching, or affecting intimately; intimate; dear; as, a near friend. ...
/n/near.htm - 9k

Intimation (4 Occurrences)

/i/intimation.htm - 8k

Astrology
... soothsaying and idolatry, possibly because februation, or passing children through
the fire in the worship of Moloch, was more intimately connected with ...
/a/astrology.htm - 38k

Epistles (2 Occurrences)
... religion and ethics, applicable to a wider range of circumstances than those which
called them forth; and they appeal as emphatically and intimately to all ...
/e/epistles.htm - 80k

Job (60 Occurrences)
... Doubtless it was all the more intimately valued for this detachment from sanctuary
associations; it was, like Proverbs, a people's book; and especially among ...
/j/job.htm - 62k

History (57 Occurrences)
... isolated factor. Modern researches have shown how intimately this history
was interwoven with that of other nations. Already, between ...
/h/history.htm - 67k

Yoke (79 Occurrences)
... 18. (vi) To be joined or associated; to be intimately connected; to consort
closely; to mate. Int. Standard Bible Encyclopedia. YOKE. ...
/y/yoke.htm - 40k

Neighbor (123 Occurrences)
... 4. (a.) Near to another; adjoining; adjacent; next; neighboring. 5. (vt) To adjoin;
to border on; to be near to. 6. (vt) To associate intimately with. ...
/n/neighbor.htm - 41k

Nearly (13 Occurrences)
... Noah Webster's Dictionary (adv.) In a near manner; not remotely; closely; intimately;
almost. Multi-Version Concordance Nearly (13 Occurrences). ...
/n/nearly.htm - 10k

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Intimately: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.com

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