Definition and Context:
The concept of "neighboring" in the Bible extends beyond mere geographical proximity to encompass a broader moral and spiritual obligation towards others. In biblical terms, a "neighbor" is not just someone who lives nearby but anyone with whom one interacts, including strangers and even enemies. This understanding is rooted in the biblical command to love one's neighbor as oneself, which is central to both the Old and New Testaments.

Old Testament References:
The Old Testament lays the foundation for the concept of neighboring through the Mosaic Law. Leviticus 19:18 states, "Do not seek revenge or bear a grudge against any of your people, but love your neighbor as yourself. I am the LORD." This commandment emphasizes the importance of love and forgiveness in relationships with others. The Hebrew word for neighbor, "rea," can refer to a friend, companion, or fellow citizen, indicating a broad application of the term.

The account of the Good Samaritan, though found in the New Testament, reflects Old Testament principles of neighboring. The Samaritans and Jews were historical enemies, yet the Samaritan's actions exemplify the love and compassion that the Law of Moses intended for all people, regardless of ethnic or social boundaries.

New Testament Teachings:
In the New Testament, Jesus Christ expands and deepens the understanding of neighboring. In Matthew 22:37-39 , Jesus summarizes the Law with two commandments: "‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’" Here, Jesus links the love of God with the love of neighbor, suggesting that true devotion to God is expressed through love for others.

The parable of the Good Samaritan in Luke 10:25-37 further illustrates this teaching. When asked, "And who is my neighbor?" (Luke 10:29), Jesus responds with a account that challenges social and religious prejudices, showing that a neighbor is anyone in need, and true neighboring involves active compassion and mercy.

Theological Implications:
The biblical concept of neighboring carries significant theological implications. It underscores the inherent dignity and worth of every individual as created in the image of God (Genesis 1:27). This understanding calls believers to transcend cultural, racial, and social barriers in their interactions with others. Neighboring is not merely a passive state of being but an active expression of love, justice, and mercy.

The Apostle Paul reiterates this in Romans 13:9-10 , "The commandments... are summed up in this one decree: 'Love your neighbor as yourself.' Love does no wrong to its neighbor. Therefore love is the fulfillment of the law." This passage highlights that love is the essence of the law and the guiding principle for all relationships.

Practical Application:
In practical terms, neighboring involves acts of kindness, hospitality, and service. It requires believers to be attentive to the needs of those around them and to respond with generosity and compassion. The early Christian community exemplified this through their communal living and care for one another, as seen in Acts 2:44-47 .

Neighboring also calls for forgiveness and reconciliation, as instructed in Matthew 5:23-24 , where Jesus teaches the importance of resolving conflicts and making peace with others. This reflects the heart of neighboring as a commitment to living in harmony and unity with all people.

Conclusion:
The biblical concept of neighboring challenges believers to embody the love of Christ in their daily interactions, extending grace and compassion to all, regardless of differences. It is a call to live out the gospel through tangible acts of love and service, reflecting the character of God in a broken world.1. (p. pr. & vb. n) of neighbor.

2. (a.) Living or being near; adjacent; as, the neighboring nations or countries.

4066. perichoros -- neighboring
... neighboring. Part of Speech: Adjective Transliteration: perichoros Phonetic Spelling:
(per-ikh'-o-ros) Short Definition: neighboring Definition: neighboring ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/4066.htm - 6k

4139. plesion -- near, neighboring
... near, neighboring. Part of Speech: Adverb Transliteration: plesion Phonetic Spelling:
(play-see'-on) Short Definition: near, nearby, a neighbor Definition: near ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/4139.htm - 6k

4040. perioikos -- dwelling around, a neighbor
... neighboring. From peri and oikos; housed around, ie Neighboring (used elliptically
as a noun) -- neighbour. see GREEK peri. see GREEK oikos. ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/4040.htm - 6k

4039. perioikeo -- to dwell around
... of Speech: Verb Transliteration: perioikeo Phonetic Spelling: (per-ee-oy-keh'-o)
Short Definition: I dwell around Definition: I dwell around, am neighboring to ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/4039.htm - 6k

4038. perix -- (all) around
... (all) around. Part of Speech: Adverb Transliteration: perix Phonetic Spelling:
(per'-ix) Short Definition: round about Definition: round about, neighboring. ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/4038.htm - 6k

When this Became Known to the Kings of the Neighboring Nations...
... The Sacred History Of Sulpitius Severus. Book I. Chapter XXIII. When this
became known to the kings of the neighboring nations? ...
/.../life and writings of sulpitius severus /chapter xxiii when this became.htm

How Upon the Death of Cyrus the Jews were Hindered in Building of ...
... CHAPTER 2. How Upon The Death Of Cyrus The Jews Were Hindered In Building Of The
Temple By The Cutheans, And The Neighboring Governors; And How Cambyses ...
/.../josephus/the antiquities of the jews/chapter 2 how upon the.htm

Concerning Mania, the Phylarch of the Saracens. When the Treaty ...
... the request of the embassy, unless consent were given for the ordination of a certain
man named Moses, who practiced philosophy in a neighboring desert, as ...
/.../chapter xxxviii concerning mania the phylarch.htm

How Herod Sent his Sons to Rome; How Also He was Accused by ...
... Now as the neighboring people were hereby great sufferers, they complained to Varro,
who was then president [of Syria], and entreated him to write to Caesar ...
/.../josephus/the antiquities of the jews/chapter 10 how herod sent.htm

The Saybrook Platform
... over the church that elected them to its ministry; that ordinarily, in their choosing
and calling, advice should be sought from neighboring churches, and that ...
/.../chapter vi the saybrook platform.htm

The Retreat from Scythia.
... alliances."The Amazons rule their husbands."They establish a separate tribe."The
Scythians send an embassy to the neighboring tribes."Habits of the ...
/...//christianbookshelf.org/abbott/darius the great/chapter ix the retreat from.htm

Call for Volunteers.
... Gideon sent runners, criers, out throughout that whole section. They went first
to his own family clan, then to his tribe, then to three neighboring tribes. ...
//christianbookshelf.org/gordon/quiet talks on service/call for volunteers.htm

The Calamities and Slaughters that came Upon the Jews.
... was greatly enraged; so they divided themselves into several parties, and laid waste
the villages of the Syrians, and their neighboring cities, Philadelphia ...
/.../chapter 18 the calamities and.htm

How Vespasian Upon Hearing of Some Commotions in Gall, Made Haste ...
... where he spent two days in settling the affairs of that city, and then, on the third
day, he marched on, laying waste and burning all the neighboring villages. ...
/.../chapter 8 how vespasian upon.htm

This Question is So Far from Needing to be Answered by Me...
... For if this is the governing spirit of Christian kingdoms, that no one of them can
subsist in safety from its neighboring Christian kingdoms, but by its ...
/.../address 208 0 0 this question is.htm

Neighboring (11 Occurrences)
... n) of neighbor. 2. (a.) Living or being near; adjacent; as, the neighboring nations
or countries. Multi-Version Concordance Neighboring (11 Occurrences). ...
/n/neighboring.htm - 10k

Pamphylia (6 Occurrences)
... Because of its comparatively isolated position, civilization there was less developed
than in the neighboring countries, and the Asiatic influence was at most ...
/p/pamphylia.htm - 12k

Abilene (1 Occurrence)
... expense of the Abilenians." The memory of the ancient name probably survives in
the Moslem legend which places the tomb of Abel in a neighboring height where ...
/a/abilene.htm - 9k

Exploration
... least 6 letters from the governor of Jerusalem, who writes to the Pharaoh news that
the Egyptian fleet has left the coast, that all the neighboring cities have ...
/e/exploration.htm - 38k

Neighborhood (7 Occurrences)

/n/neighborhood.htm - 8k

Shechem (61 Occurrences)
... and exhortation (chapter 24). Under the oak in the neighboring sanctuary
he set up the stone of witness (24:26). The war of conquest ...
/s/shechem.htm - 38k

Zedekiah (63 Occurrences)
... 11:15; Ezekiel 17:12-14); Jeremiah 27-29, beginning of reign-false hopes of return
of captives and futile diplomacies with neighboring nations; Jeremiah 51:59 ...
/z/zedekiah.htm - 49k

Semites
... We may conclude that the reasons for disregarding the classification of Genesis
with reference to the Semites and neighboring races are not final. ...
/s/semites.htm - 27k

Semitic
... We may conclude that the reasons for disregarding the classification of Genesis
with reference to the Semites and neighboring races are not final. ...
/s/semitic.htm - 28k

Boats (11 Occurrences)
... SHIPS IN THE OLD TESTAMENT AND THE APOCRYPHA 1. Among the Hebrews (1) In Early Times
(2) During the Monarchy (3) In Later Times 2. Among Neighboring Nations (1 ...
/b/boats.htm - 40k

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