Topical Bible: Neighbors

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Topical Encyclopedia

In the biblical context, the term "neighbor" extends beyond mere geographical proximity to encompass a broader moral and spiritual relationship. The concept of neighborliness is deeply rooted in the Scriptures, emphasizing love, compassion, and justice.

Old Testament Understanding

The Hebrew word for neighbor, "rea," appears frequently in the Old Testament, often referring to fellow Israelites. The Mosaic Law provides numerous instructions on how to treat one's neighbor, underscoring the importance of justice and kindness. Leviticus 19:18 commands, "Do not seek revenge or bear a grudge against any of your people, but love your neighbor as yourself. I am the LORD." This verse is pivotal, encapsulating the ethical treatment expected among the Israelites.

The Decalogue, or Ten Commandments, also addresses the treatment of neighbors. Exodus 20:16-17 warns against bearing false witness and coveting, actions that can harm community relationships. These commandments highlight the importance of integrity and respect in maintaining harmony among neighbors.

New Testament Expansion

In the New Testament, Jesus Christ expands the definition of "neighbor" beyond ethnic and religious boundaries. The Parable of the Good Samaritan (Luke 10:25-37) is a profound illustration of this expanded understanding. When asked, "And who is my neighbor?" (Luke 10:29), Jesus responds with a account that challenges societal norms, portraying a Samaritan—a group despised by Jews—as the true neighbor for his acts of mercy.

Jesus reiterates the command to love one's neighbor in Matthew 22:39, stating, "And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’" This command is second only to loving God, indicating its critical importance in Christian ethics.

Pauline Epistles

The Apostle Paul echoes Jesus' teachings in his letters, emphasizing love as the fulfillment of the law. In Romans 13:9-10, Paul writes, "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." Here, Paul underscores that genuine love for one's neighbor is the essence of Christian living.

Practical Implications

The biblical mandate to love one's neighbor has practical implications for daily life. It calls for active compassion, forgiveness, and service. In James 2:8, believers are reminded, "If you really keep the royal law stated in Scripture, 'Love your neighbor as yourself,' you are doing well." This royal law challenges Christians to transcend cultural and social barriers, embodying Christ's love in tangible ways.

Conclusion

The biblical concept of neighbors is a call to a life of love, justice, and mercy. It challenges believers to reflect God's character in their interactions, fostering communities marked by peace and mutual respect.

Greek

1069. geiton -- a neighbor
... neighbor Definition: a neighbor. Word Origin from ge Definition a neighbor
NASB Word Usage neighbors (4). neighbor. From ge; a neighbour ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/1069.htm - 6k

4040. perioikos -- dwelling around, a neighbor
... neighbor. Word Origin from peri and oikos Definition dwelling around, a
neighbor NASB Word Usage neighbors (1). neighboring. From ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/4040.htm - 6k

Strong's Hebrew

7934. shaken -- inhabitant, neighbor
... 7933, 7934. shaken. 7935 . inhabitant, neighbor. Transliteration: shaken
Phonetic Spelling: (shaw-kane') Short Definition: neighbors. ...
/hebrew/7934.htm - 6k

7453. rea -- friend, companion, fellow
... 1), friend (30), friend's (1), friends (18), husband (1), kind (1), lover (1), lovers
(1), mate (1), neighbor (64), neighbor's (23), neighbors (3), neighbors ...
/hebrew/7453.htm - 6k

3669. Kna'aniy -- inhab. of Canaan
... Patrial from Kna'an; a Kenaanite or inhabitant of Kenaan; by implication, a pedlar
(the Canaanites standing for their neighbors the Ishmaelites, who conducted ...
/hebrew/3669.htm - 5k

7138. qarob -- near
... 1), close (2), close relative (1), closer (1), draws near (1), hand (1), kinsmen
(1), lately (1), near (47), nearby (1), nearest (6), neighbors (2), ones near ...
/hebrew/7138.htm - 6k

Library

Psalm 120 Complaint of Quarrelsome Neighbors; Or, a Devout Wish ...
... THE PSALMS OF DAVID PSALM 120 Complaint of quarrelsome neighbors; or, A devout wish
for peace. ... Complaint of quarrelsome neighbors; or, A devout wish for peace. ...
/.../the psalms and hymns of isaac watts/psalm 120 complaint of quarrelsome.htm

Concerning the Covetousness of Ninus, who was the First who Made ...
... Book IV. Chapter 6."Concerning the Covetousness of Ninus, Who Was the First
Who Made War on His Neighbors, that He Might Rule More Widely. ...
/.../augustine/city of god/chapter 6 concerning the covetousness of.htm

Whether Angels are to be Reckoned Our Neighbors.
... Book I. Chapter 30."Whether Angels are to Be Reckoned Our Neighbors. 31. There
arises further in this connection a question about angels. ...
/.../on christian doctrine in four books /chapter 30 whether angels are to.htm

Whether we Ought to Love one Neighbor More than Another?
... Now there is one and the same reason for loving all one's neighbors, which
reason is God, as Augustine states (De Doctr. Christ. i, 27). ...
/...//christianbookshelf.org/aquinas/summa theologica/whether we ought to love 3.htm

Whether the Precepts of the Decalogue are Suitably Set Forth?
... Moreover the commandment of charity extends to all our neighbors. ... To his neighbors
a man behaves himself well both in particular and in general. ...
/.../aquinas/summa theologica/whether the precepts of the 2.htm

Two Sunsets
... early night. When we arrived at home, we found the house filled with neighbors.
Upon her bed lay Mother with pallid face. Through ...
//christianbookshelf.org/naylor/heart talks/talk forty-nine two sunsets.htm

Petilianus Said: "It is Written, Thou Shalt not Covet Anything ...
... cut off begin already to possess, we do not, because the Lord has given to us what
has been taken away from you, therefore covet our neighbors' goods, seeing ...
/.../chapter 59 133 petilianus.htm

The Helplessness of the Gospel
... Your children hear not its voice. Your neighbors receive not its counsel, warnings,
nor promises. ... Must your neighbors be lost because your Bible has no voice? ...
/.../naylor/heart talks/talk fifty-one the helplessness of.htm

Contention Over the Man Born Blind.
... [He did not come back to Jesus, but came to his own house.] 8 The neighbors therefore,
and they which saw him ... [The conclusion of the neighbors is very natural. ...
/.../mcgarvey/the four-fold gospel/lxxxi contention over the man.htm

Concerning the Famine that Happened in Judea and Syria; and How ...
... 2. In these circumstances he considered with himself how to procure some seasonable
help; but this was a hard thing to be done, while their neighbors had no ...
/.../josephus/the antiquities of the jews/chapter 9 concerning the famine.htm

Thesaurus

Neighbors (40 Occurrences)
...Neighbors (40 Occurrences). Luke 1:58 Her neighbors and her relatives heard that
the Lord had magnified his mercy towards her, and they rejoiced with her. ...
/n/neighbors.htm - 18k

Neighbours (34 Occurrences)
... Joshua 9:16 And it came to pass at the end of three days after they had made a covenant
with them, that they heard that they were their neighbors, and that ...
/n/neighbours.htm - 16k

Taunt (38 Occurrences)
... (See JPS RSV NIV). Psalms 44:13 Thou makest us a reproach to our neighbors, A scoffing
and a derision to them that are round about us. (See JPS RSV). ...
/t/taunt.htm - 18k

Friends (152 Occurrences)
... the one who had invited him, "When you make a dinner or a supper, don't call your
friends, nor your brothers, nor your kinsmen, nor rich neighbors, or perhaps ...
/f/friends.htm - 38k

Neighboring (11 Occurrences)
... Psalms 76:11 Make vows to Yahweh your God, and fulfill them! Let all of his
neighbors bring presents to him who is to be feared. (See NIV). ...
/n/neighboring.htm - 10k

Lost (85 Occurrences)
... Luke 15:6 When he comes home, he calls together his friends and his neighbors, saying
to them,'Rejoice with me, for I have found my sheep which was lost!' (WEB ...
/l/lost.htm - 32k

Rejoice (259 Occurrences)
... Luke 15:6 When he comes home, he calls together his friends and his neighbors, saying
to them,'Rejoice with me, for I have found my sheep which was lost!' (WEB ...
/r/rejoice.htm - 38k

Derision (24 Occurrences)
... (WEB KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS RSV). Psalms 44:13 You make us a reproach to our neighbors,
a scoffing and a derision to those who are around us. ...
/d/derision.htm - 14k

Doted (6 Occurrences)
... Ezekiel 23:5 Oholah played the prostitute when she was mine; and she doted on her
lovers, on the Assyrians her neighbors, (WEB KJV JPS ASV WBS RSV). ...
/d/doted.htm - 8k

Calls (62 Occurrences)
... Luke 15:6 When he comes home, he calls together his friends and his neighbors, saying
to them,'Rejoice with me, for I have found my sheep which was lost!' (WEB ...
/c/calls.htm - 23k

Resources

Should Israel be building settlements in the occupied territories, i.e., the West Bank and East Jerusalem? | GotQuestions.org

Who is my neighbor, biblically speaking? | GotQuestions.org

What does the Bible say about covetousness? | GotQuestions.org

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

Concordance

Neighbors (40 Occurrences)

Luke 1:58
Her neighbors and her relatives heard that the Lord had magnified his mercy towards her, and they rejoiced with her.
(WEB ASV WBS NAS RSV NIV)

Luke 1:65
Fear came on all who lived around them, and all these sayings were talked about throughout all the hill country of Judea.
(See RSV NIV)

Luke 14:12
He also said to the one who had invited him, "When you make a dinner or a supper, don't call your friends, nor your brothers, nor your kinsmen, nor rich neighbors, or perhaps they might also return the favor, and pay you back.
(WEB ASV WBS NAS RSV NIV)

Luke 15:6
When he comes home, he calls together his friends and his neighbors, saying to them,'Rejoice with me, for I have found my sheep which was lost!'
(WEB ASV WBS NAS RSV NIV)

Luke 15:9
When she has found it, she calls together her friends and neighbors, saying,'Rejoice with me, for I have found the drachma which I had lost.'
(WEB ASV WBS NAS RSV NIV)

John 9:8
The neighbors therefore, and those who saw that he was blind before, said, "Isn't this he who sat and begged?"
(WEB ASV WBS NAS RSV NIV)

Exodus 11:2
Speak now in the ears of the people, and let them ask every man of his neighbour, and every woman of her neighbour, jewels of silver, and jewels of gold.'
(See NIV)

Deuteronomy 1:7
turn ye and journey for you, and enter the mount of the Amorite, and unto all its neighbouring places, in the plain, in the hill-country, and in the low country, and in the south, and in the haven of the sea, the land of the Canaanite, and of Lebanon, unto the great river, the river Phrat;
(See NAS RSV)

Joshua 9:16
It happened at the end of three days after they had made a covenant with them, that they heard that they were their neighbors, and that they lived among them.
(WEB KJV ASV WBS NAS RSV NIV)

Ruth 4:17
The women, her neighbors, gave him a name, saying, "There is a son born to Naomi;" and they named him Obed. He is the father of Jesse, the father of David.
(WEB KJV ASV WBS)

1 Samuel 15:28
And Samuel said unto him: 'The LORD hath rent the kingdom of Israel from thee this day, and hath given it to a neighbour of thine, that is better than thou.
(See NIV)

1 Samuel 28:17
And the LORD hath wrought for Himself; as He spoke by me; and the LORD hath rent the kingdom out of thy hand, and given it to thy neighbour, even to David.
(See NIV)

2 Kings 4:3
Then he said, "Go, borrow containers from of all your neighbors, even empty containers. Don't borrow just a few.
(WEB KJV ASV WBS NAS RSV NIV)

1 Chronicles 12:40
Moreover those who were near to them, even as far as Issachar and Zebulun and Naphtali, brought bread on donkeys, and on camels, and on mules, and on oxen, food of meal, cakes of figs, and clusters of raisins, and wine, and oil, and cattle, and sheep in abundance: for there was joy in Israel.
(See RSV NIV)

Ezra 6:21
The children of Israel who had come again out of the captivity, and all such as had separated themselves to them from the filthiness of the nations of the land, to seek Yahweh, the God of Israel, ate,
(See NIV)

Psalms 28:3
Don't draw me away with the wicked, with the workers of iniquity who speak peace with their neighbors, but mischief is in their hearts.
(WEB ASV WBS NAS RSV NIV)

Psalms 31:11
Because of all my adversaries I have become utterly contemptible to my neighbors, A fear to my acquaintances. Those who saw me on the street fled from me.
(WEB ASV WBS NAS RSV NIV)

Psalms 38:11
My lovers and my friends over-against my plague stand. And my neighbours afar off have stood.
(See NIV)

Psalms 44:13
You make us a reproach to our neighbors, a scoffing and a derision to those who are around us.
(WEB ASV WBS NAS RSV NIV)

Psalms 76:11
Make vows to Yahweh your God, and fulfill them! Let all of his neighbors bring presents to him who is to be feared.
(WEB)

Psalms 79:4
We have become a reproach to our neighbors, a scoffing and derision to those who are around us.
(WEB ASV WBS NAS RSV NIV)

Psalms 79:12
Pay back to our neighbors seven times into their bosom their reproach with which they have reproached you, Lord.
(WEB ASV WBS NAS RSV NIV)

Psalms 80:6
You make us a source of contention to our neighbors. Our enemies laugh among themselves.
(WEB ASV WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)

Psalms 89:41
All who pass by the way rob him. He has become a reproach to his neighbors.
(WEB ASV WBS NAS RSV NIV)

Proverbs 14:20
The poor is hated even of his own neighbour; but the rich hath many friends.
(See NIV)

Jeremiah 6:21
Therefore thus saith the LORD: Behold, I will lay stumblingblocks before this people, and the fathers and the sons together shall stumble against them, the neighbour and his friend, and they shall perish.
(See NIV)

Jeremiah 12:14
Thus says Yahweh against all my evil neighbors, who touch the inheritance which I have caused my people Israel to inherit: behold, I will pluck them up from off their land, and will pluck up the house of Judah from among them.
(WEB ASV WBS NAS RSV NIV)

Jeremiah 29:23
because they have worked folly in Israel, and have committed adultery with their neighbors' wives, and have spoken words in my name falsely, which I didn't command them; and I am he who knows, and am witness, says Yahweh.
(WEB ASV NAS RSV NIV)

Jeremiah 49:10
But I have made Esau bare, I have uncovered his secret places, and he shall not be able to hide himself: his seed is destroyed, and his brothers, and his neighbors; and he is no more.
(WEB ASV WBS NAS RSV NIV)

Jeremiah 49:18
As the overthrow of Sodom and Gomorrah, And its neighbours, said Jehovah, No one doth dwell there, Nor sojourn in her doth a son of man.
(See NAS)

Jeremiah 50:40
As overthrown by God with Sodom, And with Gomorrah, and with its neighbours, An affirmation of Jehovah, none doth dwell there, Nor sojourn in her doth a son of man.
(See NAS)

Lamentations 1:17
Spread forth hath Zion her hands, There is no comforter for her, Jehovah hath charged concerning Jacob, His neighbours 'are' his adversaries, Jerusalem hath become impure among them.
(See RSV NIV)

Ezekiel 16:26
You have also committed sexual immorality with the Egyptians, your neighbors, great of flesh; and have multiplied your prostitution, to provoke me to anger.
(WEB ASV WBS NAS RSV NIV)

Ezekiel 16:57
Before thy wickedness is revealed, As 'at' the time of the reproach of the daughters of Aram, And of all her neighbours, the daughters of the Philistines, Who are despising thee round about.
(See RSV NIV)

Ezekiel 22:12
In you have they taken bribes to shed blood; you have taken interest and increase, and you have greedily gained of your neighbors by oppression, and have forgotten me, says the Lord Yahweh.
(WEB ASV WBS NAS RSV NIV)

Ezekiel 23:5
Oholah played the prostitute when she was mine; and she doted on her lovers, on the Assyrians her neighbors,
(WEB ASV WBS NAS)

Ezekiel 23:12
She doted on the Assyrians, governors and rulers, her neighbors, clothed most gorgeously, horsemen riding on horses, all of them desirable young men.
(WEB ASV WBS)

Ezekiel 28:24
There shall be no more a pricking brier to the house of Israel, nor a hurting thorn of any that are around them, that did despite to them; and they shall know that I am the Lord Yahweh.
(See RSV NIV)

Ezekiel 28:26
They shall dwell securely therein; yes, they shall build houses, and plant vineyards, and shall dwell securely, when I have executed judgments on all those who do them despite all around them; and they shall know that I am Yahweh their God.
(See RSV NIV)

Habakkuk 2:15
Wo 'to' him who is giving drink to his neighbour, Pouring out thy bottle, and also making drunk, In order to look on their nakedness.
(See NAS RSV NIV)

Subtopics

Neighbors

Related Terms

Neighbour's (30 Occurrences)

Manservant (14 Occurrences)

Man-servant (18 Occurrences)

Covet (14 Occurrences)

Maid-servant (49 Occurrences)

Maidservant (73 Occurrences)

Donkey (84 Occurrences)

Neighbour (139 Occurrences)

Female (95 Occurrences)