Definition and Context:
Relief, in a biblical context, refers to the alleviation of distress, suffering, or hardship. It is often associated with God's intervention, provision, and the compassionate actions of individuals towards those in need. Relief can be physical, emotional, or spiritual, and is a recurring theme throughout the Scriptures, highlighting God's mercy and the call for His people to act justly and compassionately.

Old Testament References:
In the Old Testament, relief is frequently depicted as God's deliverance of His people from oppression and hardship. One notable example is the Israelites' exodus from Egypt, where God provided relief from slavery. In Exodus 3:7-8 , God says, "I have surely seen the affliction of My people in Egypt, and I have heard their cry because of their taskmasters, for I know their sufferings. So I have come down to deliver them from the hand of the Egyptians."

The Book of Psalms often speaks of God as a source of relief and refuge. Psalm 34:17 states, "The righteous cry out, and the LORD hears; He delivers them from all their troubles." This verse emphasizes God's responsiveness to the cries of the afflicted and His role as a deliverer.

New Testament References:
In the New Testament, Jesus Christ embodies the ultimate source of relief through His ministry, death, and resurrection. He provides relief from sin and its consequences, offering eternal life to those who believe in Him. Matthew 11:28 records Jesus' invitation: "Come to Me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest."

The early church also practiced relief through acts of charity and support for those in need. In Acts 11:29-30 , the disciples in Antioch decided to provide relief to the brothers living in Judea during a time of famine: "So each of the disciples, according to his ability, decided to send relief to the brothers living in Judea. This they did, sending their gift to the elders by Barnabas and Saul."

Theological Significance:
Relief is a manifestation of God's compassion and justice. It reflects His character as a loving and merciful Father who cares for His creation. The call to provide relief to others is a fundamental aspect of Christian ethics, rooted in the command to love one's neighbor as oneself (Mark 12:31).

The provision of relief is also a demonstration of faith in action. James 2:15-17 challenges believers to show their faith through deeds: "Suppose a brother or sister is without clothes and daily food. If one of you tells him, 'Go in peace; stay warm and well fed,' but does not provide for his physical needs, what good is that? So too, faith by itself, if it does not result in action, is dead."

Practical Application:
Christians are encouraged to be agents of relief in their communities, addressing both immediate needs and systemic issues that cause suffering. This can be through acts of charity, advocacy for justice, and sharing the hope found in the Gospel. The church is called to be a beacon of relief, reflecting God's love and compassion to a hurting world.1. (n.) The act of relieving, or the state of being relieved; the removal, or partial removal, of any evil, or of anything oppressive or burdensome, by which some ease is obtained; succor; alleviation; comfort; ease; redress.

2. (n.) Release from a post, or from the performance of duty, by the intervention of others, by discharge, or by relay; as, a relief of a sentry.

3. (n.) That which removes or lessens evil, pain, discomfort, uneasiness, etc.; that which gives succor, aid, or comfort; also, the person who relieves from performance of duty by taking the place of another; a relay.

4. (n.) A fine or composition which the heir of a deceased tenant paid to the lord for the privilege of taking up the estate, which, on strict feudal principles, had lapsed or fallen to the lord on the death of the tenant.

5. (n.) The projection of a figure above the ground or plane on which it is formed.

6. (n.) The appearance of projection given by shading, shadow, etc., to any figure.

7. (n.) The height to which works are raised above the bottom of the ditch.

8. (n.) The elevations and surface undulations of a country.

425. anesis -- a loosening, relaxation
... a loosening, relaxation. Part of Speech: Noun, Feminine Transliteration: anesis
Phonetic Spelling: (an'-es-is) Short Definition: relief, remission, indulgence ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/425.htm - 6k

1248. diakonia -- service, ministry
... Word Origin from diakonos Definition service, ministry NASB Word Usage ministries
(1), ministry (19), mission (1), preparations (1), relief (1), serve (1 ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/1248.htm - 7k

4944. sunodino -- to be in travail together
... sun and odino; to have (parturition) pangs in company (concert, simultaneously)
with, ie (figuratively) to sympathize (in expectation of relief from suffering ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/4944.htm - 6k

2428. hiketeria -- supplication
... supplication, entreaty. 2428 -- properly, an olive branch; (figuratively) earnest
for (relief, reconciliation), used only in Heb 5:7. [This ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/2428.htm - 7k

484. antilempsis -- a laying hold of, help
... Word Origin from antilambano Definition a laying hold of, help NASB Word Usage helps
(1). help. From antilambanomai; relief -- help. see GREEK antilambanomai. ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/484.htm - 7k

1984. episkope -- a visiting, an overseeing
... From episkeptomai; inspection (for relief); by implication, superintendence; specially,
the Christian "episcopate" -- the office of a "bishop", bishoprick ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/1984.htm - 7k

7309. revachah -- respite, relief
... 7308, 7309. revachah. 7310 . respite, relief. Transliteration: revachah
Phonetic Spelling: (rev-aw-khaw') Short Definition: relief. ...
/hebrew/7309.htm - 6k

7305. revach -- a space, interval, respite, relief
... 7304, 7305. revach. 7306 . a space, interval, respite, relief. Transliteration:
revach Phonetic Spelling: (reh'-vakh) Short Definition: relief. ...
/hebrew/7305.htm - 6k

6314. pugath -- benumbing, cessation
... 6313, 6314. pugath. 6315 . benumbing, cessation. Transliteration: pugath
Phonetic Spelling: (poo-gaw') Short Definition: relief. ...
/hebrew/6314.htm - 6k

7304. ravach -- to be wide or spacious
... 7303, 7304. ravach. 7305 . to be wide or spacious. Transliteration: ravach
Phonetic Spelling: (raw-vakh') Short Definition: relief. Word Origin a prim. ...
/hebrew/7304.htm - 6k

3545. kehah -- lessening, alleviation
... 3544, 3545. kehah. 3546 . lessening, alleviation. Transliteration: kehah
Phonetic Spelling: (kay-haw') Short Definition: relief. ...
/hebrew/3545.htm - 6k

8252. shaqat -- to be quiet or undisturbed
... to be quiet or undisturbed NASB Word Usage been quiet (1), been undisturbed (1),
calm (1), calmed (1), calms (1), careless (1), grant him relief (1), had rest ...
/hebrew/8252.htm - 6k

4734. miqlaath -- carving
... carved figure, carving, graving. From qala'; a sculpture (probably in bas-relief) --
carved (figure), carving, graving. see HEBREW qala'. 4733, 4734. ...
/hebrew/4734.htm - 6k

2280. chabash -- to bind, bind on, bind up
... root Definition to bind, bind on, bind up NASB Word Usage bandage (1), bandaged
(1), bind (5), binds (2), bound (3), dams (1), gives relief (1), healer (1 ...
/hebrew/2280.htm - 6k

6603. pittuach -- an engraving
... Or pittuach {pit-too'-akh; passive participle of pathach; sculpture (in low or high
relief or even intaglio) -- carved (work) (are, en-)grave(-ing, -n). ...
/hebrew/6603.htm - 6k

Psalm 38. Guilt of Conscience and Relief; Or, Repentance, and ...
... THE Psalms of David, In Metre. Psalm 38. Guilt of conscience and relief;
or, Repentance, and prayer for pardon and health. 1 Amidst ...
/.../watts/the psalms of david/psalm 38 guilt of conscience.htm

Psalm 38 Guilt of Conscience and Relief; Or, Repentance and Prayer ...
... THE PSALMS OF DAVID PSALM 38 Guilt of conscience and relief; or, Repentance
and prayer for pardon and health. CM Guilt of conscience ...
/.../watts/the psalms and hymns of isaac watts/psalm 38 guilt of conscience.htm

On the Management of the Resources Collected for the Support of ...
... Of Bishops, Presbyters, and Deacons. Sec. IV."On the Management of the Resources
Collected for the Support of the Clergy, and the Relief of the Poor. ...
/.../various/constitutions of the holy apostles/sec iv on the management of.htm

Alexander, Bishop of Constantinople; his Refusal to Receive Arius ...
... Book II. Chapter XXIX."Alexander, Bishop of Constantinople; his Refusal to receive
Arius into Communion; Arius is burst asunder while seeking Natural Relief. ...
/.../chapter xxix alexander bishop of constantinople.htm

Prayer Incidents in the Life of Our Lord
... weight of man's sins and sorrows which were pressing down upon Him, His spirit and
frame crushed, and almost expiring, then He cried out for relief, yet it was ...
/.../bounds/the reality of prayer/viii prayer incidents in the.htm

The Glory-Coloured Thread.
... 50) The Glory-Coloured Thread. It is a relief to turn now to the chief
figure in this tapestried picture of John's weaving. Here ...
/.../gordon/quiet talks on johns gospel/the glory-coloured thread.htm

2 Cor. Ii. 12, 13
... Now when I came to Troas for the gospel of Christ, and when a door was opened unto
me in the Lord, I had no relief for my spirit, because I found not Titus my ...
/.../homilies on the epistles of paul to the corinthians/homily v 2 cor ii.htm

Relation 1. Sent to St. Peter of Alcantara in 1560 from the ...
... And the longings I have are longings not to live; and they come on because it seems
as if I must live on without being able to find any relief, for relief ...
/.../teresa/the life of st teresa of jesus/relation 1 sent to st.htm

The Message.
... Gideon, "If the Lord be with me, why has all this befallen me?" Surely if my Lord
loved me, He would long ere this have hastened to my relief, rebuked this ...
//christianbookshelf.org/macduff/memories of bethany/v the message.htm

Note
... awakened conscience. "Let us set this man to seek resolution and relief
in this case of some masters in our Israel. According to ...
/.../ryle/the upper room being a few truths for the times/note.htm

Relief (32 Occurrences)
... 2. (n.) Release from a post, or from the performance of duty, by the intervention
of others, by discharge, or by relay; as, a relief of a sentry. ...
/r/relief.htm - 16k

Redress (4 Occurrences)
... relieve from. 4. (vt) To make amends or compensation to; to relieve of anything
unjust or oppressive; to bestow relief upon. 5. (n ...
/r/redress.htm - 8k

Code (6 Occurrences)
... circumference. This stone had a relief (see below) and 44 columns of ancient
Babylonian cuneiform writing graven upon it. Professor ...
/c/code.htm - 40k

Need (914 Occurrences)
... Noah Webster's Dictionary 1. (n.) A state that requires supply or relief;
pressing occasion for something; necessity; urgent want. ...
/n/need.htm - 7k

Impart (12 Occurrences)
... 1 Timothy 5:16 If any believing man or woman have widows, let them impart relief
to them, and let not the assembly be charged, that it may impart relief to ...
/i/impart.htm - 11k

Flat (33 Occurrences)
... ruined; destroyed. 3. (superl.) Wanting relief; destitute of variety; without
points of prominence and striking interest. 4. (superl ...
/f/flat.htm - 21k

Boot (1 Occurrence)
... Noah Webster's Dictionary 1. (n.) Remedy; relief; amends; reparation;
hence, one who brings relief. 2. (n.) That which is given ...
/b/boot.htm - 8k

Begging (18 Occurrences)
... in Israel: It is significant that the Mosaic law contains no enactment concerning
beggars, or begging, though it makes ample provision for the relief and care ...
/b/begging.htm - 18k

Charity (29 Occurrences)
... generosity. 4. (n.) Whatever is bestowed gratuitously on the needy or suffering
for their relief; alms; any act of kindness. 5. (n ...
/c/charity.htm - 23k

Afflicted (171 Occurrences)
... 2 Corinthians 7:5 For even when we had come into Macedonia, our flesh had no relief,
but we were afflicted on every side. Fightings were outside. ...
/a/afflicted.htm - 34k

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