Topical Bible: Rely

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Topical Encyclopedia

The concept of "rely" in the Bible is closely associated with trust, faith, and dependence on God. Throughout Scripture, believers are encouraged to rely on God for strength, guidance, and provision, recognizing His sovereignty and faithfulness.

Old Testament Context

In the Old Testament, the Hebrew word often translated as "rely" is "batach," which conveys a sense of trust and confidence. One of the most notable examples is found in Proverbs 3:5-6: "Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make your paths straight." This passage emphasizes the importance of relying on God rather than human wisdom.

The Israelites' journey through the wilderness serves as a historical backdrop for reliance on God. In Exodus 16, God provides manna from heaven, teaching the Israelites to depend on Him daily for sustenance. Similarly, in 2 Chronicles 14:11, King Asa cries out to the LORD during battle, saying, "LORD, there is no one besides You to help the mighty and those without strength. Help us, LORD our God, for we rely on You, and in Your name we have come against this multitude."

New Testament Context

In the New Testament, the Greek word "peitho" is often used to express reliance, particularly in the context of faith in Christ. The Apostle Paul frequently speaks of relying on God's power rather than human ability. In 2 Corinthians 1:9-10, Paul writes, "Indeed, we felt we were under the sentence of death, in order that we would not trust in ourselves, but in God, who raises the dead. He has delivered us from such a deadly peril, and He will deliver us. In Him we have placed our hope that He will yet again deliver us."

Jesus Himself teaches about reliance on God in the Sermon on the Mount. In Matthew 6:25-34, He instructs His followers not to worry about their lives, what they will eat or drink, or what they will wear, but to seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, trusting that all these things will be provided.

Theological Implications

Relying on God is a fundamental aspect of the Christian faith, reflecting a believer's acknowledgment of God's omnipotence and benevolence. It involves surrendering personal control and trusting in God's plan and timing. This reliance is not passive but active, requiring believers to live in obedience and faithfulness, confident in God's promises.

The Bible also warns against misplaced reliance. In Jeremiah 17:5, it is written, "Cursed is the man who trusts in mankind, who makes the flesh his strength and turns his heart from the LORD." This highlights the danger of relying on human strength or wisdom instead of God.

Practical Application

For Christians today, relying on God means seeking His guidance through prayer, studying His Word, and being sensitive to the leading of the Holy Spirit. It involves trusting God in times of uncertainty and difficulty, believing that He is working all things for the good of those who love Him (Romans 8:28). Believers are called to cast their anxieties on Him, knowing that He cares for them (1 Peter 5:7).

In summary, reliance on God is a central theme in the Bible, encouraging believers to place their trust and confidence in Him alone, recognizing His faithfulness and provision throughout all circumstances.

Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary

(v. i.) To rest with confidence, as when fully satisfied of the veracity, integrity, or ability of persons, or of the certainty of facts or of evidence; to have confidence; to trust; to depend; -- with on, formerly also with in.

Greek

1879. epanapauo -- to refresh, rest upon
... to refresh, rest upon. Part of Speech: Verb Transliteration: epanapauo Phonetic
Spelling: (ep-an-ah-pow'-om-ahee) Short Definition: I rest upon, rely on, trust ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/1879.htm - 6k

1340. diischurizomai -- to lean upon, affirm confidently
... Word Origin from dia and ischurizomai (to rely on something, feel confident); from
ischuros Definition to lean upon, affirm confidently NASB Word Usage insist ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/1340.htm - 7k

3982. peitho -- to persuade, to have confidence
... true or false); by analogy, to pacify or conciliate (by other fair means); reflexively
or passively, to assent (to evidence or authority), to rely (by inward ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/3982.htm - 10k

Strong's Hebrew

8172. shaan -- to lean, support oneself
... root Definition to lean, support oneself NASB Word Usage lean (3), leaned (2), leaning
(2), leans (2), relied (4), rely (4), rest yourselves (1), supported (1 ...
/hebrew/8172.htm - 6k

2388. chazaq -- to be or grow firm or strong, strengthen
... strong (1), overcome (1), persuaded (1), post a strong (1), prevailed (4), prevailed
over (1), put (1), received strength (1), recovered (1), rely (1), repair ...
/hebrew/2388.htm - 8k

5975. amad -- to take one's stand, stand
... persists (1), place (1), placed (2), present (3), presented (1), presented* (1),
propped (2), quake (1), raise (2), raised (1), refrain (1), rely (1), remain (5 ...
/hebrew/5975.htm - 7k

982. batach -- to trust
... 2), fall down (1), felt secure (1), have (2), have confidence (1), put my trust
(3), put their trust (2), put your trust (1), relied (1), rely (8), secure (5 ...
/hebrew/982.htm - 6k

Library

Celsus Continues: "The Disciples of Jesus, Having no Undoubted ...
... Chapter XV. Celsus continues: "The disciples of Jesus, having no undoubted
fact on which to rely? Celsus continues: "The disciples ...
/.../origen/origen against celsus/chapter xv celsus continues the.htm

Articles of Religion of the Reformed Episcopal Church in America. ...
... We may thus rely on Christ, either tremblingly or confidingly; but in either
case it is saving faith. If, though tremblingly, we ...
/.../articles of religion of the.htm

Dwight -- the Sovereignty of God
... reason can it be denied that most of them apparently live in the very manner in
which they would live if the doctrine were false: or that they rely, chiefly at ...
/.../kleiser/the worlds great sermons volume 3/dwight the sovereignty of.htm

What is Your Word Worth?
... A person is judged by them, and his value is reckoned by the reliance that may be
placed upon his word. We know some on whose word we fully rely. ...
//christianbookshelf.org/naylor/heart talks/talk fifteen what is your.htm

Letter xxvii (Circa AD 1127) to the Same
... and the other in ourselves. For those whom we love, on those do we rely,
as those who love us rely in turn on us. Thus to love in ...
/.../letter xxvii circa a d 1127.htm

Whether Presumption Relies on God, or on One's Own Power
... We proceed to the first article thus: 1. It seems that presumption, which is a sin
against the Holy Spirit, does not rely on God, but on one's own power. ...
/.../aquinas/nature and grace/article one whether presumption relies.htm

The Manich??an System.
... the representations are correct. But we can no longer rely upon it as
an authentic first-hand authority. Since Fl?�gel published ...
/.../chapter iii name manichaean system.htm

Psalm 33:4. Second Part. As the 113Th Psalm. Creatures Vain, and ...
... 2 Let kings rely upon their host, And of his strength the champion boast; In vain
they boast, in vain rely; In vain we trust the brutal force, Or speed, or ...
/.../watts/the psalms of david/psalm 33 4 0 second part as.htm

Psalm 33 Part 2 Creatures Vain, and God All-Sufficient.
... But God their Maker is unknown. Let kings rely upon their host,. And of his
strength the champion boast; In vain they boast, in vain rely; ...
/.../watts/the psalms and hymns of isaac watts/psalm 33 part 2 creatures 2.htm

Motives Inducing to Religion to be Examined...
... at least after their solemn profession, to search well into their souls, and there
rectify what they find amiss, taking great heed how they rely upon external ...
/.../chapter iv motives inducing to.htm

Thesaurus

Rely (31 Occurrences)
... Multi-Version Concordance Rely (31 Occurrences). Romans ... war. Now on whom dost
thou rely, that thou hast revolted against me? (DBY NAS RSV). ...
/r/rely.htm - 15k

Relied (10 Occurrences)
... (imp. & pp) of Rely. Multi-Version Concordance ... yet, because thou didst rely on
the LORD, He delivered them into thy hand. (See NAS RSV NIV). ...
/r/relied.htm - 9k

Revolted (9 Occurrences)
... Now on whom dost thou rely, that thou hast revolted against me? (DBY). ... Now on
whom dost thou rely, that thou hast revolted against me? (DBY). ...
/r/revolted.htm - 9k

Reliest (6 Occurrences)
... the staff of that broken reed, upon Egypt, on which if a man lean, it goes into
his hand and pierces it: so is Pharaoh king of Egypt to all that rely upon him. ...
/r/reliest.htm - 8k

Depend (12 Occurrences)
... 3. (vi) To rely for support; to be conditioned or contingent; to be connected with
anything, as a cause of existence, or as a necessary condition; -- followed ...
/d/depend.htm - 10k

Pierces (8 Occurrences)
... the staff of that broken reed, upon Egypt, on which if a man lean, it goes into
his hand and pierces it: so is Pharaoh king of Egypt to all that rely upon him. ...
/p/pierces.htm - 8k

Stay (221 Occurrences)
... 13. (vi) To wait; to attend; to forbear to act. 14. (vi) To dwell; to tarry; to
linger. 15. (vi) To rest; to depend; to rely; to stand; to insist. 16. ...
/s/stay.htm - 38k

Rest (831 Occurrences)
... 17. (n.) To lean in confidence; to trust; to rely; to repose without anxiety; as,
to rest on a man's promise. 18. (n.) To be satisfied; to acquiesce. 19. ...
/r/rest.htm - 47k

Trust (201 Occurrences)
... 10. (n.) To place confidence in; to rely on, to confide, or repose faith,
in; as, we can not trust those who have deceived us. 11. ...
/t/trust.htm - 38k

Quotations
... In their use of the ancient oracles in new setting they constantly and confidently
rely upon the unity of the two dispensations, that recorded in the Old ...
/q/quotations.htm - 40k

Resources

How can we rely on the power of God? | GotQuestions.org

What is the insider movement? | GotQuestions.org

What is secular humanism? | GotQuestions.org

Rely: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.com

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

Concordance

Rely (31 Occurrences)

Romans 2:17
Indeed you bear the name of a Jew, and rest on the law, and glory in God,
(See NAS RSV NIV)

2 Corinthians 1:9
Yes, we ourselves have had the sentence of death within ourselves, that we should not trust in ourselves, but in God who raises the dead,
(See RSV NIV)

Galatians 3:10
For as many as are of the works of the law are under a curse. For it is written, "Cursed is everyone who doesn't continue in all things that are written in the book of the law, to do them."
(See RSV NIV)

2 Kings 18:20
Thou sayest but it is a word of the lips There is counsel and strength for war. Now on whom dost thou rely, that thou hast revolted against me?
(DBY NAS RSV)

2 Kings 18:21
Now behold, thou reliest upon the staff of that broken reed, upon Egypt, on which if a man lean, it goes into his hand and pierces it: so is Pharaoh king of Egypt to all that rely upon him.
(DBY NAS RSV)

2 Kings 18:22
And if ye say to me, We rely upon Jehovah our God: is it not he whose high places and whose altars Hezekiah has removed, saying to Judah and Jerusalem, Ye shall worship before this altar in Jerusalem?
(DBY RSV)

2 Kings 18:24
How then can you turn away the face of one captain of the least of my master's servants, and put your trust on Egypt for chariots and for horsemen?
(See NAS RSV)

2 Kings 18:30
Neither let Hezekiah make you trust in Yahweh, saying, "Yahweh will surely deliver us, and this city shall not be given into the hand of the king of Assyria."
(Root in WEB KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS NAS RSV NIV)

2 Kings 19:10
'Thus you shall speak to Hezekiah king of Judah, saying, "Don't let your God in whom you trust deceive you, saying, Jerusalem will not be given into the hand of the king of Assyria.
(See RSV)

2 Chronicles 14:11
Asa cried to Yahweh his God, and said, Yahweh, there is none besides you to help, between the mighty and him who has no strength: help us, Yahweh our God; for we rely on you, and in your name are we come against this multitude. Yahweh, you are our God; don't let man prevail against you.
(WEB JPS ASV DBY RSV NIV)

2 Chronicles 16:7
And at that time Hanani the seer came to Asa king of Judah, and said unto him: 'Because thou hast relied on the king of Aram, and hast not relied on the LORD thy God, therefore is the host of the king of Aram escaped out of thy hand.
(See RSV)

2 Chronicles 16:8
Weren't the Ethiopians and the Lubim a huge army, with chariots and horsemen exceeding many? yet, because you relyed on Yahweh, he delivered them into your hand.
(Root in WEB KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS)

2 Chronicles 32:10
Thus says Sennacherib king of Assyria: On what do ye rely that ye abide in the siege in Jerusalem?
(DBY RSV)

Job 39:12
Wilt thou confide in him, that he will bring home thy seed, And gather the grain of thy threshing-floor?
(See JPS)

Psalms 37:5
Commit thy way unto Jehovah, and rely upon him: he will bring it to pass;
(DBY)

Proverbs 3:5
Put all your hope in God, not looking to your reason for support.
(See RSV)

Isaiah 10:20
And it shall come to pass in that day, that the remnant of Israel and such as are escaped of the house of Jacob shall no more again rely upon him that smote them; but they shall rely upon Jehovah, the Holy One of Israel, in truth.
(DBY NAS NIV)

Isaiah 27:5
Or let him put himself under my power, and make peace with me.
(See NAS)

Isaiah 30:12
Therefore thus says the Holy One of Israel, "Because you despise this word, and trust in oppression and perverseness, and rely on it;
(WEB ASV YLT RSV)

Isaiah 31:1
Woe to those who go down to Egypt for help, and rely on horses, and trust in chariots because they are many, and in horsemen because they are very strong, but they don't look to the Holy One of Israel, and they don't seek Yahweh!
(WEB JPS ASV WBS NAS RSV NIV)

Isaiah 36:5
Thou sayest, but it is a word of the lips, There is counsel and strength for war. Now on whom dost thou rely, that thou hast revolted against me?
(DBY NAS RSV)

Isaiah 36:6
Behold, thou reliest upon the staff of that broken reed, upon Egypt, on which if a man lean, it goes into his hand, and pierces it: so is Pharaoh king of Egypt to all that rely upon him.
(DBY NAS RSV)

Isaiah 36:7
And if thou say to me, We rely upon Jehovah our God: is it not he, whose high places and whose altars Hezekiah has removed, saying to Judah and Jerusalem, Ye shall worship before this altar?
(DBY RSV)

Isaiah 36:9
How then may you put to shame the least of my master's servants? and you have put your hope in Egypt for war-carriages and horsemen:
(See NAS RSV)

Isaiah 36:15
Don't let Hezekiah make you trust in Yahweh, saying, "Yahweh will surely deliver us. This city won't be given into the hand of the king of Assyria."'
(Root in WEB KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS NAS RSV NIV)

Isaiah 37:10
This is what you are to say to Hezekiah, king of Judah: Let not your God, in whom is your faith, give you a false hope, saying, Jerusalem will not be given into the hands of the king of Assyria.
(See RSV)

Isaiah 48:2
For they say that they are of the holy town, and put their faith in the God of Israel: the Lord of armies is his name.
(See NIV)

Isaiah 50:10
Who is among you who fears Yahweh, who obeys the voice of his servant? He who walks in darkness, and has no light, let him trust in the name of Yahweh, and rely on his God.
(WEB ASV WBS NAS NIV)

Isaiah 59:4
No one puts forward an upright cause, or gives a true decision: their hope is in deceit, and their words are false; they are with child with sin, and give birth to evil.
(See RSV NIV)

Jeremiah 46:25
Yahweh of Armies, the God of Israel, says: Behold, I will punish Amon of No, and Pharaoh, and Egypt, with her gods, and her kings; even Pharaoh, and those who trust in him:
(See NIV)

Ezekiel 33:26
You stand on your sword, you work abomination, and every one of you defiles his neighbor's wife: and shall you possess the land?
(See NAS NIV)

Subtopics

Rely

Rely on God

Related Terms

Relied (10 Occurrences)

Revolted (9 Occurrences)

Reliest (6 Occurrences)

Depend (12 Occurrences)

Pierces (8 Occurrences)

Stay (221 Occurrences)

Rest (831 Occurrences)

Trust (201 Occurrences)