The term "taken" in the Bible often refers to the act of being seized, captured, or removed, and it appears in various contexts throughout the Scriptures. This entry explores the different uses and theological implications of the term "taken" as found in the Bible.

Old Testament Usage

1. Divine Judgment and Deliverance: In the Old Testament, "taken" frequently describes the act of being captured or removed as a form of divine judgment or deliverance. For example, in Genesis 5:24, Enoch is described as being "taken" by God: "Enoch walked with God, and then he was no more, because God took him away" . This indicates a divine intervention where Enoch was removed from the earth, signifying God's favor and the promise of eternal life.

2. Captivity and Exile: The term is also used in the context of captivity and exile. In 2 Kings 24:14, the Babylonian captivity is described: "He carried into exile all Jerusalem: all the officers and fighting men, and all the craftsmen and artisans—a total of ten thousand. Only the poorest people of the land were left" . Here, "taken" signifies the removal of the Israelites from their homeland as a consequence of their disobedience to God.

3. Sacrificial System: In Leviticus, the term is used in the context of the sacrificial system. Leviticus 4:32 states, "If he brings a lamb as his sin offering, he is to bring a female without blemish" . The lamb is "taken" from the flock, symbolizing the substitutionary atonement for sin.

New Testament Usage

1. End Times and Eschatology: In the New Testament, "taken" is often associated with eschatological themes. In Matthew 24:40-41, Jesus speaks of the end times: "Two men will be in the field: one will be taken and the other left. Two women will be grinding at the mill: one will be taken and the other left" . This passage is interpreted by many as referring to the sudden and selective nature of the rapture, where believers are "taken" to be with Christ.

2. Jesus' Arrest and Crucifixion: The term is also used in the context of Jesus' arrest and crucifixion. In John 18:12, it is recorded, "Then the band of soldiers, with its commander and the officers of the Jews, arrested Jesus and bound Him" . Here, "taken" signifies the unjust seizure of Jesus, leading to His sacrificial death for the redemption of humanity.

3. Spiritual Implications: The concept of being "taken" can also have spiritual implications, representing the believer's transition from the kingdom of darkness to the kingdom of light. Colossians 1:13 states, "He has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of His beloved Son" . This spiritual "taking" signifies the transformative power of salvation.

Theological Significance

The term "taken" in the Bible carries significant theological weight, often symbolizing divine intervention, judgment, and salvation. It reflects God's sovereignty in the affairs of humanity, whether through acts of deliverance, judgment, or the ultimate redemption through Jesus Christ. The concept underscores the transient nature of earthly life and the eternal hope found in God's promises.(p. p) of Take.1096. ginomai -- to come into being, to happen, to become
... 6), proving (1), put (1), reached (2), realized (1), results (2), show (1), spent
(1), split (1), spoken (1), starting (1), take place (16), taken (2), taken ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/1096.htm - 15k

259. halosis -- a taking, capture
... Word Origin from haliskomai (to be taken, conquered) Definition a taking,
capture NASB Word Usage captured (1). capture, be taken. ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/259.htm - 6k

142. airo -- to raise, take up, lift
... 9), picked (11), pulls away (2), put away (1), raised (2), remove (1), removed
(3), suspense* (1), take (13), take away (5), take...away (4), taken (3), taken ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/142.htm - 9k

4122. pleonekteo -- to have more, to overreach
... Word Origin from pleonektes Definition to have more, to overreach NASB Word Usage
advantage would be taken of (1), defraud (1), take any advantage (1), taken ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/4122.htm - 7k

2106. eudokeo -- to think well of, ie to be well-pleased
... am well content (1), am well-pleased (5), been pleased (1), chosen gladly (1), good
pleasure (1), has...pleasure (1), pleased (2), prefer (1), taken pleasure (1 ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/2106.htm - 8k

522. apairo -- to lift off
... apairo Phonetic Spelling: (ap-ah'-ee-ro) Short Definition: I take away, remove
Definition: I take away, remove; pass: I am taken away, withdrawn. ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/522.htm - 6k

4661. skulon -- arms stripped from a foe, ie spoils
... arms stripped from a foe, ie spoils. Part of Speech: Noun, Neuter Transliteration:
skulon Phonetic Spelling: (skoo'-lon) Short Definition: spoil taken from a ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/4661.htm - 6k

1818. exapatao -- to seduce wholly, deceive
... 1818 (from 1537, "wholly out," intensifying 538 , "deceive") -- properly, deceived
("hood-winked"), describing someone taken in, and enslaved by, Satan (sin ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/1818.htm - 7k

4912. sunecho -- to hold together, to hold fast, pass. to be ...
... figuratively, to compel, perplex, afflict, preoccupy -- constrain, hold, keep in,
press, lie sick of, stop, be in a strait, straiten, be taken with, throng. ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/4912.htm - 7k

600. apokathistemi -- to restore, give back
... existed before a fall; , returning back to the (ultimate) ideal; (figuratively)
restore back to (the of the original standing); to , ie what was taken away by ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/600.htm - 8k

2811. Chashabyahu -- "Yah has taken account," the name of a number ...
... "Yah has taken account," the name of a number of Isr. ... Word Origin from chashab and
Yah Definition "Yah has taken account," the name of a number of Isr. ...
/hebrew/2811.htm - 6k

7935. Shekanyah -- "Yah has taken up His abode," the name of ...
... "Yah has taken up His abode ... Word Origin from shakan and Yah Definition "Yah has taken
up His abode," the name of several Isr. NASB Word Usage Shecaniah (10). ...
/hebrew/7935.htm - 6k

3388. Yerusha -- "taken possession of," mother of King Jotham
... "taken possession of," mother of King Jotham. Transliteration: Yerusha or Yerushah
Phonetic Spelling: (yer-oo-shaw') Short Definition: Jerusha. ...
/hebrew/3388.htm - 6k

511. Elqanah -- "God has created," or "God has taken possession ...
... 510, 511. Elqanah. 512 . "God has created," or "God has taken possession,"
the name of several Israelites. Transliteration: Elqanah ...
/hebrew/511.htm - 6k

7617. shabah -- to take captive
... 7616, 7617. shabah. 7618 . to take captive. Transliteration: shabah Phonetic
Spelling: (shaw-baw') Short Definition: taken. Word Origin a prim. ...
/hebrew/7617.htm - 6k

5358. naqam -- to avenge, take vengeance
... avenged (5), avenger (2), avenging (2), exact (1), execute (1), punished (1),
revengeful (1), take (2), take revenge (1), take vengeance (4), taken (1), takes ...
/hebrew/5358.htm - 6k

2388. chazaq -- to be or grow firm or strong, strengthen
... 1), support* (1), supported (1), sure (1), sustain (1), take (1), take courage
(6), take courage and be courageous (1), take hold (7), taken (2), taken hold (1 ...
/hebrew/2388.htm - 8k

1500. gezelah -- plunder, spoil
... Word Origin fem. of gazel Definition plunder, spoil NASB Word Usage plunder (1),
robbery (3), taken by robbery (1), what he has taken (1). gazelle. ...
/hebrew/1500.htm - 6k

7628. shbiy -- captive
... shbiy. 7628a . captive. Transliteration: shbiy Phonetic Spelling: (sheb-ee') Short
Definition: captive. captivity, prisoners, take away, that was taken ...
/hebrew/7628.htm - 5k

2254a. chabal -- to bind, pledge
... bind, pledge NASB Word Usage debt (1), ever take (1), hold him in pledge (2), labor
(2), pledge (4), retain (1), take (3), take a pledge (1), taken as pledges ...
/hebrew/2254a.htm - 5k

Whether He that Has Taken a Thing is Always Bound to Restitution?
... OF RESTITUTION (EIGHT ARTICLES) Whether he that has taken a thing is always
bound to restitution? Objection 1: It would seem that ...
//christianbookshelf.org/aquinas/summa theologica/whether he that has taken.htm

The Woman Taken in Adultery.
... XVII. THE WOMAN TAKEN IN ADULTERY. "And they went every man unto his own
house: but Jesus went unto the mount of Olives. And early ...
/.../the expositors bible the gospel of st john vol i/xvii the woman taken in.htm

How Joppa was Taken, and Tiberias Delivered Up.
... CHAPTER 9. How Joppa Was Taken, And Tiberias Delivered Up. 1. Now Vespasian
returned to Ptolemais on the fourth day of the month ...
/.../chapter 9 how joppa was.htm

Taken into the Innermost Life.
... IV Closer Wooing (Chapters xiii.-xvii.) Taken into the Innermost Life. They're outside
the city-gate now, going down the path towards the Kidron Brook. ...
/.../gordon/quiet talks on johns gospel/taken into the innermost life.htm

Whether Restitution of what Has Been Taken Away is Necessary for ...
... OF RESTITUTION (EIGHT ARTICLES) Whether restitution of what has been taken
away is necessary for salvation? Objection 1: It would ...
/.../aquinas/summa theologica/whether restitution of what has.htm

The Objection Taken on the Ground of the Son's Obedience is ...
... Book II. Chapter X. The objection taken on the ground of the Son's obedience
is disproved? The objection taken on the ground of ...
/.../ambrose/works and letters of st ambrose/chapter x the objection taken.htm

How the City Jerusalem was Taken, and the Temple Pillaged [By ...
... CHAPTER 1. How The City Jerusalem Was Taken, And The Temple Pillaged [By
Antiochus Epiphanes]. As Also Concerning The Actions Of ...
/.../chapter 1 how the city.htm

The Creature is not So Taken by the Holy Spirit as Flesh is by the ...
... Book II. Chapter 6."The Creature is Not So Taken by the Holy Spirit as
Flesh is by the Word. 11. It is, then, for this reason ...
/.../augustine/on the holy trinity/chapter 6 the creature is not.htm

Whether Vengeance Should be Taken on those who have Sinned ...
... OF VENGEANCE (FOUR ARTICLES) Whether vengeance should be taken on those who have
sinned involuntarily? ... Now vengeance is sometimes taken on the ignorant. ...
/.../aquinas/summa theologica/whether vengeance should be taken.htm

The Work is Taken up after a violent Interruption, which Has ...
... Sixth Book. 1. The Work is Taken Up After a Violent Interruption, Which Has
Driven. the Writer from Alexandria. He Addresses Himself ...
/.../origen/origens commentary on the gospel of john/1 the work is taken.htm

Taken (4356 Occurrences)
... Multi-Version Concordance Taken (4356 Occurrences). Taken occurs 4356 times in 12
translations. You can narrow your search using the Advanced Bible Search. ...
/t/taken.htm - 6k

Stolen (28 Occurrences)
... 31:26 And Laban said to Jacob, What hast thou done, that thou hast stolen away unawares
to me, and carried away my daughters, as captives taken with the sword? ...
/s/stolen.htm - 15k

Caves (17 Occurrences)
... Isaiah 42:22 But this is a people whose property has been taken away from them by
force; they are all taken in holes, and shut up in prisons: they are made ...
/c/caves.htm - 11k

Aristobulus (1 Occurrence)
... Aristobulus was defeated and taken prisoner, and Hyrcanus was appointed ethnarch
in 63 BC Aristobulus and his two daughters were taken to Rome, where he graced ...
/a/aristobulus.htm - 9k

Surprise (27 Occurrences)
... Noah Webster's Dictionary 1. (n.) The act of coming upon, or taking, unawares; the
act of seizing unexpectedly; surprisal; as, the fort was taken by surprise. ...
/s/surprise.htm - 15k

Spoil (140 Occurrences)
... 1. (vt) To plunder; to strip by violence; to pillage; to rob; -- with of before
the name of the thing taken; as, to spoil one of his goods or possession. ...
/s/spoil.htm - 40k

Amongst (47 Occurrences)
... Acts 15:2 A commotion therefore having taken place, and no small discussion on the
part of Paul and Barnabas against them, they arranged that Paul and Barnabas ...
/a/amongst.htm - 20k

Captives (69 Occurrences)
... Deuteronomy 21:10 When thou goest forth to war against thine enemies, and Jehovah
thy God delivereth them into thy hands, and thou hast taken captives of them ...
/c/captives.htm - 29k

Anguish (75 Occurrences)
... (WEB KJV ASV DBY WBS YLT). Exodus 15:14 The peoples have heard, they tremble; pangs
have taken hold on the inhabitants of Philistia. (See NAS NIV). ...
/a/anguish.htm - 29k

Attackers (41 Occurrences)
... Isaiah 49:26 And the flesh of your attackers will be taken by themselves for food;
and they will take their blood for drink, as if it was sweet wine: and all ...
/a/attackers.htm - 20k

Will babies and young children be taken in the Rapture? | GotQuestions.org

How did Elijah send a letter to King Jehoram, if Elijah had already been taken to heaven? | GotQuestions.org

Are the miracles in the Bible to be taken literally? | GotQuestions.org

Taken: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.com

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