The term "tend" in the biblical context often refers to the act of caring for, managing, or looking after something or someone. This concept is deeply rooted in the biblical narrative, reflecting God's intention for humanity to steward His creation and care for one another.

Old Testament Context

In the Old Testament, the idea of tending is first introduced in the creation narrative. Genesis 2:15 states, "Then the LORD God took the man and placed him in the Garden of Eden to cultivate and keep it." Here, the Hebrew word "abad" is used, which can be translated as "to serve" or "to work," indicating Adam's role in tending to the garden. This establishes a foundational principle of stewardship, where humanity is entrusted with the care of God's creation.

The role of tending is also evident in the pastoral imagery throughout the Old Testament. Shepherds, such as David, are depicted as tending their flocks, which serves as a metaphor for leadership and care. Psalm 23:1-2 illustrates this, "The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want. He makes me lie down in green pastures; He leads me beside quiet waters." The shepherd's role in tending the sheep is a reflection of God's care for His people.

New Testament Context

In the New Testament, the concept of tending is expanded to include spiritual care and leadership within the Christian community. Jesus, the Good Shepherd, exemplifies the ultimate model of tending to His flock. In John 10:11 , Jesus declares, "I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down His life for the sheep." This passage highlights the sacrificial nature of tending, where the shepherd prioritizes the well-being of the sheep above his own.

The apostle Peter, in his epistles, emphasizes the responsibility of church leaders to tend to their congregations. In 1 Peter 5:2-3 , he exhorts, "Be shepherds of God’s flock that is among you, watching over them—not out of compulsion, but because it is God’s will; not out of greed, but out of eagerness; not lording it over those entrusted to you, but being examples to the flock." This passage underscores the importance of tending with a willing and humble heart, reflecting Christ's example.

Theological Implications

The act of tending in the Bible carries significant theological implications. It reflects the character of God as a caretaker and provider, who lovingly tends to His creation and people. Humanity's role in tending is a reflection of being made in the image of God, tasked with stewardship and care for the world and each other.

Furthermore, tending is closely associated with the concept of servanthood. Jesus' model of leadership as a servant who tends to the needs of others challenges believers to adopt a similar posture in their relationships and responsibilities. This is evident in the call to love and serve one another, as seen in Galatians 5:13 , "For you, brothers, were called to freedom; but do not use your freedom as an opportunity for the flesh. Rather, serve one another in love."

In summary, the biblical concept of tending encompasses both physical and spiritual care, rooted in the character of God and exemplified by Jesus Christ. It calls believers to a life of stewardship, servanthood, and love, reflecting God's care for His creation and His people.1. (v. t.) To make a tender of; to offer or tender.

2. (v. t.) To accompany as an assistant or protector; to care for the wants of; to look after; to watch; to guard; as, shepherds tend their flocks.

3. (v. t.) To be attentive to; to note carefully; to attend to.

4. (v. i.) To wait, as attendants or servants; to serve; to attend; -- with on or upon.

5. (v. i.) To await; to expect.

6. (v.) To move in a certain direction; -- usually with to or towards.

7. (v.) To be directed, as to any end, object, or purpose; to aim; to have or give a leaning; to exert activity or influence; to serve as a means; to contribute; as, our petitions, if granted, might tend to our destruction.

4165. poimaino -- to act as a shepherd
... to act as a shepherd. Part of Speech: Verb Transliteration: poimaino Phonetic Spelling:
(poy-mah'-ee-no) Short Definition: I shepherd, tend Definition: I ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/4165.htm - 8k

1006. bosko -- to feed
... Word. Word Origin from the root bot- Definition to feed NASB Word Usage
feed (1), feeding (3), herdsmen (3), tend (2). feed, keep. ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/1006.htm - 7k

2865. komizo -- to bear, carry
... From a primary komeo (to tend, ie Take care of); properly, to provide for, ie (by
implication) to carry off (as if from harm; genitive case obtain) -- bring ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/2865.htm - 7k

7462a. raah -- to pasture, tend, graze
... 7462, 7462a. raah. 7462b . to pasture, tend, graze. Transliteration:
raah Short Definition: shepherds. Word Origin a prim. root ...
/hebrew/7462a.htm - 6k

7462. ra'ah -- to pasture, tend, graze
ra'ah. 7461b, 7462. ra'ah. 7462a . to pasture, tend, graze. Transliteration:
ra'ah Phonetic Spelling: (raw-aw') Short Definition: break. ...
/hebrew/7462.htm - 5k

3755. karam -- to tend vineyards, dress vines
... 3754, 3755. karam. 3756 . to tend vineyards, dress vines. Transliteration:
karam Phonetic Spelling: (ko-rame') Short Definition: vinedressers. ...
/hebrew/3755.htm - 6k

What, Then, You Ask, do These Things Tend? we have Brought them ...
... Book II. 22 To what, then, you ask, do these things tend? We have brought them
forward in? To what, then, you ask, do these things tend? ...
/.../the seven books of arnobius against the heathen/22 to what then you.htm

The Fundamentals of the Christian Religion
... They have seen by the light of nature that if there be a true religion on earth,
the course of all things must tend to it as to a centre. ...
//christianbookshelf.org/pascal/pensees/section viii the fundamentals of.htm

On the Educational Value of the Natural History Sciences.
... the physicist, and the chemist contemplate things in a condition of rest; they look
upon a state of equilibrium as that to which all bodies normally tend. ...
/.../huxley/lay sermons addresses and reviews/v on the educational value.htm

Though in Order to Establish this Suitable Difference Between the ...
... order of God's creation, was originally such, that the observance of the eternal
rules of justice, equity, and goodness, does indeed of itself tend by direct ...
/.../iv proposition iv though in.htm

"And These Things Write we unto You, that Your Joy May be Full. "
... full.". 1 John 1:4.""And these things write we unto you, that your joy
may be full.". All motions tend to rest and quietness. We ...
/.../binning/the works of the rev hugh binning/sermon viii and these things.htm

To the Same
... Therefore things which tend to good are good. ... If then they are good by participation,
they are not good in themselves; therefore they do not tend to good. ...
//christianbookshelf.org/boethius/the theological tractates/to the same.htm

Demonstration x. --Of Pastors.
... And Joseph used to tend the sheep along with his brethren; and in Egypt he became
guide to a numerous people, and led them back, as a good pastor does his flock ...
/.../aphrahat/aphrahat select demonstrations/demonstration x of pastors.htm

Vile Ingratitude!
... Offspring deserted, having none to tend it or care for its welfare, may perhaps
awaken the lowest, the most contemptuous kind of pity. ...
/.../spurgeon/spurgeons sermons volume 6 1860/vile ingratitude.htm

On the Various Distinctions of the Will of God
... COROLLARIES I. Is it possible for two affirmatively contrary volitions of God
to tend towards one object which is the same and uniform? ...
/.../arminius/the works of james arminius vol 2/disputation xix on the various.htm

Book I.
... God, through whom all things, which of themselves were not, tend to be. God, who
withholdest from perishing even that which seems to be mutually destructive. ...
//christianbookshelf.org/augustine/two books of soliloquies/book i.htm

Tend (24 Occurrences)
... 2. (vt) To accompany as an assistant or protector; to care for the wants of; to
look after; to watch; to guard; as, shepherds tend their flocks. ...
/t/tend.htm - 14k

Nurse (23 Occurrences)
... 7. (vt) To nourish at the breast; to suckle; to feed and tend, as an infant. 8.
(vt) To take care of or tend, as a sick person or an invalid; to attend upon. ...
/n/nurse.htm - 17k

Go (17871 Occurrences)
... 6. (vi) To proceed or tend toward a result, consequence, or product; to tend; to
conduce; to be an ingredient; to avail; to apply; to contribute; -- often with ...
/g/go.htm - 19k

Incline (38 Occurrences)
... 1. (vi) To deviate from a line, direction, or course, toward an object; to lean;
to tend; as, converging lines incline toward each other; a road inclines to ...
/i/incline.htm - 18k

Tended (7 Occurrences)
... Noah Webster's Dictionary (imp. & pp) of Tend. Multi-Version Concordance Tended
(7 Occurrences). Genesis 29:9 While he was yet speaking ...
/t/tended.htm - 8k

Decline (10 Occurrences)
... 2. (vi) To tend or draw towards a close, decay, or extinction; to tend to a less
perfect state; to become diminished or impaired; to fail; to sink; to diminish ...
/d/decline.htm - 12k

Make (12882 Occurrences)
... 18. (vi) To proceed; to tend; to move; to go; as, he made toward home; the
tiger made at the sportsmen. 19. (vi) To tend; to contribute ...
/m/make.htm - 22k

Attendance (12 Occurrences)
... a-tend'; a-tend'-ans: (1) "To incline," "listen," "regard" qashabh; (Psalm 17:1
etc.); then, in the King James Version, "observe," but in the Revised Version ...
/a/attendance.htm - 11k

Attend (71 Occurrences)
... a-tend'; a-tend'-ans: (1) "To incline," "listen," "regard" qashabh; (Psalm 17:1
etc.); then, in the King James Version, "observe," but in the Revised Version ...
/a/attend.htm - 28k

Heredity
... (n.) Transmission of the physical and psychical qualities of parents to their offspring;
the biological law by which living beings tend to repeat their ...
/h/heredity.htm - 13k

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