In the context of the Bible, the term "tends" often refers to the act of caring for, managing, or overseeing something or someone. This concept is deeply rooted in the biblical narrative, reflecting God's care for His creation and the responsibilities He assigns to humanity.

Biblical Usage and Context

1. Creation and Stewardship: The idea of tending is first introduced in the creation narrative. In Genesis 2:15 , it is written, "Then the LORD God took the man and placed him in the Garden of Eden to cultivate and keep it." Here, "tend" is synonymous with cultivating and keeping, indicating humanity's role as stewards of God's creation. This stewardship implies a responsibility to care for the earth and its resources, reflecting God's own care and order.

2. Shepherding: The imagery of tending is frequently associated with shepherding, a common occupation in biblical times. Shepherds tend to their flocks, ensuring their safety, nourishment, and well-being. This metaphor is used extensively to describe God's relationship with His people. In Psalm 23:1-2 , David declares, "The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want. He makes me lie down in green pastures; He leads me beside quiet waters." Here, God is depicted as the ultimate Shepherd who tends to His flock with care and provision.

3. Leadership and Pastoral Care: The concept of tending extends to spiritual leadership within the community of believers. In the New Testament, Jesus charges Peter with the responsibility of tending His sheep, symbolizing the pastoral care and guidance expected of church leaders. In John 21:16 , Jesus says to Peter, "Simon son of John, do you love Me?" Peter replies, "Yes, Lord, You know I love You." Jesus responds, "Shepherd My sheep." This passage underscores the importance of tending to the spiritual needs of the congregation, nurturing their faith, and guiding them in truth.

4. Parables and Teachings of Jesus: Jesus often used agricultural metaphors in His parables to illustrate spiritual truths, including the act of tending. In the Parable of the Sower (Matthew 13:3-9), the sower tends to the seeds by scattering them on different types of soil, each representing different responses to the Word of God. This parable highlights the importance of tending to one's spiritual life, ensuring that it is fertile ground for growth and fruitfulness.

5. God's Providential Care: Throughout Scripture, God's providential care is likened to tending. In Isaiah 40:11 , it is written, "He tends His flock like a shepherd: He gathers the lambs in His arms and carries them close to His heart; He gently leads those that have young." This imagery conveys God's intimate and compassionate care for His people, assuring them of His constant presence and guidance.

Theological Implications

The act of tending in the Bible carries significant theological implications. It reflects God's character as a caring and nurturing Creator who entrusts humanity with the responsibility of stewardship. It also emphasizes the role of leaders within the faith community to provide spiritual care and guidance. Ultimately, tending is an expression of love, responsibility, and commitment, mirroring the divine care that God extends to His creation and His people.213. alazon -- vagabond, hence an impostor, boaster
... listeners. [As a masculine noun, 213 () tends to focus on the of the empty
boasting, ie the sinful arrogance that drives it.]. Word ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/213.htm - 7k

4165. poimaino -- to act as a shepherd
... Word Origin from poimen Definition to act as a shepherd NASB Word Usage caring
(1), rule (3), shepherd (5), tending sheep (1), tends (1). to shepherd, rule. ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/4165.htm - 8k

5341. natsar -- to watch, guard, keep
... 1), keeps (3), kept (1), man (1), observe (10), observed (1), observes (1), preserve
(10), preserves (1), reserve (1), secret places (1), tends (1), watch (4 ...
/hebrew/5341.htm - 6k

A Third Element which Tends to Gain any One's Confidence is Shown ...
... Book II. Chapter XI. A third element which tends to gain any one's confidence
is shown to have been? A third element which tends ...
/.../ambrose/works and letters of st ambrose/chapter xi a third element.htm

What Peculiarly Tends to Illustrate and Recommend to us the ...
... Divine Election and Reprobation Article 15 What peculiarly tends to illustrate
and recommend to us the eternal and unmerited grace of? ...
/.../various/the canons of dordt/article 15 what peculiarly tends.htm

Corruption Tends to Non-Existence.
... Fundamental. Chapter 40. "Corruption Tends to Non-Existence. 46. But ... But whatever
tends to decease tends to non-existence. Since, then ...
/.../chapter 40 name tends to.htm

Proof that the Anomoean Teaching Tends to Manich??ism.
... Book I. Section 35. Proof that the Anomoean teaching tends to Manich??ism.
We hear our Lord saying. "I and My Father are one," and ...
/.../gregory/gregory of nyssa dogmatic treatises etc/section 35 proof that the.htm

That Love Tends to Union.
... THE LOVE OF GOD. BOOK I. CONTAINING A PREPARATION FOR THE WHOLE TREATISE.
CHAPTER IX. THAT LOVE TENDS TO UNION. The great Solomon ...
/.../francis/treatise on the love of god/chapter ix that love tends.htm

The New Covenant, Founded on the Sufferings of Christ, Tends to ...
... Chapter V."The new covenant, founded on the sufferings of Christ, tends
to our salvation, but to the Jews' destruction. For to ...
/.../barnabas/the epistle of barnabas /chapter v the new covenant founded.htm

Perfect Modesty Will Abstain from Whatever Tends to Sin, as Well ...
... Book II. Chapter II."Perfect Modesty Will Abstain from Whatever Tends to Sin, as
Well as from Sin Itself. Difference Between Trust and Presumption. ...
/.../tertullian/on the apparel of women/chapter ii perfect modesty will abstain.htm

That this Divine Commandment of Love Tends to Heaven, yet is Given ...
... ALL THINGS. CHAPTER II. THAT THIS DIVINE COMMANDMENT OF LOVE TENDS TO HEAVEN,
YET IS GIVEN TO THE FAITHFUL IN THIS WORLD. If the ...
/.../francis/treatise on the love of god/chapter ii that this divine.htm

Whether Magnificence is a Part of Fortitude?
... Now magnificence agrees with fortitude in the point that as fortitude tends to
something arduous and difficult, so also does magnificence: wherefore seemingly ...
/.../aquinas/summa theologica/whether magnificence is a part.htm

Whether Liberality is the Greatest of the virtues?
... I answer that, Every virtue tends towards a good; wherefore the greater
virtue is that which tends towards the greater good. Now ...
/.../aquinas/summa theologica/whether liberality is the greatest.htm

Tends (8 Occurrences)
...Tends (8 Occurrences). Romans 14:21 The right course is to forego eating meat or
drinking wine or doing anything that tends to your brother's fall. (WEY). ...
/t/tends.htm - 8k

Eschatology
... the entire Messianic circle of ideas, becomes keenly alive to its affinity to the
content of the highest eternal hope, and consequently tends to identify the ...
/e/eschatology.htm - 70k

Force (250 Occurrences)
... 8. (n.) Any action between two bodies which changes, or tends to change, their relative
condition as to rest or motion; or, more generally, which changes, or ...
/f/force.htm - 40k

Tabeel (2 Occurrences)
... the entire Messianic circle of ideas, becomes keenly alive to its affinity to the
content of the highest eternal hope, and consequently tends to identify the ...
/t/tabeel.htm - 101k

Mouth (534 Occurrences)
... the entire Messianic circle of ideas, becomes keenly alive to its affinity to the
content of the highest eternal hope, and consequently tends to identify the ...
/m/mouth.htm - 91k

God (45911 Occurrences)
... 1 Chronicles 22:10; 1 Chronicles 28:6 Psalm 2:7). 4. Individual and Personal Relation:
God's fatherhood to collective Israel necessarily tends to develop into ...
/g/god.htm - 101k

Course (87 Occurrences)
... Romans 14:21 The right course is to forego eating meat or drinking wine
or doing anything that tends to your brother's fall. (WEY). ...
/c/course.htm - 38k

Children
... 1 Chronicles 22:10; 1 Chronicles 28:6 Psalm 2:7). 4. Individual and Personal Relation:
God's fatherhood to collective Israel necessarily tends to develop into ...
/c/children.htm - 62k

Nurse (23 Occurrences)
... 1. (n.) One who nourishes; a person who supplies food, tends, or brings up; as:
(a) A woman who has the care of young children; especially, one who suckles an ...
/n/nurse.htm - 17k

Unprofitable (9 Occurrences)
... solemnly charging them in the presence of God not to waste time in wrangling about
mere words, a course which is altogether unprofitable and tends only to the ...
/u/unprofitable.htm - 9k

How should a Christian view ADD and ADHD? | GotQuestions.org

What is Christian mysticism? | GotQuestions.org

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

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