Topical Bible: Void

Jump to: ISBE • Webster's • Concordance • Thesaurus • Greek • Hebrew • Library • Subtopics • Terms

Topical Encyclopedia

The term "void" in the Bible often refers to emptiness, desolation, or the absence of form and substance. It is a concept that appears in various contexts throughout Scripture, illustrating both physical and spiritual states of emptiness.

Creation and the Primordial State

The most notable use of "void" is found in the creation narrative in Genesis. Genesis 1:2 states, "Now the earth was formless and void, and darkness was over the surface of the deep. And the Spirit of God was hovering over the surface of the waters." Here, "void" describes the initial state of the earth before God began His creative work. The Hebrew word used is "bohu," often paired with "tohu" (formless), indicating a chaotic and uninhabitable condition. This depiction underscores the power and sovereignty of God in bringing order and life from chaos and emptiness.

Prophetic Imagery and Judgment

In prophetic literature, "void" is used metaphorically to describe the desolation that results from divine judgment. For instance, in Jeremiah 4:23 , the prophet laments, "I looked at the earth, and it was formless and void; I looked to the heavens, and they had no light." This imagery echoes the creation narrative, suggesting a reversal of creation due to the people's sin and the subsequent judgment. The use of "void" here emphasizes the severity of God's judgment, reducing the land to a state of emptiness and ruin.

Spiritual Emptiness

The concept of void also extends to spiritual emptiness or the absence of God's presence. In the New Testament, while the specific term "void" may not be used, the idea is present in discussions of spiritual desolation. For example, in Matthew 12:43-45 , Jesus speaks of an unclean spirit that returns to a person, finding the "house" empty, swept, and put in order. This parable illustrates the danger of spiritual void—when a person is not filled with the Holy Spirit, they remain vulnerable to evil influences.

Theological Implications

Theologically, the notion of void serves as a reminder of humanity's need for God's presence and order. Just as God filled the physical void at creation, He fills the spiritual void in believers' lives through the indwelling of the Holy Spirit. The transformation from void to fullness is a central theme in the Christian experience, reflecting the redemptive work of Christ and the ongoing sanctification by the Spirit.

Practical Application

In practical terms, the concept of void challenges believers to examine areas of spiritual emptiness in their lives. It calls for a proactive pursuit of God's presence and a commitment to spiritual disciplines that invite His fullness. The void is not merely an absence but an opportunity for divine intervention and transformation, urging Christians to seek the abundant life promised in Christ.

Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary

1. (a.) Containing nothing; empty; vacant; not occupied; not filled.

2. (a.) Having no incumbent; unoccupied; -- said of offices and the like.

3. (a.) Being without; destitute; free; wanting; devoid; as, void of learning, or of common use.

4. (a.) Not producing any effect; ineffectual; vain.

5. (a.) Containing no immaterial quality; destitute of mind or soul.

6. (a.) of no legal force or effect, incapable of confirmation or ratification; null. Cf. Voidable, 2.

7. (n.) An empty space; a vacuum.

8. (v.) To remove the contents of; to make or leave vacant or empty; to quit; to leave; as, to void a table.

9. (v.) To throw or send out; to evacuate; to emit; to discharge; as, to void excrements.

10. (v.) To render void; to make to be of no validity or effect; to vacate; to annul; to nullify.

11. (v. i.) To be emitted or evacuated.

International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

VOID

void: The uses of "void" in English Versions of the Bible are all modern, except for the phrase "void place" in the King James Version 1 Kings 22:10 parallel 2 Chronicles 18:9 (the Revised Version (British and American) "open"); 2 Maccabees 14:44 (so the King James Version and the Revised Version margin). On the Old Testament passages see OPEN PLACE. In 2 Maccabees the Greek word is keneon, which may mean either "an open place," in general, or, specifically, "the hollow between the ribs and the hip," whence the Revised Version (British and American) "his side." Moffatt in Charles' Apocrypha translates "the open street."

Greek

2758. kenoo -- to empty
... Cognate: 2758 -- properly, to out, render void; (passive) be emptied -- hence, ,
perceived as (Phil 2:7). See 2756 (). ... empty, make void, be in vain. ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/2758.htm - 7k

5465. chalao -- to slacken
... to slacken, let down. From the base of chasma; to lower (as into a void) -- let
down, strike. see GREEK chasma. (echalasthen) -- 1 Occurrence. ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/5465.htm - 6k

2673. katargeo -- to render inoperative, abolish
... cumber, deliver, destroy, do away, become (make) of no (none, without) effect, fail,
loose, bring (come) to nought, put away (down), vanish away, make void. ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/2673.htm - 9k

114. atheteo -- to do away with what has been laid down, set aside
... 114 (literally, , "un-place") -- properly, ; reject what is already laid down; to
(disregard as spurious); nullify, make void; to break faith (); remove out of ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/114.htm - 8k

1840. exischuo -- to have strength enough
... 1840 (from 1537 , "completely out of from" which intensifies 2479 , " strength,
filling a need or void") -- properly, "strength at work," such as overcoming ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/1840.htm - 7k

378. anapleroo -- to fill up
... 4137 ("fulfill"), 378 () is " the filling up of a perfect vacancy, as with the simple
4137 -- but rather the of what is lacking ; the of a partial void" (, 1000 ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/378.htm - 8k

677. aproskopos -- not causing to stumble, not stumbling
... and a presumed derivative of proskopto; actively, inoffensive, ie Not leading into
sin; passively, faultless, ie Not led into sin -- none (void of, without ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/677.htm - 6k

3928. parerchomai -- to pass by, to come to
... Phonetic Spelling: (par-er'-khom-ahee) Short Definition: I pass by Definition: I
pass by, pass away, pass out of sight; I am rendered void, become vain, neglect ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/3928.htm - 8k

Strong's Hebrew

922. bohu -- emptiness
... 921, 922. bohu. 923 . emptiness. Transliteration: bohu Phonetic Spelling:
(bo'-hoo) Short Definition: void. Word ... emptiness, void. From ...
/hebrew/922.htm - 5k

2638. chaser -- needy, lacking, in want of
... destitute, fail, lack, have need, void, want. From chacer; lacking; hence, without --
destitute, fail, lack, have need, void, want. see HEBREW chacer. ...
/hebrew/2638.htm - 6k

5010. naar -- probably to abhor, spurn
... abandoned (1), spurned (1). abhor, make void. A primitive root; to reject -- abhor,
make void. 5009, 5010. naar. 5011 . Strong's Numbers.
/hebrew/5010.htm - 5k

1637. goren -- threshing floor
... Word Origin from an unused word Definition threshing floor NASB Word Usage
threshing floor (34), threshing floors (2). barn, void place. ...
/hebrew/1637.htm - 6k

4003. mebuqah -- emptiness
... Word Origin from the same as buqah Definition emptiness NASB Word Usage desolate
(1). void. From the same as buwqah; emptiness -- void. see HEBREW buwqah. ...
/hebrew/4003.htm - 6k

1238. baqaq -- to be luxuriant
... baqaq. 1238a . to be luxuriant. Transliteration: baqaq Phonetic Spelling:
(baw-kah') Short Definition: luxuriant. make empty, fail, utterly, make void ...
/hebrew/1238.htm - 5k

7387. reqam -- emptily, vainly
... Word Origin from riq Definition emptily, vainly NASB Word Usage empty (6),
empty-handed (8), without cause (2). without cause, empty, in vain, void. ...
/hebrew/7387.htm - 6k

6. abad -- to perish
... destroy) -- break, destroy(- uction), + not escape, fail, lose, (cause to, make)
perish, spend, X and surely, take, be undone, X utterly, be void of, have no ...
/hebrew/6.htm - 6k

5307. naphal -- to fall, lie
... 1), perish (1), present (1), presenting (3), prostrating (1), remains (1), settled
(1), surely fall (1), throw (2), topple (1), turns (1), void (1), waste away ...
/hebrew/5307.htm - 7k

1238b. baqaq -- to empty
... Definition to empty NASB Word Usage completely laid waste (1), demoralized (1),
devastate (1), devastators have devastated (1), lays the waste (1), make void (1 ...
/hebrew/1238b.htm - 5k

Library

Do are Then Make Void the Law through Faith? God Forbid; Yea, we ...
... Do are then make void the law through faith? God forbid; yea, we establish
the law. Romans 3:31. The apostle had been proving that ...
/.../finney/lectures to professing christians/do are then make void.htm

Topic xi. If any one Affirms that the Body of Christ is Void of ...
... Topic XI. If any one affirms that the body of Christ is void of soul and
understanding? If any one affirms that the body of Christ ...
/.../dubious or spurious writings of gregory thaumaturgus/topic xi if any one.htm

Here Therefore These Men Too Evil, While they Essay to Make Void ...
... Section 9. Here therefore these men too evil, while they essay to make
void the Law? 9. Here therefore these men too evil, while ...
/.../augustine/on the profit of believing /section 9 here therefore these.htm

That the First Circumcision of the Flesh is Made Void, and the ...
... First Book. 8. That the first circumcision of the flesh is made void, and
the second circumcision of the spirit is promised instead. ...
/.../three books of testimonies against the jews/8 that the first circumcision.htm

That the Old Yoke Should be Made Void, and a New Yoke Should be ...
... First Book. 13. That the old yoke should be made void, and a new yoke should
be given. In the second Psalm: "For what purpose have ...
/.../cyprian/three books of testimonies against the jews/13 that the old yoke.htm

That the Ancient Sacrifice Should be Made Void, and a New one ...
... 16. That the ancient sacrifice should be made void, and a new one should be celebrated.
In Isaiah: "For what purpose to me is the multitude of your sacrifices? ...
/.../three books of testimonies against the jews/16 that the ancient sacrifice.htm

The Gradual Development of Cosmical Order Out of Chaos in the ...
... He formed it to be inhabited." [6405] Therefore after it was made, and while awaiting
its perfect state, [6406] it was "without form, and void:" "void" indeed ...
/.../tertullian/against hermogenes/chapter xxix the gradual development of.htm

A Curious Inconsistency in Hermogenes Exposed Certain Expressions ...
... I want to know also, whether (the substance in question) could have been described
as "void." That certainly is "void" which is imperfect. ...
/.../tertullian/against hermogenes/chapter xxviii a curious inconsistency in.htm

The Son by Being Designated Word and Wisdom, (According to the ...
... and sound of the mouth, and (as the grammarians teach) air when struck against,
[7839] intelligible to the ear, but for the rest a sort of void, empty, and ...
/.../tertullian/against praxeas/chapter vii the son by being.htm

Concerning the Passion of Our Lord's Body, and the Impassibility ...
... The Word of God then itself endured all in the flesh, while His divine nature
which alone was passionless remained void of passion. ...
/.../exposition of the orthodox faith/chapter xxvi concerning the passion of.htm

Thesaurus

Void (64 Occurrences)
... 3. (a.) Being without; destitute; free; wanting; devoid; as, void of learning, or
of common use. 4. (a.) Not producing any effect; ineffectual; vain. ...
/v/void.htm - 26k

Null (4 Occurrences)
... Noah Webster's Dictionary 1. (a.) Of no legal or binding force or validity;
Of no efficacy; invalid; void; nugatory; useless. 2. (n ...
/n/null.htm - 7k

Nullifies (4 Occurrences)
... Numbers 30:8 But if her husband disallow her in the day that he hears it, then he
shall make void her vow which is on her, and the rash utterance of her lips ...
/n/nullifies.htm - 7k

Lacketh (17 Occurrences)
... (KJV JPS WBS YLT). Proverbs 9:4 Whoso is simple, let him turn in hither: As for
him that is void of understanding, she saith to him, (See JPS YLT). ...
/l/lacketh.htm - 11k

Frustrate (7 Occurrences)
... Noah Webster's Dictionary 1. (a.) Vain; ineffectual; useless; unprofitable;
null; void; nugatory; of no effect. 2. (vt) To bring ...
/f/frustrate.htm - 10k

Avoid (31 Occurrences)
... 1. (v.) To empty. 2. (v.) To emit or throw out; to void; as, to avoid excretions. ...
4. (v.) To make void; to annul or vacate; to refute. ...
/a/avoid.htm - 15k

Annuls (4 Occurrences)
... Galatians 3:15 Brothers, speaking of human terms, though it is only a man's covenant,
yet when it has been confirmed, no one makes it void, or adds to it. ...
/a/annuls.htm - 7k

Discernment (43 Occurrences)
... and of evil. (YLT). Deuteronomy 32:28 For they are a nation void of counsel.
There is no understanding in them. (See NIV). 1 Samuel ...
/d/discernment.htm - 18k

Nullify (8 Occurrences)
... Noah Webster's Dictionary (v.) To make void; to render invalid; to deprive of legal
force or efficacy. Multi-Version Concordance Nullify (8 Occurrences). ...
/n/nullify.htm - 8k

Nullified (2 Occurrences)
... Nullified (2 Occurrences). Romans 4:14 For if those who are of the law are heirs,
faith is made void, and the promise is made of no effect. (See NAS). ...
/n/nullified.htm - 7k

Resources

What does it mean that the Word of God will not return void? | GotQuestions.org

What is the meaning of life? | GotQuestions.org

How can I overcome grieving the loss of a pet? | GotQuestions.org

Void: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.com

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

Concordance

Void (64 Occurrences)

Matthew 5:17
Think not that I am come to make void the law or the prophets; I am not come to make void, but to fulfil.
(DBY)

Matthew 15:6
he shall not honor his father or mother.' You have made the commandment of God void because of your tradition.
(WEB ASV DBY RSV)

Mark 7:13
making void the word of God by your tradition, which you have handed down. You do many things like this."
(WEB ASV DBY RSV)

Mark 7:18
And he saith to them, Are ye so void of understanding also? Do ye not perceive, that whatever thing from without entereth into the man, it cannot defile him.
(WBS)

Luke 1:37
For no word from God shall be void of power.
(ASV)

Luke 16:17
But it is easier for heaven and earth to pass away, than for one tiny stroke of a pen in the law to fall.
(See RSV)

Acts 24:16
Herein I also practice always having a conscience void of offense toward God and men.
(WEB KJV ASV WBS YLT)

Romans 1:31
void of understanding, faithless, without natural affection, unmerciful;
(DBY)

Romans 3:31
Do we then make void the law through faith? God forbid: yea, we establish the law.
(KJV DBY WBS)

Romans 4:14
For if those who are of the law are heirs, faith is made void, and the promise is made of no effect.
(WEB KJV ASV WBS YLT NAS RSV)

Romans 10:19
But I ask, didn't Israel know? First Moses says, "I will provoke you to jealousy with that which is no nation, with a nation void of understanding I will make you angry."
(WEB WEY ASV)

1 Corinthians 1:17
For Christ sent me not to baptize, but to preach the Good News-not in wisdom of words, so that the cross of Christ wouldn't be made void.
(WEB ASV NAS)

1 Corinthians 9:15
But I have used none of these things, and I don't write these things that it may be done so in my case; for I would rather die, than that anyone should make my boasting void.
(WEB KJV ASV WBS YLT)

1 Corinthians 12:23
and those parts of the body which we esteem to be the more void of honour, these we clothe with more abundant honour; and our uncomely parts have more abundant comeliness;
(DBY)

1 Corinthians 15:14
and if Christ hath not risen, then void 'is' our preaching, and void also your faith,
(YLT)

2 Corinthians 9:3
But I have sent the brethren, that our glorying on your behalf may not be made void in this respect; that, even as I said, ye may be prepared:
(ASV DBY)

Galatians 2:21
I don't make void the grace of God. For if righteousness is through the law, then Christ died for nothing!"
(WEB ASV YLT)

Galatians 3:15
Brothers, speaking of human terms, though it is only a man's covenant, yet when it has been confirmed, no one makes it void, or adds to it.
(WEB ASV YLT)

Galatians 3:17
and this I say, A covenant confirmed before by God to Christ, the law, that came four hundred and thirty years after, doth not set aside, to make void the promise,
(YLT RSV)

Philippians 1:10
so that ye may approve the things that are excellent; that ye may be sincere and void of offence unto the day of Christ;
(ASV)

Genesis 1:2
And the earth was without form, and void; and darkness was upon the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters.
(KJV JPS ASV WBS YLT NAS RSV)

Numbers 6:12
He shall separate to Yahweh the days of his separation, and shall bring a male lamb a year old for a trespass offering; but the former days shall be void, because his separation was defiled.
(WEB JPS ASV NAS RSV)

Numbers 30:8
But if her husband disallow her in the day that he hears it, then he shall make void her vow which is on her, and the rash utterance of her lips, with which she has bound her soul: and Yahweh will forgive her.
(WEB JPS ASV RSV)

Numbers 30:12
But if her husband made them null and void in the day that he heard them, then whatever proceeded out of her lips concerning her vows, or concerning the bond of her soul, shall not stand: her husband has made them void; and Yahweh will forgive her.
(WEB KJV JPS ASV WBS RSV)

Numbers 30:13
Every vow, and every binding oath to afflict the soul, her husband may establish it, or her husband may make it void.
(WEB KJV JPS ASV WBS RSV)

Numbers 30:15
But if he shall make them null and void after that he has heard them, then he shall bear her iniquity."
(WEB KJV JPS ASV WBS RSV)

Deuteronomy 32:10
He findeth him in a land -- a desert, And in a void -- a howling wilderness, He turneth him round -- He causeth him to understand -- He keepeth him as the apple of His eye.
(YLT)

Deuteronomy 32:28
For they are a nation void of counsel. There is no understanding in them.
(WEB KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS RSV)

2 Samuel 15:34
and if to the city thou dost turn back, and hast said to Absalom, Thy servant I am, O king; servant of thy father I 'am' also hitherto, and now, I 'am' also thy servant; then thou hast made void for me the counsel of Ahithophel;
(YLT)

2 Samuel 17:14
And Absalom saith -- and all the men of Israel -- 'Better 'is' the counsel of Hushai the Archite than the counsel of Ahithophel;' and Jehovah willed to make void the good counsel of Ahithophel for the sake of Jehovah's bringing unto Absalom the evil.
(YLT)

1 Kings 7:36
And he openeth on the tablets of its spokes, and on its borders, cherubs, lions, and palm-trees, according to the void space of each, and additions round about.
(YLT)

1 Kings 22:10
And the king of Israel and Jehoshaphat the king of Judah sat each on his throne, having put on their robes, in a void place in the entrance of the gate of Samaria; and all the prophets prophesied before them.
(KJV WBS)

2 Chronicles 18:9
And the king of Israel and Jehoshaphat king of Judah sat either of them on his throne, clothed in their robes, and they sat in a void place at the entering in of the gate of Samaria; and all the prophets prophesied before them.
(KJV WBS)

Ezra 4:5
and are hiring against them counsellors to make void their counsel all the days of Cyrus king of Persia, even till the reign of Darius king of Persia.
(YLT)

Job 5:12
Making void thoughts of the subtile, And their hands do not execute wisdom.
(YLT)

Job 11:12
But vain man is void of understanding, Yea, man is born 'as' a wild ass's colt.
(ASV)

Job 15:4
Yea, thou dost make reverence void, And dost diminish meditation before God.
(YLT)

Job 26:7
He stretches out the north over empty space, and hangs the earth on nothing.
(See RSV)

Job 40:8
Wilt thou even annul my judgment? Wilt thou condemn me, that thou mayest be justified?
(See JPS YLT)

Psalms 33:10
Jehovah made void the counsel of nations, He disallowed the thoughts of the peoples.
(YLT)

Psalms 85:4
Turn back 'to' us, O God of our salvation, And make void Thine anger with us.
(YLT)

Psalms 89:39
Thou hast made void the covenant of thy servant: thou hast profaned his crown by casting it to the ground.
(KJV DBY WBS)

Psalms 119:126
It is time for thee, LORD, to work: for they have made void thy law.
(KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS YLT)

Proverbs 6:32
He who commits adultery with a woman is void of understanding. He who does it destroys his own soul.
(WEB ASV DBY)

Proverbs 7:7
I saw among the simple ones. I discerned among the youths a young man void of understanding,
(WEB KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS)

Proverbs 9:4
"Whoever is simple, let him turn in here!" As for him who is void of understanding, she says to him,
(WEB ASV DBY)

Proverbs 9:16
"Whoever is simple, let him turn in here." as for him who is void of understanding, she says to him,
(WEB ASV DBY)

Proverbs 10:13
Wisdom is found on the lips of him who has discernment, but a rod is for the back of him who is void of understanding.
(WEB KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS)

Proverbs 11:12
One who despises his neighbor is void of wisdom, but a man of understanding holds his peace.
(WEB KJV ASV DBY WBS)

Proverbs 12:11
He who tills his land shall have plenty of bread, but he who chases fantasies is void of understanding.
(WEB KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS)

Proverbs 15:21
Folly is joy to one who is void of wisdom, but a man of understanding keeps his way straight.
(WEB ASV DBY)

Proverbs 15:22
Without counsel 'is' the making void of purposes, And in a multitude of counsellors it is established.
(YLT)

Proverbs 17:18
A man void of understanding strikes hands, and becomes collateral in the presence of his neighbor.
(WEB KJV JPS ASV WBS)

Proverbs 24:30
I went by the field of the sluggard, by the vineyard of the man void of understanding;
(WEB KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS)

Proverbs 28:16
The prince void of intelligence is also a great oppressor: he that hateth covetousness shall prolong his days.
(DBY)

Isaiah 14:27
For Jehovah of Hosts hath purposed, And who doth make void? And His hand that is stretched out, Who doth turn it back?'
(YLT)

Isaiah 24:5
And the land hath been defiled under its inhabitants, Because they have transgressed laws, They have changed a statute, They have made void a covenant age-during.
(YLT)

Isaiah 44:25
Making void the tokens of devisers, And diviners it maketh mad, Turning the wise backward, And their knowledge it maketh foolish.
(YLT)

Isaiah 55:11
so shall my word be that goes forth out of my mouth: it shall not return to me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing I sent it to do.
(WEB KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS)

Jeremiah 4:23
I saw the earth, and, behold, it was waste and void; and the heavens, and they had no light.
(WEB KJV JPS ASV WBS YLT NAS RSV)

Jeremiah 11:10
They have turned back to the iniquities of their first fathers, Who refused to hear My words, And they have gone after other gods to serve them, The house of Israel, and the house of Judah, Have made void My covenant, that I made with their fathers.
(YLT)

Jeremiah 19:7
I will make void the counsel of Judah and Jerusalem in this place; and I will cause them to fall by the sword before their enemies, and by the hand of those who seek their life: and their dead bodies will I give to be food for the birds of the sky, and for the animals of the earth.
(WEB KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV)

Jeremiah 31:32
Not like the covenant that I made with their fathers, In the day of My laying hold on their hand, To bring them out of the land of Egypt, In that they made void My covenant, And I ruled over them -- an affirmation of Jehovah.
(YLT)

Zechariah 11:10
And I take My staff Pleasantness, and cut it asunder, to make void My covenant that I had made with all the peoples:
(YLT)

Subtopics

Void

Related Terms

Null (4 Occurrences)

Nullifies (4 Occurrences)

Lacketh (17 Occurrences)

Frustrate (7 Occurrences)

Avoid (31 Occurrences)

Annuls (4 Occurrences)

Discernment (43 Occurrences)

Nullify (8 Occurrences)