The term "while" in the Bible often signifies a period of time during which certain events or actions take place. It is used to denote a temporal context, providing a backdrop for the unfolding of divine narratives, human actions, and spiritual lessons. The use of "while" can be found throughout both the Old and New Testaments, serving as a literary device to connect events and highlight the continuity of God's plan.

Old Testament Usage

In the Old Testament, "while" frequently appears in historical narratives, emphasizing the unfolding of God's covenantal relationship with His people. For example, in Genesis 29:9 , "While he was still speaking with them, Rachel came with her father’s sheep, for she was a shepherdess." Here, the term sets the stage for the significant meeting between Jacob and Rachel, a pivotal moment in the lineage of Israel.

The word also appears in contexts of divine instruction and judgment. In Exodus 34:28 , "Moses was there with the LORD forty days and forty nights, without eating bread or drinking water. And he wrote on the tablets the words of the covenant—the Ten Commandments." The use of "while" underscores the duration of Moses' communion with God, highlighting the solemnity and significance of receiving the Law.

New Testament Usage

In the New Testament, "while" often introduces teachings of Jesus and the apostles, as well as key events in the early church. In Matthew 26:47 , "While He was still speaking, Judas, one of the Twelve, arrived. With him was a large crowd armed with swords and clubs, sent from the chief priests and elders of the people." This passage uses "while" to convey the immediacy and tension of the moment leading to Jesus' arrest, marking the beginning of His Passion.

The term also appears in the context of spiritual exhortation. In Galatians 6:10 , Paul writes, "Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to everyone, and especially to the family of faith." The implicit "while" in the phrase "as we have opportunity" encourages believers to seize the present moment for acts of kindness and service, reflecting the urgency of living out one's faith.

Theological Implications

Theologically, "while" serves as a reminder of the temporal nature of human existence and the unfolding of God's eternal purposes within time. It calls believers to be attentive to the moments in which God acts and speaks, urging a response of faith and obedience. The use of "while" in Scripture often highlights the intersection of divine sovereignty and human responsibility, as individuals and communities are called to act within the time allotted to them.

In summary, the term "while" in the Bible is more than a mere conjunction; it is a narrative tool that underscores the dynamic interaction between God's eternal plan and the temporal realities of human life. Through its use, Scripture invites readers to recognize the significance of each moment in the unfolding account of redemption.1. (n.) Space of time, or continued duration, esp. when short; a time; as, one while we thought him innocent.

2. (n.) That which requires time; labor; pains.

3. (v. t.) To cause to pass away pleasantly or without irksomeness or disgust; to spend or pass; -- usually followed by away.

4. (v. i.) To loiter.

5. (conj.) During the time that; as long as; whilst; at the same time that; as, while I write, you sleep.

6. (conj.) Hence, under which circumstances; in which case; though; whereas.

7. (prep.) Until; till.

1597. ekpalai -- long ago, for a long while
... long ago, for a long while. Part of Speech: Adverb Transliteration: ekpalai Phonetic
Spelling: (eh'-pal-ahee) Short Definition: from of old, long since ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/1597.htm - 6k

3755. hotou -- while
... hotou. 3756 . while. Part of Speech: Relative Pronoun Transliteration: hotou Phonetic
Spelling: (hot'-oo) Short Definition: until Definition: until. ... while ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/3755.htm - 6k

3641. oligos -- few, little, small
... Definition few, little, small NASB Word Usage brief (1), briefly (1), few (11),
few things (3), great* (1), little (7), little way (1), little while (4), long ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/3641.htm - 7k

5613. hos -- as, like as, even as, when, since, as long as
... as, even as, when, since, as long as. Part of Speech: Adverb Transliteration: hos
Phonetic Spelling: (hoce) Short Definition: as, like as, how, while, so that ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/5613.htm - 6k

2193. heos -- till, until
... Definition till, until NASB Word Usage down (2), even (5), far (5), how (7), long
(1), long* (7), no more (1), point (2), right (1), until (83), while (5). ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/2193.htm - 6k

3745. hosos -- how much, how many
... 2), great (1), how much (2), inasmuch* (3), long (2), many (11), more (1), much
(3), so (1), so much (1), those who (3), those whom (1), very...while (1), what ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/3745.htm - 7k

3397. mikron -- a little
... Part of Speech: Noun, Masculine; Noun, Neuter Transliteration: mikron Phonetic Spelling:
(mik-ron') Short Definition: a little, little while Definition: a ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/3397.htm - 6k

2540. kairos -- time, season
... 2), occasion (1), opportune time (1), opportunity (3), proper time (5), right time
(1), season (1), seasons (4), short* (1), time (54), times (11), while (1). ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/2540.htm - 7k

1722. en -- in, on, at, by, with
... throughout (4), together (1), under (5), under...circumstances (1), undisturbed*
(1), until* (1), way (4), when (19), when* (3), where* (2), while (19), while ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/1722.htm - 8k

2425. hikanos -- sufficient, fit
... able (1), adequate (2), aloud (1), considerable (4), enough (1), fit (4), good many
(1), large (1), large sum (1), length* (1), long (5), long while (1), many ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/2425.htm - 8k

5704. ad -- as far as, even to, up to, until, while
... 5703, 5704. ad. 5705 . as far as, even to, up to, until, while.
Transliteration: ad Phonetic Spelling: (ad) Short Definition: until. ...
/hebrew/5704.htm - 7k

5750. od -- a going around, continuance, still, yet, again, beside
... 39), more* (5), moreover (2), never* (9), once more* (3), once* (1), other (8),
since that time (1), soon (1), still (84), still more (1), while (6), while i ...
/hebrew/5750.htm - 7k

7350. rachoq -- distant, far, a distance
... NASB Word Usage afar (19), afar* (1), distance (11), distant (7), distant future
(1), far (31), far away (1), far off (2), farthest (1), great while (1), great ...
/hebrew/7350.htm - 6k

5751. od -- still
... 5750, 5751. od. 5752 . still. Transliteration: od Phonetic Spelling: (ode)
Short Definition: while. ... while. (Aramaic) corresponding to owd -- while. ...
/hebrew/5751.htm - 6k

4705. mitsar -- a small thing
... Word Origin from tsaar Definition a small thing NASB Word Usage insignificant
(1), little while (1), small (3). little one while, small. ...
/hebrew/4705.htm - 6k

4592. meat -- a little, fewness, a few
... fewness, a few NASB Word Usage almost (2), brief (1), close (1), diminish (1), easily
(1), enough (3), few (20), fewest (1), little (44), little while (8), many ...
/hebrew/4592.htm - 6k

834. asher -- who, which, that
... 136), whereas* (1), whereby (1), wherein (1), wherever (4), wherever* (27), which
(1925), which he and how (1), which* (1), whichever (1), while (1), while ...
/hebrew/834.htm - 7k

3117. yom -- day
... 2), time (45), time* (1), times* (2), today (172), today* (1), usual (1), very old*
(1), when (10), when the days (1), whenever (1), while (3), whole (2), year ...
/hebrew/3117.htm - 7k

3588. ki -- that, for, when
... 2), then (2), then* (1), though (37), though* (2), truly (5), unless* (10), until*
(5), what* (1), when (241), when* (1), whenever (1), while (2), without* (2 ...
/hebrew/3588.htm - 7k

3894. lechum -- intestines, bowels
... while. Or lachum {law-khoom'}; passive participle of lacham; properly, eaten, ie
Food; also flesh, ie Body -- while...is eating, flesh. see HEBREW lacham. ...
/hebrew/3894.htm - 6k

A Little While.
... A LITTLE WHILE. A LITTLE WHILE. 10,10,6,6,10. "A little while, and ye shall
not see me: and again a little while, and ye shall see ...
/.../borthwick/hymns from the land of luther/a little while.htm

And While the Ages Run,
... PENTECOST I And while the ages run,. 6,6,8,6. Come, Holy Ghost, in might,. ... In sympathy
benign. And while the ages run,. Our praise shall rise to Thee; ...
/.../brownlie/hymns of the russian church/i and while the ages.htm

While, Then, this is the Case, and it Cannot but be that Only one ...
... Book II. 57 While, then, this is the case, and it cannot but be that only one of? ...
reads dissonora, a word not met with elsewhere, while the other edd. ...
/.../the seven books of arnobius against the heathen/57 while then this is.htm

And on the Second Day, While Mary was at the Fountain to Fill Her ...
... Chapter 9. And on the second day, while Mary was at the fountain to fill
her pitcher? And on the second day, while Mary was at ...
/.../unknown/the gospel of pseudo-matthew/chapter 9 and on the.htm

How the Temple was Built While the Cutheans Endeavored in Vain to ...
... From The First Of Cyrus To The Death Of Alexander The Great. CHAPTER 4. How The
Temple Was Built While The Cutheans Endeavored In Vain To Obstruct The Work. ...
/.../josephus/the antiquities of the jews/chapter 4 how the temple.htm

Doing Something Worth While
... DOING SOMETHING WORTH WHILE. We all like to feel that what we are doing counts for
something, that it is really worth while. We like to see practical results. ...
/.../christianbookshelf.org/naylor/heart talks/talk eleven doing something worth.htm

While the Days are Going By. PM
... 412 While the Days Are Going By. PM. Daily Opportunity. There are lonely
hearts to cherish, While the days are going by; There are ...
//christianbookshelf.org/lorenz/the otterbein hymnal/412 while the days are.htm

"Moreover, it Will be Worth While to Relate Also Some of his ...
... Dialogues of Sulpitius Severus. Chapter X. "Moreover, it will be worth while
to relate also some of his familiar sayings? "Moreover ...
/.../severus/life and writings of sulpitius severus /chapter x moreover it will.htm

And While they Marvelled at That, Behold, Two Men Standing Above ...
... The Text of the Diatessaron. Section LIII. And while they marvelled at
that, behold, two men standing above them? [1] [3704] And ...
/.../hogg/the diatessaron of tatian/section liii and while they.htm

Whether a Child Can be Baptized While yet in Its Mother's Womb?
... OF THOSE WHO RECEIVE BAPTISM (TWELVE ARTICLES) Whether a child can be baptized
while yet in its mother's womb? Objection 1: It seems ...
//christianbookshelf.org/aquinas/summa theologica/whether a child can be.htm

While (3135 Occurrences)
... 1. (n.) Space of time, or continued duration, esp. when short; a time; as,
one while we thought him innocent. ...While (3135 Occurrences). ...
/w/while.htm - 7k

Slept (74 Occurrences)
... (DBY). Matthew 13:25 but while people slept, his enemy came and sowed darnel weeds
also among the wheat, and went away. (WEB KJV ASV DBY WBS). ...
/s/slept.htm - 28k

Advise (10 Occurrences)
... or wilt thou flee three months before thine enemies, while they pursue
thee? or that there be three days' pestilence in thy land? ...
/a/advise.htm - 12k

Speaking (376 Occurrences)
... Matthew 9:18 While He was thus speaking, a Ruler came up and profoundly bowing said,
"My daughter is just dead; but come and put your hand upon her and she ...
/s/speaking.htm - 34k

Zimri (16 Occurrences)
... Numbers 25:1-5 records how the Israelites, while they were at Shittim, began to
consort with Moabite women and "they (ie the Moabite women) called the people ...
/z/zimri.htm - 18k

Abimelech (63 Occurrences)
... As a Mark of respect he gave to Abraham valuable gifts, and offered him a settlement
in any part of his country; while at the same time he delicately and yet ...
/a/abimelech.htm - 36k

Questioning (65 Occurrences)
... Luke 3:15 And while the people were waiting, and all men were questioning in
their hearts about John, if he was the Christ or not, (BBE). ...
/q/questioning.htm - 24k

Swords (50 Occurrences)
... Matthew 26:47 While he was still speaking, behold, Judas, one of the twelve, came,
and with him a great multitude with swords and clubs, from the chief priest ...
/s/swords.htm - 22k

Spake (704 Occurrences)
... Matthew 9:18 While he spake these things unto them, behold, there came a certain
ruler, and worshipped him, saying, My daughter is even now dead: but come and ...
/s/spake.htm - 33k

Straightway (96 Occurrences)
... strait" are two entirely different words that have no connection with each other
in English, the former being derived from the Anglo-Saxon, while the latter ...
/s/straightway.htm - 35k

Why are Christians pro-life when it comes to abortion while at the same time in favor of the death penalty and supportive of war? | GotQuestions.org

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While: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.com

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