Topical Encyclopedia
In the context of the Bible, the term "who" is often used to pose questions that lead to deeper understanding of God's nature, human identity, and the relationship between the Creator and His creation. The word "who" appears frequently in Scripture, prompting reflection on divine attributes, human responsibility, and the mysteries of faith.
Divine Identity and AttributesThe question of "who" is central to understanding the identity of God. In
Exodus 3:14, when Moses asks God what he should say to the Israelites about who sent him, God responds, "I AM WHO I AM." This declaration reveals God's self-existence, eternal nature, and unchanging character. The rhetorical question in
Isaiah 40:25, "To whom will you compare Me, or who is My equal?" declares God's incomparability and supreme authority over all creation.
Human Identity and ResponsibilityThe Bible also uses "who" to explore human identity and responsibility. In
Genesis 3:11, God asks Adam, "Who told you that you were naked?" This question highlights the awareness of sin and the consequences of disobedience. Similarly, in
Psalm 8:4, the psalmist asks, "What is man that You are mindful of him, or the son of man that You care for him?" This reflects on humanity's place in creation and the special attention God gives to mankind.
Faith and Trust in GodThe question "who" often challenges believers to trust in God's power and provision. In
Romans 8:31, Paul writes, "If God is for us, who can be against us?" This rhetorical question encourages believers to have confidence in God's protection and support. Similarly, in
Matthew 6:27, Jesus asks, "Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life?" This question underscores the futility of anxiety and the importance of trusting in God's care.
Divine Wisdom and KnowledgeThe wisdom and knowledge of God are frequently highlighted through the use of "who." In
Job 38:4, God asks Job, "Where were you when I laid the foundations of the earth? Tell Me, if you have understanding." This question emphasizes God's omniscience and the limitations of human understanding. In
Romans 11:34, Paul echoes this sentiment, asking, "Who has known the mind of the Lord? Or who has been His counselor?" These questions remind believers of the depth of God's wisdom and the need for humility before Him.
Salvation and RedemptionThe concept of "who" is also significant in discussions of salvation and redemption. In
Acts 4:12, Peter declares, "Salvation exists in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to men by which we must be saved." This statement affirms the exclusivity of salvation through Jesus Christ. In
Revelation 5:2, a mighty angel asks, "Who is worthy to open the scroll and break its seals?" This question points to Christ's unique worthiness to execute God's redemptive plan.
ConclusionThe use of "who" in the Bible serves as a powerful tool for exploring theological truths and prompting reflection on the nature of God, human identity, and the dynamics of faith. Through these questions, Scripture invites believers to engage deeply with the mysteries of the divine and to grow in their understanding and trust in God.
Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary
1. (
object.) Originally, an interrogative pronoun, later, a relative pronoun also; -- used always substantively, and either as singular or plural. See the Note under What, pron., 1. As interrogative pronouns, who and whom ask the question: What or which person or persons? Who and whom, as relative pronouns (in the sense of that), are properly used of persons (corresponding to which, as applied to things), but are sometimes, less properly and now rarely, used of animals, plants, etc. Who and whom, as compound relatives, are also used especially of persons, meaning the person that; the persons that; the one that; whosoever.
2. (pron.) One; any; one.
Greek
3739. hos, he, ho -- usually rel. who, which, that, also ... ... who, which, that, also demonstrative this, that. Part of Speech: Relative Pronoun
Transliteration: hos, he, ho Phonetic Spelling: (hos) Short Definition:
who ... //strongsnumbers.com/greek2/3739.htm - 7k5101. tis -- who? which? what?
... who? ... Part of Speech: Interrogative Pronoun Transliteration: tis Phonetic Spelling:
(tis) Short Definition: who, which, what Definition: who, which, what, why. ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/5101.htm - 7k
3748. hostis, hetis, ho ti -- whoever, anyone who
... whoever, anyone who. Part of Speech: Relative Pronoun Transliteration: hostis, hetis,
ho ti Phonetic Spelling: (hos'-tis) Short Definition: whosoever ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/3748.htm - 7k
1109. gnostes -- one who knows
... one who knows. Part of Speech: Noun, Masculine Transliteration: gnostes Phonetic
Spelling: (gnoce'-tace) Short Definition: one who knows, an expert Definition ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/1109.htm - 6k
3848. parabates -- one who stands beside
... one who stands beside. Part of Speech: Noun, Masculine Transliteration: parabates
Phonetic Spelling: (par-ab-at'-ace) Short Definition: a transgressor Definition ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/3848.htm - 7k
500. antichristos -- antichrist, (one who opposes Christ)
... antichrist, (one who opposes Christ). Part of Speech: Noun, Masculine Transliteration:
antichristos Phonetic Spelling: (an-tee'-khris-tos) Short Definition ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/500.htm - 7k
244. allotriepiskopos -- one who meddles in things alien to his ...
... one who meddles in things alien to his calling. Part of Speech: Noun, Masculine
Transliteration: allotriepiskopos Phonetic Spelling: (al-lot-ree-ep-is'-kop-os ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/244.htm - 6k
2790. kitharodos -- one who plays and sings to the lyre
... one who plays and sings to the lyre. Part of Speech: Noun, Masculine Transliteration:
kitharodos Phonetic Spelling: (kith-ar-o'-dos) Short Definition: a harpist ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/2790.htm - 6k
4414. protostates -- one who stands first (of soldiers), hence a ...
... one who stands first (of soldiers), hence a leader. Part of Speech: Noun, Masculine
Transliteration: protostates Phonetic Spelling: (pro-tos-tat'-ace) Short ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/4414.htm - 6k
4691. spermologos -- a seed picker, fig. one who picks up scraps ...
... one who picks up scraps of knowledge. Part of Speech: Adjective Transliteration:
spermologos Phonetic Spelling: (sper-mol-og'-os) Short Definition: a babbler ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/4691.htm - 6k
Strong's Hebrew
834. asher -- who, which, that... 833, 834. asher. 835 .
who, which, that. Transliteration: asher Phonetic
Spelling: (ash-er') Short Definition: which. Word Origin a prim.
... /hebrew/834.htm - 7k 4310. mi -- who?
... 4309, 4310. mi. 4311 . who? Transliteration: mi Phonetic Spelling: (me) Short
Definition: who. Word Origin a prim. pronoun Definition who? ...
/hebrew/4310.htm - 6k
4479. man -- who?
... man. 4480 . who? ... Word Origin (Aramaic) corresponding to man Definition who? NASB
Word Usage what (2), who (2), whoever (2), whom* (1), whomever* (3). ...
/hebrew/4479.htm - 6k
7945. shel -- who, which, that
... 7944, 7945. shel or she. 7946 . who, which, that. Transliteration: shel or
she Phonetic Spelling: (shel) Short Definition: which. Word Origin a prim. rel. ...
/hebrew/7945.htm - 6k
2098. zu -- this, which, who
... 2097, 2098. zu. 2099 . this, which, who. Transliteration: zu Phonetic
Spelling: (zoo) Short Definition: which. Word Origin from ...
/hebrew/2098.htm - 6k
4332. Mishael -- "Who is what God is?" three Israelites
... 4331, 4332. Mishael. 4333 . "Who is what God is?" three Israelites.
Transliteration: Mishael Phonetic Spelling: (mee-shaw-ale') Short Definition: Mishael. ...
/hebrew/4332.htm - 6k
4320. Mikayah -- "Who is like Yah?" the name of several Israelites
... Mikayah. 4321 . "Who is like Yah?" the name of several Israelites. Transliteration:
Mikayah Phonetic Spelling: (me-kaw-yaw') Short Definition: Micaiah. ...
/hebrew/4320.htm - 6k
1768. di -- who, which, that, because
... 1767, 1768. di. 1769 . who, which, that, because. Transliteration: di Phonetic
Spelling: (dee) Short Definition: which. Word Origin (Aramaic) a prim. ...
/hebrew/1768.htm - 6k
4317. Mikael -- "Who is like God?" an angel, also a number of Isr.
... Mikael. 4318 . "Who is like God?" an angel, also a number of Isr. Transliteration:
Mikael Phonetic Spelling: (me-kaw-ale') Short Definition: Michael. ...
/hebrew/4317.htm - 6k
5146. Noach -- "rest," patriarch who survived the flood
... 5145, 5146. Noach. 5147 . "rest," patriarch who survived the flood.
Transliteration: Noach Phonetic Spelling: (no'-akh) Short Definition: Noah. ...
/hebrew/5146.htm - 6k
Library
Who are the Wise?
... WHO ARE THE WISE? Who is a foolish man? It is a man who hears the sayings
of Jesus and fails to do them. He is likened to a man ...
//christianbookshelf.org/orr/how to live a holy life/who are the wise.htm
Who Wrote the Bible?
Who Wrote the Bible? . Who Wrote the Bible? Washington Gladden. Curtis A.
Weyant, Charles Franks, and the Distributed Proofreading Team. ...
//christianbookshelf.org/gladden/who wrote the bible/
Who is to Come
... WHO IS TO COME. This also is a definite title of Christ; (... ho erchomenos), THE
COMING ONE. ... John 1:15; iii.31 (twice). "Who coming," John 1:27. ...
//christianbookshelf.org/bullinger/commentary on revelation/who is to come.htm
Blasphemer, or --Who?
... VOLUME I: ST. LUKE Chaps. I to XII BLASPHEMER, OR"WHO? ... 21. And the scribes and the
Pharisees began to reason, saying, Who is this which speaketh blasphemies? ...
/.../maclaren/expositions of holy scripture e/blasphemer orwho.htm
Stories of Boys and Girls Who Loved the Saviour
Stories of Boys and Girls Who Loved the Saviour. <. Stories of Boys
and Girls Who Loved the Saviour John Wesley. Produced ...
/...//christianbookshelf.org/wesley/stories of boys and girls who loved the saviour/
Who Teach: that the Will of God to Save those who Would Believe ...
... First Head of Doctrine. Divine Election and Reprobation Paragraph 1 Who teach:
That the will of God to save those who would believe and would? ...
/.../various/the canons of dordt/paragraph 1 who teach that.htm
The Man who is Judge
... THE ACTS CHAP. XIII TO END THE MAN WHO IS JUDGE. '...He will judge the world
in righteousness by that Man whom He hath ordained; whereof ...
/.../maclaren/expositions of holy scripture the acts/the man who is judge.htm
Who is this that Cometh up from the Wilderness, Replete with ...
... CHAPTER VIII. 5. Who is this that cometh up from the wilderness, replete
with delights, leaning upon the arm of her beloved? I raised ...
//christianbookshelf.org/guyon/song of songs of solomon/5 who is this that.htm
Concerning the King who Made a Reckoning with his Own Servants, to ...
... Book XIV. 6. Concerning the King Who Made a Reckoning with His Own Servants,
to Whom Was Brought a Man Who Owed Ten Thousand Talents. ...
/.../origens commentary on the gospel of matthew/6 concerning the king who.htm
Who are the Children of the Old Covenant.
... Book III. Chapter 9."Who are the Children of the Old Covenant. But those
belong to the old testament, "which gendereth from Mount ...
/.../augustine/anti-pelagian writings/chapter 9 who are the children.htm
Thesaurus
Who (41846 Occurrences)... See the Note under What, pron., 1. As interrogative pronouns,
who and whom ask the
question: What or which person or persons?
...Who (41846 Occurrences).
.../w/who.htm - 7kSows (18 Occurrences)
... his ground. (WEY). Matthew 13:37 He answered them, "He who sows the good
seed is the Son of Man, (WEB DBY NAS RSV). Matthew 13:39 ...
/s/sows.htm - 11k
Spreads (31 Occurrences)
... 2 Corinthians 2:14 Now thanks be to God, who always leads us in triumph in Christ,
and reveals through us the sweet aroma of his knowledge in every place. ...
/s/spreads.htm - 14k
Shuts (12 Occurrences)
... Revelation 3:7 "To the angel of the assembly in Philadelphia write: "He who is holy,
he who is true, he who has the key of David, he who opens and no one can ...
/s/shuts.htm - 9k
Kills (38 Occurrences)
... judgment; (See RSV). Matthew 23:37 "Jerusalem, Jerusalem, who kills the
prophets, and stones those who are sent to her! How often I ...
/k/kills.htm - 17k
Sowing (28 Occurrences)
... Matthew 13:37 And he answering said to them, 'He who is sowing the good seed is
the Son of Man, (YLT). ... Mark 4:14 He who is sowing doth sow the word; (YLT). ...
/s/sowing.htm - 14k
Shouldn't (20 Occurrences)
... Acts 10:28 He said to them, "You yourselves know how it is an unlawful thing for
a man who is a Jew to join himself or come to one of another nation, but God ...
/s/shouldn't.htm - 12k
Shows (42 Occurrences)
... After a little while again those who stood by said to Peter, "You truly are one
of them, for you are a Galilean, and your speech shows it." (WEB). ...
/s/shows.htm - 17k
Kareah (14 Occurrences)
... Bald, the father of Johanan and Jonathan, who for a time were loyal to Gedaliah,
the Babylonian governor of Jerusalem (Jeremiah 40:8, 13, 15, 16). Int. ...
/k/kareah.htm - 12k
Zealot (4 Occurrences)
... Noah Webster's Dictionary (n.) One who engages earnestly warmly in any cause,
especially, one who is overzealous, or carried away by his zeal; one absorbed in ...
/z/zealot.htm - 12k
Resources
Questions about People in the Bible (All) | GotQuestions.orgOld Testament Individuals ' Article Index | GotQuestions.orgNew Testament Individuals ' Article Index | GotQuestions.orgWho: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.comBible Concordance •
Bible Dictionary •
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