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General biblical topics and themes — 4,980 entries

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The Sabbath, a day of rest established in the Old Testament, was transformed by Christ's resurrection on the first day of the week, leading the early church to gather on Sunday rather than Saturday.

Sabbath Day's Journey

A Sabbath day's journey was a distance of approximately half a mile, based on Jewish oral tradition, that a person could travel on the Sabbath without violating the law of rest. This limitation reflected rabbinical interpretation of Old Testament Sabbath commandments.

The Sabbath is God's appointed day of rest, established at creation and commemorated as a sign of God's covenant with His people. Under the New Covenant, believers find their ultimate rest in Christ rather than in observance of the Old Testament Sabbath laws.

The Sabbatic Year was a divinely ordained practice in Old Testament Israel occurring every seventh year, during which the land rested, debts were forgiven, and Hebrew servants were released with generous provision.

The Sabeans were an ancient Arabian people known for their trading activities and military raids in biblical times. They appear in Scripture primarily as examples of God's sovereignty over nations and the breadth of His redemptive plan.

Sabta was a son of Cush and grandson of Ham, representing one of the early descendants of Noah listed in the Table of Nations.

Sabtecha was a son of Cush and a descendant of Ham, listed among the early post-Flood nations. He represents one of the ancient peoples whose genealogy is recorded in Scripture to trace human dispersion after the Flood.

Sacar was a son of Obed-edom, a Levite gatekeeper in the tabernacle during King David's reign, appointed to serve in the temple ministry.

The sackbut was an ancient musical instrument mentioned in Daniel's account of Nebuchadnezzar's golden image, used in the royal orchestra to signal worship of the idol.

Sackcloth was a coarse, dark fabric worn in biblical times as an outward expression of grief, mourning, repentance, or distress before God. It symbolized humility and sincere contrition.

Sacrifices in Scripture represent the worship, atonement, and devotion of God's people, ultimately fulfilled in Christ's perfect sacrifice. Understanding biblical sacrifices reveals God's holiness, our need for redemption, and the centrality of Christ's work.

Sacrilege is the irreverent or profane treatment of sacred things, and Scripture condemns it as a serious offense against God's holiness.

The Sadducees were a Jewish religious sect that opposed Jesus and the apostles, denying the resurrection and angelic existence. They represented the religious establishment of Jesus's time and actively persecuted the early church.

The Sadducees were a Jewish religious sect that rejected the resurrection, angels, and oral tradition, opposing both Jesus and the apostles. They represented the religious establishment and aristocracy of first-century Judaism.

Sadoc was an ancestor of Jesus Christ listed in Matthew's genealogy, part of the line through which God preserved the promise of the Messiah.

Saints, Compared To

Scripture uses rich natural imagery to describe the character, growth, and fruitfulness of believers, comparing saints to plants, birds, and celestial bodies that reflect God's care and transformative power.

Salah was a patriarch in the line of Shem, living during the early post-Flood period and serving as an ancestor of Abraham and ultimately Jesus Christ.

Salamis was a city on the island of Cyprus where Paul and Barnabas began their first missionary journey, proclaiming the gospel in Jewish synagogues. This represents an early example of apostolic evangelism to the Jewish community.

Salcah was an ancient city on the eastern border of the kingdom of Og in Bashan, marking the territorial limits of Israelite conquest east of the Jordan River.

Salim was a place near John the Baptist's ministry where he baptized many people, indicating the significance of water baptism in John's preparatory work before Jesus's public ministry.

Sallai was a Benjamite who returned to Jerusalem after the Babylonian exile and lived in the city during Nehemiah's time.

Sallu was a Benjamite who returned from exile and served as a leader among the people of Jerusalem during the postexilic period.

Salma was an ancestral figure in David's line whose faithfulness demonstrates how God honors steadfast character across generations.

Salmon appears rarely in Scripture, mentioned primarily in the context of ancient Israel's geography and the abundance of God's creation in the promised land.

Salmone was a cape on the eastern end of Crete that Paul's ship passed while traveling to Rome. It serves as a geographical marker in Luke's account of Paul's final missionary journey.

Salome was the mother of James and John, disciples of Jesus, known for her request that her sons sit at places of honor in Christ's kingdom. She was also present at Jesus's crucifixion and resurrection.

Salt in Scripture represents both a preservative agent in Old Testament worship and a metaphor for Christian influence and witness in the New Testament.

Biblical salutations reveal the cultural customs and spiritual greetings used throughout Scripture to honor God and show respect to one another. These practices demonstrate the importance of proper social courtesy and reverence in relationships.

Salvation is God's gracious work of delivering sinners from sin and death through faith in Christ's atoning sacrifice. It is the central promise of the Gospel, accomplished by Jesus and received through faith alone.

Samaria was a region in central Palestine with a complex history of division and hostility between Jews and Samaritans. The gospel's reach to Samaria demonstrates Christ's inclusive love and the breaking down of cultural and religious barriers.

Samaria, Ancient

Samaria was the capital city of the northern kingdom of Israel, which became a center of spiritual compromise and idolatry. The city ultimately fell to Assyrian siege in 722 BC due to Israel's rebellion against God.

Samaria, Modern

Samaria in the New Testament represents a region that Jesus and the early church reached with the gospel, breaking down centuries of Jewish-Samaritan hostility. This demonstrates Christ's inclusive love and the Spirit's power to transform relationships and bring salvation to unexpected people.

Samgar-Nebo was a Babylonian official who served under Nebuchadnezzar II during the siege of Jerusalem in 586 BC. He is mentioned once in Scripture as part of the military leadership that conquered the city.

Samlah was an ancient king of Edom who reigned during the period before Israel had kings. He is listed among the early Edomite rulers in the genealogical records of Scripture.

Samos is a Greek island in the Aegean Sea where the Apostle Paul briefly stopped during his third missionary journey. Though his visit was short, it demonstrates Paul's intentional travels to spread the gospel throughout the Mediterranean region.

Samothrace was an island in the northern Aegean Sea that served as a stopping point during Paul's second missionary journey. Luke briefly mentions it as the place where Paul and his companions landed en route to Philippi.

Samson was a judge of Israel set apart by God from birth to deliver Israel from the Philistines, yet his personal failures and disobedience demonstrate the tragic consequences of spiritual compromise.

Samuel was a prophet, judge, and priest of Israel who served as a spiritual leader during the transition from judges to kings. He anointed both Saul and David, playing a crucial role in God's redemptive plan.

Sanballat was a Samaritan official who persistently opposed Nehemiah's reconstruction of Jerusalem's walls, representing the spiritual opposition believers face when pursuing God's purposes.

Sanctification is the biblical process of being set apart and made holy through God's grace, beginning at conversion and continuing throughout the Christian life. It involves both God's work in us and our cooperative response to pursue holiness.

The sanctuary was God's appointed place of worship where His presence dwelt among His people, serving as the central location for sacrifice, prayer, and communion with the Lord. It prefigured Christ's perfect redemptive work and continues to teach believers about approaching a holy God.

God's Old Testament laws on sanitation reflect His concern for the health and holiness of His people, establishing principles of cleanliness that protected communities from disease and contamination.

Sansannah was a city in the Negev region of Judah, listed among the towns allotted to the tribe of Judah during the conquest of Canaan.

Saph was a giant of Gath who was killed by Sibbecai the Hushathite during David's reign. He is mentioned briefly in the historical records of Israel's conflicts with the Philistines.

Saphir was a town in Judah mentioned in Micah's prophecy of judgment against various Judean cities. The name appears in the context of Micah's warning about the coming Assyrian invasion.

Sapphira was the wife of Ananias who joined her husband in deceiving the apostles about the proceeds from a property sale, resulting in divine judgment and her death.

Sapphire is a precious blue gemstone mentioned throughout Scripture as a symbol of beauty, value, and God's glory. It appears in descriptions of God's throne, the priestly garments, and the heavenly city.

Saraph was a descendant of Judah mentioned in the genealogies of 1 Chronicles. Little is known about him beyond his family lineage.

Sarcasm is the use of irony to mock or criticize, and while it appears in Scripture, it requires careful use as it can mask pride and cause harm to others.

Sardis was an ancient church that appeared alive but was spiritually dead, receiving Christ's warning to wake up and strengthen what remained. Jesus called them to remember what they had received and heard, to keep it, and to repent.