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General biblical topics and themes — 4,980 entries

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Staves were wooden staffs used by shepherds and leaders in biblical times, symbolizing authority and care. In Zechariah 11, two staves represent God's care for His people and the breaking of covenants.

Steadfastness is unwavering commitment to God's truth and purposes despite challenges, obstacles, and temptations. It reflects a mature faith that remains rooted in Christ and His Word.

Steel in Scripture symbolizes strength, durability, and God's power to equip His people for spiritual warfare and endurance through trials.

Stephanas was an early Christian believer in Corinth whose household was among the first converts in Achaia and who devoted himself to serving the saints.

Stephen was a Spirit-filled deacon in the Jerusalem church whose bold witness to Christ led to his martyrdom, making him the first recorded Christian martyr. His faithfulness unto death exemplifies courageous testimony despite opposition.

A steward is a servant entrusted with the management of another's household, resources, or affairs. Biblical stewardship emphasizes faithful responsibility and accountability before God for what He has entrusted to us.

In Ezekiel's vision, sticks symbolized the reunification of divided Israel, representing God's promise to restore His people. This metaphor illustrates how God uses ordinary objects to communicate profound spiritual truths about redemption and unity.

Stocks were instruments of punishment and restraint used in biblical times to confine prisoners and enforce justice. Understanding their use reveals God's sovereignty over human suffering and His ultimate deliverance.

Stoicism is a Greek philosophical system that emphasizes virtue, reason, and emotional detachment, which Paul encountered and refuted at Athens. Biblical Christianity offers a superior foundation for living that rests on God's grace rather than human willpower alone.

A stomacher was an ornamental garment worn by women in biblical times, often made of precious materials and worn over the chest and torso as a sign of wealth and status.

Stones in Scripture serve as physical reminders of God's covenant, divine judgment, and His enduring word. From the tablets of the Law to stones of judgment, they point to God's unchanging character and our need to remember His works.

Stoning was the primary method of capital punishment in Old Testament Israel for serious offenses against God's law. The practice demonstrates God's justice and the severe consequences of violating His covenant.

A stool is a simple piece of furniture mentioned in Scripture, used for sitting or as a footrest. Biblical references reveal its practical use in everyday life and spiritual contexts.

The stork appears in Scripture as a migratory bird known for its natural instincts and is listed among ceremonially unclean animals. It serves as an illustration of God's created order and creature behavior.

Straightness in Scripture refers to both literal directness and the spiritual principle of living an upright, unbending life aligned with God's truth. The concept emphasizes removing obstacles to follow Christ and His Word without deviation.

The strait gate represents the narrow way of genuine faith in Christ that leads to eternal life, contrasted with the broad way that leads to destruction.

Scripture calls believers to welcome and care for strangers as a reflection of God's character and our own experience of His grace. This duty stems from recognizing that God Himself defends the vulnerable and commands His people to do likewise.

Strangers in Israel

Scripture reveals God's heart for foreigners living among His people Israel, requiring them to be treated with justice and extending covenant privileges to those who believed. This principle extends to the church today, calling believers to welcome and minister to strangers in their midst.

The apostolic decree in Acts 15 instructed gentile believers to abstain from eating meat of strangled animals as part of respecting Jewish dietary sensibilities and maintaining unity in the early church.

Strategy in War

Biblical strategy in war demonstrates God's wisdom through careful planning, tactical positioning, and wise counsel rather than relying on strength alone. Scripture shows that successful military campaigns require discernment, organization, and sometimes unconventional approaches that honor God.

Straw was a common material in ancient Israel used for animal bedding and as a component in brick-making. Its mention in Scripture illustrates both the ordinary provisions of daily life and God's care for His creation.

Scripture addresses our responsibility to care for lost animals belonging to others, reflecting God's concern for stewardship and compassion. This principle extends to our duty toward our neighbor's property and wellbeing.

God's strength is immutable and eternal, rooted in His unchanging nature and absolute power. Believers can find confidence and courage by trusting in the Lord's unlimited strength rather than their own abilities.

Strife is a work of the flesh that damages relationships and communities, while Scripture calls believers to pursue peace and unity through humility and wisdom.

Stripes refer to the physical marks and wounds inflicted on believers, particularly the apostle Paul, as a result of persecution and suffering for Christ's sake.

Stubble symbolizes weakness, worthlessness, and judgment in Scripture, representing what remains after harvest and is easily destroyed. It frequently appears as a metaphor for the fleeting nature of the wicked and God's consuming judgment.

Biblical students were learners who followed teachers and prophets to gain spiritual knowledge and understanding of God's ways. Scripture illustrates this relationship through the examples of prophetic schools and devoted disciples.

Suah was a son of Zophah in the tribe of Asher, mentioned in the genealogical records of 1 Chronicles. Little is known about him beyond his family lineage.

Submission is the willing surrender of our will to God's authority, exemplified supremely by Christ in Gethsemane. It reflects a heart that trusts God's wisdom and purposes above our own desires.

Substitution is the biblical principle where one person or sacrifice takes the place of another, bearing what they deserve. This concept reaches its ultimate fulfillment in Christ's substitutionary atonement.

In biblical times, suburbs were pastureland designated around Levitical cities to provide space for livestock and agricultural support. These areas served practical purposes for the priests and Levites who served Israel's spiritual needs.

Succoth was the first camp of the Israelites after leaving Egypt during the Exodus, serving as a pivotal waypoint in God's deliverance of His people.

The Bible affirms the sanctity of human life as divinely created and establishes that death is not an escape from God's reach or judgment.

Scripture discourages believers from suing one another in secular courts, instead calling us to resolve disputes through the church and to suffer wrong rather than damage our witness. Jesus teaches that we should be willing to lose material possessions rather than stand up for our rights in court.

The Sukkiims were a foreign military people who served in the army of Shishak, the Egyptian pharaoh who invaded Judah during King Rehoboam's reign. Their involvement demonstrates the broad coalition of forces arrayed against God's people.

Summer in Scripture represents both the abundance of God's provision and a season of spiritual readiness. Biblical references to summer reveal lessons about harvest, maturity, and the importance of preparation.

The sun is God's creation, appointed to govern day and night, and serves as a testimony to God's power and glory. In eternity, God's presence will replace the sun's light.

A sun-dial was an ancient timekeeping device that measured hours by the shadow of the sun, famously used as a sign of God's power when King Hezekiah's life was extended.

The sun in Scripture represents God's power, glory, and the promise of eternal light. It also features in prophetic passages about Christ's return and the future kingdom.

Sunstroke, or heat stroke, is a serious physical ailment caused by excessive exposure to the sun's heat. The Bible acknowledges this danger and reminds us to steward our bodies as temples of the Holy Spirit.

Supererogation refers to works beyond what God requires, but Scripture teaches that believers cannot earn extra merit with God through deeds beyond obedience. Our righteousness comes through faith in Christ alone, not through exceeding God's commands.

The superscription was the inscription placed above Jesus's head on the cross, declaring his identity and the charge against him. All four gospels record this significant detail of the crucifixion.

Superstition is the attribution of spiritual significance to events or objects based on unfounded beliefs rather than God's Word. Scripture warns believers against superstitious practices that distract from faith in Christ alone.

Sur was a gate or entrance to the temple in Jerusalem, mentioned in connection with the royal guard during the reign of King Joash. It served as a strategic location for protecting the temple and the king.

Surety is the act of pledging oneself as responsible for another's debt or obligation. Scripture warns against becoming surety lightly, as it places one's own security at risk.

The Susanchites were a people group settled in Samaria by the Assyrian king, mentioned in Ezra as opponents of the Jewish temple reconstruction. They were among the foreign colonists who wrote a letter of accusation against the Jews to King Artaxerxes.

Susanna was a devoted follower of Jesus who supported His ministry financially and personally. She represents the faithful women who walked with Christ during His earthly ministry.

Susi was one of the twelve spies sent by Moses to scout the land of Canaan, representing the tribe of Manasseh.

Swaddling was the practice of wrapping infants tightly in cloths, a common custom in ancient Israel that provided warmth, security, and protection. Jesus himself was swaddled as a newborn, demonstrating the normalcy and importance of this care practice in biblical times.

The swallow appears in Scripture as a symbol of God's care for the humble and as a picture of faithful obedience to God's timing. This small bird illustrates spiritual truths about belonging, devotion, and discernment.