Bible Words Made Simple

Altar

An altar was like a table of stones where people gave offerings to God. Noah built an altar after the flood. Genesis 8:20 Full meaning

Amen

Amen means "Yes, this is true!" People say "Amen" at the end of a prayer. Nehemiah 8:6 Full meaning

Angel

An angel is a messenger from God. The angel Gabriel told Mary she would have a baby named Jesus. Luke 1:26–31 Story: The Birth of Jesus Full meaning

Anointing

Anointing means pouring oil on someone to show God chose them. The prophet Samuel anointed David to be the next king. 1 Samuel 16:13 Story: David and Goliath Full meaning

Apostle

An apostle is someone Jesus sent to tell others about him. Jesus chose twelve apostles, including Peter, James and John. Luke 6:13–14 Story: Jesus Calls His Disciples Full meaning

Ark (Noah's)

The ark was a huge wooden boat God told Noah to build. It kept Noah's family and the animals safe during the flood. Genesis 6:14 · Genesis 7:1 Story: Noah and the Ark Full meaning

Ark of the covenant

The ark of the covenant was a special golden box. Inside were the stone tablets with God's commandments. Exodus 25:10–16 · Deuteronomy 10:5 Story: Joshua and Jericho Full meaning

Ascension

The ascension is when Jesus went up into heaven while his friends watched. Angels said he will come back. Acts 1:9–11 Story: Jesus Dies and Rises Again Full meaning

Baptism

Baptism means being washed in water as a sign of following God. John baptized Jesus in the Jordan River. Mark 1:9–11 Story: John Baptizes Jesus Full meaning

Beatitude

The Beatitudes are Jesus' "blessed are" sayings, like "Blessed are the peacemakers". Matthew 5:9 Full meaning

Bethlehem

Bethlehem is a small town. King David was born there, and Jesus was born there too. 1 Samuel 17:12 · Luke 2:4–7 Story: The Birth of Jesus Full meaning

Birthright

A birthright was the special place of the oldest son in a family. Esau traded his birthright to Jacob for a bowl of stew. Genesis 25:33 Story: Jacob and Esau Full meaning

Blessing

A blessing is a good gift from God, or kind words asking God to do good to someone. Jesus took the children in his arms and blessed them. Mark 10:16 Story: Jesus Welcomes Children Full meaning

Covenant

A covenant is a special promise that joins people together. After the flood, God promised Noah he would never again flood the whole earth, and he gave the rainbow as the sign. Genesis 9:11–13 Story: Noah and the Ark Full meaning

Cubit

A cubit is the length from your elbow to the tip of your middle finger. Noah's ark was 300 cubits long. Genesis 6:15 Story: Noah and the Ark Full meaning

Denarius

A denarius was a silver coin. In one of Jesus' stories, workers were paid one denarius for a day of work. Matthew 20:2 Full meaning

Disciple

A disciple is a learner who follows a teacher. Peter and Andrew left their fishing nets to follow Jesus. Mark 1:16–18 Story: Jesus Calls His Disciples Full meaning

Faith

Faith means trusting God. Abraham trusted God and left his home to go where God would show him. Genesis 12:1–4 · Hebrews 11:8 Story: Abraham's Journey Full meaning

Famine

A famine is a time when there is not enough food. When famine came, God used Joseph to save food for many people. Genesis 41:29–30 Story: Joseph and His Brothers Full meaning

Firstborn

The firstborn is the first child born in a family. Esau was Isaac's firstborn son, but he traded his special rights to Jacob for a bowl of stew. Genesis 25:33–34 Story: Jacob and Esau Full meaning

Forgiveness

To forgive means to let go of someone's wrong instead of paying them back. Joseph forgave his brothers, even after they had sold him. Genesis 50:19–21 Story: Joseph and His Brothers Full meaning

Furnace

A furnace is a very, very hot oven. Three young men were thrown into one, and God kept them safe. Daniel 3:25–27 Story: The Fiery Furnace Full meaning

Glory

Glory means God's great brightness and greatness. When Jesus was born, the glory of the Lord shone around the shepherds. Luke 2:9 Story: The Birth of Jesus Full meaning

Gospel (Good News)

Gospel means good news. The good news is that God sent Jesus to save us. Mark 1:1 · Luke 2:10–11 Full meaning

Grace

Grace is God's kindness that we do not earn. It is a gift, like a present you did not have to pay for. Ephesians 2:8 Full meaning

Hallelujah

Hallelujah means "Praise the Lord!" People in heaven shout "Hallelujah!" in the book of Revelation. Revelation 19:1 Full meaning

Heaven

Heaven means the sky, and it also means God's home. Jesus taught us to pray, "Our Father in heaven". Matthew 6:9 Story: Jesus Dies and Rises Again Full meaning

Holiness

Holy means special and set apart for God. When Moses met God at the burning bush, God told him to take off his sandals because the ground was holy. Exodus 3:5 Story: Moses and Pharaoh Full meaning

Holy Spirit

The Holy Spirit is God's Spirit. At Pentecost the Holy Spirit came to Jesus' friends with a sound like wind and flames like fire. Acts 2:1–4 Story: Pentecost Full meaning

Hope

Hope means waiting for something good because you trust God. Even in hard times, the Bible says we can hope in God. Psalm 42:5 Full meaning

Hosanna

Hosanna means "Save us!" and became a happy shout of praise. Children shouted "Hosanna" to Jesus in the temple. Matthew 21:15 Full meaning

Idol

An idol is a statue that people pray to as if it were God. Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego would not bow down to the king's golden statue. Daniel 3:16–18 Story: The Fiery Furnace Full meaning

Jerusalem

Jerusalem is the city where King David lived and where the temple was. Nehemiah helped rebuild its walls. 2 Samuel 5:7 · Nehemiah 2:17 Story: Nehemiah Rebuilds Jerusalem Full meaning

Jordan River

The Jordan is a river. John baptized Jesus in the Jordan River. Mark 1:9 Story: John Baptizes Jesus Full meaning

Judge

In the book of Judges, a judge was a leader God chose to rescue his people. Deborah was a judge who helped Israel. Judges 4:4 Story: Deborah Full meaning

King

A king rules a country. David was a shepherd boy whom God chose to become king of Israel. 1 Samuel 16:12–13 Story: David and Goliath Full meaning

Kingdom of God

The kingdom of God means God being king. Jesus told stories, like the tiny mustard seed that grows big, to show what God's kingdom is like. Mark 4:30–32 Full meaning

Law (Torah)

The law is God's teaching about how to live. God gave Moses the Ten Commandments on Mount Sinai. Exodus 20:1–17 Story: The Ten Commandments Full meaning

Lepton (small coin)

A lepton was the smallest coin. A poor widow gave two of them, all she had, and Jesus said she gave the most. Mark 12:42–44 Full meaning

Lord's Supper (Communion)

The Lord's Supper is the special meal of bread and a cup that Jesus shared with his friends before he died. He said, "Do this in memory of me". Luke 22:19 Full meaning

Love

Love means caring for someone and doing what is good for them. Jesus said to love God and to love other people. Mark 12:30–31 Full meaning

Manger

A manger is a box that animals eat from. Baby Jesus was laid in a manger when he was born. Luke 2:7 Story: The Birth of Jesus Full meaning

Manna

Manna was special food that God sent every morning in the wilderness. It tasted like wafers made with honey. Exodus 16:31 Story: Manna in the Wilderness Full meaning

Mercy

Mercy is kindness to someone who needs help or who has done wrong. The good Samaritan showed mercy to a hurt man by the road. Luke 10:36–37 Story: The Good Samaritan Full meaning

Messiah

Messiah means "the chosen king God would send". Christ means the same thing. The Bible says Jesus is the Messiah. John 1:41 Full meaning

Miracle (sign)

A miracle is an amazing thing that only God can do. Jesus calmed a storm with just a few words. Mark 4:39 Story: Jesus Calms the Storm Full meaning

Mount Sinai

Mount Sinai is the mountain where God gave Moses the Ten Commandments. Exodus 19:20 · Exodus 20:1–3 Story: The Ten Commandments Full meaning

Nazirite

A Nazirite was a person who made a special promise to God. Samson was a Nazirite, so he never cut his hair. Judges 13:5 Story: Samson Full meaning

Offering

An offering is a gift we give to God. A poor widow gave two small coins, and Jesus said she gave more than everyone else. Mark 12:42–44 Full meaning

Parable

A parable is a story Jesus told to teach something about God. The lost sheep is one of his parables. Luke 15:3–7 Story: The Lost Sheep Full meaning

Passover

Passover is a special meal to remember how God rescued his people from Egypt. They put a lamb's blood on their doors and God passed over their houses. Exodus 12:13 Story: Moses and Pharaoh Full meaning

Peace

Peace means everything being well and calm, with no fighting. Jesus said, "Peace I leave with you". John 14:27 Full meaning

Pentecost (Feast of Weeks)

Pentecost was a harvest festival. On that day God sent the Holy Spirit to Jesus' friends in Jerusalem. Acts 2:1–4 Story: Pentecost Full meaning

Pharaoh

Pharaoh was the name for the king of Egypt. In Moses' time, Pharaoh would not let God's people go free. Exodus 5:1–2 Story: Moses and Pharaoh Full meaning

Plague

A plague is a terrible trouble that affects many people. God sent ten plagues on Egypt so Pharaoh would let his people go. Exodus 11:1 Story: Moses and Pharaoh Full meaning

Prayer

Prayer is talking to God. Jesus taught his friends a prayer that begins, "Our Father in heaven". Matthew 6:9 Full meaning

Priest

A priest served God for the people, at the tabernacle and later the temple. Zechariah, John the Baptist's father, was a priest. Luke 1:5 · Luke 1:8–9 Full meaning

Promise

A promise is when someone says they will do something and then does it. God promised Abraham and Sarah a son, and Isaac was born. Genesis 21:1–3 Story: Abraham and Sarah Full meaning

Prophet

A prophet is someone who tells people God's message. Samuel was a prophet; God called him when he was a boy. 1 Samuel 3:10 · 1 Samuel 3:20 Story: Samuel Hears God's Call Full meaning

Queen

A queen is a woman who rules or who is married to a king. Esther was a brave queen who saved her people. Esther 2:17 Story: Queen Esther Full meaning

Redemption

To redeem means to buy something back or set someone free. Boaz bought back Naomi's family land, and God set his people free from Egypt. Ruth 4:9 · Exodus 6:6 Story: Ruth and Naomi Full meaning

Repentance

To repent means to be sorry for doing wrong and to turn around and go God's way. When Zacchaeus met Jesus, he gave back what he had taken. Luke 19:8 Story: Zacchaeus Meets Jesus Full meaning

Resurrection

Resurrection means coming back to life after dying. On the third day Jesus rose from the dead, and his friends found the tomb empty. Luke 24:5–7 Story: Jesus Dies and Rises Again Full meaning

Righteousness

Righteousness means being right and doing what is right, the way God is. Abraham trusted God, and God counted that as righteousness. Genesis 15:6 Full meaning

Sabbath

The Sabbath is the seventh day, a day to rest and remember God. God rested on the seventh day after making the world. Genesis 2:2–3 Story: God Creates the World Full meaning

Salvation

Salvation means being rescued. God rescued Israel at the sea, and Jesus came to rescue people from sin. Exodus 14:13 · Luke 19:10 Full meaning

Samaritan

A Samaritan was a person from Samaria. In Jesus' story, a Samaritan stopped to help a hurt man when others walked past. Luke 10:33–34 Story: The Good Samaritan Full meaning

Shepherd

A shepherd looks after sheep, finding them food and water and keeping them safe. The Bible says, "The LORD is my shepherd". Psalm 23:1 Story: The Lost Sheep Full meaning

Sin

Sin means doing wrong things that hurt God and other people. The Bible says that when we tell God we are sorry, he forgives us. 1 John 1:9 Full meaning

Sling

A sling is a strap for throwing stones. David used his sling and one stone to defeat Goliath. 1 Samuel 17:40 · 1 Samuel 17:50 Story: David and Goliath Full meaning

Tabernacle

The tabernacle was a special tent where God's people worshipped him while they travelled in the wilderness. Exodus 25:8–9 Full meaning

Tax collector

A tax collector took money from people for the rulers. Zacchaeus was a tax collector who changed after meeting Jesus. Luke 19:2 · Luke 19:8 Story: Zacchaeus Meets Jesus Full meaning

Temple

The temple was God's house in Jerusalem, where people came to worship. When Jesus was twelve, his parents found him in the temple. Luke 2:46 Story: Jesus as a Boy at the Temple Full meaning

Tribe

A tribe is a big family that comes from one person. The twelve tribes of Israel came from Jacob's twelve sons. Genesis 35:22–26 Story: Joseph and His Brothers Full meaning

Wilderness

The wilderness is a dry, empty land. God's people walked through the wilderness for forty years, and God gave them manna to eat. Exodus 16:35 Story: Manna in the Wilderness Full meaning

Wisdom

Wisdom means knowing the right thing to do. When God asked Solomon what he wanted, Solomon asked for wisdom. 1 Kings 3:9 Story: Solomon Asks for Wisdom Full meaning

Wise men (Magi)

The wise men were visitors from a faraway land in the east. They followed a star to find Jesus and brought him gifts. Matthew 2:1–2 · Matthew 2:11 Story: The Visit of the Magi Full meaning

Worship

Worship means showing God how great he is: praising him, praying, singing and obeying him. Psalm 95 says, "Come, let's worship and bow down". Psalm 95:6 Full meaning

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