Topical Encyclopedia
In the Bible, the term "babe" is used to refer to infants or very young children. The word appears in various contexts, often symbolizing innocence, vulnerability, and the beginning stages of life. The concept of a babe is significant in both literal and metaphorical senses throughout Scripture.
Old Testament ReferencesIn the Old Testament, the Hebrew word often translated as "babe" is
yeled or olel, which generally refers to a young child or infant. For example, in Exodus 2:6, when Pharaoh's daughter discovers Moses in the basket among the reeds, the text states, "When she opened it, she saw the child, and behold, the boy was crying. So she had compassion on him and said, 'This is one of the Hebrew children.'" Here, the vulnerability and innocence of the babe Moses evoke compassion and set the stage for his future role as a leader of Israel.
New Testament References
In the New Testament, the Greek word brephos is used to denote a babe or infant. One of the most significant references to a babe is found in the account of the birth of Jesus Christ. In Luke 2:12, the angel announces to the shepherds, "And this will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in swaddling cloths and lying in a manger." The birth of Jesus as a babe in humble circumstances underscores the theme of God's power and presence manifesting in weakness and humility.
Another notable mention is in 1 Peter 2:2, where believers are encouraged to "crave pure spiritual milk, so that by it you may grow up in your salvation." Here, the metaphor of a babe is used to describe new believers who are in the early stages of their spiritual journey, emphasizing the need for growth and nourishment in faith.
Symbolism and Themes
The imagery of a babe in the Bible often symbolizes purity and the potential for growth. In Matthew 18:3, Jesus uses the example of a child to teach about the kingdom of heaven: "Truly I tell you, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven." This passage highlights the qualities of humility, trust, and openness that are associated with children and are essential for entering God's kingdom.
Furthermore, the vulnerability of babes is a recurring theme that illustrates the need for protection and care. This is evident in the account of Moses, as well as in the account of Herod's massacre of the innocents in Matthew 2:16, where the fragility of young life is starkly portrayed.
Theological Implications
The concept of a babe in Scripture also carries theological implications regarding the incarnation of Christ. The fact that the Savior of the world entered human history as a helpless infant speaks to the mystery of the incarnation—God becoming fully human while remaining fully divine. This profound truth is central to Christian theology and highlights the depth of God's love and humility.
In summary, the term "babe" in the Bible encompasses a range of meanings, from the literal sense of an infant to the metaphorical representation of spiritual infancy and growth. It serves as a powerful symbol of innocence, dependence, and the transformative journey of faith.Easton's Bible Dictionary
Used of children generally (Matthew 11:25; 21:16; Luke 10:21; Romans 2:20). It is used also of those who are weak in Christian faith and knowledge (1 Corinthians 3:1; Hebrews 5:13; 1 Peter 2:2). In Isaiah 3:4 the word "babes" refers to a succession of weak and wicked princes who reigned over Judah from the death of Josiah downward to the destruction of Jerusalem. Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary
1. (n.) An infant; a young child of either sex; a baby.2. (n.) A doll for children.
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia
BABEbab:
(1) na`ar; pais of a male infant 3 months old (Exodus 2:6) translated elsewhere "boy" or "lad."
(2) `olel, ta`alulim, in the general sense of "child" (Psalm 8:2; Psalm 17:14 Isaiah 3:4).
(3) brephos an unborn or newborn child (King James Version and the Revised Version (British and American) of Luke 1:41, 44; Luke 2:12, 16 1 Peter 2:2 and the Revised Version (British and American) of Luke 18:15 [AV "infants"]; Acts 7:19 [King James Version, "young children"] and 2 Timothy 3:15 [King James Version, "child"]).
(4) nepios = (Latin infans) "a child that cannot speak." (King James and the Revised Version (British and American) of Matthew 11:25; Matthew 21:16 Luke 10:21 Romans 2:20 1 Corinthians 3:1; Hebrews 5:13) the same word is translated "child," plural "children" (in the King James Version and the Revised Version (British and American) of 1 Corinthians 13:11 Galatians 4:1, 3 Ephesians 4:14) the verb nepiazete is translated in the King James Version "be ye children" and in the Revised Version (British and American) "be ye babes" (1 Corinthians 14:20). Nepios is used metaphorically of those who are like children, of simple and single minds, as opposed to the "wise and understanding" (Matthew 11:25 = Luke 10:21; compare 1 Corinthians 14:20). "Babes in Christ" are men of little spiritual growth, carnal as opposed to spiritual (1 Corinthians 3:1; compare Hebrews 5:13 Ephesians 4:14). Nepios is also used of a child as a minor or infant in the eye of the law (Galatians 4:1, 3).
T. Rees
Greek
1025. brephos -- an unborn or a newborn child ... unborn or a newborn child. Part of Speech: Noun, Neuter Transliteration: brephos
Phonetic Spelling: (bref'-os) Short Definition: infant,
babe Definition: infant
... //strongsnumbers.com/greek2/1025.htm - 6k3515. nepiazo -- to be an infant
... be a child. From nepios; to act as a babe, ie (figuratively) innocently -- be a
child. see GREEK nepios. (nepiazete) -- 1 Occurrence. 3514, 3515. ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/3515.htm - 6k
3516. nepios -- an infant, fig. a simple-minded or immature person
... ne- (implying negation) and epos; not speaking, ie An infant (minor); figuratively,
a simple-minded person, an immature Christian -- babe, child (+ -ish). ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/3516.htm - 6k
Strong's Hebrew
5768. olel -- a child... babe, young child, infant, little one. Or lolal {o-lawl'}; from uwl; a suckling --
babe, (young) child, infant, little one. see HEBREW uwl. 5767b, 5768.
... /hebrew/5768.htm - 6k 8586. taalulim -- wantonness, caprice
... babe, delusion. From alal; caprice (as a fit coming on), ie Vexation; concretely
a tyrant -- babe, delusion. see HEBREW alal. 8585b, 8586. taalulim. 8587 . ...
/hebrew/8586.htm - 6k
5288. naar -- a boy, lad, youth, retainer
... 38), young people (1), youth (14), youths (2). babe, boy, child, damsel,
lad, servant, young man. From na'ar; (concretely) a boy (as ...
/hebrew/5288.htm - 6k
5764. ul -- a sucking child, suckling
... child (1). sucking child, infant. From uwl; a babe -- sucking child, infant.
see HEBREW uwl. 5763, 5764. ul. 5765 . Strong's Numbers.
/hebrew/5764.htm - 6k
7728. shobeb -- turning back, apostate
... 7727, 7728. shobeb. 7729 . turning back, apostate. Transliteration: shobeb
Phonetic Spelling: (sho-babe') Short Definition: apostate. ...
/hebrew/7728.htm - 6k
7988. shilyah -- afterbirth
... young one. Feminine from shalah; a fetus or babe (as extruded in birth) -- young
one. see HEBREW shalah. 7987, 7988. shilyah. 7989 . Strong's Numbers.
/hebrew/7988.htm - 6k
5759. avil -- a young boy
... young child, little one. From uwl; a babe -- young child, little one. see
HEBREW uwl. 5758, 5759. avil. 5760 . Strong's Numbers.
/hebrew/5759.htm - 6k
Library
The Burning Babe
... BIBLE STORIES AND RELIGIOUS CLASSICS THE BURNING BABE. As I in hoary winter's
night stood shivering in the snow, Surprised I was ...
/.../wells/bible stories and religious classics/the burning babe.htm
The Babe in the Bulrushes
The Babe in the Bulrushes. <. The Babe in the Bulrushes Amy Steedman.
Produced by Sankar Viswanathan, Juliet Sutherland ...
//christianbookshelf.org/steedman/the babe in the bulrushes/
Sleep, Holy Babe
... No. 14 Sleep, Holy Babe. CHRISTMAS Sleep, Holy Babe (For additional Christmas
Hymns see Hymns Nos.126 [USD] 127 and Latin Hymns). Tr. Rev. ...
/.../various/the st gregory hymnal and catholic choir book/no 14 sleep holy babe.htm
The Burning Babe
... Book First X THE BURNING BABE. R. Southwell. ... And lifting up a fearful eye to view
what fire was near,. A pretty Babe all burning bright, did in the air appear; ...
/.../palgrave/the treasury of sacred song/x the burning babe.htm
The Story of Jesus, the Babe of Bethlehem
... THE STORY OF JESUS, THE BABE OF BETHLEHEM. Soon after the time when John the
Baptist was born, Joseph the carpenter of Nazareth had a dream. ...
/.../marshall/the wonder book of bible stories/the story of jesus the.htm
The Babe that I Carry Carries Me, Saith Mary, and He Has Lowered ...
... Hymn XII. The Babe that I carry carries me, saith Mary, and He has lowered His wings,
and taken and placed me between His pinions, and mounted into the air. ...
/.../ephraim/hymns and homilies of ephraim the syrian/hymn xii the babe that.htm
A Babe in Christ.
... A BABE IN CHRIST. JOHN SUDLOW was born of religious parents, in the county
of Middlesex, whose care was to instill spiritual principles ...
/.../wesley/stories of boys and girls who loved the saviour/a babe in christ.htm
The Babe in the Bulrushes
The Babe in the Bulrushes. <. ... Title Page. THE BABE IN THE BULRUSHES. By AMY
STEEDMAN. [Illustration: The baby Moses in the bulrushes.]. [Illustration]. ...
//christianbookshelf.org/steedman/the babe in the bulrushes/title page.htm
What Covenant of God the New-Born Babe Breaks. What was the Value ...
... Book II. Chapter 24 [XI.]"What Covenant of God the New-Born Babe Breaks.
What Was the Value of Circumcision. But let him inform ...
/.../augustine/anti-pelagian writings/chapter 24 xi what covenant of.htm
A Lullaby
... Sweet baby, then forbear to weep; Be still, my babe; sweet baby, sleep. ... Sweet baby,
then forbear to weep; Be still, my babe; sweet baby, sleep. ...
/...//christianbookshelf.org/palgrave/the treasury of sacred song/clvi a lullaby.htm
Thesaurus
Babe (15 Occurrences)... baby. 2. (n.) A doll for children. Int. Standard Bible Encyclopedia.
BABE. bab
... Rees. Multi-Version Concordance
Babe (15 Occurrences). Matthew
.../b/babe.htm - 14kUseless (47 Occurrences)
... 1 Corinthians 13:11 When I was a babe, as a babe I was speaking, as a babe I was
thinking, as a babe I was reasoning, and when I have become a man, I have made ...
/u/useless.htm - 19k
Thinking (58 Occurrences)
... 1 Corinthians 13:11 When I was a babe, as a babe I was speaking, as a babe I was
thinking, as a babe I was reasoning, and when I have become a man, I have made ...
/t/thinking.htm - 23k
Reasoning (37 Occurrences)
... 1 Corinthians 13:11 When I was a babe, as a babe I was speaking, as a babe I was
thinking, as a babe I was reasoning, and when I have become a man, I have made ...
/r/reasoning.htm - 19k
Leapt (2 Occurrences)
... Leapt (2 Occurrences). Luke 1:41 and as soon as Elizabeth heard Mary's greeting,
the babe leapt within her. And Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit, (WEY) ...
/l/leapt.htm - 7k
Manger (7 Occurrences)
... (KJV WEY ASV DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV). Luke 2:12 And this shall be a sign unto you;
Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger. ...
/m/manger.htm - 10k
Salutation (6 Occurrences)
... Luke 1:41 And it came to pass, that, when Elisabeth heard the salutation of Mary,
the babe leaped in her womb; and Elisabeth was filled with the Holy Ghost ...
/s/salutation.htm - 10k
Within (400 Occurrences)
... (WEB ASV). Luke 1:41 and as soon as Elizabeth heard Mary's greeting, the babe leapt
within her. And Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit, (WEY). ...
/w/within.htm - 36k
Homage (51 Occurrences)
... Matthew 2:11 So they entered the house; and when they saw the babe with His mother
Mary, they prostrated themselves and did Him homage, and opening their ...
/h/homage.htm - 21k
Nativity (9 Occurrences)
... Christ. The simplest form is the babe in a rude cradle, and the heads of
an ox and an ass to express the stable in which he was born. ...
/n/nativity.htm - 11k
Resources
Why wasn't Jesus named Immanuel? | GotQuestions.orgWhat is a jinx? What does it mean to be jinxed? | GotQuestions.orgWhat were the key events in the life of Jesus Christ? (Part 1) | GotQuestions.orgBabe: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.comBible Concordance •
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