➽ The Meaning of Bethesda (House of Lovingkindness) in John Chapter 5 ▧

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The Meaning of Bethesda in John Chapter 5

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John 5:2
"Now there is at Jerusalem by the sheep market a pool, which is called in the Hebrew tongue Bethesda, having five porches."

According to Strong's Exhaustive Concordance, Bethesda is made from two Hebrew words: bayith (#1004 in Strong's Hebrew section) and checed (#2617 in Strong's Hebrew section). 

Bayith means house.

Checed (kheh'-sed) is lovingkindness and many other things.

According to NAS Exhaustive Concordance, the Hebrew word checed (Strong’s #2617) includes lovingkindness, lovingkindnesses, unchanging love, devotion, favor, kindnesses, deeds of devotion, mercies, loyalty, and goodness in its definition. (Strong's Exhaustive Concordance includes pity as well.)

So, Bethesda Is a Word Meaning House of Lovingkindness. 

Isaiah 26:3 and God's Peace, Blessings, and Shalom -- The Meaning of Shalom 🎼

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Isaiah 26:3 and God's Peace or Shalom -- The Meaning of Shalom

Isaiah 26:3-4 

"[3] Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee.
[4] Trust ye in the LORD for ever: for in the LORD JEHOVAH is everlasting strength:"

The Hebrew word for peace in Isaiah 26:3 is shalom (Strong's #7965).
According to Strong's Exhaustive Concordance, shalom means: 

"well, favor, ... good health, perfect,

Or shalom {shaw-lome'}; from shalam; safe, i.e. (figuratively) well, happy, friendly; also (abstractly) welfare, i.e. Health, prosperity, peace ... rest, safe(-ty), ..., welfare, ... wholly."


According to Webster's 1828 dictionary, welfare means: "1. ... the enjoyment of health and the common blessings of life ; prosperity ; happiness ; ..." (Webster)

God wants us to experience an abundant life in the spiritual realm, most importantly. Then, God desires us to also have emotional peace and blessings in close fellowship (koinónia) with Him, primarily, and then with people (i.e. believers). Finally, God desires us to have physical blessings, which would be used unselfishly for His glory and His Kingdom. 

God is not going to lavish on His children physical riches when they need spiritual riches. From the scriptures, we see that physical riches come when the person is ready, and when they are used unselfishly for God's glory.

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