Closer
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Definition and Context:
The term "closer" is not directly found in the Bible as a standalone word. However, the concept of drawing closer to God, to one another, and to spiritual truths is a recurring theme throughout the Scriptures. The idea of closeness in the biblical sense often refers to intimacy, fellowship, and a deepening relationship with God and fellow believers.

Biblical References:

1. Drawing Closer to God:
The Bible frequently encourages believers to draw near to God, promising that He will reciprocate. James 4:8 states, "Draw near to God, and He will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded." This verse emphasizes the importance of repentance and purity as prerequisites for closeness with God.

2. Intimacy with Christ:
Jesus invites His followers into a close relationship with Him. In John 15:4 , He says, "Remain in Me, and I will remain in you. Just as no branch can bear fruit by itself unless it remains in the vine, neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in Me." This metaphor of the vine and branches illustrates the necessity of remaining connected to Christ to experience spiritual vitality and growth.

3. Fellowship with Believers:
The early church exemplified closeness among believers. Acts 2:42 describes their community: "They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer." This passage highlights the importance of communal worship, learning, and support in fostering closeness among Christians.

4. The Role of the Holy Spirit:
The Holy Spirit plays a crucial role in bringing believers closer to God. Romans 8:26-27 explains, "In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit Himself intercedes for us with groans too deep for words. And He who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints according to the will of God." The Spirit's intercession aids believers in aligning their hearts with God's will, fostering a deeper connection.

5. Closeness in Marriage:
The Bible also speaks to the closeness between husband and wife. Ephesians 5:31 quotes Genesis, saying, "For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and the two will become one flesh." This union reflects the intimate and committed relationship that God intends for marriage.

Theological Implications:

· Sanctification:
Closeness to God is often associated with the process of sanctification, where believers are gradually transformed into the likeness of Christ. This process involves a continual drawing near to God through prayer, study of Scripture, and obedience.

· Community and Unity:
The call to be closer to one another within the body of Christ underscores the importance of unity and love among believers. This unity is a testimony to the world of the transformative power of the Gospel.

· Eternal Perspective:
The ultimate closeness believers will experience is in eternity with God. Revelation 21:3 promises, "And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying: 'Behold, the dwelling place of God is with man, and He will dwell with them. They will be His people, and God Himself will be with them as their God.'" This future hope encourages believers to seek closeness with God now, in anticipation of eternal fellowship with Him.
Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary
1. (n.) One who, or that which, closes; specifically, a boot closer. See under Boot.

2. (n.) A finisher; that which finishes or terminates.

3. (n.) The last stone in a horizontal course, if of a less size than the others, or a piece of brick finishing a course.

Greek
4057. perissos -- abundantly
... from perissos Definition abundantly NASB Word Usage all the more (3), even more
(1), even...more (1), far more (3), furiously (1), more (2), much closer (1). ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/4057.htm - 7k

4862. sun -- with, together with (expresses association with)
... A primary preposition denoting union; with or together (but much closer than meta
or para), ie By association, companionship, process, resemblance, possession ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/4862.htm - 7k

Strong's Hebrew
1695. dabeq -- a clinging, cleaving
... cleave, joining, stick closer. From dabaq; adhering -- cleave, joining, stick closer.
see HEBREW dabaq. 1694, 1695. dabeq. 1696 . Strong's Numbers.
/hebrew/1695.htm - 6k

5066. nagash -- to draw near, approach
... 10), bring here (1), bring forth (1), bring forward (1), bring near (2), bringing
(1), brought (10), brought close (2), came close (2), came closer (1), came ...
/hebrew/5066.htm - 6k

1692. dabaq -- to cling, cleave, keep close
... root Definition to cling, cleave, keep close NASB Word Usage cleaves (4), cling
(14), clings (3), closely pursued (1), closer (1), clung (4), deeply attracted ...
/hebrew/1692.htm - 6k

7138. qarob -- near
... Word Origin from qarab Definition near NASB Word Usage about (1), close (2), close
relative (1), closer (1), draws near (1), hand (1), kinsmen (1), lately (1 ...
/hebrew/7138.htm - 6k

Library

A Friend that Sticketh Closer than a Brother. Pr 18:24
... PROVERBS Hymn 53 A friend that sticketh closer than a brother. Pr 18:24. John Newton
8,7,8,7,7,7. A friend that sticketh closer than a brother. Pr 18:24. ...
//christianbookshelf.org/newton/olney hymns/hymn 53 a friend that.htm

O for a Closer Walk with God
... III. SACRAMENTS AND RITES Holy Communion: Introits 305. O for a closer walk with
God. CM ... DOXOLOGY. O for a closer walk with God,. A calm and heavenly frame,. ...
/.../holy communion introits 305 o.htm

The Real Thing of Light.
... Whether John is saying that the light, that lighteth every man, was now coming down
into the world in a closer way. ... Then He came closer, and yet closer. ...
/.../gordon/quiet talks on johns gospel/the real thing of light.htm

"Above the Sun. "
... Draw still closer, with the rev'rence born of love and holy fear; Look into those
tender eyes which have been dimmed with human tear" Tears in which ye see a ...
//christianbookshelf.org/jennings/old groans and new songs/above the sun.htm

God Proclaiming his Own Name
... or, if not a visible, at least a direct perception of Jehovah's glory.' Moses desires
that he, as mediator and lawgiver, may have some closer knowledge. ...
/.../maclaren/expositions of holy scripture k/god proclaiming his own name.htm

'Is it I?'
... Him. The lowly sense of our own liability to fall, if it drives us closer
to Him, will make it certain that we shall not fall. While ...
//christianbookshelf.org/maclaren/expositions of holy scripture d/is it i.htm

He Comes to his Own.
... He is coming steadily and persistently, in spite of rebuffs; coming patiently, tenderly,
earnestly; coming ever closer in the ever increasing measure of divine ...
/.../gordon/quiet talks on johns gospel/he comes to his own.htm

Living Stones on the Living Foundation Stone
... and one hope, the condition of all blessedness, peace, and joy in your religious
life that you should perpetually be making the effort to come closer, and to ...
/.../expositions of holy scripture ephesians peter/living stones on the living.htm

How Love Effects the Union of the Soul with God in Prayer.
... only consents, and yields herself to the union which God makes, but with all her
power co-operates, forcing herself to join and clasp herself closer and closer ...
/.../francis/treatise on the love of god/chapter i how love effects.htm

But we must Follow Our Preacher, who Can Only Turn Away with ...
... powerless to affect. Now let us, by the grace and loving kindness of our
God, consider this a little closer, my readers. We have ...
/.../jennings/old groans and new songs/chapter iv but we must.htm

Thesaurus
Closer (7 Occurrences)
... Noah Webster's Dictionary 1. (n.) One who, or that which, closes; specifically,
a boot closer. See under Boot. ... Multi-Version Concordance Closer (7 Occurrences). ...
/c/closer.htm - 8k

Watchman (19 Occurrences)
... 2 Samuel 18:25 The watchman cried, and told the king. The king said, "If he is
alone, there is news in his mouth." He came closer and closer. ...
/w/watchman.htm - 14k

Education (4 Occurrences)
... With the settlement of the Hebrew tribes in Palestine and their closer contact with
Canaanitish culture, a more established agricultural life with resulting ...
/e/education.htm - 40k

Birds (125 Occurrences)
... Scientists now admit that Moses was right in assigning the origin of birds to the
water, as their structure is closer reptilian than mammalian, and they ...
/b/birds.htm - 62k

Closely (38 Occurrences)

/c/closely.htm - 17k

Reported (104 Occurrences)
... (DBY). 2 Samuel 18:25 The watchman cried, and told the king. The king said, "If
he is alone, there is news in his mouth." He came closer and closer. (See NIV). ...
/r/reported.htm - 34k

Noose (3 Occurrences)
... Noah Webster's Dictionary 1. (n.) A running knot, or loop, which binds
the closer the more it is drawn. 2. (vt) To tie in a noose ...
/n/noose.htm - 7k

Nathanael (6 Occurrences)
... Jesus at the Sea of Tiberias (John 21:2), it is evident that the connection and
companionship of Nathanael with Jesus must have been much closer than those two ...
/n/nathanael.htm - 13k

Ophir (12 Occurrences)
... for India (Sophir). A closer identification is sought with Abhira, a people
dwelling at the mouths of the Indus. Supara, an ancient ...
/o/ophir.htm - 16k

Levi (79 Occurrences)
... with the verb lawah, "to adhere," or "be joined to," Leah expressing assurance that
with the birth of this third son, her husband might be drawn closer to her ...
/l/levi.htm - 35k

Resources
How can I have a closer relationship with God? | GotQuestions.org

How can a friend stick closer than a brother (Proverbs 18:24)? | GotQuestions.org

Does the Bible say anything about the existence of black holes? | GotQuestions.org

Closer: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.com

Bible ConcordanceBible DictionaryBible EncyclopediaTopical BibleBible Thesuarus
Concordance
Closer (7 Occurrences)

Hebrews 2:1
Therefore we ought to pay greater attention to the things that were heard, lest perhaps we drift away.
(See NAS RSV)

Genesis 45:4
Joseph said to his brothers, "Come near to me, please." They came near. "He said, I am Joseph, your brother, whom you sold into Egypt.
(See NAS)

Ruth 3:12
Now it is true that I am a near kinsman; however there is a kinsman nearer than I.
(See NAS)

1 Samuel 17:41
The Philistine came on and drew near to David; and the man who bore the shield went before him.
(See NIV)

1 Samuel 17:48
It happened, when the Philistine arose, and came and drew near to meet David, that David hurried, and ran toward the army to meet the Philistine.
(See NIV)

2 Samuel 18:25
The watchman cried, and told the king. The king said, "If he is alone, there is news in his mouth." He came closer and closer.
(WEB NIV)

Proverbs 18:24
A man of many companions may be ruined, but there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother.
(WEB KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS NAS RSV NIV)

Subtopics

Closer

Related Terms

Closer (7 Occurrences)

Closest (8 Occurrences)

Deuteronomy (1 Occurrence)

Onycha (1 Occurrence)

Laodiceans (2 Occurrences)

Gatepost (1 Occurrence)

Gate (248 Occurrences)

Worms (14 Occurrences)

World's (21 Occurrences)

Window (24 Occurrences)

Fig-tree (33 Occurrences)

Figtree

Festering (7 Occurrences)

Runs (28 Occurrences)

Extortion (14 Occurrences)

Dirt (9 Occurrences)

Deuterocanonical

Deutero-canonical

Michal (18 Occurrences)

Marriagefeasts

Marriage-feasts (6 Occurrences)

Material (61 Occurrences)

Benediction

Breaks (35 Occurrences)

Colossians (1 Occurrence)

Clods (7 Occurrences)

Collar (6 Occurrences)

Crust (3 Occurrences)

Check (9 Occurrences)

Clod (1 Occurrence)

Afresh (5 Occurrences)

Abdon (8 Occurrences)

Scabs (4 Occurrences)

Slide (3 Occurrences)

Amraphel (2 Occurrences)

Head (4291 Occurrences)

Sela (5 Occurrences)

Susanna (1 Occurrence)

Nehemiah (9 Occurrences)

Fig (45 Occurrences)

Lebanon (66 Occurrences)

Subapostolic

Sub-apostolic

Sees (135 Occurrences)

Canonicity

Burial (25 Occurrences)

Prayers (99 Occurrences)

Battle (282 Occurrences)

Philemon (2 Occurrences)

Light (2869 Occurrences)

Sabbath (126 Occurrences)

Israel (27466 Occurrences)

Esther (48 Occurrences)

Chronicles (45 Occurrences)

Pentateuch

Curses (55 Occurrences)

Premillennial

Books (16 Occurrences)

Compassion (145 Occurrences)

Goods (231 Occurrences)

Millennium

Pity (165 Occurrences)

Bethhoron (12 Occurrences)

Beth-horon (12 Occurrences)

Gideon (45 Occurrences)

Day (17670 Occurrences)

Lack (86 Occurrences)

Grace (277 Occurrences)

History (57 Occurrences)

Clothed (153 Occurrences)

Epistles (2 Occurrences)

Samuel (129 Occurrences)

Dust (182 Occurrences)

Bible

James (40 Occurrences)

Skin (115 Occurrences)

Marriage (74 Occurrences)

Sacrifice (300 Occurrences)

Law (670 Occurrences)

Closely
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