Topical Bible: Lads

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Topical Encyclopedia

In the context of the Bible, the term "lads" generally refers to young boys or youths. The Hebrew word often translated as "lad" is "na'ar," which can denote a boy, youth, or servant, depending on the context. The role and depiction of lads in the Bible provide insight into the cultural and spiritual life of ancient Israel and the early Christian community.

Old Testament References

1. Ishmael: One of the earliest mentions of a lad in the Bible is Ishmael, the son of Abraham and Hagar. In Genesis 21:12-20, after being sent away with his mother, Hagar, Ishmael is referred to as a lad. God hears the cries of the lad and provides for him, promising that he will become a great nation. This narrative highlights God's providence and care for the young.

2. Isaac: In Genesis 22, Isaac is referred to as a lad when Abraham is instructed by God to offer him as a sacrifice. The term underscores Isaac's youth and innocence in this pivotal moment of faith and obedience. Genesis 22:5 states, "Stay here with the donkey while the boy and I go over there. We will worship and then we will return to you."

3. Joseph: Joseph, the favored son of Jacob, is described as a lad when he is sold into slavery by his brothers (Genesis 37). His account, from a lad to a powerful leader in Egypt, illustrates themes of divine providence, forgiveness, and redemption.

4. David: David is famously referred to as a lad when he confronts Goliath. In 1 Samuel 17:33, Saul tells David, "You are not able to go out against this Philistine to fight him; you are just a boy, and he has been a warrior from his youth." David's victory over Goliath as a lad demonstrates God's power working through the humble and the young.

New Testament References

1. The Boy with the Loaves and Fishes: In the New Testament, a lad plays a crucial role in the miracle of the feeding of the 5,000. John 6:9 mentions, "Here is a boy with five barley loaves and two small fish, but what difference will these make among so many?" This lad's small offering, blessed by Jesus, becomes a means of providing for a multitude, illustrating the principle that God can use even the smallest gifts for His purposes.

2. Jesus in the Temple: Although not explicitly called a lad, Jesus at the age of twelve is found in the temple, engaging with the teachers (Luke 2:41-52). This account highlights the wisdom and understanding of Jesus even as a young boy, foreshadowing His future ministry.

Cultural and Spiritual Significance

In biblical times, lads were often seen as symbols of potential and future promise. They were expected to learn from their elders and grow into roles of responsibility within the family and community. The Bible frequently uses the accounts of lads to convey messages of faith, obedience, and divine intervention. These narratives emphasize that God often chooses the young and seemingly insignificant to accomplish His purposes, underscoring the biblical theme that God's strength is made perfect in weakness (2 Corinthians 12:9).

The depiction of lads in the Bible serves as a reminder of the importance of nurturing faith and character from a young age, trusting in God's plan for each individual, regardless of their age or status.

Strong's Hebrew

3206. yeled -- child, son, boy, youth
... Word Origin from yalad Definition child, son, boy, youth NASB Word Usage boy (7),
boys (3), child (32), child's (2), children (27), lad (2), lads (1), young (3 ...
/hebrew/3206.htm - 6k

5288. naar -- a boy, lad, youth, retainer
... a boy, lad, youth, retainer NASB Word Usage attendants (1), boy (19), boy's (1),
boys (1), child (12), children (4), lad (36), lad's (2), lads (3), servant (34 ...
/hebrew/5288.htm - 6k

Library

Argument. --That God Also Appeared to Jacob as an Angel; Namely ...
... For when this very Jacob was about to bless Manasseh and Ephraim, the sons of Joseph,
with his hands placed across on the heads of the lads, he said, "The God ...
/.../chapter xix argument that god also.htm

The Song of the Little Baltung. AD 395
... 'Oh, it's I will guard your two lither lads, In their burgh beside the sea, And
it's I will prove true man to them If they will prove true to me. ...
/.../kingsley/andromeda and other poems/the song of the little.htm

Youthful Confessors
... The favour which he had won with the high officer who looked after the lads before
their formal examination (graduation we might call it), is set down in the ...
/.../maclaren/expositions of holy scripture a/youthful confessors.htm

Happy Children and Prosperous Days
... Philip had given his boys the wholesome physical training of young Greeks,
so that they had the advantage in skill over David's lads. ...
/.../chapter lxxi happy children and.htm

The Beach and the Sea
... over the Eastern hills they are still so absorbed in their tasks that they do not
recognise the voice that hails them from the nearer shore: 'Lads, have ye any ...
/.../expositions of holy scripture st john chaps xv to xxi/the beach and the sea.htm

The 'education Question' in Trinidad
... The Gilchrist Trust of the University of London has lately offered annually a
Scholarship of 100 pounds a year for three years, to lads from the West India ...
/...//christianbookshelf.org/kingsley/at last/chapter xiv the education question.htm

The Lad's Loaves in the Lord's Hands
... Boys often do unaccountable things; but bring the loaves and fishes he did; and
God, who understands the ideas and motives of lads, and takes account even of ...
/.../spurgeon/spurgeons sermons volume 37 1891/the lads loaves in the.htm

Wanted, Volunteers
... facts may further answer that smile which assures us things are not as we imagine;
so the Iyer wrote to a brother missionary who had known these lads well, and ...
/.../wilson-carmichael/things as they are/chapter xvi wanted volunteers.htm

A Memorial Sketch by John Watson (Ian Maclaren)
... The two lads at the wickets were in striking contrast"one heavy, stockish, and
determined, who slogged powerfully and had scored well for his side; the other ...
//christianbookshelf.org/drummond/the ideal life/a memorial sketch by john.htm

Gen. xxxi. 11
... whom my fathers Abraham and Isaac did walk, and the God which fed me all my life
long unto this day, the Angel which redeemed me from all evil, bless the lads ...
/.../hengstenberg/christology of the old testament/gen xxxi 11.htm

Thesaurus

Lads (20 Occurrences)
... Multi-Version Concordance Lads (20 Occurrences). Luke 15:26 Then he called
one of the lads to him and asked what all this meant. (WEY). ...
/l/lads.htm - 12k

Zalmunna (9 Occurrences)
... Smith (Lectures on the Religion of the Semites, 2nd edition, 417, note) compares
with this call to Gideon's son the choice of young men or lads as sacrificers ...
/z/zalmunna.htm - 13k

Zebah (9 Occurrences)
... Smith (Lectures on the Religion of the Semites, 2nd edition, 417, note) compares
with this call to Gideon's son the choice of young men or lads as sacrificers ...
/z/zebah.htm - 13k

Forsaketh (17 Occurrences)
... 1 Kings 12:8 And he forsaketh the counsel of the elders which they counselled him,
and consulteth with the lads who have grown up with him, who are standing ...
/f/forsaketh.htm - 11k

Counselled (26 Occurrences)
... 1 Kings 12:8 And he forsaketh the counsel of the elders which they counselled him,
and consulteth with the lads who have grown up with him, who are standing ...
/c/counselled.htm - 14k

Consulteth (7 Occurrences)
... 1 Kings 12:8 And he forsaketh the counsel of the elders which they counselled him,
and consulteth with the lads who have grown up with him, who are standing ...
/c/consulteth.htm - 8k

Elisha (70 Occurrences)
... The bald head, or perhaps closely cropped head, of Elisha, in contrast with that
of Elijah, provoked the ridicule of some "young lads out of the city" who ...
/e/elisha.htm - 61k

Ladles (3 Occurrences)

/l/ladles.htm - 7k

Lad's (2 Occurrences)

/l/lad's.htm - 7k

Resources

Bible Concordance • Bible Dictionary • Bible Encyclopedia • Topical Bible • Bible Thesuarus

Concordance

Lads (20 Occurrences)

Luke 15:26
Then he called one of the lads to him and asked what all this meant.
(WEY)

John 21:5
Jesus, therefore, saith to them, 'Lads, have ye any meat?'
(YLT)

Genesis 48:16
the angel who has redeemed me from all evil, bless the lads, and let my name be named on them, and the name of my fathers Abraham and Isaac. Let them grow into a multitude in the midst of the earth."
(WEB KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS NAS RSV)

Exodus 1:17
And the midwives fear God, and have not done as the king of Egypt hath spoken unto them, and keep the lads alive;
(YLT)

Exodus 1:18
and the king of Egypt calleth for the midwives, and saith to them, 'Wherefore have ye done this thing, and keep the lads alive?'
(YLT)

1 Kings 12:8
And he forsaketh the counsel of the elders which they counselled him, and consulteth with the lads who have grown up with him, who are standing before him;
(YLT)

1 Kings 12:10
And they speak unto him -- the lads who had grown up with him -- saying, 'Thus dost thou say to this people who have spoken unto thee, saying, Thy father made our yoke heavy, and thou, make 'it' light upon us; thus dost thou speak unto them, My little 'finger' is thicker than the loins of my father;
(YLT)

1 Kings 12:14
and speaketh unto them, according to the counsel of the lads, saying, 'My father made your yoke heavy, and I add to your yoke; my father chastised you with whips, and I -- I chastise you with scorpions;'
(YLT)

2 Kings 2:23
And he went up from thence unto Beth-el; and as he was going up by the way, there came forth young lads out of the city, and mocked him, and said unto him, Go up, thou baldhead; go up, thou baldhead.
(ASV NAS)

2 Kings 2:24
And he looked behind him and saw them, and cursed them in the name of Jehovah. And there came forth two she-bears out of the wood, and tare forty and two lads of them.
(ASV YLT NAS)

2 Chronicles 10:8
And he forsaketh the counsel of the aged men that they counselled him, and consulteth with the lads who have grown up with him, those standing before him,
(YLT)

2 Chronicles 10:10
And the lads who have grown up with him, speak with him, saying, 'Thus dost thou say to the people who have spoken unto thee, saying, Thy father made our yoke heavy, and thou, make light 'somewhat' of our yoke; thus dost thou say unto them, My little finger is thicker than the loins of my father;
(YLT)

2 Chronicles 10:14
and speaketh unto them according to the counsel of the lads, saying, 'My father made your yoke heavy, and I -- I add unto it; my father chastised you with whips, and I -- with scorpions.'
(YLT)

Isaiah 3:4
And I will make children their chiefs, and foolish ones will have rule over them.
(See NAS)

Jeremiah 14:3
And their nobles send their little ones to the waters: they come to the cisterns, and find no water; they return with their vessels empty; they are put to shame and confounded, and cover their heads.
(See JPS)

Daniel 1:4
lads in whom there is no blemish, and of good appearance, and skilful in all wisdom, and possessing knowledge, and teaching thought, and who have ability to stand in the palace of the king, and to teach them the literature and language of the Chaldeans.
(YLT)

Daniel 1:10
and the chief of the eunuchs saith to Daniel, 'I am fearing my lord the king, who hath appointed your food and your drink, for why doth he see your faces sadder than 'those of' the lads which 'are' of your circle? then ye have made my head indebted to the king,'
(YLT)

Daniel 1:13
and our appearance is seen before thee, and the appearance of the lads who are eating the king's portion of food, and as thou seest -- deal with thy servants.'
(YLT)

Daniel 1:15
and at the end of ten days their appearance hath appeared better and fatter in flesh then any of the lads who are eating the king's portion of food.
(YLT)

Daniel 1:17
As to these four lads, God hath given to them knowledge and understanding in every 'kind of' literature, and wisdom; and Daniel hath given instruction about every 'kind of' vision and dreams.
(YLT)

Subtopics

Lads

Related Terms

Ishmael (44 Occurrences)

Lads (20 Occurrences)

Lady (37 Occurrences)

Lad (66 Occurrences)

Bread (433 Occurrences)

Soul (554 Occurrences)