Dictionary of Bible Themes: 5204 age

5204 age

Dictionary of Bible Themes

Dictionary of Bible Themes » 5000 Humanity » 5200 Human civilisation » 5204 age

The number of years reached or expected to be reached in a human life. The span of life is determined by God and may be divided into distinct phases, each with its own characteristics. The term may also refer to an era of history, particularly in contrasting the present age with the coming age to be inaugurated at Jesus Christ's return.

The span of life

In God's hands

Matthew 6:27 pp Luke 12:25 See also 1 Samuel 2:6; Psalm 139:16; Ecclesiastes 8:8; James 4:14-15

Longevity in the OT

Genesis 5:5 See also Genesis 5:27; Genesis 9:29

After the flood the length of human life is gradually reduced:

Genesis 6:3; Genesis 25:7; Genesis 47:28

The present-day span of life

Psalm 90:10 See also 2 Samuel 5:4-5 David lives to be 70; 2 Samuel 19:34-35 Barzillai, aged 80, expects to die soon; Isaiah 23:15

Its apparent brevity

Psalm 39:4-6 See also Genesis 47:9; Job 7:6; Psalm 89:47; Psalm 90:3-6

Long life is a blessing from God

Proverbs 10:27 See also Psalm 91:16; Proverbs 3:1-2

Phases of human life

Importance associated with age

Genesis 43:33; 1 Samuel 16:6-11; Luke 22:26

The age of discretion

John 9:21-23 See also Luke 2:42

The age of maturity: 20 years

Leviticus 27:3 Adulthood reckoned from the age of 20 ; Numbers 26:2-4 See also Numbers 1:3,45; Numbers 14:29; Numbers 32:11; Joshua 5:4

The age of serving Levites reduced to 20:

1 Chronicles 23:24; 2 Chronicles 31:17; Ezra 3:8

Full maturity reckoned from the age of 30

Luke 3:23 See also Numbers 4:3 Levites assumed their duties at the age of 30; Numbers 8:24 From the ages of 25 to 30, Levites may have served an apprenticeship.

Old age

Leviticus 27:7

Levites retired from duty at the age of 50:

Numbers 4:47; Numbers 8:25-26

Mountains as symbols of age

Habakkuk 3:6 See also Genesis 49:26; Job 15:7; Psalm 90:2; Proverbs 8:25

Ages of history

Before Jesus Christ was revealed

Ephesians 3:9 See also Romans 16:25-26; 1 Corinthians 10:11; Colossians 1:26; Hebrews 1:1-2

The present evil age

Galatians 1:4 See also 1 Corinthians 1:20; Corinthians 2:6-8; 2 Corinthians 4:4; Ephesians 2:2; Titus 2:12

The end of this age

Matthew 13:49 See also Matthew 13:39-40; Matthew 24:3,10

The age to come

Matthew 19:28-29 See also Mark 10:30 pp Luke 18:30; Luke 20:34-36; Ephesians 2:7; 1 Timothy 6:19

Blessing in the present age

Hebrews 6:5 See also Matthew 28:20; Mark 1:15; Ephesians 1:21; Hebrews 9:26