Dictionary of Bible Themes: 5746 youth

5746 youth

Dictionary of Bible Themes

Dictionary of Bible Themes » 5000 Humanity » 5650 Human relationships » 5746 youth

Scripture characterises youth as a time of vigour and strength. It speaks, too, of the pressures and expectations of youth, warns about the temptations facing young people, and instructs the young about what is expected of them.

The vigour of youth

Proverbs 20:29 See also Job 33:25; Psalm 103:5; Psalm 144:12; Songs 2:3; Ecclesiastes 11:9-10

Isaiah 40:30 Even youthful strength and vigour may fail. See also Job 20:11; Psalm 78:31; Amos 8:13

The duties of youth

To remember God

Ecclesiastes 12:1 See also 1 Kings 18:12; Psalm 71:5; Lamentations 3:25-27

Psalm 119:9 See also Psalm 71:17; Ezekiel 4:14

To respect the elderly

Leviticus 19:32 See also Job 29:8; Job 32:6; 1 Timothy 5:1; 1 Peter 5:5

To honour parents

Exodus 20:12 pp Deuteronomy 5:16 See also Ephesians 6:2-3; Leviticus 19:3; 1 Timothy 5:4

To obey parents

Proverbs 1:8 See also Proverbs 6:20; Proverbs 23:22; Ephesians 6:1; Colossians 3:20

To remain faithful to one's partner

Proverbs 5:18 See also Proverbs 2:17; Malachi 2:14-15

Examples of godly young people

Godly young men

1 Samuel 2:18 Samuel; 1 Samuel 17:33 David, fighting Goliath; 2 Chronicles 24:1-2 pp 2 Kings 12:1-2 Joash became king at the age of seven; 2 Chronicles 34:1-2 pp 2 Kings 22:1-2 Josiah became king at the age of eight; Luke 2:42-52 Jesus Christ at the age of twelve; 2 Timothy 1:5 Timothy

Godly young women

Judges 11:36 Jephthah's daughter; Ruth 1:16-17 Ruth; Esther 4:15-16 Esther; Luke 1:38 the virgin Mary; Acts 21:9 Philip's daughters

The promise of youth

Israel's youthful devotion

Jeremiah 2:2 See also Jeremiah 3:4; Ezekiel 16:22,43

Hosea 2:14-15 See also Isaiah 54:4; Isaiah 62:5; Ezekiel 16:60

Dying young as a sign of judgment

Psalm 89:45 See also Job 36:14; Psalm 78:63; Isaiah 13:12; Jeremiah 9:21 The death of children and young people symbolises loss of hope for the future; Jeremiah 11:22

Particular pressures of youth

The inexperience of youth

1 Kings 3:7; 1 Chronicles 22:5; 1 C 1; 2 Chronicles 13:7; Jeremiah 1:6; 1 Timothy 4:12

Temptations facing the young

2 Timothy 2:22 See also Proverbs 7:7; Luke 15:13,30; Matthew 19:22 pp Mark 10:22 pp Luke 18:23; Titus 2:6

Troubles faced from the time of one's youth

2 Samuel 19:7; Psalm 88:15; Psalm 129:1-2

The sins of youth

Psalm 25:7 See also Job 13:26

Disrespect for older people

2 Kings 2:23-24; Job 30:1; Isaiah 3:5; Lamentations 5:12

Dishonouring parents

Deuteronomy 21:18-20; Proverbs 15:20; Proverbs 30:11; 2 Timothy 3:2

Persistent sinfulness

Jeremiah 3:24-25; Jeremiah 22:21; Jeremiah 32:30

The sinfulness of Israel's youth

Ezekiel 23:3,8,19-21; Hosea 11:1-2

Examples of sinful young men

1 Samuel 2:17 the sons of Eli; 1 Samuel 8:2-3 the sons of Samuel; 2 Samuel 15:6 Absalom; 1 Kings 12:8-14 pp 2 Chronicles 10:8-11 Rehoboam; 2 Kings 21:1-2 pp 2 Chronicles 33:1-2 Manasseh