In biblical terms, "must" often conveys a sense of necessity, obligation, or divine requirement. It is used to express commands, essential actions, or inevitable events within the scriptural narrative. The term underscores the importance of adherence to God's will and the fulfillment of His divine purposes.

Old Testament Usage

In the Old Testament, the concept of "must" is frequently associated with the laws and commandments given by God to the Israelites. For instance, in Deuteronomy 5:32-33, the Israelites are instructed to follow God's commandments precisely: "So be careful to do as the LORD your God has commanded you; you are not to turn aside to the right or to the left. You must walk in all the ways that the LORD your God has commanded you, so that you may live and prosper and prolong your days in the land that you will possess."

The use of "must" here emphasizes the necessity of obedience to God's law as a condition for receiving His blessings and protection. It reflects the covenantal relationship between God and His people, where adherence to divine instructions is paramount.

New Testament Usage

In the New Testament, "must" often appears in the context of Jesus' teachings and the fulfillment of prophecy. Jesus frequently uses the term to indicate the necessity of certain events or actions in the divine plan. For example, in John 3:7, Jesus tells Nicodemus, "Do not be amazed that I said, ‘You must be born again.’" This statement highlights the essential nature of spiritual rebirth for entering the Kingdom of God.

Additionally, in Matthew 16:21, Jesus begins to explain to His disciples that He "must go to Jerusalem and suffer many things at the hands of the elders, chief priests, and scribes, and that He must be killed and on the third day be raised to life." Here, "must" signifies the divine necessity of Jesus' suffering, death, and resurrection as part of God's redemptive plan for humanity.

Theological Implications

The use of "must" in the Bible often carries theological weight, indicating actions or events that are divinely ordained or required for the fulfillment of God's purposes. It underscores the sovereignty of God and the inevitability of His will being accomplished. For believers, "must" serves as a reminder of the importance of aligning one's life with God's commands and purposes.

In the context of Christian living, the term "must" can also reflect the moral and ethical imperatives that guide a believer's conduct. For instance, in 1 Peter 1:15-16, Christians are exhorted to holiness: "But just as He who called you is holy, so be holy in all you do, for it is written: ‘You must be holy, because I am holy.’" This passage highlights the necessity of holiness as a reflection of God's character and a requirement for those who follow Him.

Overall, "must" in the Bible serves as a powerful indicator of divine necessity, moral obligation, and the fulfillment of God's sovereign will.1. (v. i. / auxiliary) To be obliged; to be necessitated; -- expressing either physical or moral necessity; as, a man must eat for nourishment; we must submit to the laws.

2. (v. i. / auxiliary) To be morally required; to be necessary or essential to a certain quality, character, end, or result; as, he must reconsider the matter; he must have been insane.

3. (n.) The expressed juice of the grape, or other fruit, before fermentation.

4. (n.) Mustiness.

5. (v. t. & i.) To make musty; to become musty.

992. bleteos -- (that which) one must put
... bleteos. 993 . (that which) one must put. Part of ... Word Origin from ballo Definition
(that which) one must put NASB Word Usage must be put (1). must be put. ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/992.htm - 6k

3784. opheilo -- to owe
... word Definition to owe NASB Word Usage had (1), have (1), indebted (2), must (1),
obligated (3), ought (15), owe (4), owed (4), owes (1), responsible (1 ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/3784.htm - 8k

1163. dei -- it is necessary
... Word Origin a form of deo Definition it is necessary NASB Word Usage due (1), had
(7), have (2), must (56), necessary (4), needed (1), ought (17), ought to (1 ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/1163.htm - 7k

145. aistheterion -- organ of perception
... 145 () is "the concrete organ of , becoming virtually a habitual ability which must
be developed and enables believers to distinguish between the spirits. ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/145.htm - 7k

3195. mello -- to be about to
... Usage about (30), almost (1), am about (2), certainly (1), come (12), delay (1),
future (1), going (19), intend (1), intending (8), later (1), must (1), next ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/3195.htm - 9k

2076. esti -- are, belong, call, come, consist
... they are -- are, be(-long), call, X can(-not), come, consisteth, X dure for a while, +
follow, X have, (that) is (to say), make, meaneth, X must needs, + profit ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/2076.htm - 6k

5413. phortion -- a burden
... 5413 -- properly, a which must be carried by the , ie as something and hence is
not , ie it cannot "be shifted" to someone else. 5413 () in Galatians 6:5. ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/5413.htm - 7k

1637. elaion -- olive oil
... Spirit. While true believers are indwelt by the Holy Spirit, give to (see
Mt 25:3-8)! Each person must seek (find) the Lord . Word ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/1637.htm - 7k

213. alazon -- vagabond, hence an impostor, boaster
... enough to take him seriously! This kind of person , so he must always keep
moving on to new, naive listeners. [As a masculine noun ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/213.htm - 7k

5147. tribos -- a beaten track, a path
... can best know Him. This is also a path that all saints must travel in their
spiritual journey (romance) of knowing God. It is the ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/5147.htm - 7k

8492. tirosh -- must, fresh or new wine
... 8491, 8492. tirosh. 8493 . must, fresh or new wine. Transliteration: tirosh
Phonetic Spelling: (tee-roshe') Short Definition: wine. ...
/hebrew/8492.htm - 6k

4191. muth -- to die
... 2), die (214), die shall be put (1), died (167), dies (30), dying (1), kill (13),
killed (24), killing (2), kills (4), means kill (2), mortally (3), must die (1 ...
/hebrew/4191.htm - 7k

4135. mul -- to circumcise
... circumcising, selves, cut down in pieces, destroy, must needs. A primitive
root; to cut short, ie Curtail (specifically the prepuce ...
/hebrew/4135.htm - 6k

6099. atsum -- mighty, numerous
... ones (1), numerous (1), strong (5), stronger (1). feeble, great, mighty,
must, strong. Or matsum {aw-tsoom'}; passive participle of ...
/hebrew/6099.htm - 6k

1121. ben -- son
... lay (4), Levites* (1), low degree* (1), low* (1), man (5), man one old (1), man*
(1), men (19), men of low degree* (1), men* (4), mortal (1), must (1), must ...
/hebrew/1121.htm - 8k

516. al-tashcheth -- "destroy not," a phrase in Psalm titles.
... Al-taschith From 'al and shachath; Thou must not destroy; probably the opening words
to a popular song -- Al-taschith. see HEBREW 'al. see HEBREW shachath. ...
/hebrew/516.htm - 6k

7876. shayah -- to forget
... A primitive root; to keep in memory -- be unmindful. (Render Deuteronomy 32:18,
"A Rock bore thee, thou must recollect; and (yet) thou hast forgotten," etc.). ...
/hebrew/7876.htm - 6k

6071. asis -- sweet wine
... juice, new sweet wine. From acac; must or fresh grape-juice (as just trodden out) --
juice, new (sweet) wine. see HEBREW acac. 6070, 6071. asis. 6072 . ...
/hebrew/6071.htm - 6k

5375. nasa -- to lift, carry, take
... 3), incur (2), laid (2), lift (64), lifted (67), lifts (4), load (2), loaded (3),
lofty (1), longing* (1), looked* (2), make (1), married (1), must be carried ...
/hebrew/5375.htm - 8k

Why Christ must Depart
... WHY CHRIST MUST DEPART. "It is expedient for you that I go away.""John 16:7. ...
And now He says, "I must go!". Let us see what He means by it. ...
//christianbookshelf.org/drummond/the ideal life/why christ must depart.htm

Due Measure must be Observed in Liberality, that it May not be ...
... Book II. Chapter XVI. Due measure must be observed in liberality, that
it may not be expended on worthless? Due measure must be ...
/.../ambrose/works and letters of st ambrose/chapter xvi due measure must.htm

Of the Limits which must be Put to the Necessity of Replying to an ...
... Book II. Chapter 1."Of the Limits Which Must Be Put to the Necessity of
Replying to an Adversary. If the feeble mind of man did ...
/...//christianbookshelf.org/augustine/city of god/chapter 1 of the limits which.htm

Sirs, what must I do to be Saved? and they Said, Believe on the ...
... Sirs, what must I do to be saved? ... That is what we need from the gospel, and what
the gospel must furnish, to be suited to our necessities. ...
/.../finney/lectures to professing christians/sirs what must i do.htm

If in the Cause of Right I Must,
... ASPIRATIONS If in the cause of right I must,. tr., John Brownlie 8,6,8,6. I.
If in the cause of right I must,. Do battle with the sword,. ...
/.../brownlie/hymns from the morningland/if in the cause of.htm

And this must be Insisted on as Necessary to Our Being Understood. ...
... Book 4 Chapter 25. And this must be insisted on as necessary to our being
understood? 25. And this must be insisted on as necessary ...
/.../augustine/on christian doctrine in four books/chapter 25 and this must.htm

This must be the Case of all Fallen Christendom...
... Address 31: This must be the case of all fallen Christendom? This must
be the case of all fallen Christendom, as well popish as ...
/.../address 31 0 0 this must be.htm

God must First be Known by an Unerring Faith, that He May be Loved ...
... Book VIII. Chapter 4."God Must First Be Known by an Unerring Faith, that
He May Be Loved. 6. But it is by love that we must stand ...
/.../augustine/on the holy trinity/chapter 4 god must first be.htm

That God Alone must be Worshipped.
... 2. That God alone must be worshipped. "As it is written, Thou shalt worship
the Lord thy God, and Him only shalt thou serve." [3708 ...
/.../cyprian/the treatises of cyprian/2 that god alone must.htm

That we must Press on and Persevere in Faith and virtue, and in ...
... 8. That we must press on and persevere in faith and virtue, and in completion of
heavenly and spiritual grace, that we may attain to the palm and the crown. ...
/.../cyprian/the treatises of cyprian/8 that we must press.htm

Must (2015 Occurrences)
... 1. (vi / auxiliary) To be obliged; to be necessitated; -- expressing either physical
or moral necessity; as, a man must eat for nourishment; we must submit to ...
/m/must.htm - 7k

Selfsurrender
... The seer, as such, must be receptive to the divine impress, and as mouthpiece of
God, he must speak not his own words, but God's: "Thus saith the Lord." He was ...
/s/selfsurrender.htm - 17k

Self-surrender
... The seer, as such, must be receptive to the divine impress, and as mouthpiece of
God, he must speak not his own words, but God's: "Thus saith the Lord." He was ...
/s/self-surrender.htm - 17k

Cruelty (8 Occurrences)
... It must speak so that they can understand. It must start with them where it
finds them. It walk, that character may grow step by step. ...
/c/cruelty.htm - 16k

Creator (19 Occurrences)
... For thought cannot be content with the causal category under which He called the
world into being, but must run on to the teleological category, wherein He is ...
/c/creator.htm - 15k

Cruel (196 Occurrences)
... It must speak so that they can understand. It must start with them where it
finds them. It walk, that character may grow step by step. ...
/c/cruel.htm - 42k

Poverty (25 Occurrences)
... Those in poverty must be treated with kindness (Deuteronomy 15:7-11); must be allowed
to glean in the vineyards (Leviticus 19:10); to reap the harvest ...
/p/poverty.htm - 21k

Clothe (52 Occurrences)
... about to dawn. We must therefore lay aside the deeds of darkness, and clothe
ourselves with the armour of Light. (WEY). Romans 13 ...
/c/clothe.htm - 22k

Anger (387 Occurrences)
... God's wrath is always regarded in the Scripture as the just, proper, and natural
expression of His holiness and righteousness which must always, under all ...
/a/anger.htm - 54k

Battle (282 Occurrences)
... This is very important because it assures us that Joshua must have been at Gibeon
when he spoke, and that it must have been noonday of summer when the sun in ...
/b/battle.htm - 55k

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