Topical Bible: Stuff

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Topical Encyclopedia

In the context of the Bible, the term "stuff" is used to refer to personal belongings, possessions, or equipment. It is a term that appears in various passages, often highlighting the material aspects of life and the importance of prioritizing spiritual over earthly possessions.

Old Testament References

1. Genesis 31:37 · In the narrative of Jacob and Laban, "stuff" is used to describe personal belongings. Laban accuses Jacob of stealing his household gods, and Jacob responds by inviting Laban to search through his "stuff" to find anything that belongs to him: "Now that you have searched all my goods, what have you found of your household goods? Set it here before my brothers and yours, and let them judge between the two of us."

2. Exodus 22:7 · The term is used in the context of laws concerning theft and restitution. If a man gives his neighbor money or goods to keep safe and they are stolen, the thief, if found, must pay back double. Here, "stuff" refers to the entrusted goods: "If a man gives his neighbor silver or goods for safekeeping and they are stolen from that man’s house, the thief, if caught, must pay back double."

3. 1 Samuel 10:22 · When Saul is chosen to be king, he is found hiding among the "stuff," indicating the baggage or equipment of the people: "So they inquired further of the LORD, 'Has the man come here yet?' And the LORD replied, 'He is hiding among the supplies.'"

New Testament Context

While the specific term "stuff" is less frequently used in the New Testament, the concept of material possessions is addressed extensively. Jesus teaches about the dangers of materialism and the importance of spiritual wealth.

1. Matthew 6:19-21 · Jesus warns against storing up earthly treasures, emphasizing the transient nature of material possessions: "Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also."

2. Luke 12:15 · Jesus cautions against covetousness, reminding His followers that life does not consist in the abundance of possessions: "Then He said to them, 'Watch out! Guard yourselves against every form of greed, for one’s life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions.'"

Theological Implications

The use of "stuff" in the Bible often serves as a reminder of the temporary nature of material possessions and the need to focus on spiritual matters. The biblical narrative consistently encourages believers to prioritize their relationship with God over the accumulation of earthly goods. This perspective aligns with the broader biblical theme of stewardship, where individuals are called to manage their resources wisely and in a manner that honors God.

In summary, "stuff" in the biblical sense encompasses the material possessions that individuals own, but it also serves as a metaphor for the broader spiritual lesson of valuing eternal over temporal wealth.

Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary

1. (v. t.) Material which is to be worked up in any process of manufacture.

2. (n.) The fundamental material of which anything is made up; elemental part; essence.

3. (v. t.) Woven material not made into garments; fabric of any kind; specifically, any one of various fabrics of wool or worsted; sometimes, worsted fiber.

4. (v. t.) Furniture; goods; domestic vessels or utensils.

5. (n.) A medicine or mixture; a potion.

6. (v. t.) Refuse or worthless matter; hence, also, foolish or irrational language; nonsense; trash.

7. (n.) A melted mass of turpentine, tallow, etc., with which the masts, sides, and bottom of a ship are smeared for lubrication.

8. (v. t.) Paper stock ground ready for use.

9. (n.) To fill by crowding something into; to cram with something; to load to excess; as, to stuff a bedtick.

10. (n.) To thrust or crowd; to press; to pack.

11. (n.) To fill by being pressed or packed into.

12. (n.) To fill with a seasoning composition of bread, meat, condiments, etc.; as, to stuff a turkey.

13. (n.) To obstruct, as any of the organs; to affect with some obstruction in the organs of sense or respiration.

14. (n.) To fill the skin of, for the purpose of preserving as a specimen; -- said of birds or other animals.

15. (n.) To form or fashion by packing with the necessary material.

16. (n.) To crowd with facts; to cram the mind of; sometimes, to crowd or fill with false or idle tales or fancies.

17. (n.) To put fraudulent votes into (a ballot box).

18. (v. i.) To feed gluttonously; to cram.

International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

STUFF

stuf (keli; skeuos): "Material" for any purpose (Ezekiel 12:3, 4, 7); or "supplies" in a more general sense (Exodus 36:7, Hebrew mela'-khah; compare the King James Version, the English Revised Version 1 Samuel 10:22; 1 Samuel 25:13; 1 Samuel 30:24 (the American Standard Revised Version substitutes "baggage")); frequently, "household possessions" (Genesis 31:37; Genesis 45:20 Exodus 22:7 Joshua 7:11 Nehemiah 13:8; Jdt 16:19; the King James Version Judith 15:11 (skeuasmata, the Revised Version (British and American) "furniture"); the King James Version Luke 17:31, where the Revised Version (British and American) reads "goods"). "Mingled stuff" is the translation of sha'aTnez in the Revised Version (British and American) instead of "garment of divers sorts" the King James Version (Deuteronomy 22:11).

Greek

4632. skeuos -- a vessel, implement, pl. goods
... implement, equipment or apparatus (literally or figuratively (specially, a wife
as contributing to the usefulness of the husband)) -- goods, sail, stuff, vessel ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/4632.htm - 6k

Strong's Hebrew

2360a. choray -- white stuff
... choray. 2360b . white stuff. Transliteration: choray Short Definition: cloth.
Word Origin from chavar Definition white stuff NASB Word Usage white cloth (1). ...
/hebrew/2360a.htm - 5k

4541b. massekah -- woven stuff, web, covering
... 4541a, 4541b. massekah. 4542 . woven stuff, web, covering. Transliteration:
massekah Short Definition: blanket. Word Origin from ...
/hebrew/4541b.htm - 5k

7553. riqmah -- variegated stuff
... 7552, 7553. riqmah. 7554 . variegated stuff. Transliteration: riqmah
Phonetic Spelling: (rik-maw') Short Definition: embroidered. ...
/hebrew/7553.htm - 6k

8438. tola -- worm, scarlet stuff
... 8437, 8438. tola. 8439 . worm, scarlet stuff. Transliteration: tola
Phonetic Spelling: (to-law') Short Definition: crimson. Word ...
/hebrew/8438.htm - 6k

8162. shaatnez -- mixed stuff
... 8161, 8162. shaatnez. 8163 . mixed stuff. Transliteration: shaatnez
Phonetic Spelling: (shah-at-naze') Short Definition: mixed. ...
/hebrew/8162.htm - 6k

6648. tseba -- dye, dyed stuff
... 6647, 6648. tseba. 6649 . dye, dyed stuff. Transliteration: tseba Phonetic
Spelling: (tseh'-bah) Short Definition: work. Word Origin ...
/hebrew/6648.htm - 5k

2353. chur -- white stuff
... white stuff. Transliteration: chur Phonetic Spelling: (khoor) Short Definition:
white. Word Origin from chavar Definition white stuff NASB Word Usage white (2). ...
/hebrew/2353.htm - 6k

2360. Chuwray -- white stuff
... 2359, 2360. Chuwray. 2360a . white stuff. Transliteration: Chuwray Phonetic
Spelling: (khoo-rah'ee) Short Definition: Hurai. Hurai ...
/hebrew/2360.htm - 5k

123. edom -- the name of a condiment
... 122, 123. edom. 124 . the name of a condiment. Transliteration: edom
Phonetic Spelling: (ed-ome') Short Definition: stuff. Word ...
/hebrew/123.htm - 6k

2871. tebul -- a turban
... dyed attire. Passive participle of tabal; properly, dyed, ie A turban (probably
as of colored stuff) -- dyed attire. see HEBREW tabal. 2870b, 2871. ...
/hebrew/2871.htm - 6k

Library

A King in the Stuff
... A KING IN THE STUFF. In ... baggage. There they looked, and sure enough, as
the old story says, there was a king "hid in the stuff.". ...
/.../chidley/fifty-two story talks to boys and girls/a king in the stuff.htm

Personal Notes: Relics Nearby that the Three Kings had Given to ...
... 138] Since some of these relics were in a little cupboard beside her bed, while
others were in the writer's house, he asked: Are these relics of stuff here?'. ...
/.../the life of the blessed virgin mary/xv personal notes relics nearby.htm

Foreign Exchange.
... And as he gets up to the gateway, the gateman will say, "What's all that stuff?"
"Stuff!" he will say, astonished; "this is the most precious wealth of earth ...
//christianbookshelf.org/gordon/quiet talks on service/foreign exchange.htm

What Nonsense is this Out of which they Fabricate a Charge against ...
... where doctrinal truth is in question, and we are seeking for the authority of our
predecessors for the well-being of our souls to put away silly stuff of this ...
/.../20 what nonsense is this.htm

The King after Man's Heart
... Therefore they enquired of the Lord further, if the man should yet come thither.
And the Lord answered, Behold, he hath hid himself among the stuff.23. ...
/.../maclaren/expositions of holy scripture f/the king after mans heart.htm

At the Front or the Base
... BASE. 'As his part is that goeth down to the battle, so shall his part
be that tarrieth by the stuff.'"1 Samuel 30:24. David's ...
/.../maclaren/expositions of holy scripture f/at the front or the.htm

A Few Nights after This, Diamond Woke up Suddenly...
... for beer. And they put nasty stuff in beer, I've heard my daddy say, that
drives all the good out, and lets all the bad in. Daddy ...
/.../macdonald/at the back of the north wind/chapter 18 a few nights.htm

The Past and the Future
... off the great drum of the future and on to the great drum of the past, and that
is all spun out of one fibre and is one gauge, and one sort of stuff from the ...
/.../maclaren/expositions of holy scripture g/the past and the future.htm

Fourth Tractate. Matter in Its Two Kinds.
... To a certain school, body-forms exclusively are the Real Beings; existence is limited
to bodies; there is one only Matter, the stuff underlying the primal ...
/.../plotinus/the six enneads/fourth tractate matter in its.htm

The Right to Feel Superior
... That's the strange part. The rest of his talk"it was the real stuff. ... "Well"to tell
the truth, I'm afraid it will be some awful stuff I can't eat.". ...
/.../christianbookshelf.org/williamson/have we no rights/chapter 10 the right to.htm

Thesaurus

Stuff (49 Occurrences)
... 8. (vt) Paper stock ground ready for use. 9. (n.) To fill by crowding something
into; to cram with something; to load to excess; as, to stuff a bedtick. ...STUFF. ...
/s/stuff.htm - 23k

Removing (24 Occurrences)
... Ezekiel 12:3 Therefore, thou son of man, prepare thee stuff for removing, and remove
by day in their sight; and thou shalt remove from thy place to another ...
/r/removing.htm - 14k

Belongings (9 Occurrences)
... Ezekiel 12:4 You shall bring forth your stuff by day in their sight, as stuff for
moving; and you shall go forth yourself at even in their sight, as when men ...
/b/belongings.htm - 8k

Packed (3 Occurrences)
... Ezekiel 12:4 You shall bring forth your stuff by day in their sight, as stuff for
moving; and you shall go forth yourself at even in their sight, as when men ...
/p/packed.htm - 7k

Gear (3 Occurrences)
... 1. (n.) Clothing; garments; ornaments. 2. (n.) Goods; property; household stuff.
3. (n.) Whatever is prepared for use or wear; manufactured stuff or material. ...
/g/gear.htm - 8k

Tobiah (14 Occurrences)
... a chamber in the courts of the house of God," which on his return grieved Nehemiah
sore, and therefore he "cast forth all the household stuff of Tobiah out of ...
/t/tobiah.htm - 13k

Felt (40 Occurrences)
... 3. (n.) A cloth or stuff made of matted fibers of wool, or wool and fur, fulled
or wrought into a compact substance by rolling and pressure, with lees or size ...
/f/felt.htm - 18k

Kinsmen (74 Occurrences)
... (See NAS RSV). Genesis 31:37 Now that you have felt around in all my stuff,
what have you found of all your household stuff? Set ...
/k/kinsmen.htm - 28k

Outfit (1 Occurrence)
... Ezekiel 12:7 And I did so as I was commanded: I brought forth my stuff by day, as
stuff for exile, and in the even I digged through the wall with my hand; I ...
/o/outfit.htm - 7k

Jewels (54 Occurrences)
... Revelation 18:12 cargoes of gold and silver, of jewels and pearls, of fine linen,
purple and silk, and of scarlet stuff; all kinds of rare woods, and all kinds ...
/j/jewels.htm - 23k

Resources

What is the Skeptic's Annotated Bible? | GotQuestions.org

What are some modern forms of idolatry? | GotQuestions.org

Will we experience time in heaven? | GotQuestions.org

Stuff: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.com

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

Concordance

Stuff (49 Occurrences)

Mark 2:21
No one sews a patch of new cloth on an old garment: otherwise its new filling-up takes from the old stuff, and there is a worse rent.
(DBY)

Luke 17:31
In that day, he which shall be upon the housetop, and his stuff in the house, let him not come down to take it away: and he that is in the field, let him likewise not return back.
(KJV DBY)

Revelation 18:12
cargoes of gold and silver, of jewels and pearls, of fine linen, purple and silk, and of scarlet stuff; all kinds of rare woods, and all kinds of goods in ivory and in very costly wood, in bronze, steel and marble.
(WEY)

Revelation 18:16
weeping aloud and sorrowing, and saying, 'Alas, alas, for this great city, which was brilliantly arrayed in fine linen, and purple and scarlet stuff, and beautified with gold, jewels and pearls;
(WEY)

Genesis 25:30
Esau said to Jacob, "Please feed me with that same red stew, for I am famished." Therefore his name was called Edom.
(See NAS)

Genesis 31:37
Now that you have felt around in all my stuff, what have you found of all your household stuff? Set it here before my relatives and your relatives, that they may judge between us two.
(WEB KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS)

Genesis 45:20
Also regard not your stuff; for the good of all the land of Egypt is yours.
(KJV JPS ASV DBY)

Exodus 22:7
"If a man delivers to his neighbor money or stuff to keep, and it is stolen out of the man's house; if the thief is found, he shall pay double.
(WEB KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS)

Exodus 25:4
blue, purple, scarlet, fine linen, goats' hair,
(See RSV)

Exodus 26:1
"Moreover you shall make the tabernacle with ten curtains; of fine twined linen, and blue, and purple, and scarlet, with cherubim. The work of the skillful workman you shall make them.
(See RSV)

Exodus 26:31
"You shall make a veil of blue, and purple, and scarlet, and fine twined linen, with cherubim. The work of the skillful workman shall it be made.
(See RSV)

Exodus 26:36
"You shall make a screen for the door of the Tent, of blue, and purple, and scarlet, and fine twined linen, the work of the embroiderer.
(See RSV)

Exodus 27:16
For the gate of the court shall be a screen of twenty cubits, of blue, and purple, and scarlet, and fine twined linen, the work of the embroiderer; their pillars four, and their sockets four.
(See RSV)

Exodus 28:5
They shall take the gold, and the blue, and the purple, and the scarlet, and the fine linen.
(See RSV)

Exodus 28:6
"They shall make the ephod of gold, of blue, and purple, scarlet, and fine twined linen, the work of the skillful workman.
(See RSV)

Exodus 28:8
The skillfully woven band, which is on it, that is on him, shall be like its work and of the same piece; of gold, of blue, and purple, and scarlet, and fine twined linen.
(See RSV)

Exodus 28:33
On its hem you shall make pomegranates of blue, and of purple, and of scarlet, around its hem; and bells of gold between and around them:
(See RSV)

Exodus 35:6
blue, purple, scarlet, fine linen, goats' hair,
(See RSV)

Exodus 35:23
Everyone, with whom was found blue, purple, scarlet, fine linen, goats' hair, rams' skins dyed red, and sea cow hides, brought them.
(See RSV)

Exodus 35:25
All the women who were wise-hearted spun with their hands, and brought that which they had spun, the blue, the purple, the scarlet, and the fine linen.
(See RSV)

Exodus 36:7
For the stuff they had was sufficient for all the work to make it, and too much.
(WEB KJV JPS ASV WBS RSV)

Exodus 36:8
All the wise-hearted men among those who did the work made the tabernacle with ten curtains; of fine twined linen, blue, purple, and scarlet, with cherubim, the work of the skillful workman, they made them.
(See RSV)

Exodus 36:35
He made the veil of blue, purple, scarlet, and fine twined linen: with cherubim. He made it the work of a skillful workman.
(See RSV)

Exodus 36:37
He made a screen for the door of the tent, of blue, purple, scarlet, and fine twined linen, the work of an embroiderer;
(See RSV)

Exodus 38:18
The screen for the gate of the court was the work of the embroiderer, of blue, purple, scarlet, and fine twined linen. Twenty cubits was the length, and the height in the breadth was five cubits, like to the hangings of the court.
(See RSV)

Exodus 38:23
With him was Oholiab, the son of Ahisamach, of the tribe of Dan, an engraver, and a skillful workman, and an embroiderer in blue, in purple, in scarlet, and in fine linen.
(See RSV)

Exodus 39:1
Of the blue, purple, and scarlet, they made finely worked garments, for ministering in the holy place, and made the holy garments for Aaron; as Yahweh commanded Moses.
(See RSV)

Exodus 39:2
He made the ephod of gold, blue, purple, scarlet, and fine twined linen.
(See RSV)

Exodus 39:3
They beat the gold into thin plates, and cut it into wires, to work it in the blue, in the purple, in the scarlet, and in the fine linen, the work of the skillful workman.
(See RSV)

Exodus 39:5
The skillfully woven band that was on it, with which to fasten it on, was of the same piece, like its work; of gold, of blue, purple, scarlet, and fine twined linen; as Yahweh commanded Moses.
(See RSV)

Exodus 39:8
He made the breastplate, the work of a skillful workman, like the work of the ephod; of gold, of blue, purple, scarlet, and fine twined linen.
(See RSV)

Exodus 39:24
They made on the skirts of the robe pomegranates of blue, purple, scarlet, and twined linen.
(See RSV)

Exodus 39:29
and the sash of fine twined linen, and blue, and purple, and scarlet, the work of the embroiderer, as Yahweh commanded Moses.
(See RSV)

Leviticus 14:4
then the priest shall command them to take for him who is to be cleansed two living clean birds, and cedar wood, and scarlet, and hyssop.
(See RSV)

Leviticus 14:6
As for the living bird, he shall take it, and the cedar wood, and the scarlet, and the hyssop, and shall dip them and the living bird in the blood of the bird that was killed over the running water.
(See RSV)

Leviticus 14:49
To cleanse the house he shall take two birds, and cedar wood, and scarlet, and hyssop.
(See RSV)

Leviticus 14:52
He shall cleanse the house with the blood of the bird, and with the running water, with the living bird, with the cedar wood, with the hyssop, and with the scarlet;
(See RSV)

Numbers 19:6
and the priest shall take cedar wood, and hyssop, and scarlet, and cast it into the midst of the burning of the heifer.
(See RSV)

Deuteronomy 22:11
You shall not wear a mixed stuff, wool and linen together.
(WEB JPS ASV RSV)

Joshua 7:11
Israel has sinned. Yes, they have even transgressed my covenant which I commanded them. Yes, they have even taken of the devoted things, and have also stolen, and also deceived. They have even put it among their own stuff.
(WEB KJV JPS ASV DBY RSV)

1 Samuel 10:22
Therefore they inquired of the LORD further, if the man should yet come thither. And the LORD answered, Behold he hath hid himself among the stuff.
(KJV WBS)

1 Samuel 25:13
And David said unto his men, Gird ye on every man his sword. And they girded on every man his sword; and David also girded on his sword: and there went up after David about four hundred men; and two hundred abode by the stuff.
(KJV)

1 Samuel 30:24
For who will hearken unto you in this matter? but as his part is that goeth down to the battle, so shall his part be that tarrieth by the stuff: they shall part alike.
(KJV)

Nehemiah 13:8
It grieved me sore: therefore I cast forth all the household stuff of Tobiah out of the chamber.
(WEB KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS)

Psalms 45:14
She shall be led unto the king in broidered work: The virgins her companions that follow her Shall be brought unto thee.
(See JPS)

Ezekiel 12:3
Therefore, you son of man, prepare your stuff for moving, and move by day in their sight; and you shall move from your place to another place in their sight: it may be they will consider, though they are a rebellious house.
(WEB KJV JPS ASV WBS)

Ezekiel 12:4
You shall bring forth your stuff by day in their sight, as stuff for moving; and you shall go forth yourself at even in their sight, as when men go forth into exile.
(WEB KJV JPS ASV WBS)

Ezekiel 12:5
Dig through the wall in their sight, and carry your stuff out that way.
(WEB)

Ezekiel 12:7
I did so as I was commanded: I brought forth my stuff by day, as stuff for removing, and in the even I dug through the wall with my hand; I brought it forth in the dark, and bore it on my shoulder in their sight.
(WEB KJV JPS ASV WBS)

Subtopics

Stuff

Related Terms

Sis'era (19 Occurrences)

Dividing (23 Occurrences)

Maiden (40 Occurrences)

Finding (57 Occurrences)

Wanderings (7 Occurrences)

Buying (12 Occurrences)

Pieces (209 Occurrences)

Linen (111 Occurrences)

Traded (16 Occurrences)