Topical Encyclopedia In the context of the Bible, the pronoun "they" is frequently used to refer to groups of people, nations, tribes, or even spiritual beings. Its usage is pivotal in understanding the collective actions, beliefs, and experiences of various groups throughout biblical narratives. The term "they" often signifies unity or collective identity, whether in obedience to God, rebellion, or communal experiences.Old Testament Usage 1. The Israelites: "They" is often used to describe the collective actions of the Israelites. For example, in Exodus 14:10, "As Pharaoh approached, the Israelites looked up and saw the Egyptians marching after them, and they were terrified and cried out to the LORD." Here, "they" refers to the Israelites as a unified group experiencing fear and seeking divine intervention. 2. The Nations: In the prophetic books, "they" frequently refers to the nations surrounding Israel. For instance, in Isaiah 2:4, it is written, "He will judge between the nations and will mediate for many peoples. They will beat their swords into plowshares and their spears into pruning hooks." This passage uses "they" to describe the nations' future transformation under God's judgment. 3. The Wicked: The Psalms often use "they" to describe the actions of the wicked. Psalm 2:2 states, "The kings of the earth take their stand and the rulers gather together against the LORD and against His Anointed One." Here, "they" refers to the collective opposition of earthly rulers against divine authority. New Testament Usage 1. The Disciples: In the Gospels, "they" frequently refers to the disciples of Jesus. In Mark 6:7, it is recorded, "And He called the twelve to Him and began to send them out two by two, giving them authority over unclean spirits." The use of "they" in subsequent verses describes the disciples' actions as they carry out Jesus' instructions. 2. The Pharisees and Religious Leaders: "They" is often used to describe the collective actions of the Pharisees and other religious leaders who opposed Jesus. In Matthew 12:14, "But the Pharisees went out and plotted how they might kill Jesus," "they" refers to the religious leaders' unified intent to harm Jesus. 3. The Early Church: In the Acts of the Apostles, "they" frequently describes the early Christian community. Acts 2:42 states, "They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer." Here, "they" signifies the collective devotion and practices of the early believers. Theological Implications The use of "they" in Scripture often highlights the concept of community and collective identity. It underscores the importance of unity among God's people, whether in worship, mission, or facing adversity. Conversely, it also illustrates the collective nature of rebellion and sin, as seen in the actions of nations or groups opposing God's will. Spiritual Beings In some instances, "they" can refer to spiritual beings, such as angels or demons. For example, in Revelation 12:7, "Then war broke out in heaven: Michael and his angels fought against the dragon, and the dragon and his angels fought back." Here, "they" refers to the collective forces of spiritual beings engaged in cosmic conflict. Conclusion The pronoun "they" serves as a crucial linguistic tool in the Bible, providing insight into the collective actions and identities of various groups. Its usage helps readers understand the dynamics of community, both in faithfulness and in opposition to God’s purposes. Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (obj.) The plural of he, she, or it. They is never used adjectively, but always as a pronoun proper, and sometimes refers to persons without an antecedent expressed.International Standard Bible Encyclopedia CHADIAS, THEY OF; CHADIASAIka'-di-as, ka'-di-a-si; (the Revised Version (British and American) Codex Alexandrinus, Chadasai; Codex Vaticanus, hoi Chadiasai): The inhabitants of the city here referred to returned with Zerubbabel, along with the Ammidioi (1 Esdras 5:20). The name is not found in Ezra and Nehemiah. The Chadiasai have been taken for the people of Kadesh and the Ammidioi for the people of Humtah (Joshua 15:54). Possibly the place is identical with Kedesh of Joshua 15:23. Greek 848. hautou -- her own, his own, their own, themselves, they. ... 847, 848. hautou. 849 . her own, his own, their own, themselves, they. Transliteration ... 1). her own, his own, their own, themselves, they. ... //strongsnumbers.com/greek2/848.htm - 6k 3748. hostis, hetis, ho ti -- whoever, anyone who 5578. pseudoprophetes -- a false prophet 846. autos -- (1) self (emphatic) (2) he, she, it (used for the ... 4102. pistis -- faith, faithfulness 1084. gennetos -- begotten, born 1344. dikaioo -- to show to be righteous, declare righteous 4053. perissos -- abundant 3778. houtos, haute, touto -- this 5332. pharmakeus -- sorcerer. Strong's Hebrew 2004. hen -- they... they. Transliteration: hen Phonetic Spelling: (hane) Short Definition: which. ... pl. pronoun from hu Definition they NASB Word Usage likewise (1), which (2). ... /hebrew/2004.htm - 6k 1992. hem -- they 581. innun -- they, those 2007. hennah -- they 3249. yasur -- they that depart 1994. himmo -- they 4124. Moab -- a son of Lot,also his desc. and the territory where ... 3195. Yetur -- a son of Ishmael, also his desc. and the region ... 4080. Midyan -- a son of Abraham and Keturah, also his desc. and ... 1992a. hem -- they Library Things as They Are What do they Want? They're Standing in the Dark. 'They that were Ready' As it Is, However, They, against the Apostle of Christ... On the Contrary, they Deserve the Name of Faction who Conspire to ... Blessed are they that Mourn Wherefore they who Say that the Marriages of Such are not ... On the Infants of Believers when they are Offered for Baptism How the Zealots when they were Freed from the Idumeans, Slew a ... Thesaurus They (76895 Occurrences)...They is never used adjectively, but always as a pronoun proper, and sometimes refers to persons without an antecedent expressed. ... CHADIAS, THEY OF; CHADIASAI. ... /t/they.htm - 7k Kenites (8 Occurrences) Quenched (22 Occurrences) Slaughtering (14 Occurrences) Stagger (20 Occurrences) Visitation (17 Occurrences) Quail (5 Occurrences) Skins (27 Occurrences) Kicked (9 Occurrences) Sidonians (16 Occurrences) Resources Why did the Israelites need manna if they had flocks/herds of animals that they could eat? | GotQuestions.orgWho are the Independent Baptists, and what do they believe? | GotQuestions.org Who were the Waldensians, and what did they believe? | GotQuestions.org They: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.com Bible Concordance • Bible Dictionary • Bible Encyclopedia • Topical Bible • Bible Thesuarus Concordance They (76895 Occurrences)They occurs 76895 times in 12 translations. You can narrow your search using the Advanced Bible Search. Subtopics Related Terms |
    |